Rusla

Needing to name somthing, and describe it with words is such a female concept.

That is because women comunicate as opposed to grunting and waving clubs.

sorry if it appeared I was getting "my knickers in a twist" I'm under a LOT of stress in my "real life" since I lost my job last week...

back to the pressing question,

I like the option of switching to gluten-free beverages and finding out what other gluten-free food options your fave hang out places might offer, OR what is wrong with being the designated driver? (j/k) I think the social aspect of hanging out with the buddies is way more important than a drink...

I am sorry you are stressed and lost your job. If we all lived near each other we could all go out for a milkshake (with rum) or something. Then we could scratch our genitals and armpits and communicate.

I am going to come and take pictures of Radman dancing on the table.

Distilling removes gluten.

"Male bounding" Typical Female response

What would you call it Vincent? Is there a new word for it now?

Tif, I might not understand the desire to drink, but one thing I do understand is male interaction. Its completely different then female interaction, and i doubt I could explain... but they would likly value him over the beverage AND give him heck over it.

I think Vincent, you are refering to the traditon of "male bonding." Which of course men do so much more differently than women.

Radman,

I know when you first came on the list you mentioned there was an undercurrent of hostility.

This is my take on perhaps why you felt this. I believe that when you said you were a “cancer doctor” as opposed to a “Radiation Oncologist,” some people may have thought you were a fake and a flake. We do get some of those from time to time. We have heard that Celiac is very “in” right now. Which in a perverse way makes me happy. I have never been part of the “in” crowd my whole life. I was the “geek girl.” Anyway, the other reason could have been the horrendous time a great many of us have had at the hands of doctors.

Many of us have been told, “it was all in our heads,” and numerous other things. I don’t think Celiac is the only thing many of us have been disappointed on. Since I was a child they have never really established if I have one, two, three, four or two mutated kidneys. They also cannot find my heart. I suppose some may agree on the last one. I would like to say the one of best doctors I ever had was an Oncologist.

Unfortunately, you may have started out to almost be the “whipping boy,” I saw your being here as a good thing. Not good that you have this disease but good that you found the list. I figure that you being a doctor with this disease could help other doctors recognize this disease sooner. Then again I could be wrong and have been known to be.

If I have never said anything before, I would like to apologize for your feeling uncomfortable here in the beginning. I do hope all of that has changed now. I really would not like anyone to feel uncomfortable here we are all here for the same reasons. I don’t want anyone to look down on anyone else in here because no one on here is better than anyone else.

I would like to tell you and everyone else, I appreciate all of my friends on here and I appreciate people who are straight up and to the point, like yourself.

Vydor:

I was initially happy to see that a gluten free beer was available, but as I think about it I doubt it will help with this particular problem. "What'll ya have? Bud, Coors, Guiness?"... "Uh, have ya got a gluten-free Grist Mill?"

But this will be good to have at the house to drink with the ocassional barbeque.

Rusla:

Good advice as always. Drinking straight up vodka couldn't be considered wimpy, but it could be problematic in other ways

By the way, do grain based liquors like scotch and bourbon have gluten?

Yes they do.

Even some vodka's are distilled with grain but not many. I suggest doing many tequila's and then dancing on the table.

Ok, on a lighter note, I need some practical advice.

My neanderthal buddies only know one way to socialize, and that is over a beer. A beer after work, a beer after golf, a beer while the wives talk. Since I can no longer drink beer, I keep making excuses, but I'm running out. They are suspecting I may be turning into a panzie a$$. If I tell them I have a food intolerance and can't drink beer and eat pizza, I then officially become a panzie a$$. Jerks.

What to do?

p.s. this is actually more serious than it sounds

Good evening Radman,

I would have never figured you for having neaderthal buddies, but then it is nice to a mixture of friends. Anyway how about drinking, rum,or tequila...tell them only macho men with added attractions drink what you do. If you go to the same place all the time take a look at their food list ahead of time, and find out from them if there is something they can do special for you. Then tell your cave dwelling friends that you have recently developed more refined tastes and perhaps they would like to do that also.

Sorry I can't be more help. I never did drink beer, it always made me sick now I know why.

All Lindt in Canada has Barley Malt in them too. That is the chocolate bunnies also. I know I have read them all.

Hi Laura,

Welcome to the board and the best place for support. Celiac Disease is always misdiagnosed but against, not for Celiac. Meaning most don't have a clue about it and tell you that you DON'T have it or it is menopause, flu, IBS, Colitis, all in your head, you are and idiot, Crohns, etc., etc.

You have damage that they saw, so you would have it for sure. The gluten-free diet is not the worst thing I have had to deal with in my life. It is not that bad.How long have you been gluten free? Did you get sick before when you ate gluten? Not always do Celiacs show symptoms. However, you will do yourself more damage if you eat gluten.

I don't like being sick, I don't want stomach or colon cancer so, I make a concious effort to keep away from the stuff, even though sometimes I get a craving.

If it is any consolation to you the first time I tried without diagnosis I didn't last very long. I figured it couldn't kill me. Now I know different and I pursued the doctors with a vengence because things were going more wrong than before. I just hate to think you may be doing damage to yourself or feeling worse if you go back. However, it is your decision and I wish you the best of luck and sad to see you go.

Many doctors are not knowledgable and it is like pulling teeth to get them to do the test. Then they do it wrong by not giving you the information you need to do the test. Of course they don't give you the information because they know nothing about it. It is one big vicious circle.

I wondered why you would put that answer! Thanks for the link, I can't do the walk, but I do want to sponsor someone. Now I just have to get my husband to say OK! (It's his money I'll be using, so I think I should clear it with him, first! )

Make him walk in it and sponsor him.

As Tiffany said, if you are going to write it on the card, you must follow-up. And don't assume that the cooks-in-training understanding food allergies... Personally I say wedding protocol depends on the situation--if I'm not in a wedding, then I typically bring my own food, and/or snack before. If it is a close friend, maybe I will make arrangements to have a meal microwaved. I was in a wedding this year and brought my own tv dinner, and supplemented it with a gluten-free fruit salad the caterer provided. (I didn't trust them for the whole meal...) Hope you enjoy the event!

The students who are in the Highwood Room are not just cooks-in-training. They are in their final phase and they have their instructors with them who are journeymen chefs. If she has had not problem there before then the instructors/chefs are well acquainted with the problems. If not as a Culinary Arts school they are under definite obligations to tell them that they are not familiar with it, probably that is one of the best places to be in the city.,

You said it. The cost of the food is outrageous. I must confess I skip meals constantly and I practically live on popcorn and baked potatoes. The only time I eat 3 meals a day is when I am on dayshift, I feel like I need to be alert on the job (ICU and all, yikes). I ration my cornflakes. I tried the organic rice krispies, they were very anemic so I just don't bother. I don't buy gluten-free bread or bread like stuff anymore because it basically tastes like crap and it costs a small fortune. As well, I live in Canada, so fresh produce is NOT cheap here at this time of year. To say I am sick of apples and bananas is a mild understatement. I gotta tell you though, there is no point in doing this half way. You either do it or you don't. Why would I pass up on all the foods I LOVE (my God I'd trade my soul to the devil for a hamburger) just to blow it on a few crumbs??? The crumbs are as bad as the burger, or in your case the pizza, at least the reaction going on inside is probably the same. I'm all for go big or go home, lol.

Now for a joke.............What's the difference between an ICU nurse and a pit bull????

Answer.....Lipstick

Fresh produce is not that fresh either. It is a produce kept in a warehouse for who knows how long and barely any flavour. You know how flavourless it is when you go some where and eat real fresh fruit and vegetables everyday and it tastes like fruit and vegetables. I walk through the whole store and the thing that interests me the most are ice cubes and chicke peas....now that is bad.

Skoki: The answer is-

a pit bull lets go when it is clear the person is finished?

sorry that was bad

Fiddle:

is this the question:

Hi, radman,

I was actually wondering (don't shoot, guys!) if small amounts of the "right " kind of gluten (fermented, like sourdough) might not only avoid triggering the celiac thing, but also might help avoid the post-celiac-diet high incidence of developing other food sensitivities....

(edit) I mean from childhood in someone who shows no signs of celiac, not in people with the fullblown Hyper-Celiac. And I'm probably wishfully thinking that it would work for me, too, as I never had symptoms until recently....

If so:

I don't think there is a "right" kind of gluten. The sourdough process doesn't change the structure of the gluten proteins, and would be expected to trigger celiac ever bit as much as any other bread.

I wish it were true, I have loved sourdough ever since I lived in San Francisco many years ago. That hot Boudin bread down at fishermans wharf with a crab cocktail or some chowder....mmmmmmmmmmm

Let me know if there is anything else I missed.

Rusla-

#5 with added attractions? that sounds good to me, nothing like putting a positive spin on things

I like your pitbull joke.

Now when others ask you what you are, you can tell them you are a 5 with added attractions. Then just walk away with your head held high and leave them wondering about your added attractions.

Ok, all good suggestions. A little more about the place (Calgarians may be familiar with the Highwood Room). It is at a dining room that is run by the local college, the students are in cullinary school and are student/apprentice chefs (whatever you call it). I went there for a Christmas dinner. I called in advance, they said it was no problem. When I got there I identified myself, and they went over the menu with me and told me what meal they could do gluten-free because of sauces and stuff in other meals. The only appetizer I could have contained seafood (yuck), so when I said no thanks, the server (also a student) went back to the kitchen and the instructor had them come up with an appetizer for me that I could have. I sort of feel that if they are learning how to be chefs in restaraunts, they should be learning about special diets. They actually seemed to be very well informed and I had a great dinner. I guess I just don't want to be a pain in the butt for my friend or her family.

The Highwood Room, that is where the final year culinary students do it all. They must have added gluten-free foods into the criteria now. When I went it was not present but that was 25 years ago. I don't think you should have any problems there and it is not tacky to let the bride know.

I get catnip herb at the health food store and boil it up and strain it for a tea. Great for colds and sore throat.

Radman,

I believe you are #5 with added attractions. Meaning that perhaps you think as a doctor you should know everything. You also secretly in the back of your mind feel you are infalible because you are a doctor. Probably your subconcious is saying; "you can't have this, you are a doctor and what will everyone say?"

I thought in the beginning I could cheat and eat a pizza now and then. Now I find out the longer I am gluten-free the worse I react to extremely small amounts of gluten. For me a few crumbs make me sick and I break out with dh. When you are putting gluten into your body you never realize that they crappy way you feel is because of that. Then when it isn't a constant in your life and a little gets in you now know why you feel like garbage.

When you think maybe it isn't doing damage to your body, the small amount. I start to remember all of those who originally had no symptoms at all and the damage they did to their bodies without knowing they were. In my mind for me alone it is not smart to taunt stomach or colon cancer for a pizza. I can have a gluten-free pizza and enjoy it just as much, just differently and know I will not suffer or do damage.

However, what a person wants to take as a risk is their decision and each person must evaluate on their own is it worth it or not to cut out the gluten.

I never did go through the denial phase of this disease. I think that was because I know a very long time ago I had a wheat allergy and told I could possibly have this, although no one did anything.

Rusla,

When is the one in May? I hope to be visiting Calgary May 12th-16th. And thanks for the info on Moxi's. My daughter was happy to hear that.

Corrine

Corrine, unfortunately I just saw on the site that it has been postponed until 2007. I guess that gives me time to get in shape for it. I am glad it made your daughter happy. They don't have a big selection but they had somethings and it was good.

I would not think that is tacky. Perhaps if you feel the need to tell her how thrilled you are for her and just tell her you have discovered a severe allergy to gluten, you are sorry but y you have checked with the restaurant and they would be happy to oblige. Then when it gets closer to the wedding call the restaurant and make sure they know.

Well if you consider that some people who have Celiac have a wheat allergy they could die from exposure to it, just like any other allergy. Each allergy is different in each person. Some have minor nut allergies and some are severe.

Probably a coincidence with the kids. Kids are little germ spreaders. There has been lots of colds and flu going around this year and kids are at school with other little diseased ones. It is just like lice, you will never have lice until your kids go to school then, you will get it because of they got it from other kids.

Rusla- That's awesome. When you come up with your own line let us know! It would be great to have custom made body products. Or if you want to share how you do it, that would be great.

I too will NOT purchase anything (body/cosmetic wise) that does not list ingerdients. when I first went gluten-free I gave away a lot of my stuff to friends because I wasn't going to touch it. Some companies that clearly list gluten are Neutrogena, Dove and Burt's Bees. I absolutely love Burt's Bees and it's been popping up everywhere lately- even my local New hampshire grocery store has a huge rack of their products (including makeup).

I will let you know. I am not a chemist but I will keep doing it till I get it the way I like it. They are not tested on animals, just on me.

Does anyone know if Mary Kay products have gluten in them? Preferably the make up and skin care line?

I have been using it for over 20 years and so far it has not bothered me...but I am curious if anyone knows.

Mary Pelly

I could never use Mary Kay, of course I have very sensitive skin and tons of allergies.

You are making me jealous with all the places you have been, especially Galapagos. It is great that you had a terrific time.

It could be either or both. I am sorry you are having this problem. I hope you feel better soon.

Wow! Thanks. I'll look for them while in the salon.

I will post who Tandori is made by when I get home, which will still be about 3 hours from now.

Having worked as a chef there is no way they can clean the grill or salamander while the restaurant is open and running. You may want to try asking them to do your food in a seperate saute pan, that can usually be accomadated pretty easily.

What I should have said is that some will not leave a specific part of the grill clean. You are correct the salamander cannot be cleaned when the restaurant is open. Some places absolutely will not adjust anything. Others are willing to help. Worst places are restaurants or food courts in malls.