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This sounds interesting -- the thing I'm concerned about with the ring is whether it could increase my chances of getting regular UTI's -- which the diaphragm definitely did (I HATED the diaphragm) -- anyone got any experience with this?

I have a lot of suggestions, but not much time -- however, I know that a lot of those freeze-dried trail food companies do have gluten-free stuff. I'm particularly fond of Inertia Trail Foods El Capitan Black Bean Chili -- which isn't labeled gluten-free, but the ingredients check out and I didn't react last weekend on a trip. I'm also a big fan of grits with cheese for breakfast on the trail.

Okay, I just want to say that I'm a little jealous about this boyfriend/oyster thing -- my boyfriend and I are "separated" partly because of all this celiac stuff (and partly because we're trying to figure out whether we want to get married) and I'm having nostalgic feelings about time we've spent on the Gulf coast of Florida gorging ourselves on oysters.

And gulf oysters, by the way, aren't recommended for anyone to eat right now as far as I know. Not after all that stuff they pumped back into the gulf after the hurricane.

Okay -- here goes (deep breath) :

I hate the fact that my boyfriend of 5 1/2 years and I were about to get engaged in January and, were it not for the sudden revelation about all this Celiac stuff for me and his dissertation defense would still be about to get engaged, or, in fact, engaged, but NO -- he had to go and freak out and actually move out of our shared house and now I need a roommate to cover the last few months of the lease -- not to mention the fact that I'm writing a dissertation as well AND my boyfriend is on the job market looking for an academic job which will take him far away and possibly even make it impossible to heal the rifts in our relationship -- even though we were both ready to take the jump towards marriage together -- because now I'm having second thoughts about writing my dissertation long-distance just so I can move to be with him RIGHT NOW and am thinking that -- if we get back together I'll need at least six months in town here to write before I can move -- (and he's just now said he wants us to date each other again -- last night after three and a half weeks of hellish moving out frenzy and his total refusal to own any of his anger about this. I hate that we've created another rift in the trust between us.

Despite all of this, I'm feeling fabulous and getting a lot of work done and spending time with friends -- which is the ironic other result of finally figuring out what was wrong with my health.

BrenP, yeah, I'm a bit worried about how celiac disease would work with baking bread. I bake around 2,000 loaves a day and all different kinds of breads. If I do have celiac disease, and if it inhaling flour and other ingredients is a problem, I would have a big problem.

Hey -- there's a giant growing market for gluten-free baked goods -- if you do artisanal baking, this could be the start of a fabulous new career path as well!

Whoops -- missed that last post -- well, I'm adding to the encouragement -- I, for one, would love to see more breads and mixes out there competing with the Breads by Anna -- which is the closest I've had to a good whole-grain bread, but I'd still like to see a gluten-free version of a pain au levain -- and, while I'm thrilled that there are gluten-free pate-au-choux recipes, I'm really hoping someone eventually comes up with a good gluten-free puff pastry dough.

One possibility: antibiotics really mess with your digestive system -- they kill the "good" bacteria in your intestines. I recommend a probiotic supplement -- or at least plain yogurt with some live cultures. The probiotics seem to be more powerful, though, and they've been recommended for healing celiacs. You'll probably want to keep replacing that bacteria for a while -- but I'm not an expert on this.

My boyfriend is a beer drinker/brewer and I love a good dark beer, so I'd been drinking mostly beer instead of wine or liquor since we started going out 5 1/2 years ago. Since I've gone gluten-free, I've noticed that I do seem to get pretty strongly buzzed after two glasses of wine, but that the buzz feels a lot different from the beer buzz -- heh -- I think I'd been mistaking reaction for buzz. The next morning feels a whole lot different too if I've been over-imbibing -- not that I've done a whole lot of that lately, since I'm embracing health in a big way and pretty high off of feeling good, but I did have two early nights when I inadvertently drank TOO much wine because someone kept filling my glass and I wasn't keeping track -- the buzz felt too unfuzzy for me to realize what was going on.

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Sorry -- couldn't help it -- bad pun -- um -- are marmoset's actually monkeys?

I completely empathize with your anger and frustration here -- I had a similar kind of experience at the end of January (many people seem to have had the same). I also just went on the diet and I'm really glad I did. Was thinking about doing a trial pasta experiment to see if I get a reaction, but I've had one restaurant-based accidental glutening experience and I think I know enough not to play science experiment with my body anymore.

I've been eating Armour turkey sausage links as an alternative breakfast protein to eggs so I can have some variety in my mornings.

I've also been making these amazing buckwheat pancakes with berries in them on the weekends and freezing the rest for the week -- I pop them in the toaster oven on weekdays and they're great. If you can do buckwheat, I use the recipe from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone -- it calls for part all-purpose flour and I substitute a gluten-free flour mix with a great deal of success. It's impossible to make good buckwheat pancakes without using some lighter flour as well.

At some point, I'll get organized enough to start posting my recipes on the forum.

I'm going to weigh in here on the phyto-estrogen thing (plant-originating estrogens -- like that in soy) -- keep in mind that I'm a researcher on science and culture -- not an actual scientist -- so I'm trying to use scientific principles to the best of my knowledge, but I really lack the advanced organic chemistry to know for sure.

My understanding is that the concerns about phyto-estrogens are still largely inconclusive -- that many of the hypotheses about their dangers are based on the very real dangers stemming from the synthetic estrogens that were recommended, until recently, to treat things like menopausal symptoms.

My instinct in this is to think that the problems with synthetic estrogens (which, by the way, are more related to animal-based estrogens) may turn out to be similar to the recent finding that plant-based fats are, in fact, healthy and necessary in a way that animal-based fats are not -- that is, the plant-based estrogens may actually be okay. This is more instinct here than scientific certainty, so take it for what it's worth.

Having said all of this, I am very concerned about these issues with GMO soys -- Tiffany, I would be very interested in finding some sources for non-GMO soy products -- I do eat edamame, tofu, tempeh and non-wheat soy sauce in small quantities. Maybe I should start another thread on this at some point.

I'm also interested in this fermented vs. non-fermented soy issue.

I've been gluten-free since February 10th -- so, one and a half months -- although my diet had been fairly low-gluten beforehand and my blood results were inconclusive -- which I'm taking to mean that I'm at the "intolerance" level rather than full blown celiac. Most of my symptoms seemed to me to be neurological -- although I've now really come to understand the difference between bodily and mental symptoms a lot better -- the difference has really been dramatic, I've started to gain weight for the first time in my life, I'm focusing better, I have a whole lot of energy and my emotions have levelled off a whole lot.

I did react to some dairy before -- although I can't quite say whether it was the same as my gluten reaction or not -- and in those cases it generally was something like mozzarella or ricotta (now I feel dumb -- should have remembered that!). My symptoms last night weren't as bad as with the gluten -- less physical pain, definitely running to the toilet, no brain fog -- but I was locked up with tension and anxiety all night and a little over-emotional -- which, before I realized was coming along with GI distress I'd assumed was just psychological.

I've definitely had reactions to whole milk ricotta and that Kraft shake-on cheesy powder -- I made some rice pasta with the powder as a "comfort meal" -- hah! Some comfort -- this is actually why I'm awake at 4 in the morning tight with tension and taking trips to the bathroom.

But I've also been eating occasional dairy and not seemed to react -- including the morning milk in my coffee, ice cream, yogurt (I know that could indicate that this is a lactose thing) and small amounts of cheddar, edam and parmesan cheese.

Does anyone have any ideas about why I'm reacting to some dairy but not all? Even though I haven't reacted to the other stuff, should I cut it out anyway? Might this get worse or (I hope) go away?

Does anyone know anything about Nars lipsticks? My favorite dressup lipstick is "Gypsy", but I haven't gotten around to contacting the company yet with so much going on.

Well, I'm pretty sure I got glutened -- could be envelopes, could be cross contamination in our kitchen (we're still weeding this stuff out) -- might be (eek) casein (because the one thing I know I ate that was slightly questionable was cheese sauce on lentil pasta) -- might be that I shouldn't have had the lentil pasta because it's made in a facility that processes wheat -- could be lipstick or lipgloss -- I don't exactly know.

What happened initially was that I got anxious and panicked and grumpy -- I've been going through some relationship stress lately and blamed it on that -- I kind of freaked my mother out on the phone -- she was worried about me. Two hours later, I had to run to the bathroom -- six visits -- I _never_ had this kind of gastrointestinal reaction before this last month of going gluten-free (albeit still figuring out the "hidden" sources).

So -- I had to apologize for being glutened and not really realizing it. I can see that it's still going to take a period of adjustment before I can recognize the emotional reaction to gluten for what it is. Anyone got any strategies for gracefully acknowledging and apologizing for accidentally inflicting a gluten reaction on someone after the fact?

Hmmmm, now that I've done some searching around, I wonder if that's what has happened or not -- it looks like it's questionable whether there's wheat gluten in US envelopes. I can say that I haven't had a headache like this in the last gluten-free month.....maybe something else? I'm starting to feel like a hypochondriac folks -- sorry to vent.

I was merrily paying bills two hours ago and just completely spaced on the envelope thing! I knew this. I knew this. I knew this.

As interesting as all this is, I still am a loss to understand why the discussion took off in this direction.

It certainly was not the intended subject. I think the intended subject just got lost in this hunter/gatherer discussion. Personally, I think that is unfortunate. Claire

Ah! You can never control the way the thread will develop because everyone is bringing their own concerns and questions to the issue at hand -- but I can assure you that the autoimmune issue is what attracted me to the thread and, while I don't have a lot to say on it (because I simply don't know enough), I'm really glad you posted on this article. My father has Type I diabetes, and I've been interested in all these autoimmune links, but I don't know exactly what to do with them. I can say that I've recently realized that my symptoms could easily have been diagnosed as fibromyalgia had I actually brought them up in the right way with the right doctor. I just don't have enough of an intellectual grasp on this yet to be able to put a coherent, useful idea together and contribute to discussion!

Ah! You can never control the way the thread will develop because everyone is bringing their own concerns and questions to the issue at hand -- but I can assure you that the autoimmune issue is what attracted me to the thread and, while I don't have a lot to say on it (because I simply don't know enough), I'm really glad you posted on this article. My father has Type I diabetes, and I've been interested in all these autoimmune links, but I don't know exactly what to do with them. I can say that I've recently realized that my symptoms could easily have been diagnosed as fibromyalgia had I actually brought them up in the right way with the right doctor. I just don't have enough of an intellectual grasp on this yet to be able to put a coherent, useful idea together and contribute to discussion!

Whoops -- I just looked it up and found that, technically, fibromyalgia may not be considered to be an autoimmune condition anymore, so I don't really know what I'm talking about.

I know that all this autoimmune research is really really current, and it's not as well-funded as medical research that's in the service of producing new "products" for "consumption" -- like drugs. Someone directed me to Dr. Andrew Weil's site where he makes the argument for autoimmunity as the primary cause of most chronic and morbid conditions -- and he's very big on the way that diet plays in to this.

Well, to report back -- it's definitely not mania or a reaction to cutting out the Adderall. Now that I've had a week or so to balance out my energy levels (I've started running again), I think I can report that it was simply that "puppyish" surge of energy -- well, combined with some not-so-puppyish anxiety because my boyfriend is dissertation-stressing-out in a major way and it's been making me jumpy in reaction. We were having really hotheaded arguments about the dishes and whose turn it was to feed the cats -- which was not exactly like us. Not that we don't argue, but the dishes and the cats have never been a source of conflict in 3 years of living together!

Good questions -- just for clarity, I was taking 10 mg of Adderall once in the mornings during weekdays to begin with -- and only inconsistently at that because I was starting to suspect that ADD wasn't the issue. The week I tried to "gluten challenge" in preparation for blood tests I stopped taking it entirely because I was just feeling too sick and didn't want drugs to muck with my system.

Since going gluten-free, I've only taken the 10 mg once on Tuesdays and Thursdays as an extra precaution when I'm teaching -- so I've actually been taking it less lately.

I've actually told the adderall-doctor that I want to stop the prescription -- I'm a little scared about all I've heard about the stimulants and their possible abuse, so I've always been really cautious with them.

Oh yes -- and I've been taking the regular Adderall -- that stays in your system for about 5 hours -- not the extended release version because they tried that first and it _DID_ keep me from sleeping -- even when I took 10 mg at 8 am and went to bed at midnight!

Ecch -- I keep remembering stuff -- other than 4 10mg Adderalls in the last three weeks, the only things I've been taking are multivitamins, fish oil, and BC pills (all checked for gluten) -- however, I did add COQ10 enzyme supplements because I was worrying about brain function and my primary symptom was "brain fog" (writing my dissertation -- a bit concerned that the investment I've made in my head doesn't start to fail me!).

I've just come home from a couple's counseling session -- my partner (who's submitting his dissertation this week, and is under some stress) and I have been having some really angry arguments. He accused me of being too over-hyped (he suggested that I've been taking too much Adderall -- which I've actually not been doing since this whole gluten thing came up). The counselor asked me a bunch of questions to determine whether I'm manic (I have no history of manic episodes or bipolar disorder -- the only thing that's changed in my life is that I've been running more and cut out the gluten).

Here's the thing -- I have a lot of energy suddenly and I am pretty over-hyped -- this is since going of the gluten a couple of weeks ago. I've also been trying to make up for lost time with my dissertation and dealing with deadlines. I haven't had trouble sleeping -- which would be an indicator of mania.

Has anyone else experience the surge of energy within a few weeks of going gluten-free?

I love pilates -- I used to do a mat class and had a few sessions on the reformer -- now I do a lot of the exercises at home on the balance ball. It's made all the other physical stuff I do "make sense" -- having a strong core makes hiking 20 miles a day with a 32 pound backpack feel like a total breeze, I can do all those flow-through moves in Ashtanga yoga class that I always thought only 2 hour/day dedicated yoginis could do. I never have backaches anymore and my posture is great!

I've had people comment on my thinness all my life as though it was the most natural thing in the world for a clerk at the convenience store to say: "Do you ever eat?". I totally feel you on this one -- but remember that how you feel is the most important thing here -- especially in light of the fact that these are health-related issues for you.

I should add that -- even when my weight was at a "healthy" level (and I felt good) people still talked about it -- there's so much free-floating anxiety about being overweight and obese in our culture that I think some people tend to take it out on anyone who doesn't seem to be struggling with those same issues.

Honestly, I've been kind of a career graduate student while I've been struggling with this stuff -- lucky to have found consistent sources of funding through research/teaching assistantships and the occasional student loan to get me by. A few years ago, a therapist suggested that ADD was the problem, and I did take Adderall for a while -- which helped somewhat, but I was really not comfortable with that diagnosis or the fact that there were so many things left unresolved by the drug treatment. I got really focused on making my health a secondary research project at that point. I'm finally making enormous progress at an unimagined rate -- partly because I'd procrastinated on my degree all those years by learning to cook, eat right and take better care of myself -- the celiac connection was just the final health-related thing that fell into place.

I'm grateful that I'm going to come out of this with an advanced degree and, yes, a bunch of student loan debt, but it's manageable at a decent fixed interest rate. Somehow, I've maintained credibility among my colleagues and committee members, so I'm actually in good shape to find a job. I've also got a great boyfriend whose support and company are of inestimable worth.

Whoops -- I didn't really catch your question about supplements, etc....

I found that the brain issues and fatigue improved considerably with a combination of regular exercise and diet -- I've been eating mostly simple, whole foods for about five years. I also supplement with the usual vitamins and fish oil capsules -- which I think have helped a _whole lot_. And I took up a 20 minute/day meditation practice -- which was the only thing that kept me from completely losing it during the worst episodes of fatigue and fogginess.

I'm another one of those "doesn't eat much gluten" negative blood test results people. I had some anxiety and uncertainty after I got the results back as well, but I'm pretty certain that my symptoms correlate with eating gluten -- I also have a father with Type I diabetes (so there's a possible genetic susceptibility link) and I can definitely look back at my past and identify periods in my life when I was eating a lot of gluten, felt really really lousy and had even more strongly indicative symptoms -- including a recurring itchy rash that I thought was from some kind of spider bite!

(No, really, there must be spiders sneaking into my bed and biting me on the knuckles and elbows every so often -- that's what I thought! The credibility of that theory lies in the fact that I was living in the South in a creaky old Victorian house at the time and was having lots of issues with spiders and bugs of all kinds because they used to come up through the cracks in the wood floor).

If my symptoms had primarily been gastrointestinal (they used to be, but haven't been so bad since I've been eating "gluten-lite") I might have continued to pursue the issue in case it was another GI ailment. However, the symptoms that brought me to the doctor had more to do with fatigue, irritability and "brain fog" -- and I'd already ruled out any kind of psychiatric diagnosis.

Most important, however, the weeks in which I was attempting to eat more gluten in preparation for the blood test were absolutely hellish -- I'm convinced enough that this is a problem for me -- and terrified enough when I see what the long term consequences could be that I'm pretty committed to sticking to this diet. It's still not easy -- and a certain diagnosis would really help me feel more righteous about this -- but the seemingly miraculous difference between eating/not eating gluten does seem real to me. And my meditation instructor tells me that righteousness is overrated anyway.

Erica