penguin

You know, I'm not sure I even care if I have a biopsy. If I have the blood test and it comes out postive, plus I have symptoms when I eat Gluten, I think that's good enough for me. Any thoughts on that?

That's what I thought to, with my inconclusive bloodwork and positive dietary response. Fast forward 4 months and here I am eating gluten like the pillsbury doughboy to have a biopsy done because I want to be extra sure of my dx...and I'd like my insurance company to be as well...

At least you always have someone to talk to, even if it is yourself

For my recent vacation I had to take my own meal per Delta no longer offering gluten-free meals. They did give me a vegan meal which I was able to eat the salad and fruit from (without dressing). I packed cheese, crackers, that new Hormel cooked bacon, lots of fruit (some dried), carrot sticks and a larabar. I had plenty of food for both dinner and b'fast on the plane. My husbands reg. meal was not very good so I actually ate better then him.

For vacation snacks I packed pretzels, larabars, dried fruit, crackers and my own gluten-free dressing packets. I only had to use my own dressing once though. All the places we ate in had 100% balsamic vinigar and olive oil.

Explain to me why they can provide a vegan meal which, not to offend anybody, is IMO a dietary fad, but can't provide a medically necessary meal!?!?

American-based airlines suck!

We bought a small cooker at Canadian Tire that plugs into the car lighter. It is shaped like a lunchbox. We can make up small meals in foil trays, keep in a cooler and pop in to heat when hungry. It takes about 40 minutes. You can even hit the grocery store and buy canned food to heat in it. I have bought small packets of frozen cabbage rolls, etc and it works real well. I wash out the foil trays each night in the motel and reuse them. I always travel with my hemp seed, dried fruit and almonds in case of hunger pangs and not being able to find food. Hard boiled eggs travel well, as do pre-popped bags of micro popcorn. I find Wendy's chili, baked potato, and salad good (and cheap) in a pinch. I have been glutenized so many times in restaurants I am extremely careful of what I order.

Do you happen to know the name of the brand that makes the in-car cooker?

Don't worry, we're all comfortable talking about poo

Pale stools are a symptom of celiac. Giving TMI about myself, for almost 4 years mine have ranged from "summer squash" to "pumpkin". Nobody seems to concerned about it for some reason, but it is a signal you aren't absorbing stuff or that you're digesting too quickly, I think.

And he is wearing that green bakers hat, wearing a green apron...................wow, a lot of green! I haven't laughed so hard in a while.

I think you better bake your own pizzas, though, for the most part.

And maybe some foil or parchment for them to bake it on...

I never knew that wasn't normal! I'd love for the dips and divots to go away from my nails, also!

I wish the diet would stay out of my hair, though! The last thing I need is THICKER hair!!! I already have the hair of 4 people!

Yes! Actually, I do the irrigation with the bulb, too. I make my own solution with warm water, salt and a pinch of baking soda. I use an ear syringe--is that what you use? Nothing clears out the old airway like a flush of salt water

Who's the little one in the picture?

Yes, about the ear syringe. Like the blue ones you use for babies. I did that exactly once, and it was so gross that I couldn't do it again. It was especially nasty because I had burned off pieces of skin and bone com out from the caudery work. Ewwww!!!

The little one is my littlest neice, in a rare cuddling moment It was taken at Christmas, in Syracuse, conicidentally

Hi Bev--Getting it checked out is not a bad idea, but I get these from time to time. I'm not sure what causes it, but I will get exactly what you describe, usually in my right nostril. I do have a lot of nasal allergy problems, and blow my nose a lot at times. What I do if it's uncomfortable (and I think it helps it heal faster) is use a saline spray several times a day. Really spray a lot of it up in there--until it runs back out (don't inhale)--and do it over a sink!

Ahh...nothing quite like nasal irrigation! I had my adenoids out and sinuses widened and I had to do salt water irrigations with a BULB SYRINGE!! Yuck!

I've gotten those on the inside of my nose before, too and they lasted forever. I figured it was an ingrown nasal hair or something, it eventually went away.

But until then, they hurt like hell!

Try to be calm with your doctor. You've said yourself that you've been bugging him, and I'm sure he thinks you're a hypochondriac. He sees you as crying wolf all the time and now that there is a wolf, he's not paying attention.

Make sure you only call your doctor during business hours. Try to talk to his nurse or something if you can, and don't harass him. Your doctor can be your best friend or your worst enemy, and it's in your best interest to have a good relationship with him.

Definitely ask about the coffee ground thing though, even though they already did an occult smear. I can't tell you how many times I've had to do those

Low blood pressure runs in my family. I have normal blood pressure, but my mom and grandfather are low. My mom has been hospitalized with a salt deficiency, and she hates to salt food, because it's all salty to her.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Eat more tomatoes

Me too! Your gastro appointment is 2 days before mine!

I've been gluten-free for 4 months, back on gluten a week. I feel like crap, but at least it tastes good! Remember that you have to keep up eating like, 4 slices of bread or the equivalent a day.

Maybe I am not communicating well.

If I am gluten intolerant (I am definitely) and it isn't allergy.....is it celiac?

I'm not communicating well either

You can be gluten intolerant without being celiac.

A wheat allergy doesn't usually cause the same symptoms as an intolerance. If your RAST test comes back negative (and they aren't *that* accurate anyway) all it means is that you aren't allergic to wheat and that you are either gluten intolerant or celiac.

To medically rule in celiac, you have to have celiac blood tests done and/or have the biopsy.

Basically, regardless of the outcome of the allergy test, you could be celiac.

Thanks, but I already know I have at least a wheat intolerance. What I want to know is if the Allergy test is negative (and I don't have a wheat allergy) does that make the likelihood of celiac greater?

No, they aren't mutually exclusive. Celiac disease and wheat allergy aren't related. Celiac is an autoimmune disease like diabetes and a wheat allergy is well, an allergy. For example, a diabetic is intolerant to sugar and the body reacts to it, but the diabetic is not allergic to sugar. It's a poor analogy, but that's basically how it is with celiacs.

There are some people on here with both a wheat allergy and celiac, but most aren't allergic. There are plenty of people out there with a wheat allergy that aren't celiac, as well.

No, it just confirms that you don't have an allergic IgE response to wheat.

It does suggest an intolerance, at least, if you feel better on the diet.

Should I be concerned about the stoneware if I'm using parchment to bake?? I know that nothing is a guarentee and that cc can happen. I'm just trying to make my kitchen as "safe" as I can.

--Kristy

It's an undertaking!!!

You should be safe using parchment on your baking stones. Since parchment is paper coated with silicon, I don't think any residual gluten should be able to get through that. I use parchment to make pizza on my old stone all the time and haven't gotten sick!

I also left the cookies on the baking sheet a few extra minutes--the hot cookies are very tender but they firm up well as they cool.

I HIGHLY reccommend using parchment paper when baking anything on a baking sheet. gluten-free baked goods are an extra challenge because they seem to be stickier. Parchment makes it a breeeeeeze

And no frustrating attempts to scrape your $15,000 (those ingredients are spendy!) cookie off your pans!

First, If you're hypoglycemic, I don't think you can eat too freqently, unless you feel like you're going to explode, of course

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

Reactive hypoglycemia when I was a teenager.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of? N/A

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

No, because any doctor I've asked about it has said it is a very cruel test for a hypoglycemic to go through. I was diagnosed by description of symptoms and dietary response.

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

They are in no way similar for me. With a bs problem, my arms start to feel shaky and I get nauseated, etc. A food reaction makes my face go numb and causes stomach noises (gluten) or mouth itching (nuts). My blood sugar is worse after glutening, though.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

In the morning I pretty much snack from breakfast until lunch, since I have my worst problems in the morning. I pack a big lunch and keep snacks in my drawer at work to facilitate this. I don't really snack from lunch to dinner, so there's about a 5 hour gap. If I get shakey, I eat. I don't *usually* eat after dinner, but if I do it's usually a bowl of cereal.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I can eat dinner at 6 and be fine when I go to bed. I sometimes eat some cereal or something about 2 hours before bed, but it has nothing to do with blood sugar. Rarely I'll have problems when I go to bed, then I get up and drink some milk or eat some peanut butter. I eat usually within an hour and a half of waking.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

I strive for balanced, my mom taught me protein/carb/vegetation for each meal, so that's what I try for. It doesn't always happen and I don't usually keep track. I use the very scientific "I feel like crap, I need to eat" method of figuring out what to eat. I always have protein with carbs, though.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

No difference.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

I drink a coke usually, as it's quick. Then I make sure to eat something substantial within an hour when I get my appetite back and I can stand to eat anything.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

Coke and/or a "beef stick" like a slim jim (but not slim jims since they aren't gluten-free)

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

I have a monitor, but I chicken out of actual real testing.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

No.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Yes, I don't even notice it most of the time.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

Better gluten-free, for sure. I'm on a gluten challenge now and my blood sugar is sucking. Too many simple carbs, I guess.

If I'm doing fast food, I prefer to find a Chipotle or Baja Fresh.

Ditto!

You can have anything at chipotle EXCEPT for their flour tortillas! The only things they fry are the corn tortilla shells and chips, so those are safe too!

I avoid the lettuce and cheese, though, since workers use their hands to dish those out.

I always have them change their gloves, and I always get the bol. I've been wanting to try the tacos though!

positive blood test = celiac

no question!!

I'm doing a gluten challenge after being gluten-free for 4 months because I want a biopsy, and I've gained 8 lbs in the past week! Not everybody gets skinny, and it is possible to have all of the classic symptoms EXCEPT wasting, or even no classic symptoms at all!

ChelsE off topic but are you a 'night and day twin'? My brother and I were, him blonde and light skin blue eyes, me very dark with green eyes. We used to joke they got our legs mixed, he had nice girly ones I had sticks. And I don't think you look pudgy, jsut healthy

Thanks It's a flattering picture. I used to be about 50 lbs heavier, and most of the time I still feel heavy, really heavy.

My brother and sister are from a different marriage, but my brother is definitely dark. He looks mexican, greek, or italian depending on who he's with. He took all of the native american color from the gene pool, but I got all the brains . Both my brother and sister tan very nicely, but my sister freckles. I don't know about my dad, but from what I saw in pictures, he wasn't very pale.

My brother HAS night and day twins. His twin girls don't even look related! One has straight blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and the other has curly dark hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. It's remarkable. The funny thing is my sister's kids are the same way. Two dark, one white. Wierd!

I'm allergic to pecans and walnuts, so of the ones I can eat, I think they're gross. And they aren't good for my blood sugar. Sorry, they're too sweet and oddly textured for me.

See? I look pudgy and healthy, also! My main problem is that I'm so effin' pale, but I think that's as much from my brother taking all of the pigment genes and leaving none for me as much as anything else.

One thing people do tell me a lot is that I look like I've lost weight. Although I am overweight, I do not take this as a compliment, especially since I've been the same weight for a long time. It think it's because my face looks more gaunt or something.

Does it happen with seeds also (like popcorn, flax seed, etc?)? Have you ever been checked for diverticulitis?

Here is a link:

Open Original Shared Link

It might be worth looking into. Keep in mind also that pecans and walnuts (nuts) are in a different family from almonds (peaches), peanuts (beans), and cashews (cashew family-mangoes and pistachios).

My thoughts are, if I were a parent, which I'm not, I would fully endorse a healthy snacks rule. I have a girl scout troop and try to provide healthy snacks (which I can preferably also eat) whenever I can. The girls may grumble a little, but the parents appreciate it, and ultimately, the girls don't really care. I'm not going to fill other peoples kids full of junk, you know?

Also, the last thing you need after a long game of baseball is coke and cookies.

There are a lot of good fruit and veggie things out there. Chiquita makes an apple and caramel snack pack that is gluten-free, and many other companies have similar things with celery and peanut butter, carrots and ranch dip, etc. There is also the option of tube yogurt and pudding, yogurt or chocolate covered raisins, etc. If you want to go the junk food route, lunch packages of chips are always an option.

I would provide a list of commonly found gluten-free snacks and ask that the parents consider your child when they are purchasing snacks. If it were their child, I'm sure they would do the same. Of course, always carry back up treats.