penguin

It doesn't bother me so much that the bags are smashed up together, it annoys me much more that they're produced in the same factory, so for my sensitive butt (literally), the gluten-free label is decoration

I am afraid to even touch the bags when they're all smushed like that!

So Im back to the fry thing, when you get fries there do you tell them you have to be gluten-free or you can just order the fries because it is normal for them to be cooked in seperate fryers? Im getting excited to make a trip to Chick-fil-A!!!!

It's normal for the fries to be in a dedicated fryer. They have a fryer for chicken and one for fries. I only mention gluten-free if I'm getting a bunless sandwich, I don't worry about the fries. Just order the fries normally!

From breaking the viscious cycle website:

Flax seed is illegal.

From Elaine: "lignin is found when the whole seed (and its stiff coat) are ground up. I think it is harmful for people just starting out on SCD. I think some bacteria feast nicely on lignin - it is tough like bark."

Flax seed oil is legal.

From Elaine: "The oil itself, in very small amounts, (and one will have to reduce the prescribed dose by at least 50%) may be helpful." On SCD, without the groundup almonds, I would highly doubt if one would need a supplement of these oils. The huge amount of supplements being pushed are questionable as to the fact that they may be doing as much harm as possible good.

Flax meal is just ground up flax seeds, hull and all.

I just happened to be researching the SCD!

My guess is that she is Celiac. I googled her and a couple different sites said she used a hypoallergenic (gluten-free) formula for her baby, though I don't remember the brand. Since the Celiac Chicks said she started to explain that it's "like an allergy", probably Celiac.

I think the people in the audience were the "Celiac Chicks" and they gave her a t-shirt. If I am wrong -I got that info. from here.

L.

March 31, 2005

As Seen On TV!

So, my adrenaline is still pumping from my experience Tuesday. I have to explain first that after we started CeliacChicks.com in August 2003 someone informed us that when Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View first introduced herself she said something about not eating gluten. This report was confirmed by a few others. I for some reason signed up for tickets to the show only to forget about it. About a month ago,(which was over one year later) to my surprise, two tickets came in the mail!!! So, Kim couldn't make it but our honorary Celiac Chick, Lydia, accompanied me. I brought along one of our tshirts (available soon online) as a gift not really knowing how the heck I'd ever get it to Elisabeth, but just in case! The real mission though was to try to either confirm or debunk the urban legend of a celiac celeb.

Kelly & Lydia with The View set in the background

After we found our seats I asked a nearby studio employee how I would go about getting the gift to her. I was flatly refused no doubt due to past crazy fans making demands. So, I was totally disappointed thinking the whole plan was in vain. During one of the commercial breaks Barbara Walters came to our section and chatted it up with the group. Elisabeth remained seated most of the time being that she is almost due with her first baby. I was so frustrated!

We waited patiently through an interview with Bo Derek, Jeff Goldblum, and then a Real Simple editor showing all the amazing household uses for lemon juice. Then at the very end, after they were finished taping, Barbara said to the crowd, "Are there any questions? We're open to taking questions now." This was my chance!! I waved my arm frantically. Some lady was chosen and just gushed at how amazing they were. Then Barbara asked again, "Are there any questions we can answer?" I waved my arm again. Joy Behar pointed at ME! So I stood up and asked Elisabeth, "Is it true you follow a gluten-free diet?" I didn't want to say "celiac disease" since it doesn't really add to the Hollywood image and I could understand someone in showbiz avoiding that term. I guess since they are used to foofy questions they all didn't hear correctly the word gluten so almost in unison all five of them said, "What?" I tried another approach, "Do you not eat gluten?" And she nodded her head and said, "YES. That is true- you too?" So, I then said, "Yes, and I'd like to let you know about a resource called CeliacChicks.com that tells you where to find gluten-free food in the NY area. " She was so nice and enthusiastic ," OH thank you so much!! I'll be sure to check it out soon!!" So then I pointed to my tshirt I was wearing and announced that we brought one for her as a gift. She said, "Oh ...thank you so much...I'll be sure to send someone out in the audience to get it from you...Thank You! " I could see Star Jones stand in say to her, "What's that?" and she started to explain , "It's like an allergy..." Who knows? Maybe it was the topic of conversation back stage. Most importantly, I wrote a little note that if she ever wanted to help Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center or the NFCA that I could hook her up. Not that she needs my help!

So, that's the scoop. The Celiac Celeb rumor is true. Well, at least the part about her not eating gluten!

Here's the link to that entry on celiac chicks: Open Original Shared Link

I love my allergist, he made so much sense! He didn't question Celiac at all and said, "you probably had a sensitive stomach as a child, right?" Dead on, ancient doctor man! He explained all of the different foods and how they were related in the botany sense.

I told him that tree nuts like pecans and walnuts make my mouth itch, but almonds and peanuts don't. He said that's because you're allergic to tree nuts, but almonds are in the peach family and peanuts are beans. I knew that about the peanuts, but not the almonds.

He said he'd do the food testing, but that it would probably be negative and that the only way to know for sure is by elimination diet. Fair enough. I was IgE tested for a whole slew of foods and was negative to all of them (yay!). I think the only thing he didn't test for was nuts, since he already knew that was an allergy and that I had to stay away from them anyway.

The scratch tests sucked. He decided to do environmental allergens, as long as they were poking me anyway. No allergies to foods, but allergic to damn near everything else. Severely allergic to almost all molds, elm, grass, dogs and cats. One of the needle stick sites got cellulitis because I couldn't metabolize the mold spores. That was fun.

He also said that the drug companies tell you that you have to take Clarinex or Zyrtec for a week before it will work, but they work just as quickly and effectively as benadryl does. I love honest doctors. Of course, he's a fossil, so he was already practising before drug companies ruled the world.

Basically, it was a waste, because I didn't learn anything new, but at least I know I'm not allergic allergic to anything (other than nuts and air). I'm glad I did it though, because it's a baseline. He told me to put the cats outside and to add a hepa filter. Cats still sleep with me and I haven't bothered with the filter, I'm at a threshold where I'm ok most of the time because I've built up so many antibodies over the years.

Yes, Rachel, i really hope that once you have removed casein, you will finally find some peace of mind w/ all these problems...it is like one big guessing game isnt it!!

Beverly- thats the same question i have with the lactose v. casein issue...but it seems like getting tested may or may not provide the answers im looking for, as rachel pointed out, which is frustrating as well. But i think if i was tested for anything it would be casein, b/c i think if i was negative for casein, it would def be lactose intolerance, even if only temporary. One thing that occurred to me is that maybe one lactaid wasnt enough with drinking a cappuccino- b/c i didnt feel AWFUL afterward, just a bit of that old feeling i used to have... Im also wondering if lactaid would work at all as my gut is healing and if maybe i didnt wait long enough before trying to introduce milk... So much to figure out The only thing i know for sure is that my body does NOT want dairy right now, even though my brain does

I can seem to only tolerate cultured dairy, like yogurt and cheese. A frappucino sends me straight to the bathroom, but that may have something to do with coffee. I just feel kind of yucky after milk or pudding and stuff for an hour or so then I seem to be ok. Maybe a bit bloated, but ok. I find that I have to take 2 lactaid for milk stuff, or it doesn't really work. I'm starting not to like milk stuff much, which, as I've learned in the past, is my body's way of telling my brain it doesn't like it. It worked that way first with nuts (allergic), then breads and pasta (celiac), now milk.

Other than the lactose issue, dairy is pretty rich anyway, and our intestines probably don't like that while we're healing.

thanks for posting that!!

boy it will get very expensive, one of the bottles I was looking at was $30.00! I feel like all I do id spend money on this diet, money I really don't have

GNC looked like they have some that's more reasonably twice, or they at least have small bottles. Get little bottles at first to see what you like.

=

I've also had good results at Magnolia Cafe (open 24 hours, all types of food, casual and but great food and very friendly and very very 'Austin'). They have a few 'branches' around town. Once again, speak to them and they will deliver. I CAN NOT say the same for Kerbey Lane however, who are the other 24/7 place. My husband and me used to go there daily before my diagnosis, but once I started going and asking for stuff to be prepared a certain way I got glutened. More than once. And they appeared not to care about losing 2 of their most loyal customers.

Mexican... you can't come to Austin without having some Tex-Mex. I highly recommend Maudie's (same deal - mention you can't have wheat and check what you're ordering has 100% corn tortillas and that there's no gluten in the sauces). They have a few items to choose from for the gluten-free, and it's worth a visit alone for their tortilla chips. Another good option for Tex-Mex is Guero's. For proper Mexican (ie: interior not tex-mex) I can very very highly recommend Manuel's. It's at 310 Congress. Make sure you get corn tortillas and have them check the dish you want, etc.

PM me if you want more info!

I was wondering about Magnolia, diners scare me now, but I've heard such good things about the food. What do you get there?

And I've lived in Austin for 9 months and haven't eaten mexican once! What's wrong with me!?!?!

I got this from the whole health md website:

Dosage Information

Special tips:

--As a general rule, keep in mind that products that include "aloe vera extract" or "reconstituted aloe vera" may be much less potent than pure (more than 98%) aloe vera. Put another way, be sure to look at the label on any commercial aloe product to see if aloe vera is one of the first few ingredients listed.

--For sunburn preparations, confirm that the product contains at least 20% aloe vera.

--Aloe vera latex is available in capsule form, usually in combination with other (and more gentle) laxatives.

For burns, cuts, scrapes, shingles, and other skin problems: Apply aloe gel to affected area two or three times a day. For sunburns, you can also add 1 or 2 cups of aloe vera juice to a tub of lukewarm water and soak.

For heartburn: Drink 2 ounces of juice four times a day.

For ulcers and diverticular disorders: Drink 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice twice a day for one month. If you are also taking psyllium for a diverticular disorder, allow at least two hours to elapse before having aloe vera juice.

For warts: Dab a small amount of fresh or prepared aloe vera gel on a compress made of cotton gauze or flannel, and place over the wart. Change the dressing and apply new aloe vera daily. Improvement should be evident in three to four days.

Worth looking into!

I can't help you with San Antonio, but I can help you with Austin...

I don't eat out tons, and when I do it's usually fast food, I don't know where you're coming from, so I'll assume you don't have these places.

Chipotle - They are all over town and the only things NOT gluten-free are their flour tortillas, though beware the lettuce and cheese because they use their hands to put it into burritos. I always get the burrito bol, which is the normal burrito without the wrap.

Chick-fil-A - A few places around town, they have a gluten-free listing on their website. Grilled chicken, fries, and most sauces are safe.

Taco Cabanas are also all over Austin and San Antonio, and they have a lot of gluten-free items, but I think you have to call them to get the list. I've never eaten there, though.

Austin has a couple of PF Chang's, Outbacks, and Applebee's. I think there's one of each in the Arboretum area. I've eaten at the PF Chang's there with no problems.

You'll also find the landmark store for Whole Foods at 5th St and Lamar, but beware, it's a zoo. Fabulous, but a zoo. They have what must be the worlds largest salad bar.

There is also another Whole Foods in the Arboretum area, at 183 (Research Blvd.) & Capital of Texas Hwy (loop 360). There is a Central Market at 290 and Lamar on Westgate Blvd, and one at Lamar and 45th St. approx. There is a Sun Harvest on Anderson Ln (take the Anderson Ln./Spicewood Springs exit off MoPac and turn right), and another one at 290 and Lamar, kind of kaddy-corner to Central Market.

There's an Amy's ice cream near Central Market on Westgate, and it's yummy and they're accomodating.

I've heard that Hula Hut (I think it's on Lake Austin Blvd) is a good choice for Celiacs, and so is the County Line on the lake (on 2222).

Good luck and have fun!!!

I had similar celiac panel results, only IgG elevated, and the Dr just put me on the diet and said the endoscopy isn't necessary as it is invasive and may not show anything anyway. She said to try the diet for 3-6 mos, and if it helped, I was celiac. When I went back a few weeks later for the follow up, I told her what happened when I just had cc gluten exposure, and she dx'ed me Celiac on the spot. It's on my permanent record now (dammit).

You could go either way on this one, it's a personal decision. I believe a high IgG can also be an indicator of Chron's.

Good luck!

So the fries are safe? Im dying for fries!!

OH YEAH!!! Eat those greasy waffley potatoes of goodness because they are SAFE!!! Chick-fil-A is nuts about their dedicated friers!!!!

off the subject but what do you normally get to eat when you go to Chick-fil-a, I haven't dared to try resteraunts yet with the exception of Outback.

I usually get either the grilled chicken garden salad or the grilled chicken sandwich, no bun, with fries, etc. I eat there all the time with no problems!

If it was Kraft, and it didn't say anything about wheat, barley, rye, or oats, you're A-OK!

Personally, I use Chick-Fil-A buttermilk ranch, lol.

Whenever I go there (at least once a week) I get one or two extra packets of ranch, and I don't feel guilty because, being chick-fil-A, they charge for EVERYTHING, including extra dressing!!!

Yummy and portable!

Hershey will always list gluten in the ingredient statement. Caramilk is made by Cadbury, right? In the US Cadbury is manufactured by Hershey, so the same rules apply. Enjoy!

I think I only took one daily of the Feosol, or whatever it said on the box. It takes some time for those iron levels to come back up, so you can't really rush it.

Anything dark and green (except spinach and a couple others) has a good amount of iron in it, but it really needs the vitamin C to help it because veggie iron isn't absorbed as readily. Turkey and shrimp have a decent amount, beans and blackstrap molasses are good, too. Caffene and soy will inhibit iron absorption.

You're doing all you can do, just keep doing it! (and don't over do it)

It's funny how you learn to like new foods once your diet is restricted. I actually can't wait to eat my vegetables now at dinner whereas before it was just something to go with the baked potato! I think it's because I'm starving!!

Does anyone know what brand of bacon is okay to eat?

Also, I buy almonds at Trader Joe's, but they are roasted and salted. I don't have the package anymore, but I think the only ingredient is nuts and salt. I think I remember reading in BTVC, though, that nuts roasted with salt are not okay because they may have added starch that's not on the ingredient list. Is this right? Do I need to buy blanched almonds, instead? Those certainly aren't as tasty!!

Christine

Blue Diamond has almonds that are "whole natural" and they're pretty good. They are the can with the lime green lid. If you want roasted and salted, just do it yourself! Toss them in some beaten egg white, then lay them flat on a greased baking sheet, salt them, and put them in the oven at 250 for an hour, stirring every 15 mins. voila! Roasted, salted almonds!

I was about as anemic as you are when I had mono a few years ago, and the Dr. just put me on Feosol, what you're on now. I never took them long because they made my stomach even worse. I've been on and off anemic since then, but I try to get lots of iron in my diet. Red meat, leafy veggies, etc.

Oh, and eat your steaks with OJ, because vitamin C helps the iron absorb. Drinking lots of OJ will help with your iron levels in general, actually.

Your iron should come back up naturally with time, as you heal, and as you absorb more. Don't worry, just don't try to give blood anytime soon (They'll laugh at you when they test your blood when they do the finger stick)

talk about karma - so i complain this morning - and then this afternoon my advertising agency whom i have been struggling with for awhile sends me a gift. The note thanks me for my cooperation and hard work, which is really sweet and thoughtful. - the gift? boxes of girl scout cookies! Oh well - i handed them to my hardworking team. Still i thought it was pretty funny.

I'm going to call 2006 the year of the irony. When I was dx'ed, my house had 96 cases of Girl Scout cookies in it! That's what I get for conning DH into being my cookie coordinator! Luckily, I don't like them much anymore, since I sold them for 10 years and gorged on them annually.

Why is the reward always food? Why not a sweater, or even a nice cushy pair of socks?

I've been on the gluten-free diet two-ish months and for the most part, I feel better. My symptoms from gluten are much worse, and I've become intolerant to non-cultured dairy, but yeah, I guess I feel better.

Not running to the bathroom 300 times a day, especially at work, is nice. "Stepping out of the fog" is nice too, for the small time spans between accidental glutening (hey, I'm still learning and am reasonably young ).

Not every day is good, for sure.

I'm about 50% better?

Whole Foods actually gets on my nerves, but I shop there anyway. Keep in mind that I live where the Landmark store is and it is ALWAYS a zoo. ALWAYS! They have 3 levels of parking and it's always packed. Very annoying. Fantastic artichokes though

Unless I need to do a big trip, or there is stuff at WH I can't get anywhere else, I shop at Sun Harvest (wild oats), because it's closer, and HEB, sometimes Randall's (safeway).

If you're looking for something more wal-marty, I use infusium color for conditioner and the leave in for frizz. I love it. I'm also a fan of dove mousse for holding down the beasty hair.

I don't blame you, I'd probably cheat if eating gluten didn't make me SO FRIGGIN SICK!

Other than that, I don't want more autoimmune disorders down the road, or cancer, or irreparable damage, or feel stoned all the time. Motivation enough.

Thanks!

Myabe the dairy free will show today... if it does I'll try making whipcream with it, though I'll be surprised if it works LOL

If it's REALLY REALLY cold and you add some plain gelatin to it, you *might* be able to create something approaching whipped cream! Are you opposed to tofu? Some silken tofu might help thicken it up enough to "peak" a little. And for heaven's sake, add some powdered sugar and vanilla!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!