penguin

Zyrtec is great. I took claritin for years but became immune to it. Allegra made me sleepy, and if it's more than once a day, I find it hard to remember to take.

I've also had flonase and another nose spray, but both gave me terrible headaches. I could breathe, though

You need to see a gastroenterologist more than you need to see an allergist, although he may be able to help also.

You feel better, keep doing it. You have a family history, and also, if you were gluten-free two weeks before you ate gluten for a week, it may have messed with your blood tests. Did they test your IgG? That's an indicator of long term problems because it takes longer to go down.

Cassidy - My regular doctor wanted to put me on an antianxiety medication when she thought I had IBS, because they've recently discovered that most IBS is caused by a seratonin imbalance. I said no way to that, because I've been on them before and felt like a zombie. A few days later, my blood tests came back inconclusive and then I started the diet. Dr. dx'ed celiac last friday based on the diet results and the fact that an endo a few years ago showed stomach irritation.

Hi,

He called last night with the rest of my test results. He is convinced its Celiac. He told me to stop taking the Levsin, but had already taken one before his phone call. I haven't had any bad D. until 3 am this morning. I think it was from the cream cheese I had on rice crackers. I ended up taking Imodium so I could make it to work. I have to make an appointment today for the Biopsy. I just don't even want to eat today. I am so tired of feeling like crap.

Do you know why he told you to stop taking the Levsin? I know a lot of people recently diagnosed (self included) take the anti spasmodics on an as needed basis.

I just started reading the Gluten Free Bible. So far, its pretty good and it's got funny parts

It covers basically coping with celiac, and all aspects thereof

Thanks for that, I'm in it for the food allergy tests. Pfft, I already know I'm allergic to the air

I'm going to walk in and tell him that I have just been diagnosed with celiac disease, and that I've read that can often come with other allergies. If he looks at me funny I'll tell him that tree nuts make my mouth itch, because they do.

I really don't want to find other allergies out through trial and error.

Then this afternoon I just HAD to have cotton candy, so I got Fluffy Stuff and pigged out. Hey, it's gluten free, who cares what else in it is bad for me! LOL

Can't be a health nut all the time

no problem...you just seemed a bit upset by my question

have a great night

Not bugged, upset, or otherwise bothered by your question.

It's just that all of my wit has gone to my tummy to try to digest my stupidity

well I knew that villi produce lactase and that they get damaged from celiac disease I was just wondering if eating dairy continues to damage the villi or should I say keep it from healing.

sorry if my question bugged you..was just curious if eating it will do more damage

Sorry if I misinterpreted your quuestion, the saltines made me pretty stoned

My mom just ran whatever the rest of the family was eating through the cuisinart and fed it to us.

He can still have things like vienna sausages, and there is a site for gluten free biscotti you might try. They could work for him like holland rusks.

There are also veggie chips out there that are air puffed veggies.

The reason most celiacs are lactose intolerant is because the villi are flattened, and the villi produce lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down lactose.

Lactaid pills (and milk) are full of lactase to help you digest the lactose. If it bugs you, don't eat it.

Yeah, I just cheated. I ate like, 6 saltine crackers. About 20 mins ago. I feel stoned. Like I just smoked a big fat one.

I don't like being stoned.

I mentioned something or another to my mom and she said, "you really need to stop self-diagnosing yourself" and I got upset and thinking that I don't really have anything wrong with me and that I really *am* a hypochondriac...

I sure showed her

The short answer is yes, it does. Are you sure you're not consuming any gluten?

And you're also sixteen, that's enough to make anyone depressed

Probably costs 4 times my yearly income per ouce!

Well, it's not 5/$1 Kroger brand...

I pay about .69 for a container. Yoplait at HEB is like, .48 so it's not THAT big a difference. Esp. since it's got a lot more health benefit, about 4x in cultures alone!

I'm a poor non-profit worker and DH is a grad student, but we manage to afford it. But he eats yoplait, he can have gluten

You're paying for sugar and extra stabilizers in cheap yogurt...yuck

I have never eaten meat in my life. Therefore it has always sort of grossed me out. I know that is strange for those that have eaten it for life, but for me it is very difficult. My husband doesn't eat it either, so I never learned to cook it. THanks for the advice though about different things to eat. I need to put more time into cooking different things. I just want to have recipes that I know are going to be good once I am through with them. I would like to get better at trying to cook with tofu, but I always end up cooking my same recipes. Usually Mexican food.

Wow! For heaven's sake, don't eat meat now! It would likely make you sicker than a dog!

There's a lot of vegetarian thai food that you could make...

A lot of it isn't very hard, either and uses rice noodles, they also use a lot of tofu.

You could also go for indian food, curried veggies and tofu are great!

wow i just got the quickest email ever about gluten-free products

You know, I may never eat another brand of yogurt.

Not with quality assurance like that!

And I'm serious, it's yummy

Is cascade confirmed gluten-free? the flavored ones too?

They say gluten free on the cup itself, all flavors, and they don't use ANYTHING artificial. They also culture the yogurt in the cup. Here's what the cup says (I'm about to eat it ):

"This yogurt was cultured right in this cup, slowly, with more active clutures, to enhance the nutritional benefits and create the satisfying flavor you'll prefer over others. You'll find no artificial ingredients and no preservatives here. Yogurt can be made twice as fast in big batches, but then it wouldn't be as good, would it? Cascade Fresh: Activate your life"

The ingredients in this Boysenberry cup are:

CONTAINS: Grade A pasteurized nonfat milk, fruit juice concentrate, boysenberries, tapioca, pectin, natural flavors, active cultures GLUTEN FREE

You can call them at (800)511-0057

I haven't had a reaction.

...and now I remember why I eat the stuff that says gluten free on the cup

I don't know what other brands are safe in kroger. Sorry

I don't get the desire to cheat, but I do go to the grocery store and in the middle of reading a label with questionable ingredients, I think, "oh well, if there's just a little bit it won't hurt me"...

...and then I snap back, put it down, and realize that this is how I know I feel better, when I'm tempted to eat something I shouldn't.

I honestly don't miss anything, which *really* surprises me. I realized I didn't eat a whole lot of gluten anyway.

I take that back, I miss eating out without worry. I'm still shy about it...

Consider your desire to cheat a sign of healing! You feel better and feel invincible, so you do something you shouldn't. Just have someone smack you when you get that kind of urge

I appreciate your response and since you don't know me from Adam I will try not to be offended.

I do not need a diagnosis from a doctor. I would, however, prefer to know what is wrong with me without question.

I'm there with you. I needed some sort of signal from my doctor before I would go gluten-free. Trust me, I want to feel better, which is why I immediately went gluten-free after my dr said it was a possibility. There is no shame in wanting a diagnosis.

There are any number of things that act a lot like celiac, and a range of not connected symptoms that are celiac but don't look like it. That's why it takes so long to diagnose. Also, if you go gluten-free and THEN decide you want to do all of the tests, you're more likely to get a false negative. The tests are already not that sensitive.

And there are more serious things other than Celiac that could kill you on a more acute basis, so it's important to rule those things out.

I approach the voluntary gluten free diet with caution, because you're cutting out a huge group of foods. Gluten is poison to us, but to most people it's healthy, well, when it's not processed to oblivion. As celiacs, we've lost a massive source of slow burning complex carbohydrates. It's harder to get whole grains, and our starches like rice and corn and potatoes burn much faster. They also tend to spike the blood sugar.

Please don't flame me, because I do believe that the gluten-free diet is helpful to many many people, myself included. I also know that tests don't always show celiac or intolerance. I'm playing devil's advocate because this is a huge lifelong change and it should not be taken lightly.

If not eating gluten makes you feel better, then by all means, continue. Nobody knows your body like you do.

Okay so we found out in the other thread that my wimpy 20cent/ea yogurt only has TWO live cultures in it, so since we on anti-botics here right now, what normal-store findable (Esply a Krogers!) brands are gluten-free and good? I do not want plain*ewww!), perfer flavored with fruit.

Thanks!

Told ya to eat the good stuff!

Stonyfield Organic can be found in your local Kroger. It has inulin in it but I looked at their website and it comes from chicory root. It has at SIX LIVE cultures! (Yummy flavors too, including smoothies)

Open Original Shared Link

If you happen to get to a health food store, Cascade Fresh has 8 cultures...(also yummy)

I'm no expert, but I believe that Celiac, as a autoimmune disease, gives coverage under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If that is indeed true, your employer must make reasonable accomodations for use, such as allowing for you to take rushed bathroom breaks, or locating you closer to a restroom. I've seen lots of changes take place from the ADA, but I'd check with an attorney and doctor to make sure it is indeed covered.

Alright, I spend 10 minutes on hold for the ADA info line. They said they do not have a laundry list of conditions that fall under the act, however, he said they consider a disability a "physical or mental condition limiting a major life function" or something along those lines.

So, for ease of answering, I asked him if someone had a severe allergy to gluten, a component in most common foods, causing symptoms and intestinal damage, if that would be covered.

He said it would go by a case by case basis, but yes, it could be considered. I didn't want to sit on the phone forever waiting for the EEOC line to be picked up...

I have a limited daily bureaucracy limit. I think I'm done for the day.

Personally, I steer clear of any company that's going to jerk me around like that

Go for another brand.

I'm not going to a nutritionist, she wouldn't be able to tell me what I already know.

I am, however, going to the allergist next week. I figure that since celiacs often have more than one allergy/intolerance, I figure I'll get tested for whatever I can. I'd also like to know what my reaction to nuts is all about.

I'd rather not learn about some intolerances through trial and error if I can help it

Sick of being sick. If anything can expedite the getting better process, I'll do it.

Since I already was dx celiac, that should get rid of some of the annoyance with allergists.

That said, any tips for going to an allergy dr? What should I ask about/for?

Hopefully I don't end up with wheat up my butt

Thanks in advance!

Bought these cracker this weekend. Loved them. Then got sick as a freakin dog.

What's the deal? Anybody know the story - is there a cross contamination issue here?

I'm in love with them, and I haven't had a reaction. I think I'm on my third box.

I don't know of any of their products that do contain gluten, and I think they have their own plant. They also are big supporters of the celiac foundation.

Is there anything else you could have reacted to?

Same deal - I crave chocolate like it's my job since I've been gluten free. I was completely ambivalent about it before.

Honestly, I think it's the fat that my body is craving.

My boyfriend tells me I'm nuts, but I also crave vegetables sometimes.

I say, listen to your body!

Me too! Normally, I can't finish a fun size candy bar cause I don't like it. Now I want chocolate all the time...

I don't get it!