celiac3270

Don't go back......you're supposed to have at least about a month on gluten........eat at least 1-2 meals a day that contain gluten.....it's for the benefit of the test, although eating gluten again is a test in itself..........if you feel good without gluten, I think that's enough to keep you on the diet no matter what any doctor says.

Yeah, that's good to have run all those tests..........if I hit the one year mark and I'm not better, I'm cutting it down to a few staple foods and doing a HUGE elimination diet..........I know I'll go crazy, but I'll just try to hold out as long as I can, test a few things, try to see if there's any improvement. I do have my biopsy Sept. 13, which I'm hoping can clear things up........ulcers or the gluten-free diet not helping my intestines as much as it should......what then, refractory? Anyway, good job.

---

They didn't say anything to me...........I don't think the minis are okay, but don't quote me on that.

Racheleona,

If you're referring to a "personal photo" option--nobody can do that. If you're referring to update your own picture to be your avatar (pic. on the side of every post you make), you need to be an advanced member to do that (30 posts).......

I made a post, here: Open Original Shared Link where I e-mailed companies, including a few candy companies.......if you want the actual e-mails, I could forward them to you, but here are a few of the lists:

Thank you for contacting us.  We are delighted to be able to inform you that,

at this time, to the very best of our knowledge, all of our confections are

gluten free.  We do not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt or any

of their components and that includes our dusting on our conveyor belts.  We

do use corn and soy products in the manufacturing of our products.  We are

including a listing of the products we make for your information.

Product List

TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC.

Tootsie Rolls

Tootsie Pops

Flavor Roll Twisties

Tootsie Peppermint Pops

Frooties

Caramel Apple Pops

Dots

Fruit Smoothie Pops

Tropical Dots

Hot Chocolate Pops

Crows

Child

Wow..........same guy, too! I couldn't find the list at his "brands" section or whatever.......thanks for posting.

No way, Yankee! I'm having an endo. Sept. 13, also.......although mine is to confirm that the diet is working for me and to check for ulcers........anyway, thought that was funny

I'm not so sure if the diabetic diet is that much easier.........sure, you can eat regular foods, but you constantly have to modify what you eat to deal with sugar levels (right?) and we can just eat whatever is gluten-free for the rest of our lives. Additionally, diabetes can have debilitating effects in the end even if you're conscious of your sugar levels all the time........once your off gluten, you're fine and don't need to worry about developing complications because of your celiac disease that much (as long as you start the diet early). Anyway, diebetics constantly have to prick themselves and monitor everything--once you get the hang of the gluten-free diet, it becomes second nature; something you don't need to think too hard about.

Finally, I hate vegetables, too! and I'm doing fine with food options.........fruits are a good alternative and I eat a lot........there are meats, potatoes, regular stuff, but there are some quality gluten-free specialty foods.........brownies, pancakes, english muffins, bagels......you just need to ask people what they've tried and liked and do a bit of experimenting on your own.

Yeah.......I called them and it's the big ones........all flavors.......(caramel, buttered popcorn, etc.)

Yeah.....I thought my grandma checked......she doesn't have celiac disease, despite having had osteoporosis, scoliosis, and other bone problems for a long time.......anyway, I don't and wasn't going to use Tums, but she was just interested .....I thought she said they were't gluten-free........

Celiacfreeman, I agree that Clan Thompson lists are great........crc0622, thanks for that list from Delphi.......also informative.......finally, I second what Richard said that you can't trust these lists......I do like them, though, cause they give you lists of products that might be gluten-free along with their phone numbers...............that makes it very easy to sit down and call up many products regardless of whether you already have them in the house or not.............for that they are helpful, though I wouldn't take them shopping.

I thought that Tums weren't gluten-free! I don't think they are

I don't think peanut allergies have anything to do with celiac disease. They're common, but I don't think there's any correlation between peanut allergies and celiac disease.

Cool.........all flavors, Richard, or just wintergreen?

Response from Edys ice cream.........

August 30, 2004

Dear celiac3270:

Thank you for your email requesting nutritional information on Edy's Grand

Ice Cream.  In an

increasingly health-conscious society, we are always happy to answer your

questions about our

products.

As a general rule, the gluten in any of our ice cream, frozen yogurt or

novelty products is present

only in added bakery products such as cookies or shortcake.  In most cases

the ice cream itself

contains no gluten.  The modified food starch that you may find listed in

the ingredients is

derived from a vegetable source and is, therefore, gluten-free.  In

addition, all of our Whole

Fruit-Fruit Bars are gluten-free.

A complete list of gluten free products is conveniently located on our

website.  Please log on to

www.edys.com, click on to Flavor Finder, click on to gluten free, and then

click on to the words

Find it.  We hope that this information will be helpful to you.  Please feel

free to call our toll-free

number should you need any further information.  Our representatives will be

happy to help you.

We value our consumers and hope you will continue to enjoy our products.

Please watch your

mail for money saving coupons from Edy's Grand Ice Cream.

Sincerely,

LuAnne Vecchione

Consumer Response Representative

First I'll list my symptoms so you can compare: stomach pains, vomiting, nausea, gas, bloating, low weight, etc.

Okay, now.......stomach pains are one of the classic and relatively common symptoms associated with celiac disease. Bloating, gas, etc. are probably even more common. I have never had this, but I've heard a few on this board that mention a pain under the right ribcage, I believe.........yours is left, but that's the same sort of thing. Celiacs often have trouble with bowel movements: most often diarrhea, but in some cases constipation. Now, there are no set symptoms for celiac disease......some have no symptoms, but I'd say that your symptoms definitely could be celiac disease.......and if your GI thinks so, too, I'd definitely recommend that you get the endoscopy done......regardless of negative or positive bloodwork....good luck........

It's not bad at all........I had one in February and I'm scheduled for another on September 13th.......my advice in dealing with it is not to look it up on the internet or anything.......it's not that big a deal and it can be scary to read the details in articles. When you have it, they do one of two things: drug you so that you are somewhat out of it, but still partially conscious so you can help the doctor (for example, he says, roll on your side, and you can do that)......this seems to be the more commonly practiced way. Although you're technically conscious during the whole procedure, most people can't remember much if anything during the scope. I did it the second way: anystesia......they put you out completely and when you wake up it's done. Finally, don't worry about any pain. First, the piece of the intestine is so microscopic you cannot feel it missing -- if you think you do, it's in your head. Second, the only effects after having it are perhaps a sore throat (and I didn't have that when I was done). Third, you don't need to worry about gagging on the scope--they give you something that numbs your gag reflex or something. Don't worry about it, don't dwell on it, don't read about it; just go to the hospital and do it. Talk to your doctor about eating: I had mine in the morning and wasn't supposed to eat anything after midnight (midnight before biopsy). Although you'll be fine without it, good luck. One thing I'll warn you about. When you go into the procedure room, it's kinda scary cause there are all these machines and tools and whatever -- don't let it scare you.........they're not using all that stuff on you.

-celiac3270

Definitely better to stick to the diet religiously than to cheat.......NEVER cheat......even a few crumbs could throw your intestines off for weeks, regardless of whether you feel it or not. I run a bit, but not enough to consider myself qualified for this topic. I've found that my only problem is that after starting the diet, I tried not to run so maybe I'd have an easier time gaining weight and now I need to rebuild everything so I can get back my endurance.

When will symptoms end? Well, there are those lucky people who get miraculously better in less than a month. Every celiac's body is different so there's no set time, but on average, I'd say it can take a few months. I've been gluten-free for six months and I'm definitely not feeling better. There are numerous people on the board who don't feel better or felt better after a year, and on the high end, people can take even a year and a half or two years to feel completely better. I felt really tired of symptoms after two or three months on the diet also--felt like--I'm doing everything right--why aren't I better.......now 6 months in, it's even more frustrating......patience is key.......there's nothing you can do, but be careful and have patience. It's the doctor's job to find out if there's something else wrong or if it will just take time.......good luck.

Yes.....potatoes are okay.....I eat them all the time....they're fresh produce so there isn't any junk being added to them.........where did you hear that?

I concur . Pre-diagnosis I ate a bagel every morning for breakfast.........for about four years with only very occasional breaks for french toast or some other gluteny breakfast. You'll miss your old food at first, especially while you're in the trial and error stage, trying new things and you experience some really---gross food. Anyway, looking at a bagel now literally makes me feel sick.....I think I've developed such an aversion to this stuff that if I found out for sure that I wasn't a celiac, I'd still have difficulty eating it again.......ick. I think one thing we all dislike is that there's such a lack of spontaneity.....everything has to be planned out--you can't just walk into a deli and pick out something to eat, etc. Additionally, there is a lack of variety after awhile......I already feel like my dinner is always the same. Starch: rice, potato, noodles........Meat: steak, chicken, pork, etc........Vegetable: carrots, beans, broccoli, etc. Anyway, I think beyond the symptoms, which are by far the most aggravating and upsetting, those are two...problems....not ones that I have now, really, but I'm only 13......I know that in 40 years, I'm never going to want to see another potato...what do I do then?

Fruit is good on-the-go food........I guess if you had a plastic spoon that you could toss, yogurt might be pretty good. With most gluten-free yogurts, such as Dannon, the only gluten-free flavor is the plain. However, I know that all flavors of Yoplait Custard Style yogurts are gluten-free....I eat at least two yogurts a day, now....they're really good for digestion cause of all the cultures they have......I think that's what makes them good for you . Anyway, Richard said that all Yoplait is gluten-free......I haven't checked personally, but you might want to call them and confirm their gluten-free status. Hmmm......on-the-go.....Genisoy makes two gluten-free bars......one of them is actually very tasty......there's a Southern Style PB Chocolate something one.....dark brown wrapping, I believe, and a PB bar with honey.........remember, though, that only those two bars are gluten-free......others contain gluten, so you can't try any others like the cheesecake kind, etc. I like the chocolate one, cause it actually tastes a little bit like a candy bar, but you're getting nutrition from it.......14 grams of protein, I think....don't quote me on it, a few calories, a few grams of fat, some carbs, and about 25 vitamins and minerals. Let's see.......don't know if you're a chip person.....I wasn't really, but have been eating a lot since going gluten-free. Many FritoLays products are gluten-free including Cheetos, Lays potato chips, Fritos, and all kinds of Doritos except for the Nacho Cheesier (red package), which contains gluten. Jessica (angel_jd1) posted their updated gluten-free list somewhere.....I have an older version, from April or something, but they're the same, I think.....or similar. Keep in mind that although Lays potato chips are gluten-free (wavy, regular, etc.), Lays Stacks are not........be careful in that sense. You mentioned PB, so in case you don't know which ones are gluten-free, I checked Skippy and all their PBs are gluten-free.....I know that Jif creamy is gluten-free, but I am unsure as to the crunchy, etc.

Good luck.

-celiac3270

Those are great suggestions, Tiffany. Your suggestion of not spending more than half an hour in bed trying to fall asleep is a good one. I find that on those nights that I can't fall asleep, I get more and more agitated lying there and watching the clock than I would if I got up, posted for half an hour and went back to bed.....although I think forty-five minutes trying to fall asleep before getting up would be a better time for me; sometimes I fall asleep in 30 min. Oh, I have tried this once before, too........couldn't fall asleep by 12:00.........got up, watched comedies for an hour, and got to sleep. Of course, this is during the summer.....I wouldn't go to bed at 1 AM during the school year......

As for stress management, this may sound crazy, but I have these tapes by......Paul Overman.......I think they're called 10 min. to relax...........anyway, I find that they're good with dealing with stress, but also notice that when I listen to one, I get really sleepy ....so I guess that might be a good technique.

Anyway, I don't really have sleep problems, but I read this thread and I will put some of these suggestions into practice when I have one of those nights where it just takes forever to fall asleep. Thanks.

LOL......that's rather funny and ironic, Peg.

No problem .......I find that I pick up new or unfamiliar technological things really quickly (I think it's cause I've grown up with it), but my mom has tried to read the message boards at times, is confused how to get around, etc. I have tried to show her a bit, but since she doesn't have celiac disease personally and I'm here picking up new things, she has given up and let me do the reading . Haha......anyway......you're definitely not the only one.....I think I can diagnose her as "message board challenged", as well

You mean, to see every post you made? Okay, you can see every post made by any member you choose if you do the following:

- Click their username: so, on the side of your post where they show your name, number of posts, join date, member #, etc., click strack2004 (or whatever member you're doing).

- This brings up a whole page of statisitics on the member of your choice (average posts per day, total posts, join date, most posts in which forum, interests, e-mail, etc. At the top of this page is the member's name. Look directly under the person's name and you'll see a little button that says "find all posts by this member. Click that button.

- From there, you get pages of the member's posts. They're sorted with the most recent posts first. They don't show the entire posts, but the beginning section, with a button to take you to that forum or another button on the right to take you to the post itself.......click on the button to take you to the post itself, if you want to see the whole post.

I hope this made sense........I think it did, but if not, tell me what part doesn't make sense and I'll try to make it more comprehensive.....hope it works!