celiac3270

I have an anniversary party to go to tomorrow where there will be tons of food. I am bringing mexican cheese dip and tortilla chips but when I asked if I could bring my own dinner the answer was no. So, I will eat heartily at lunch and hide a tuna & rice cake sandwich in my car that I can sneak out and eat. But, I can see me doing the same thing tomorrow that you did at work! Eating and then realizing and spitting it out. We're only human, after all! I'm going to try to fake eating so I won't hurt their feelings but no matter what, I don't feel I can trust the food to be gluten free or not cross-contaminated.

Terri

I think that it's kind of sad how unhelpful/unaccomodating people can be....I mean, not only food manufacturers, but it's kind of sad that you can't even bring your own food there when you have an autoimmune system disorder that doesn't allow you to eat any of that stuff !

-celiac3270

i was sedated but i remembered every bit of what happened and i did not sleep at all afterwards. i can feel where they took the biopsies from - which is kind of wierd

I got put out completely...I could do whichever I wanted, but it's easier, I think, to be put out entirely....I just remember the guy sticking the needle in me to knock me out and then I remember being wheeled to some place where I'd lie until I wake up -- only I was awake as they wheeld me there....well, that's typical celiac3270; getting up early ....anyway...I don't know what happened and was out of it the whole time; much easier. You shouldn't be able to feel where they took it -- it's a microscopic piece of your intestine so it shouldn't hurt -- you should just be able to feel, if anything, a sore throat from where they stuck the tube down your throat. Do you think it's just in your head?

i was very nervous and came on here yesterday to try and console myself - celiac3270, you are so right - it only makes you worry more

I know from experience....I posted when I was diagnosed via bloodwork...but not about the scope. The morning of the scope I looked up endocopy, scope, and other keywords that got me to some health articles with the grisly details ...which got me more nervous since, like I said, I had never had anything done where I was knocked out....I mean, I had broken my head open two or three times, but that was it ....stitiches are really different from scopes...so I was unsure...anyway....

i wont pretend mine was painless and worry free - it most deffinatly wasnt - but the relief i felt afterwards was well worth it - now its done and i can get on with trying to get healthy. the procedure is over very quickly and with hindsight im actually quite pleased i wasnt fully sedated - because i know what they did to me instead of being in the dark.

Mine was painless, though not worry free, either. The nice thing is that once it's over, you know for sure that you had it -- you won't go through life saying "did i really have it?" or "I wonder if all this effort is unnecessary".....that's the nice thing. I guess choosing whether or not you want to be completely out of it is a personal thing....I am glad that I was completely out, cause I would've been more scared to know what's going on...like you said in the beginning of your post...everyone is different.

all the best to anyone awaiting their biopsies - you'll be fine 

Ditto...it's not that big a deal...although it seems like one until it's over.

Congratulations, Nickra.... ...see, it was fine!

-celiac3270

Yeah....I've been to Whole Foods...Fairways is a little more convenient, though...for me.....just a walk across to the west side and then down a ways.....

-celiac3270

Yep...that's what I was told when I called about Crystal Light (also made by Kraft). I didn't know that Planters were made by Kraft, though....cause the only peanuts I had weren't made by them...thanks for clarifying that.

-celiac3270

I know....that's a long time gluten-free to go back and mess it all up ....if it's just a nutritionist that wants you to get the tests done, maybe talk to your doctor and the rest of your family, although in the end, I guess, the decision should be up to you....you're the one who'd have to live like this....I think it's pretty conclusive that you have celiac disease, especially since you have symptoms of it......but it's up to you in the end.

-celiac3270

...I don't know about that....I mean, celiac disease cuts out a lot, but then, when you cut out basic things like corn, arrowroot....I mean, these are the only substitutions we have for wheat and barley.....it's hard enough to find out if foods are gluten-free, but when you then have to check labels of the gluten-free foods to find things that are wrong with THIS diet?....I mean, I don't make decisions for others, but personally, I think that sounds kind of crazy.....

-celiac3270

Yuck....how long have you been gluten-free, again? What tests have you had done? If you've had a biopsy, then I don't see why you would need a blood test, as well....if you haven't, I guess it's your choice if you want to put up with some pain and know for sure....or stay gluten-free and never know for sure. In addition, when you go back to gluten after being gluten-free, you'll get worse symptoms than before when you were consistently gluten-free. I'm not entirely sure what you're testing for...if you are sure that you have it and are willing to follow the diet for life, then there's no need to run 10 different tests to be sure that you have it. I agree with you on that point....when I got the blood test and they told me to stay on gluten for the scope to be sure, I was fine with that because I hadn't begun a gluten-free diet, anyway, so another week wouldn't hurt me.....but after making progress....to purposely retrogress into a sick state.....I kind of agree with you.

-celiac3270

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that Celiac Disease and Celiac Sprue referred to the same thing, but just different names....like celiac disease can be referred to as Gluten Intolerance.

Kim is right...if you're getting a biopsy, continue to eat gluten. Otherwise, your test results may be messed up (if you're borderline Celiac, it could change the test and make it look as if you don't have it...or make it more indefinite).....keep eating gluten unless you decide not to run any more tests, and just assume that it's celiac disease......

-celiac3270

Is that magazine really helpful for celiac disease? If so, is it the best magazine? I was thinking of subscribing to something and heard about this magazine, but was wondering if it's really worth it -- and if there's anything that's better than it......I've never seen it, so I can't judge it, myself, but would appreciate the opinion of others who have seen it....what do you think?

-celiac3270

I wasn't sure who to send an e-mail to, but being told that it would probably pass this next vote, I sent my e-mail to President Bush....shoot those e-mails out, people!!! We need this thing to pass or we're not going to get another chance for quite awhile.

-celiac3270

A few more things...there's a Fairways (big grocerystore-type thing) on 74th and Broadway. It's really packed all the time, but the second floor has a lot of gluten-free foods that are also less expensive because they're not in a healthfood store...

Don't know of any healthfood store locations in midtown, but can list some uptown if anybody will be going there or is willing to go out of their way for them...If anybody wants any help or whatever, you can PM or e-mail me.....being from the city I hope I could have at least something to offer.....

-celiac3270

I did stuff like that towards the beginning. At school, for example, they always provide some sort of snack...in the beginning I found myself gravitating towards it, then remembering that I couldn't and stopping. In addition, I made the careless mistake of picking up a wrong box of cereal while on vacation earlier in the year......etc. I realized half-way through a handful of cornflakes that it wasn't the gluten-free kind, so, like you did, I spit it out. If your friends/co-workers understand, it shouldn't be a problem...this is a health thing...better you spit it out than keep eating it or swallow another bite....you made the right decision

-celiac3270

Hi,

First, welcome to the board. Second, your symptoms are not abnormal at all. There is such a wide variety of symptoms for Celiacs so no symptoms are "abnormal" in any way. Actually, you have some of the common ones. Common symptoms include cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, and weakness. You have the diarrhea, fatigue, nausea (similar to vomiting symptom)...so don't think your symptoms are odd ; they're not. Since you asked, my symptoms included cramping/vomiting as the hardest on me, then occasional diarrhea, constant gas/bloating/distended stomach, and then, not loss of weight, but minimal weight gain over the years (which, being a growing kid, I should've gained.....since starting the diet I've gained nearly 15 pounds!...and I'm thrilled!). I didn't have one very common symptom, fatigue...as a matter of fact, I'm really energized...I naturally wake up between 6 and 7:30 every morning without an alarm clock, go to bed between 10 and 11:30....no energy loss here. As for weakness, I weighed a lot less, so, understandably, I could be pushed around easier in contact sports, but considering my weight, I wasn't a weak person.

Before getting onto the food part, there's your other symptom: panicky/irratable. That, too, is common. In fact, there's another post in the teenagers only section about "how celiac disease affects emotions" and irritability is the most common thing under there. Many of us on the board, including myself, get irritable. In addition, I get anxious whenever I feel a twinge in my stomach (cause cramping/vomiting is my major symptom). Whenever I am sick, say, during the school year, I'm anxious about what I'm missing in school and when I'm not sick (before I was diagnosed) I worried about why I was getting sick all the time and when my symptoms would next return.

I'm not really sure how far along you are, but if you've been led, thus far, to believe that gluten is only in rye, barley, wheat, malt, and debatably oats, then....you don't have the full scoop. For a complete list of forbidden ingredients, go to the site index at Celiac.com, then the sixth thing down (forbidden/safe ingredients), and then get the forbidden list...it's complete and a helpful reference. They also have some lists of safe foods. In the beginning, it's kind of tricky getting used to all the ingredients; I'd be in a store and forget what ingredients were bad or, my first issue, I was confused because a box of pancakes labeled GLUTEN-FREE said "Buckwheat Pancakes" -- this triggered my "no wheat" instinct -- turns out that buckwheat is gluten-free....this stuff can get confusing.

To avoid contamination: get a new toaster oven for ONLY GLUTEN-FREE products. Get a new pot and some cooking utensils for, again, only gluten-free foods. Anything plastic is harder to get completely clean, so if you have any plastic strainers or measuring cups, keep them for the rest of your family, but get new ones, preferably glass for the measuring cup, and some sort of steel for the strainer (these materials are easiest to wash clean if someone uses your stuff by mistake) to avoid contamination. Other than that, it's the simple things. Don't use the same thing to stir gluten-free noodles and non-gluten-free noodles. Don't dish up the gluten-free and non-gluten-free foods with the same utensil....that kind of stuff. You'll become a natural at it quickly, but in the beginning you really have to think. And, if you have any doubt about anything...don't eat it. The symptoms and effects on your intestines are not worth enduring for the five minute pleasure of a favorite snack....be careful.

I think I've posted this list about 10 times....but in case you haven't seen it, I'll post it once again. I compiled a list of good gluten-free products....after all, 75-85% of the gluten-free products taste awful....then there are the 15-25% that taste good or excellent. The key is finding those products with a minimal amount of trial and error ...so it's easiest to get ideas from others who have already tried, errored, and found:

- Store-bought Cookies: try Pamela's Products -- the BEST cookies. The lemon shortbread are decent, but some people find them too strong a lemony taste. However, try the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are AMAZING!!! Even including regular cookies, they are the best store-bought I've ever had.

- Homemade Cookies: if you have 15 minutes to spare, make peanut butter cookies. Very good...even my aunt who hates PB liked them. Preparation time is about five minutes and the recipe calls for 10 min. baking -- it might take 15. All you need is 2 cups of PB (Skippy or Jif), 2 cups of sugar, and 1 egg (this is also good because there aren't any weird gluten-free flours and stuff...where do you buy those things, anyway? I don't like to cook, and I surely don't like to cook something that requires six different types of flour...it's ridiculous and I like simplicity if I am even going to bother cooking something...I don't mind making basic things, but now 6-flour-cookies that take three hours to make and three minutes to eat... ).

- Fruits/Vegetables/Meat: I eat so much more fruit now...apples, bannanas, strawberries, blueberries, canned mandarine oranges, canned peaches, etc. There are, of course, meats: chicken, steak, pork, hamburgers, etc....no fresh meat is excluded...but I often forget about fish, which are, too, gluten-free.

- Bread: People will say Knikinick or however it's spelled is great, but I've found Ener-G to be a bread that tastes astoundingly similar to regular gluten-filled white bread...that's what I use...you make your pick...go with me or the majority!

- Pizza: probably thought you'd never have that again, right? Get Chebe (you can only get it online), but buy the bread mix, not the pizza crust (the bread mix turns out better). Follow the instructions, mush it out into a round "thing", bake as instructed, and then add sauce (Classico is good and the only kind that I know to be gluten-free....but expensive), and gluten-free cheese. It's terriffic. By the way, you can get the Chebe at Open Original Shared Link. Try it...the shipping is free and once you realize that you like it, you can buy it in bulk and get discounts. Please!!!! If you take ANY OF MY ADVICE FROM THIS POST....TRY THE CHEBE!!! It's worth your time.

- Miscellaneous: Raisins, Quaker Rice Cakes, most soft drinks are gluten-free including all kinds (diet, caffeine free, etc.) of Coke, Sprite, Sunkist, Pepsi, etc. As long as you stick with the brand-name companies (not the Supermarket Colas and be careful with Root Beers). There are many gluten-free candies...I actually made a post under the "Teenagers Only Section" for gluten-free candies...check there for the complete list that Gf4Life (Mariann) provided...actually, I'll copy it below:

Hi celiac3270,

I have a list of mainstream gluten-free and milk free candies that I use when shopping for candy for my kids. I got it from the Gluten-free Casein-free Diet Support Group for Autistic kids and they are very strick when it comes to putting products in their booklet each year. I know that Dextrin is one of their ingredients that is avoided, so these should be safe. Still read all the labels, since manufacturers change their formulas far too often:

Nestle: Sweet Tarts, Spree Chewy Candy, Regular Spree Candy

Farley gummy bears

Willy Wonka: Gobstoppers, Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, Nerds, Runts

Mike & Ike: Zours, Jelly Beans, Hot Tamales

Starburst Fruit Chews (NOT Starburst fruit twists!)

Necco: Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, Conversation hearts (Valentines), Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Candy Stix, Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Peach Blossoms (Christmas), Necco Ultramints, Canada Mint & Wintergreen Losenges

Rock Candy (made from pure sugar)

Ce De Candies: Kidz Rings, Candy Fruits, Candy Lipsticks, Smarties

Mars Inc: Skittles, Jelly Beans

Sunkist: Fruit Jems, Jelly Beans, Orange and Cream chews, Super Sour Stars

Sorbee International: Lollypops

Jolly Rancher: Hard Candies, Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly: All flavors of Jelly Beans EXCEPT: Cafe Latte, Buttered Toast, Caramel Corn, Buttered Popcorn, Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Strawberry Cheesecake

This should give you a lot more options and they are all available pretty much everywhere. I can also put together a list of others that you might only find online or in healthfood stores if you would like. Just let me know.

As for chocolate, I found that the Scharfen Berger chocolate bars are very yummy. They are gluten and dairy free by ingredients. The small bars are wrapped in a different facility where they also wrap other chocolates that do contain milk, so as a precaution they put a milk warning on the label. I am very sensitive to dairy reactions and have never had a reaction to these bars. They are a bit pricey and not available everywhere (I got mine at Whole Foods) but they are very nice to have when you are craving chocolate. There are also a few kinds of baking chocolate chips that are gluten and dairy free.

God bless,

Mariann

I have two that sort of tied, but in the end I voted for symptoms.....that's the worst and is the source of my second problem: anxiety and emotions....thanks for replying so quickly...I realize that most Celiacs hate the symptoms, and many also have anxiety or great emotions....I was just wondering which outweighed which...etc....and I got my answer....thank you again.

-celiac3270

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also - any Celiacs living in or around NYC?

I Live in NYC!!

Hi Jools,

I know of a lot of health food stores, but they're all uptown so they might not be helpful for you....there's also a Fairway's (big foodstore-type thing) at 74th and Broadway...go to the 2nd floor -- they have a lot of gluten-free food and its pretty inexpensive because you're not getting it from a healthfood store . PM or e-mail me if you have anymore questions or want food ideas or anything....I might be able to offer some advice or help since I live in NYC, also.....

-celiac3270

Hi,

I apologize if anyone finds this a bit harsh, but nutritionists are usually a waste. I did a ton of research after being diagnosed and nearly everything the nutritionist said was stuff I had already heard. The handouts weren't very helpful and were repeats of everything I already knew. And, this was Anne Lee, the nutritionist that works with the most famous Celiac doctor in the US, maybe the world, Dr. Green! So it's not just that I got a cr*ppy nutritionist, or something.

I guess a nutrionist might be helpful for somebody who was just diagnosed, hasn't researched, and knows nothing of the gluten-free diet. It wasn't for me -- especially since I was weeks in and already knew all this ....frustrating.

I only found out one thing from the nutritionist that some parents might find helpful if they have Celiac kids who don't like their veggies....V8 Splash is gluten-free...all flavors...or so she said. It's a good supplement that actually tastes pretty good -- I tried it....whatever....this board IS indeed the most helpful for ideas.

-celiac3270

celiac3270, yeah that's actually a good idea drinking the Tropicana OJ with calcium (especially since I can't drink milk), actually have that here, though it has added vitamin D.. hopefully that's safe too!

Is there any kinds of Crystal Light you'd recommend? I use to drink that stuff, but the flavors I was getting weren't really appealing to me.

Hi Alexolua,

I'm not a big fan of many of their flavors either. If you want a more "lemonadey" taste, the pink lemonade is okay....I almost always drink the "strawberry kiwi", though...it's the only one that I drink, now.

All Tropicana OJs are safe (+ vitamin D, calcium, whatever). I don't think that I have any medical reason to stay away from milk, but actually DESPISE it (unless it's part of a recipe, or something)....I've never liked to drink milk, so my mom found this to be at terrific alternative. Actually, Tropicana OJ with calcium has MORE calcium than regular milk: 350 v. 300 mg of calcium....and it's so much more palatable to me. Vitamin D is also a good thing to get: Vitamin D and Calcium are both very important for your bones.

-celiac3270

An endoscopy is when they stick a thin tube down your throat and cut 5-6 microscopic pieces of your intestine off, so that they can test them. They take the test in multiple spots because the flattening of the villi can be patcy. There is a camera on the tube, as well, so that while they're in there, they can see (on a screen in the procedure room) the inside of your small intestine. I was kind of concerned going into it cause I had never had anything done to me where I had to be knocked out....it's painless. They knocked me out and although they say you can have a sore throat after, I didn't have one, at all. As a matter of fact, I woke up soon after and felt well enough to leave the hospital, but first they wanted to make sure that my gag reflex was working and that I would't throw up water or apple juice....no big deal, so don't worry about it too much. In addition, don't read up on it the morning it happens...I did that....all it does is make you think it's worse than it really is...you'll be fine.

-celiac3270

Hey celiac3270:

You may be 'only 13' but you are WISE beyond your years. The encouraging posts you write to people on this message board who are struggling with 'symptoms' and frustrations of sticking to the gluten-free diet make me wonder if you should consider becoming a counsellor/therapist.  You're a natural!  Maybe all your experience with celiac disease has made you very empathetic to others who are still struggling or maybe you have a great supportive network of friends and family. Whatever the source of your inspiring, supportive posts, keep them coming! 

BURDEE

Thanks...I try to be helpful to others and appreciate your compliments . I think experience and a great family has helped me....I'll try to keep helping....

-celiac3270

Don't have much time, but have a little to say: first, oats are debatable. Second, you do have to be religious about it...a finger nail of gluten or contamination will throw your intestines off. You have to keep the lifestyle: otherwise you'll get cancer or osteoporosis....you've got to. Here are some foods that I have pasted from Microsoft Word where I keep a list: it should help:

- Store-bought Cookies: try Pamela's Products -- the BEST cookies. The lemon shortbread are decent, but some people find them too strong a lemony taste. However, try the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are AMAZING!!! Even including regular cookies, they are the best store-bought I've ever had.

- Homemade Cookies: if you have 15 minutes to spare, make peanut butter cookies. Very good...even my aunt who hates PB liked them. Preparation time is about five minutes and the recipe calls for 10 min. baking -- it might take 15. All you need is 2 cups of PB (Skippy or Jif), 2 cups of sugar, and 1 egg (this is also good because there aren't any weird gluten-free flours and stuff...where do you buy those things, anyway? I don't like to cook, and I surely don't like to cook something that requires six different types of flour...it's ridiculous and I like simplicity if I am even going to bother cooking something...I don't mind making basic things, but now 6-flour-cookies that take three hours to make and three minutes to eat... ).

- Fruits/Vegetables/Meat: I eat so much more fruit now...apples, bannanas, strawberries, blueberries, canned mandarine oranges, canned peaches, etc. There are, of course, meats: chicken, steak, pork, hamburgers, etc....no fresh meat is excluded...but I often forget about fish, which are, too, gluten-free.

- Bread: People will say Knikinick or however it's spelled is great, but I've found Ener-G to be a bread that tastes astoundingly similar to regular gluten-filled white bread...that's what I use...you make your pick...go with me or the majority!

- Pizza: probably thought you'd never have that again, right? Get Chebe (you can only get it online), but buy the bread mix, not the pizza crust (the bread mix turns out better). Follow the instructions, mush it out into a round "thing", bake as instructed, and then add sauce (Classico is good and the only kind that I know to be gluten-free....but expensive), and gluten-free cheese. It's terriffic. By the way, you can get the Chebe at Open Original Shared Link. Try it...the shipping is free and once you realize that you like it, you can buy it in bulk and get discounts. Please!!!! If you take ANY OF MY ADVICE FROM THIS POST....TRY THE CHEBE!!!

- Miscellaneous: Raisins, Quaker Rice Cakes, most soft drinks are gluten-free including all kinds (diet, caffeine free, etc.) of Coke, Sprite, Sunkist, Pepsi, etc. As long as you stick with the brand-name companies (not the Supermarket Colas and be careful with Root Beers). There are many gluten-free candies...I actually made a post under the "Teenagers Only Section" for gluten-free candies...check there for the complete list that Gf4Life provided...actually, I'll copy it below:

Hi celiac3270,

I have a list of mainstream gluten-free and milk free candies that I use when shopping for candy for my kids. I got it from the Gluten-free Casein-free Diet Support Group for Autistic kids and they are very strick when it comes to putting products in their booklet each year. I know that Dextrin is one of their ingredients that is avoided, so these should be safe. Still read all the labels, since manufacturers change their formulas far too often:

Nestle: Sweet Tarts, Spree Chewy Candy, Regular Spree Candy

Farley gummy bears

Willy Wonka: Gobstoppers, Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, Nerds, Runts

Mike & Ike: Zours, Jelly Beans, Hot Tamales

Starburst Fruit Chews (NOT Starburst fruit twists!)

Necco: Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, Conversation hearts (Valentines), Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Candy Stix, Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Peach Blossoms (Christmas), Necco Ultramints, Canada Mint & Wintergreen Losenges

Rock Candy (made from pure sugar)

Ce De Candies: Kidz Rings, Candy Fruits, Candy Lipsticks, Smarties

Mars Inc: Skittles, Jelly Beans

Sunkist: Fruit Jems, Jelly Beans, Orange and Cream chews, Super Sour Stars

Sorbee International: Lollypops

Jolly Rancher: Hard Candies, Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly: All flavors of Jelly Beans EXCEPT: Cafe Latte, Buttered Toast, Caramel Corn, Buttered Popcorn, Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Strawberry Cheesecake

This should give you a lot more options and they are all available pretty much everywhere. I can also put together a list of others that you might only find online or in healthfood stores if you would like. Just let me know.

As for chocolate, I found that the Scharfen Berger chocolate bars are very yummy. They are gluten and dairy free by ingredients. The small bars are wrapped in a different facility where they also wrap other chocolates that do contain milk, so as a precaution they put a milk warning on the label. I am very sensitive to dairy reactions and have never had a reaction to these bars. They are a bit pricey and not available everywhere (I got mine at Whole Foods) but they are very nice to have when you are craving chocolate. There are also a few kinds of baking chocolate chips that are gluten and dairy free.

God bless,

Mariann 

Chips: most things by Frito Lays (not Doritos), you can have: Lays Potato Chips, Wavy Lays Potato Chips, Cheetos, Fritos, etc. You can get a complete list at Open Original Shared Link

FritoLays Gluten-Free Products:

Last updated August 28, 2003

BAKED DORITOS

Sorry to hear about that....you'll get it, though, with enough persistence.....I don't think there's much that I can say to keep you on the diet during vacation, but I hope you realize its importance and start again once you get back. Give it a chance and try again.....once you can stay consistently on the diet, you'll see improvement....you just have to be consistent....otherwise, all your efforts and disappointments are for nothing....please try it.

-celiac3270

I don't know if they have a problem...I've tried their peanuts....and got sick, but then again, it might very well have been the usual symptoms........I don't know, but I haven't had a peanut in a long time. Feel better.

-celiac3270

First off, you're not alone in getting emotional from Celiac....whenever I have cramping/vomiting symptoms I get REALLY emotional....you know, the: "why me?" feelings. During the school year, I was seeing a counselor there. We talked about celiac disease (he has no clue, but tried to help....). However, he is going to be my teacher next year for Advanced French, and it's difficult to talk about anxiety and emotional issues with a teacher....if he were just a counselor it'd be different, but I feel like I'm keeping my tongue in check when I talk to him....and the idea of seeing someone is to open up. Because of my anxiety and emotional issues, my doctor suggested I talk to someone over the summer....he realizes that you can't really talk to someone at school about issues so personal: he feels that school should be kept separate from something like this....anyway, the point of all this: I understand what you mean about being emotional (I am still really emotional whenever I try to tell anybody what I'm feeling....). In addition, I can understand how you'd be overwhelmed beginning the diet....it's just about taking all this one step at a time....after being blood-test diagnosed, I ate gluten for awhile since I had the endoscopy after.....this is a good chance for you to learn everything you can about the diet: seize this opportunity and it'll be so much easier when you officially start, however, stay on gluten until after the scope.

Second, that is terriffic that your husband is so supportive that he'll go on the diet with you. The hardest thing would be to be alone in this...you need people to lean on when you feel emotional or upset.....it's really nice to have someone with you who is helpful.......you're lucky for that.....my mom is that kind of person for me....she helps me find good products, helps me deal with symptoms, emotions, and the like. It makes me so much stronger having someone to support me the way she does.

Third, don't expect to find much in pantries or grocery stores...whatever's fresh (vegetables, fruits, meats), you can have, most sodas you can have, you can have a select few big-name cereals, and most FritoLays chips:

FritoLays Gluten-Free Products:

Last updated August 28, 2003

BAKED DORITOS

I'm 13 years-old...still a kid...and therefore, with some advice to offer. One of the reasons why someone would dislike the gluten-free diet would be because of the restrictions and limitations that come with it. After all, if your daughter could eat a macaroni and cheese that tastes the same, a delicious pizza, and bread that is identical to that which she used to eat, it would be no big deal....just don't eat anything that other people give you....so, the key is: find replacements...quickly, so she doesn't develop a great aversion to the gluten-free diet, and two: try to make her feel normal....although I am not one of them, I think that a lot of kids want to fit in with everyone else. The less uncomfortable and different she feels eating gluten-free foods or dealing with people who aren't eating gluten-free foods, the better. Of course, it's not as simple as: find replacements...therefore, I'll give you some suggestions. I keep a list of good gluten-free foods in a word document to post for newbies needing good gluten-free foods. I remember the first gluten-free bread I ate: it was disgusting and I was really upset at the prospect that this kind of cr*p (excuse the term) would make up my diet....for the rest of my life. The less exposure to these foods, the more optimistic a Celiac can be. I was lucky to find the board early on and it helped me avoid running into bad-tasting gluten-free foods...here are some suggestions:

- Store-bought Cookies: try Pamela's Products -- the BEST cookies. The lemon shortbread are decent, but some people find them too strong a lemony taste. However, try the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are AMAZING!!! Even including regular cookies, they are the best store-bought I've ever had.

- Homemade Cookies: if you have 15 minutes to spare, make peanut butter cookies. Very good...even my aunt who hates PB liked them. Preparation time is about five minutes and the recipe calls for 10 min. baking -- it might take 15. All you need is 2 cups of PB (Skippy or Jif), 2 cups of sugar, and 1 egg (this is also good because there aren't any weird gluten-free flours and stuff...where do you buy those things, anyway? I don't like to cook, and I surely don't like to cook something that requires six different types of flour...it's ridiculous and I like simplicity if I am even going to bother cooking something...I don't mind making basic things, but now 6-flour-cookies that take three hours to make and three minutes to eat... ).

- Fruits/Vegetables/Meat: I eat so much more fruit now...apples, bannanas, strawberries, blueberries, canned mandarine oranges, canned peaches, etc. There are, of course, meats: chicken, steak, pork, hamburgers, etc....no fresh meat is excluded...but I often forget about fish, which are, too, gluten-free.

- Bread: People will say Knikinick or however it's spelled is great, but I've found Ener-G to be a bread that tastes astoundingly similar to regular gluten-filled white bread...that's what I use...you make your pick...go with me or the majority!

- Pizza: probably thought you'd never have that again, right? Get Chebe (you can only get it online), but buy the bread mix, not the pizza crust (the bread mix turns out better). Follow the instructions, mush it out into a round "thing", bake as instructed, and then add sauce (Classico is good and the only kind that I know to be gluten-free....but expensive), and gluten-free cheese. It's terriffic. By the way, you can get the Chebe at Open Original Shared Link. Try it...the shipping is free and once you realize that you like it, you can buy it in bulk and get discounts. Please!!!! If you take ANY OF MY ADVICE FROM THIS POST....TRY THE CHEBE!!!

- Miscellaneous: Raisins, Quaker Rice Cakes, most soft drinks are gluten-free including all kinds (diet, caffeine free, etc.) of Coke, Sprite, Sunkist, Pepsi, etc. As long as you stick with the brand-name companies (not the Supermarket Colas and be careful with Root Beers). There are many gluten-free candies...I actually made a post under the "Teenagers Only Section" for gluten-free candies...check there for the complete list that Gf4Life provided...actually, I'll copy it below:

Hi celiac3270,

I have a list of mainstream gluten-free and milk free candies that I use when shopping for candy for my kids. I got it from the Gluten-free Casein-free Diet Support Group for Autistic kids and they are very strick when it comes to putting products in their booklet each year. I know that Dextrin is one of their ingredients that is avoided, so these should be safe. Still read all the labels, since manufacturers change their formulas far too often:

Nestle: Sweet Tarts, Spree Chewy Candy, Regular Spree Candy

Farley gummy bears

Willy Wonka: Gobstoppers, Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, Nerds, Runts

Mike & Ike: Zours, Jelly Beans, Hot Tamales

Starburst Fruit Chews (NOT Starburst fruit twists!)

Necco: Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, Conversation hearts (Valentines), Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Candy Stix, Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Peach Blossoms (Christmas), Necco Ultramints, Canada Mint & Wintergreen Losenges

Rock Candy (made from pure sugar)

Ce De Candies: Kidz Rings, Candy Fruits, Candy Lipsticks, Smarties

Mars Inc: Skittles, Jelly Beans

Sunkist: Fruit Jems, Jelly Beans, Orange and Cream chews, Super Sour Stars

Sorbee International: Lollypops

Jolly Rancher: Hard Candies, Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly: All flavors of Jelly Beans EXCEPT: Cafe Latte, Buttered Toast, Caramel Corn, Buttered Popcorn, Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Strawberry Cheesecake

This should give you a lot more options and they are all available pretty much everywhere. I can also put together a list of others that you might only find online or in healthfood stores if you would like. Just let me know.

As for chocolate, I found that the Scharfen Berger chocolate bars are very yummy. They are gluten and dairy free by ingredients. The small bars are wrapped in a different facility where they also wrap other chocolates that do contain milk, so as a precaution they put a milk warning on the label. I am very sensitive to dairy reactions and have never had a reaction to these bars. They are a bit pricey and not available everywhere (I got mine at Whole Foods) but they are very nice to have when you are craving chocolate. There are also a few kinds of baking chocolate chips that are gluten and dairy free.

God bless,

Mariann

Chips: most things by Frito Lays (not Doritos), you can have: Lays Potato Chips, Wavy Lays Potato Chips, Cheetos, Fritos, etc. You can get a complete list at Open Original Shared Link

FritoLays Gluten-Free Products:

Last updated August 28, 2003

BAKED DORITOS

Wow...that's horrible....first off, your problems with dairy/casein/lactose, second your problems with your girlfriend, and third, the fact that rather than just try to cover it up, she actually tried to poison you! I don't really know anything about this casein thing...I've been staying dairy/lactose/casein limited...but not concerned to have some dairy slip in...just concerned with large amounts of it.

It's hard to find wheat-free/gluten-free/dairy-free/casein-free/lactose-free foods, but I've found one...and it's soy free....and it's the most delicious, realistic-tasting brownie I've ever had.....Foods By George makes this brownie....it's terrific because it is a friendly food for nearly everyone....and delicious. Technically, I only need to stay away from gluten, so I don't also have to be soy-free, dairy free, etc....but I eat it anyway, because although it's really good for those with lots of allergies or intollerances, the manufacturers didn't sacrifice taste in making it.

Are you lactose intollerant or just staying lactose/casein/dairy free to help your intestines in the healing process? If you aren't....then once you're back onto dairy and the like, try Foods By George's corn muffins....also amazingly realistic...but only wheat/gluten-free, so not good for those who need to watch dairy, as well.

Mainly, this post was to provide condolences for someone who is obviously going through a rough time. I consider it difficult to endure all the aspects of a Celiac and the gluten-free diet...and I'm a 13-year-old who doesn't need to worry about anyone sabotaging me (and actually have everyone around me on my side), and also a 13-year-old that doesn't need to deal with relationships besides those with family or basic friends....I, and most of us, have no idea.....good luck getting through all this.

-celiac3270