It's Not The End Of The World.

[ShayFL]

I see this topic has taken a sweet detour. It is more dense. But I like it.

Neem is an herb. Google it.

[darlindeb25]

I'm sorry Eric, I think I missed your first post. When you are the celiac like me, sometimes you get defensive. It's very rare, but there are times I sit down and ask, "Why me?" The worst time of the year is coming up, for me anyways. When the holidays come in, and they advertise all the great holiday foods on tv, I get very depressed. I miss mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and all the desserts...and no, I can't substitue, simply because I can't have all those things anymore. So, if I whine then, it's only because I need a hug. I didn't mean to come down on you so hard...I'm sorry.

I'll add my two cents.

There are some on here where this is a true hardship...if I had to watch every little thing I do, toothpaste, shampoo, walking past the bakery isle, then that truly is tough to do.

However for the majority of us...I think people whine too much about it.

This statement is very true. I honestly do not feel that I am a whiner. My sister does not have any of the intolerance's I have, other than the gluten. She is a great cook, and her family sometimes forgets to leave her gluten free food, cause they love it so much. My dad still enjoys his toast with his peanut butter, because he doesn't have my intolerance's either. My problem comes when others fail to understand why I must eat the way I do. I do not understand why they can't just accept me the way I am, and stop worrying about why I am not eating like everyone else. I still enjoy the togetherness.

Like Shay says, there are ingredients in your chicken recipe I can't have. No tomatoes, no onions, no peppers, and actually, spices usually make me ill. My food is very simple, and very bland...it's not the way I want it, but it's the way I have to eat. End of story. Some things in life, just are not fair!!! After 8 yrs, you would think I would be used to it!!!

[Eric-C]

I'll admit I am a big non-believer in the medical industry.

I see a lot of people on here trying to take meds to fight off various things.

You can never teach your body to do its normal job if your helping it. If you work out you don't build muscle if someone is helping you lift the weights.

So when you substitute all these other means for what you body does naturally you may not be helping yourself.

I know how I feel when I have gluten and it mimics a lot of what other people say, but so many try to supliment the way they feel with meds.

Thankfully the endocronologist I saw was great. He said it sounded like I had diabetes, overactive thyroid, etc like a lot of people here say they have.

My healing time is about 1-3 weeks. By the 2nd or 3rd week I'm sure a lot of people are looking for fixes. You might be trying a medicated fix before your body has time to react.

Tolerances are built too....you cannot build a tolerance to gluten, its a disease not a allergic reaction. For those that have other reactions have you root caused the reason?

Obviously if you've been suffering damage for 20+ years there may be other factors at work but for those who develope new allergies...why?

In the past I've thought I've been allergic to:

tea

potatoes(nightshade)

milk

soy

tofu

What am I really allergic to, nothing....they were systematic of another issue.

The stress is trying something or worrying that something is in the food?

I wholly believe in the idea of support.

I took Cipro a few years back and had a terrible reaction. I think it made my Celiac's 10x's worse especially the sugar part of it. I got on a few websites where other people had suffered from Cipro's wonderful benefits.

I read stories about people who literally went nuts, off the deep end. It really jacks you around mentally because of sugar issues. Some people came out fine, some people didn't. I actually called the Psych ward at the University of Michigan 3 days after taking it I had so much anxiety that I could not sit still.

I was like that in various stages for 3-4 months but in reading about all these people and their problems...the ones who made it out OK and the ones who didn't were the ones who didn't give up and the ones who did.

I made myself better.

What I am trying to get across is you have a lot more control over yourself than you realize.

I was the heretic in Catholic grade school when I wrote a paper on biorythym.

I noticed that foods that did bother me all the rest of the time didn't bother me if I was out with friends or I was very relaxed.

Now that may sound all mystical and I'm not that kind of person but it makes me wonder how many people out there could work on their issues if they weren't prescribed everything in the book.

I have ZERO doubt in my mind, ADD, ADHD, and all that crap they are pumping kids full of Ritalin and Lithium is caused by gluten and wheat.

I hear of people with problem kids and its the food...I also believe in KISS, keep it simple stupid....don't make GRAND statements, look for the easiest fix and cause.

Too many drugs, too many pills, not enough simple common sense.

I talked to a woman I work with who has a grandson with behavioral issues at school. She even read about gluten and the effects of the high sugar/carb'd foods. Psychologist gave him drugs...when I mentioned taking him off of the other foods "Well he likes them"

So we're down to medicating ourselves around our problems instead of solving them.

That is the feeling I get with some of the posts, not all of them, but think about how many people read these and never post?

[darlindeb25]

Too many drugs, too many pills, not enough simple common sense.

I take no medication. My first neurologist thought my headaches were from the pain in my neck...he said I was not getting enough sleep because of the pain, so he prescribed Topamax. I took it just as he said, I increased it when he said. I finally got an appt with the neuro I really wanted to see, he says, "Stop the Topamax, it isn't doing anything for you." I stopped taking it.

Because of my intolerance's, which are very real...I do take vitamins. A good multiple vitamins (which all celiac's should take), Vit D, because my D is low, Ester C, B6, and B12 for my neuropathy. I do not take any pain meds for the neuropathy, and I won't, not until I can't take it anymore, and I am hoping that will never happen.

An intolerance is very different from an allergy. I am not allergic to foods, I am intolerant to them. It's great that you found you were not truly intolerant, but that does not mean it's true of all of us. I have tested myself over and over, making sure I truly am intolerant to certain things. I am. All grains make me sick, and I do not enjoy being sick. I much prefer the fact that I am strong enough to not eat the things that bother me.

I respect your right to an opinion, please respect ours. I know you keep telling us you are not meaning to upset anyone, yet you keep making us feel as though we do not know what we are doing. That isn't fair. I am the only person who has been able to make me feel better. obviously, I know what I am doing.

[Eric-C]

Deb,

Your situation is different than the ones I'm speaking of. If you've done all you can then you know your situation.

I'm speaking more to those who go in with something and immediately are prescribed meds when the doc doesn't understand the issue.

They wanted to put me on anti-spasmodics because they thought I had eschemia of the bowel...

[VioletBlue]

I can't handle sweet potatoes and yams either.

And you thought I was kidding about the half the prdouce department thing.

Violet....I make delicious fries out of sweet potatoes....yummy!! Cut like fries, sprinkle with sea salt and pepper....drizzle with olive oil and bake at 350 until starting to turn brown.

[VioletBlue]

Yes, exactly. And there's the part that makes it hard. Maybe, maybe, if it had all come at me at once. If the Celiacs and the nightshades and the corn and every other allergy or intolerance had come at once and I could have gotten it all over and done with in one fell swoop, maybe I could have just moved on from there. BUT IT DON'T WORK THAT WAY. That's the hard part. First I went gluten-free. Then after several months the nightshade problem reared it's ugly head. Then more time and the corn thing which I'm still trying to figure out the parameters of. Then one by one other things that I loved became indigestible to me; things like avocados and cucumbers and pineapple and artichokes and the list goes on. One by one this stuff hits and each time it does I have to readjust me life again; redefine my diet, take one more thing away from myself.

That sucks. That is a nonstop adventure in grief. And I have to worry about what might be next. Am I done? Is there more? What's next that I get to wrestle with? How many more choices will I loose?

So yeah, sorry, I'm gonna whine every time I lose another option. If that's not happening to you, terrific. I'm happy for you. No, truly I am. No one should have to deal with this.

As for the "inconvenience" of living like this, I love to cook. I was into whole foods before I was diagnosed. But I also had all the colors of the rainbow to play with when it came to cooking back then. It's not inconvenient to have to avoid all those foods, it's HARD. It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I have fewer options to work with. I object to being told my problem is that I'm lazy or that I like convenient foods. That is condescending and I don't appreciate it.

Ok, that very well could be the truth for you. For me, going gluten free stopped the constant diarrhea, the panic attacks calmed considerably, and I lost 60#. I am one of the people, who when malabsorption hits, I gain weight. I felt much better, had my life back again. Then 3 yrs into being gluten free, the soy intolerance reared it's ugly head, 6 months later my corn intolerance hit. Then in probably another 6 months, my nightshade intolerance hit........these all require individual attention. These intolerance's are not because of celiac disease, they are in addition too celiac disease.

[darlindeb25]

Exactly Violet...exactly how I feel.

[VioletBlue]

Ahhhh, thank you Darlindeb.

See, there's the thing. Many of us, particularly women, come here to SHARE what we feel. That's what women do. And by sharing how they feel and sharing their experiences it helps them to cope. What some may see as whining or a competition to be the sickest, others understand as commiseration and companionship. Just being understood means SO MUCH to most women. Men tend to approach problems from the point of view of how do I fix this. They don't as a rule share. They don't get comfort from sharing their feelings; they just want to fix it. There are exceptions, but that's the biggest difference between men and women.

I'd also suggest, for anyone who hasn't read it, to track down the threads on Leaky Gut. They're illuminating and might explain people like me and our battle with intolerances and allergies. But again, that's about sharing so you understand, not about fixing, because no one really has a handle on fixing Leaky Gut or Celiacs just yet.

Violet

Exactly Violet...exactly how I feel.

[JNBunnie1]

Ahhhh, thank you Darlindeb.

See, there's the thing. Many of us, particularly women, come here to SHARE what we feel. That's what women do. And by sharing how they feel and sharing their experiences it helps them to cope. What some may see as whining or a competition to be the sickest, others understand as commiseration and companionship. Just being understood means SO MUCH to most women. Men tend to approach problems from the point of view of how do I fix this. They don't as a rule share. They don't get comfort from sharing their feelings; they just want to fix it. There are exceptions, but that's the biggest difference between men and women.

I'd also suggest, for anyone who hasn't read it, to track down the threads on Leaky Gut. They're illuminating and might explain people like me and our battle with intolerances and allergies. But again, that's about sharing so you understand, not about fixing, because no one really has a handle on fixing Leaky Gut or Celiacs just yet.

Violet

I haven't lost as many foods as you have, I seem to have the 'normal' ones (gluten and peanuts, and dairy when I get glutened) But I understand how frustrating it is to have choices taken away from you, food or otherwise.

Completely off topic, (and I realize this is 'problem-solving' and not 'sharing') but did I read recently that it's theorized that leaky-gut is caused by candida, which will proliferate in your system, and then when it doesn't get enough sugar, it creates little spikes that stab your insides looking for food (sugar), and that's what causes leaky-gut?

It sounds like if you have a leaky-gut thing and maybe are able to resolve it through diet at some point, some of these intolerances may fade. My understanding is that people become intolerant of things (when it's due to leaky-gut) because there's too much going directly into their system? So once it's all 'cleaned out', and the holes are healed, some people have success adding certain things back in. I hope that can happen for you.

[lsmall05]

Well, I'm back. I started this topic last week and had no idea I'd come back to 3 pages of replies.

I started this topic after reading topic after topic of people saying... "I was just diagnosed, I feel so helpless."

My intention was certainly not to say If you don't get sick, you can eat it. I know this is not the truth, and I won't be eating the cheese sauce anymore since I know whats in it.

My original post was directed at the newcomers, not those of you that have been dealing with it for years. If you've had it for years, you know there are alternatives, more and more everyday.

Living gluten free really does suck some days, so does going to school, going to work, and having to pay taxes.

I just couldn't stand to let newcomers be filled with all the whining which was the first hundred topics I read here.

For those of you that I offended, I apologize. You are more than welcome to express your feelings in an open forum. I think those of you that are veterans should really be more of an encouragement.

Perhaps 'Mild Case' is the wrong way to put it, but I use what shampoo I want, what toothpaste I want, and kiss my girlfriend after she eats a sandwich.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You should get a doctor that knows Celiac, and you should stick to the Gluten Free diet. Period. However, doing this is not the hardest thing in life for me.

For those of you that are constantly worried about everything Glutening you, I do feel very sorry for you. I'm living life to its fullest and have learned that I need not be overly worried about these things. (I've consulted my doctor and he agrees!) I think more and more we will be seeing Celiac diagnosed sooner, and not everyone will have developed major health consequences from years of small intestine abuse. They need to know that small changes make a big difference!

[lsmall05]

Not feeling a thing means nothing.

My aunt said the same thing for 50 years about smoking until she developed emphasaema.

Can you provide scientific evidence about

Before encouraging others to play Russian roulette with their health I would encourage you to do some reading.

If after doing this you wish, like my aunt to disregard scientific research and continue to damage yourself then that is your own personal decision however you should not encourage others to endanger their health and life.

I'm sorry to hear of your aunt.

Before replying, you quoted me at saying... "Eat Gluten Free and live happy" at no point did I say "Take your chances, you'll be fine".

I've read and read, I know what Celiac does, and I haven't experienced the dramatic effects of it as some here have.

[lsmall05]

Having celiac isn't the end of the world...finding out we have it, is a new beginning for many of us. Some of us get very ill, and to be honest, we are the lucky ones! We DO NOT feel ignorance is bliss, we definitely do not eat gluten for the best reason...we want to live a long life. I would much prefer knowing I was glutened over not realizing it!

There is no "mild case" of celiac. That's like saying you are a "little bit" pregnant. You either are pregnant or you arent, you are gluten free and doing the best you can to stay that way, or you don't really care about your health. If you are celiac, you can't eat the cheese your friend has been feeding you, it doesn't matter if you feel it or not. The damage is still being done. Is the risk of cancer not scary enough for you???

I worry more about people who feel like you, and people, like you, who tell other's it's ok to eat small amounts of gluten. You are doing everyone a great disservice by saying those things. When you are a celiac/gluten intolerant, it is never ok to eat a little gluten. GLUTEN IS POISON TO US.

You are right, it's not the end of the world, especially for those of us who do everything we can to stay totally gluten free, if we complain a little, it's probably because we aren't feeling well and we need some support. That's what a forum is for. I feel very sorry for you, you just don't get it!!!

There are indeed less severe cases of celiac, consult your doctor.

I am in no way encouraging people to eat gluten, as I stated EAT GLUTEN FREE. There does have to be a realization though that you are going to screw up without even knowing it. I can eat something and not feel a thing, but I know what is being done, so I won't be doing it again.

You have all assumed that I feel no depression, not helplessness at times. Is it possible for a Celiac patient to not get frustrated at times?

Lastly, I guess I missed the point of the forum. I see now it is more about complaining with other people with Celiac than to be a support forum for those that are struggling. Being negative just makes you want to eat a glutenous cookie.

[gfp]

There are indeed less severe cases of celiac, consult your doctor.

I am in no way encouraging people to eat gluten, as I stated EAT GLUTEN FREE. There does have to be a realization though that you are going to screw up without even knowing it. I can eat something and not feel a thing, but I know what is being done, so I won't be doing it again.

You have all assumed that I feel no depression, not helplessness at times. Is it possible for a Celiac patient to not get frustrated at times?

Lastly, I guess I missed the point of the forum. I see now it is more about complaining with other people with Celiac than to be a support forum for those that are struggling. Being negative just makes you want to eat a glutenous cookie.

I think you missed to point but not how you think....

You have never been 100% gluten free so you don't really know what your missing. (I don't mean this badly read the rest)

If we take my aunt, she would have told you she was healthy, no problems from smoking... etc. etc.

If you asked about her skin she would say "too much sun" ... if you asked about her cough... "just a little cold right now" ...

Unfortunately, for my aunt by the time she realised it was almost too late. Actually her case is relatively mild so in some ways she's lucky. The point is (and I know you have commented on peoples sig's) ... there are actually a lot of people here who were asymptomatic for a long time. During this time they did a lot of damage to their bodies.

Its paradoxical perhaps that 10 yrs ago the strongest reason for a gluten-free diet was cancer risk... and today that is the last of our worries (mostly).

Most of us here took years to be diagnosed, most of us had many other problems other than loose stools.

Almost all of us started out thinking "I've been eating it for years, if I remove major items I'll be fine"

Those who actually try a 100% gluten-free diet mostly find they suddenly get rid of symptoms they didn't realise they had.

I never realised my nerve damage was from gluten.... etc. and its got a lot better but its not completely better and I suspect at my age never will be. My migranes however have disapeared almost completely and even if I get one (in a blue moon) the severity is nowhere near as bad.

My original post was directed at the newcomers, not those of you that have been dealing with it for years. If you've had it for years, you know there are alternatives, more and more everyday.

This is the exact reason you received the response you did.

We are a community here and we are as protective of newcomers as we are about old timers.

Nowhere is it written we must not encourage newcomers to brush the crumbs off a burger or peel cheese of a pizza. It is a community opinion we do not encourage new comers to damage themselves out of ignorance.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You should get a doctor that knows Celiac, and you should stick to the Gluten Free diet. Period. However, doing this is not the hardest thing in life for me.

For those of you that are constantly worried about everything Glutening you, I do feel very sorry for you. I'm living life to its fullest and have learned that I need not be overly worried about these things. (I've consulted my doctor and he agrees!) I think more and more we will be seeing Celiac diagnosed sooner, and not everyone will have developed major health consequences from years of small intestine abuse. They need to know that small changes make a big difference!

Again you give a non sequitur,

You say stick to a gluten-free diet yet say you do not?

You put faith in a doctor who encourages you not to be gluten-free?

Most of us here had lousy information from our Dr's because they told us what your Dr is telling you.

You have all assumed that I feel no depression, not helplessness at times. Is it possible for a Celiac patient to not get frustrated at times?

Do you get depressed because you have celiac disease or do you get depressed because you eat gluten and damage your endorphin receptors?

Has your MD explained this cause and effect? Probably not ... because most MD's that think they are celiac disease aware are not.

Perhaps we should not be so hard, afterall most of us started out like you.

I certainly had no intention of being super-sensitive. Then again I had no hope of ever getting rid of the migranes that have plangued me since childhood. Quite honestly, a little diarrhea is not the end of my day. A few cramps is not the be all and end all and I don't worry much about the cancer risks because they are quite small.

What makes me so pro 100% gluten-free is the complete difference I feel.

If I feel helpless it is because of popular medical opinion and lack of knowledge about celiac disease.

I have no problems with the diet, the inconvenience of not getting a slice of pizza or sandwich can be annoying but I really have no problems after 5 years with eating gluten-free as regards the foods I eat.

You are a nice breath of fresh air, please don't take offence BUT....

You are perhaps the person turning up at the accident blackspot where people have laid out wreaths to dead children saying "hey but the view is lovely from here". It might be a great view, indeed those accidents might be because the drivers are looking at the view but telling the parents "get over the loss and appreciate the view" will not win friends.

Hey, I love your positive outlook.... but don't get too involved looking at the view!

[JNBunnie1]

GFP, please understand that this is not a criticism, but you are very hard to understand. You ramble and sort of just expect us to be able to follow your scientific analogies. I totally didn't get half of that post. I think what you're trying to say is that-quote-

"Perhaps 'Mild Case' is the wrong way to put it, but I use what shampoo I want, what toothpaste I want, and kiss my girlfriend after she eats a sandwich."

This means you are NOT gluten free. Period. Just because you don't feel side effects doesn't mean you should encourage other people to be less diligent. Like GFP said, we are very protective of newcomers. That's all that's happening here.

[gfp]

GFP, please understand that this is not a criticism, but you are very hard to understand. You ramble and sort of just expect us to be able to follow your scientific analogies. I totally didn't get half of that post. I think what you're trying to say is that-quote-

"Perhaps 'Mild Case' is the wrong way to put it, but I use what shampoo I want, what toothpaste I want, and kiss my girlfriend after she eats a sandwich."

This means you are NOT gluten free. Period. Just because you don't feel side effects doesn't mean you should encourage other people to be less diligent. Like GFP said, we are very protective of newcomers. That's all that's happening here.

Well i think you put it better....

As you say this is NOT gluten free.... it's perhaps gluten-lite.

What I am trying to explain is most of us actually started out like his. We simply didn't realise and our MD didn't know or think to mention it.

Most of us actually got a lot better on gluten-lite ... but its not the end of the story. Many people here still had problems and then tried 100% gluten-free or CF-lactose/soy free as well.

It seems that the worse we are the more we need to cut out to get slightly better.

How can I put it simply....

Its like taking a completely unhealthy person: someone who has a lifestyle based round hard rugs, alcohol abuse, smoking, junk food and no exersize.

They give up one of these and say 'hey now I'm healthy'.

Exersize is a waste of time, eating healthy a waste of time etc.

[VioletBlue]

NOTHING EVER makes me want to eat gluten. I don't care how depressed or frustrated I am, gluten is never an option. Is anyone here really going to do that?

People who struggle will complain from time to time. Sorry, that's the nature of the beast. Struggle is not easy, particularly this struggle. I don't know of anyone who in struggling with something this tough who doesn't complain. It's human nature. To do otherwise is what I would find odd. But again, what you see as complaining other people probably see as sharing their experiences and how they are feeling. It's a difference in viewpoint and opinion.

There are indeed less severe cases of celiac, consult your doctor.

I am in no way encouraging people to eat gluten, as I stated EAT GLUTEN FREE. There does have to be a realization though that you are going to screw up without even knowing it. I can eat something and not feel a thing, but I know what is being done, so I won't be doing it again.

You have all assumed that I feel no depression, not helplessness at times. Is it possible for a Celiac patient to not get frustrated at times?

Lastly, I guess I missed the point of the forum. I see now it is more about complaining with other people with Celiac than to be a support forum for those that are struggling. Being negative just makes you want to eat a glutenous cookie.

[greendog]

What makes it a little easier to live with the Gluten allergy is there are a lot more choices than there were in 1993 when I was diagnosed. I'm not a full blown celiac and was in my 40s before the allergy hit me, so I can still remember all those great things like Pizza, black forest cake, deli rye bread, etc. etc. etc. But I learned long ago to avoid all of those things like the plague. I read some of the postings on this site, and some of you people are playing Russian Rollette with gluten instead of bullets. The kid themselves into thinking they can try a little of those things with gluten in them, and the answer is no, no, no. I accidently get in to it every once in a while, and am reminded of how much better I feel when I'm 100% gluten free. The weird thing with my gluten allergy is I can drink a few lite beers like Miller Lite or Corona Lite without any side affects, but can't eat a few crumbs of toast. Gods little joke on this Dog I guess. When I read a label and it doesn't say gluten free, then it ain't gluten free and it goes back on the shelf. But I do feel for those worse off than me, and say a little prayer for each one.

[Chrissyb]

I sit here now reading all these post and my stomach is killing me and I want to throw up. I know what I had for dinner was safe but 5 nights ago I got gluten for a braut I ate and I am still suffering. There is no way I would eat anything with gluten unpurpose this was by accident, and I am still fighting. It is worse for me since I have MS so when I get glutened it kicks up my ms symptoms. I know that sometimes I do come in here and whine but I have been so grateful for this site without it I would be lost. I still would not know what is wrong with me for the most part and would not know what to stay away from and how to cook good foods. This site has been nothing but encouragement to me. IT HAS BEEN A GOD SEND!!!!!

[curlyfries]

The weird thing with my gluten allergy is I can drink a few lite beers like Miller Lite or Corona Lite without any side affects,............. When I read a label and it doesn't say gluten free, then it ain't gluten free and it goes back on the shelf.

????????

BTW.....there are a lot of safe foods that do not actually say gluten free.

When I first found celiac.com, I was new to celiac and doing stupid stuff like eating the cheese off of pizza. I read post after post, old and new. Anything I wanted to know, anything I was feeling, I found in those threads......and I learned A LOT. Sure celiac is hard, but when I read everyone else's questions, their complaints, their sorrow.......I knew I was not alone. I read for a couple of months before I even joined and asked my own question, and I know many other members started out the same way.

My point is this.......granted, a lot of newbie questions seem to ask the same things over and over again. And some of it could be avoided if they would search more. But.......we all need to practice tolerance. I remember how frantic I felt in the beginning when I thought I was doing it right, only to learn that there was much more to being gluten free than I ever imagined. Many of us can not vent to the people in our lives because they don't want to hear it. This is a safe and comforting place........at least it should be.

[GFinDC]

I wonder if it would be worthwhile to do a thread on how things have improved for people after going gluten-free? What positive changes they have experienced?

[gfp]

????????

When I first found celiac.com, I was new to celiac and doing stupid stuff like eating the cheese off of pizza. I read post after post, old and new. Anything I wanted to know, anything I was feeling, I found in those threads......and I learned A LOT. Sure celiac is hard, but when I read everyone else's questions, their complaints, their sorrow.......I knew I was not alone. I read for a couple of months before I even joined and asked my own question, and I know many other members started out the same way.

This is EXACTLY why we all are so protective of newbies....

Is eating cheeze of pizza stupid? I don't think its stupid, its just badly informed. I prettymuch think 90% of us would be doing this unless we found this board or others like it.

This and similar issues are just not the sort of thing a Dr or GI are going to tell you.

Being gluten-free is not so much hard as about self education. You can find that info in a few places but YOU always have to find it, it doesn't come looking for you.

BTW.....there are a lot of safe foods that do not actually say gluten free.

Again .... lots of people get diagnosed and are given the impression that they can ONLY eat specially controlled dietary foods.

Here in the UK its specifically a problem as the dangerous non-profit CUK get in as soon as your diagnosed and give out leaflets pretty much implying all you can eat is food from their sponsors... without boards like this one many people would never realise.

My point is this.......granted, a lot of newbie questions seem to ask the same things over and over again. And some of it could be avoided if they would search more. But.......we all need to practice tolerance. I remember how frantic I felt in the beginning when I thought I was doing it right, only to learn that there was much more to being gluten free than I ever imagined. Many of us can not vent to the people in our lives because they don't want to hear it. This is a safe and comforting place........at least it should be.

Most of us can vent here because most everyone here understands the issues.... who else would?

[darlindeb25]

Ismall05--your posts are very upsetting ot me. You apologize and then stab in the same paragraph.

For those of you that are constantly worried about everything Glutening you, I do feel very sorry for you. I'm living life to its fullest and have learned that I need not be overly worried about these things. (I've consulted my doctor and he agrees!)

There are indeed less severe cases of celiac, consult your doctor.

You may be living life to the fullest, yet as they say, ignorance is bliss! Your first problem is, your doctor is ignorant to the problems with celiac disease. You need to find a doctor who knows what he/she is talking about. It is never ok for you to have a "little" gluten in your life. There are doctors out there who will tell a person to go gluten free, and that's it, no further advice, and that's because most doctors actually do not know what gluten free means. If you need a medication, and ask the doc if what he is perscribing is gluten-free, he will not know, not unless your doctor is someone like Dr. Green at Columbia.

Lastly, I guess I missed the point of the forum. I see now it is more about complaining with other people with Celiac than to be a support forum for those that are struggling. Being negative just makes you want to eat a glutenous cookie.

You have missed the point of this forum. It's about learning how to handle this disease, it's not about whining. You are the one who is not supporting those who are struggling, YOU are telling them to stop their whining and "walk it off". Nothing EVER makes me want to eat a glutenous cookie...we are here to help people like you understand the error of your ways!!! I feel bad for you, you are poisoning yourself and think it's ok, it's never ok to eat gluten.

You have never been 100% gluten free so you don't really know what your missing.

Nowhere is it written we must not encourage newcomers to brush the crumbs off a burger or peel cheese of a pizza. It is a community opinion we do not encourage new comers to damage themselves out of ignorance.

GfpI agree, you do sometimes ramble, but I found your post this time, to be very well put! Ismall05 has never been 100% gluten free, and has no idea what he is doing to his body, and also seems to not care.

It is a community opinion we do not encourage new comers to damage themselves out of ignorance.

GFinDCI think there is a thread in which others tell all the good things that have happened to them since going gluten-free. I wish I was a "normal" celiac so to speak, meaning, I wish I only had a problem with gluten, and not all the other intolerance's. My life improved considerably after going gluten-free. I lost weight, my panic attacks almost disappeared, I have considerably slowed the progression of my neuropathy, I can travel now, I can work full time, I can make plans to go somewhere, which was out of the question for me before going gluten-free. There are many good things that have happened, and it's because I am 100% gluten-free, and know enough to find a new doctor when I have one that doesn't understand this disease.

[JNBunnie1]

GFinDCI think there is a thread in which others tell all the good things that have happened to them since going gluten-free. I wish I was a "normal" celiac so to speak, meaning, I wish I only had a problem with gluten, and not all the other intolerance's. My life improved considerably after going gluten-free. I lost weight, my panic attacks almost disappeared, I have considerably slowed the progression of my neuropathy, I can travel now, I can work full time, I can make plans to go somewhere, which was out of the question for me before going gluten-free. There are many good things that have happened, and it's because I am 100% gluten-free, and know enough to find a new doctor when I have one that doesn't understand this disease.

Anybody know what forum the thread's in or good keywords to search for it with?

[susanm]

Okay, this is going to sound ignorant because I'm still very new at this, but what's wrong with French fries? And what's wrong with ketchup? Fries are potatoes, which doesn't have gluten, right? Other than tomatoes, is there something in ketchup that's a no-no?