Just Beginning

[bmichelle]

Hello, I'm new here.

I have been dealing with numerous problems such as fatigue and inflammation for years now. I've talked to doctor after doctor and not only do they not have an explanation for the fatigue they also don't have suggestions on what to do or who else to see.

I have type 1 diabetes which remains pooryl controled despite all the work I put into it. I was diagnosed a couple years ago with Hashimoto's (thyroid disease). I know of several people with type 1 diabetes who have also been diagnosed with Celiac's so I started reasearching celiac's and was very surprised by what I saw.

I have so many of the symptoms!! I don't have a lot of stomach problems but then I've got gastroperesis and nerve damage to the bowel from a birth defect so maybe I'm having more stomach problems than I realize (I don't have 100% feeling).

I see my endocrinologist and diabetes educator on Wednesday and I am planning on talking with them both about Celiac's. And regardless of the test results I'm already planning on trying the diet. I can't believe that the answer to the multitude of symptoms that has haunted me for over 5 years could be a diet change.

The only problem is I am also heading out of town on Wednesday which means I've got to learn really quickly how to eat gluten free at restaurants. I'll be taking as much of my own food as possible. On the positive side I've been more or less vegetarian for about 3 years and both enjoy eating healthy and already know a little about some gluten free products (such as Quinoa noodles..yum yum!!).

Can you have Celiac's (or gluten intolerance) with minimal GI symptoms? Any advise for the restaurnts?

[WheatChef]

That you have type I and Hashimoto's means your odds are really good that you've got a gluten problem. It's definitely a good thing to talk to you doctors about, since you've gone this long already you should keep on your normal diet (or even eat excess gluten) till you get tested as this will make the results more reliable. However you are correct in planning on trying the diet anyways regardless of the test results.

Can you have Celiac's (or gluten intolerance) with minimal GI symptoms? Any advise for the restaurnts?

Yes you can, some people actually notice very little GI symptoms even when they're experiencing other systemic effects. Alternatively since this has been going on for such a long time it's just as likely that you've become accustomed to the GI symptoms that it has become what you consider the "norm".

As far as restaurants go, a lot of chains are getting gluten-free friendly lately with altering their menus and educating their employees. The Melting Pot just recently changed up all their broths and created a menu that lists all the substitutions needed to make each item gluten-free, they'll even use special starches and gluten-free beer in their cheese dip for you. Definitely search ahead of time and attempt to call any places you are questionable about. A simple google search for glutenfree restaurants can point you to lists and search engines of gluten-free friendly places all over the country. As far as dining on the road, you're probably best off grabbing snacks and meals from supermarkets than fast food joints. I'm traveling soon and planning on living mainly off of fruits/vegetables and Boar's Head deli meats.

[bmichelle]

That you have type I and Hashimoto's means your odds are really good that you've got a gluten problem. It's definitely a good thing to talk to you doctors about, since you've gone this long already you should keep on your normal diet (or even eat excess gluten) till you get tested as this will make the results more reliable. However you are correct in planning on trying the diet anyways regardless of the test results.

Thank you for your support and advice. I am worried about the testing because although I am continuing to eat normally my diet is relativly low in gluten. I eat mostly vegetarian (a little turkey here and there) and have been kind of gradually decreasing the wheat in my diet over the last couple of months (just eating healthier). But I pigged out on pizza, garlic bread and cinnamon breadsticks at Mr. Gatti's on Sunday.

I went grocery shopping today for the things I'll be taking on the road. I was all geared up for the trip and excited to begin my gluten free adventure. But gluten-free shopping was harder than I expected. My cheap, healthy, cereals all say "produced in a facility that also produces products with wheat..." and the cheaper bulk bin stuff (like Quinoa) is probably all contaminated (I bought some anyway). This going to take some paitence getting used to. I guess I need to research eating gluten free on a budget.

[Skylark]

I hope you've figured it out! If gluten is the trouble you'll feel much better.

Never, ever buy anything from a bulk bin. You don't know what was in the bin before, or who just dipped the scoop into something with gluten.

Chex cereals are your best bet for mainstream cereal. Nuts should be low-glycemic and healthy for you to carry around. I also pack Larabars for snacks and usually a loaf of gluten-free bread. You could go with brown rice cakes or tortillas if the gluten-free bread is too pricey. Lundburg rice cakes don't tend to be CC, and Mission makes their corn tortillas on a dedicated line.

Like WheatChef, I often eat at supermarkets when I'm traveling. I head for the produce section for fruit and veggies, grab some lunch meat, and often a small package of corn chips or potato chips if I don't something to eat with the lunch meat. I've even managed to eat safely at convenience stores, where I've found apples, bananas, hard boiled eggs, chips, string cheese, or packages of nuts.

At restaurants, many chains have ingredient lists and/or allergy information that you can ask to see. They will not generally have "gluten free" information, but with ingredient lists and wheat info, you can often find something safe. I find waiters understand better if I say "allergic to wheat and flour" rather than "celiac" or "gluten-free". Mom and Pop restaurants are harder, and I generally stick to salad ordered without bread or croutons and oil/vinegar, rice or potatoes, and meat and veggies ordered completely plain (no seasonings at all since so many have flour).

[hercules25]

Target has alot of Gluten Free products. Chex cereal is gluten free (actually the ones that say it on the box). They have in the frozen section frozen foods made my Amy that are Gluten Free and good. They are all over the store and not just in one area.