Gluten Free Or Grain And Dairy Free Too?

[kagm]

I was just diagnosed with Celiac by both a blood test and an endoscopy. My question is this, I have read that sometimes when people are deep in gluten stress (which I am), the body can see even rice as if it were gluten because its protein resembles gluten. So it may be necessary and wise to go grain free and dairy free along with gluten free for three months to get to a "normal" space before introducing rice or dairy back in. Thoughts? I am just trying to decide whether to go entirely gluten free for a while and see how I feel or if I should try the previously mentioned idea?

Thanks!

Kim

diagnosed with celiac disease 2011

[IrishHeart]

Hi Kim and welcome to the forum!

Giving up dairy at first is wise because

lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down the sugar lactose, is produced in the tip of the villi.

When the villi get blunted in celiac disease, sometimes the ability to digest lactose is decreased and you can become lactose intolerant. This may cause bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, etc. After you go gluten-free, the villi will heal and most people are able to tolerate dairy foods again.

As for other grains, this varies from person to person. Many people tolerate rice and corn gluten just fine. Some people have difficulty with these foods. Some people also have an intolerance to soy. Unfortunately, it is trial and error.

It's hard to say what will continue to give you grief, even gluten-free. Some people have no other food issues except gluten (lucky buggers )

Many of us feel that in the beginning, a whole foods diet is best for digestion and healing. I do not know what your gastro symptoms are and so, I hesitate to say don't eat this or that...in my case, for example, at first, I could not digest raw veggies or beans or some meat proteins and (boo-hoo) I still cannot do citrus or tomato sauce )....again, everyone is different.

There are many resources and helpful people on this site and as you go along, you can get the assistance you need.

Best wishes on healing!!

[luvs2eat]

I was gluten free for about 8.5 whole years before I realized that dairy doesn't seem to like me anymore. As you can see from my stuff at the bottom... going gluten-free was simple compared to dairy free! There are tons of substitutions for gluten, but there's NO subsitute for delicious cheese!! Now I try really hard to avoid dairy and only have it occasionally. It seems to work.

[Marilyn R]

  On 6/14/2011 at 11:40 PM, kagm said:

I was just diagnosed with Celiac by both a blood test and an endoscopy. My question is this, I have read that sometimes when people are deep in gluten stress (which I am), the body can see even rice as if it were gluten because its protein resembles gluten. So it may be necessary and wise to go grain free and dairy free along with gluten free for three months to get to a "normal" space before introducing rice or dairy back in. Thoughts? I am just trying to decide whether to go entirely gluten free for a while and see how I feel or if I should try the previously mentioned idea?

Thanks!

Kim

diagnosed with celiac disease 2011

I wish I would have tried the previously mentioned diet. But your experience might not be the same as mine...

[ErinP]

  On 6/14/2011 at 11:40 PM, kagm said:

I was just diagnosed with Celiac by both a blood test and an endoscopy. My question is this, I have read that sometimes when people are deep in gluten stress (which I am), the body can see even rice as if it were gluten because its protein resembles gluten. So it may be necessary and wise to go grain free and dairy free along with gluten free for three months to get to a "normal" space before introducing rice or dairy back in. Thoughts? I am just trying to decide whether to go entirely gluten free for a while and see how I feel or if I should try the previously mentioned idea?

Thanks!

Kim

diagnosed with celiac disease 2011

Personally, I've gone not only grain and dairy free (for the above-mentioned reasons), but also sugar free.

Disaccharides (like table sugar) are converted in the duodenum of the small intestine. If the small intestine is damaged, it stands to reason that things that are exclusively digested IN the small intestine should probably be avoided at the very least during healing...

[kagm]

Thanks so much everyone. I have the day off today and I am going to spend it cleaning my kitchen from head to toe and moving all gluten products to their own cupboard. My family has agreed to go mostly gluten free. I am thinking about secretly making it all gluten free as I don't think they will notice much. I need to get new kitchen ware as well that won't be contaminated. I feel like there is finally an end to the madness of feeling terrible all the time!

[IrishHeart]

  On 6/15/2011 at 9:57 AM, kagm said:

Thanks so much everyone. I have the day off today and I am going to spend it cleaning my kitchen from head to toe and moving all gluten products to their own cupboard. My family has agreed to go mostly gluten free. I am thinking about secretly making it all gluten free as I don't think they will notice much. I need to get new kitchen ware as well that won't be contaminated. I feel like there is finally an end to the madness of feeling terrible all the time!

YAAY! here's to ending the madness!! That's how I felt, too...I welcomed/embraced the diagnosis because I knew what it was and in my heart, I knew it would mean that madness would stop!

You have the right attitude--stay this positive and you'll do well! Good for you!

The "Cleaner" you live, the faster you heal. Just my opinion. My hubby went gluten-free with me (even though I did not ask ) and it made things a whole lot easier, cheaper (no more separate peanut butter,etc..) and no more worries about stray crumbs in his beard Cross contamination is what usually gets people. It does not mean that you can't live comfortably with gluten-eaters--lots of people do just fine on here as they create their own "safe space" and they have cooperative family members/roommates who clean up after their gluten meals.

Whatever you decide about the diet, please do try to eliminate the dairy at first--trust us on this one!

Best wishes--see you on the boards!!

[Mother of a Celiac]

  On 6/14/2011 at 11:40 PM, kagm said:

I was just diagnosed with Celiac by both a blood test and an endoscopy. My question is this, I have read that sometimes when people are deep in gluten stress (which I am), the body can see even rice as if it were gluten because its protein resembles gluten. So it may be necessary and wise to go grain free and dairy free along with gluten free for three months to get to a "normal" space before introducing rice or dairy back in. Thoughts? I am just trying to decide whether to go entirely gluten free for a while and see how I feel or if I should try the previously mentioned idea?

Thanks!

Kim

diagnosed with celiac disease 2011

My daughter who was diagnosed a year and a half ago w/Celiac, seemed to do great for exactly a year gluten-free, then she started getting bad stomachaches again and headaches. I started her on the SCD diet and also removed dairy. All of her symptoms went away. We now follow the Paleo diet pretty much, which is grain free and dairy free. It is just very hard to follow for a 7 yr old. Lately she has had stomachaches again and some mild D. I'm hoping that it is just a stomach bug that has been going thru our house and not the return of symptoms yet again...

It sounds like you have already done some research and I don't know if you've read the Specific Carbohydrate Diet by Dr. Haas, but it could be very beneficial and enlightening. Also, The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf is VERY good, as well. Good luck to you!

[ErinP]

  On 6/20/2011 at 2:35 AM, Mother of a Celiac said:

read the Specific Carbohydrate Diet by Dr. Haas, but it could be very beneficial and enlightening. Also, The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf is VERY good, as well. Good luck to you!

I second this and would also recommend "Life Without Bread."

BTW, Robb Wolf has an EXCELLENT podcast also called The Paleo Solution. It's probably 50/50 diet & health questions vs. muscle-head questions. You can search the notes though, to filter in only those episodes that pertain to digestion, gluten, etc. Very informative, but be warned, it's a bit heavy on the science.