Can't Stop Eating Gluten And Dairy! Paying The Price...

[chrissygirlca]

Okay so I found out all the way back in October after some serious mal absorbtion that I can't eat gluten. Yes I did the endoscopy which I never wanna have to do again in my life after being awake and having to be drugged twice during the procedure. I went down to 91lbs stopped eating gluten on and off yes I cheated I have a shelf full of lactaid enzymes peptol bismol immodium u name it I have it in stock I used to take pills before eating after eating and for the rest of the week till the D and pain stopped. After about two weeks of feeling better and only eating rice meat and veggies and by feeling better I mean not completly I still expreience gas about every day at least once if I'm lucky I've lost jobs cause of it you would think that would make me stop.Anyways it takes about two weeks of D all night not sleeping joint pains so bad I cry cause it hurts for the veggies meat and rice to heal all the gluten/dairy. After about 3 month of cheating with gluten I decided to stop I went up to 99 was feeling good getting abs still gas everyday. This is my problem iwhen I'm upset or depressed I like to eat I've always binged on junk before I knew about celiac when I found out I cried and cried and cried ate a plate of pasta thinking it wasn't right but that did not go down well so I knew.

Now its august I'm better with not eating gluten I love cooking but the dairy. I can't do it I can't live without it when I try dairy free I cry cause its soo not the same and spend like 100 on a few items that all taste so bad. I get depressed when my family goes to resturants or we go out for they day and there's nothing I can eat and watch them eat funnel cake and al I can have is a gluten free pizza and ask for no cheese and just veggies. I'm lucky if they even have that when I'm out.

So what I used to do was everytime I start getting better I would feel that urge and the cravings I would look up gluten free chocolate bars and say okay its not gluten it can be that bad for me I'd buy m n ms take a lactaid pill and be sick to my stomach for two weeks. Then I'd get better and crave skittles. Ill search it eat that and be sick to my stomach for a week. Then ill try making things like gluten free pasta and homeade tomato sauce just garlic and tomato and get gas. Every day almost since my endoscopy I have gas. My problem is now I don't know if its from the cheating of dairy/gluiten cause I know it takes about a month I heard for gluten to get out of ur system or a week for dairy. I live off immodium. I know for sure I can't have dairy but the tomato and fruit giving me gas and making me sick idk if its from the cheating or leaky gut whatever you call it. Every time I start getting better(still gas just no D) I get those bad casein/dairy cravings pop that lactaid which doesn't work and back to the pain discomfort.

I don't have the will power not sure what to do and now a death in the fam and she had stomach cancer u think I would stop then but I get more depressed. I start cooking clean for a week still expreience the gas then give in to the craving. I need help! What to do I can't live my life in pain and in the bathroom. It keeps me in there all night can't sleep. And the hungerrrrr I get when I start going clean means more cravings I got my weight up to 100. Can't seem to get passed it. Tired of feeling like s$#& and living off Immodium which doesn't seem to work for me! - need to go cold turkey! Help I can't!

[kareng]

I have a couple of friends with eating disorders. Bingeing and taking laxatives, antacids, pepto, etc. You may want to see an eating disorder psychology specialist. You sound just like them. Sorry to be so blunt but I think you know you are a mess. Would be nice if your family would come to the therapy, too. The counselor will tell you when it's time.

Hope you will consider this.

[IrishHeart]

There comes a point where you have to face the fact that you are abusing yourself for some reason. You know it makes you deathly ill, but you keep on doing it. It's just that simple. You have to stop hurting yourself.

Hon, I have to agree with karen...you need some help--from family, a friend or a counselor. Otherwise, you will keep living in gluten hell. That is NOT living.

You are not even enjoying the food anymore. Stop the madness. Dump the gluten and dairy and heal up and start living.

Once and for all. I wish you well.

[love2travel]

Karen and IrishHeart are SO right! In addition to seeing a counselor/psychologist who specializes in eating disorders I would see a dietitian or nutritionist who can keep you accountable. You don't have any choice, I'm afraid - you MUST stop doing this to you. No one else can - it has to come from you. Not eating gluten and dairy is not easy - I get that - but think of how you are able to reverse all that icky damage inside! We are here to support you and hold your hand if need be. You must think about your future health and treat your body as it deserves with a lot of love! It seems you are in a vicious non-ending cycle but it CAN and MUST be stopped, especially with medicating. Believe me, I have all sorts of gluten cravings but since my diagnosis six months ago have not once even came close to cheating (and I love food more than average) PLUS I did not even get sick from eating gluten which is hard. But I kept picturing my flat sad villi and thinking about my future with my precious husband and family. They need me! I think that as you develop the same habit it will become far easier. Do not ever give up hope, ok?

[chrissygirlca]

I think I'm ready to finally stop its not fun being sick all the time and ill never know what I'm really sensitive to if I don't stop that was the hardest part giving up wheat and dairy and still being sick how long does it take for the dairy and gluten to get out of your system doesit really take a month? What do you guys eat when you are glutened I'm scared of tomatoes vinegar even if its gluten free anything citrus and then I read people can be sensitive to potatoes corn garlic I'm soo confused I did the pric test and nothing came up but that doesn't show sensetivites. What's the safest food to eat without losing weight? Dieticians and nutritionists in canada are expensive but I guess I have no choice. Its so stupid we are supposed to have free health care but have to pay for something we can't help!

[psawyer]

il faut faire de regime comme mon petit fils 5ans et tu vas

etre bien dans ton corps

Translates from French roughly as:

You must make the regime like my little 5yo son and you'll be well in your body.

[LuvGems]

Right there with you. Eating is out of control. Wish you luck.

[Takala]

Okay, you can do this. This cravings routine for junk, aka sugar and carbohydrates, is the result of a physical reaction to being malnourished from the damage to your intestines. You understand it from an emotional viewpoint, and once you understand it from a physical viewpoint, then you have the power to fix it.

What you need to do is to tell yourself you deserve to feel better. Then you need to get some vitamin and mineral supplements that are gluten free and start taking them religiously. Your body is harvesting the missing nutrients out of your bones in an attempt to regulate your blood levels, and this is your brain screaming "Give me sugar!" - the whole deal does NOT balance without adequate B complex vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. You need this stuff badly. You can get gluten free B complex vitamins that you dissolve under your tongue.

Rice, meat, veggies.... we need some FAT in here, in the form of nuts, eggs, olive oil, coconut oil, coconut milk for your coffee or tea, high quality dark chocolate or something like Enjoy Life chocolate chips, avocado in the salads, Earth Balance butter substitute, Spectrum palm shortening, even lard in gluten free baked goods. I have seen several bloggers using lard for baking dairy free- don't be afraid to experiment. I have used olive oil in everything baked, and regular people will eat it. Don't try to eat this diet low fat when you are also having to avoid dairy, you need to feel full, and fat is needed for to help absorb the vitamins.

You also may need a form of gluten free carbohydrate that is slower digesting than rice, and higher protein. You can grind nuts to make nut meals in a blender, and grind buckwheat kernels in a coffee grinder. I make a 3 - way or 4 - way, high protein pancake or flatbread all the time out of almonds, garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, and buckwheat flour, made with olive oil and a bit of sweetener (I will use a combo of agave and artificial sweetener, so I don't kill my blood sugar) and this can be made and topped with either savory or sweet toppings, and it does not spike your blood sugar up so you don't then crash and get cravings again, like a lot of rice or cereal can. Amaranth and teff are also good things that are high protein. You can make yourself a bun in a cup quickly in the microwave - hot, gluten free, good for you higher protein bread is always just a few minutes away. You can pre measure out batches of flours and make your own instant gluten free mixes to which you just add the liquids.

Beans are also a great thing that are high fiber and protein, and digest slower, especially when cooked with a form of fat. If using canned, drain and rinse them well to get rid of the starch which will be a problem to digest, if using dried, soak them in boiled water, then drain and rinse and cook again and drain well. A killer breakfast is a corn tortilla or other gluten-free flatbread, topped with either homemade chile or refried beans, and then a fried egg on top of that. Garnish with sliced avocado in season. Remember that saying that a good meal starts the day off right. You can also put peanut butter and sliced fruit like bananas on top of pancakes. (I ate nearly grain free in the beginning years on a modified SCD diet, then branched out a lot more, and nut pancakes are wonderful foods - you can even, if you have to, make a nut/seed meal crust for pizza.)

And here is the better news, you might be able, after some time gluten free, to be able to tolerate some lactose free dairy again, if you are one of the carriers for those milk eating genes. (My husband is a freak and can still drink regular milk as an adult, I regained the ability to eat cheese, both of us have enough northern European/Irish/English/German mixed in there). Even if you cannot, which is sad, you will be able to find edible gluten free dairy substitutes. For instance, if you wanted to make hot chocolate, you could use coconut milk and powdered cocoa and sweetener, or this stuff called Vance's dairy free, which is a flavored milk powder type. Coconut Bliss is a type of coconut ice cream. How about some vanilla hemp milk ? They do make edible df cheese foods, such as Daiya, and some people can make vegan gluten-free "cheese" out of soaked nuts. You can search for recipes on google, put "gluten free vegan name of food" or "gluten free dairy free name of food" in the search and it will pull up a lot of recipes. I don't eat vegan but it is a handy search term. This website has some ideas Open Original Shared Link

Remember, if you're getting the calcium and magnesium from the supplements and the nuts and vegetables, and now are eating enough fat, and getting the vitamins, you will be on your way to developing safe appetites for good foods. Ever put hummus on a pizza ? (olive oil and garlic and sesame can fix almost anything....)

Going out with relatives who are not thinking.... grrrr. Do what a lot of us do, we eat BEFORE we go anywhere, and we always have a little bag or tiny cooler box with us, filled with safe snacks that we can eat. For example, you can take nuts and those safe choc chips and some other thing like gluten free raisins or cranberries or other dried fruit, and make your own trail mix. Nut butter and rice cake or some fruit can be kept on hand, as well as some lunchmeat or jerky or pepperoni.

If you are cooking in a shared kitchen, don't forget you need your own dedicated gluten free colander, toaster, cutting board, and any porous rubber or plastic utensils should be new and gluten free, to prevent cross contamination. Also, if using teflon or cast iron, keep it gluten free also - teflon may need to be replaced, cast iron can be burnt off in the oven cycle and re seasoned.

[IrishHeart]

I was thinking about you after I posted and realized I had the "gluten and dairy jones" thing going for a few months myself. They are powerful cravings, for sure.

It IS difficult to get past the cravings stage, hon...but you can do it....TAKALA (posted above) has given you a wonderful game plan to follow.

Our bodies are essentially starving from malnutrition and that is why you crave these foods so much. Also, much has been written about the opiod effect of gluten and so, naturally, we WANT that familiar comfort we get from eating those foods. Unfortunately, that comfort has turned into pain.

Once you get past a few months, it gets easier and easier. I do not miss gluteny foods one bit (as I view it as rat poison) , but I confess to missing cheese and ice cream, but perhaps, in time, I will be able to tolerate those once more.

The villi produce the enzymes that digest lactase, sucrase, and maltase---and if those puppies are flat, they aren't doing the job and that is why you get so sick trying to digest foods that are full of lactose and sugars. In time, those villi will heal and digestion becomes normalized. You'll stop living in the bathroom and having to rely on immodium and pepto to stop the D and cramping and everything else.

Give yourself a chance to heal. We'll be here to help.

Good luck.

[chrissygirlca]

Thank you so mucvh for that and everyone for that and everyone for all your help! My problem when I start feeling a little better is that the minitue I try anything like honey too much oil anything citrus I try to stay away from soy vinigar even if they say gluten and dairy free even certin fruits I feel like I still get sick gassy D bloated burping and joint pains. To the point that im even scared of the texture of the food..mushy creamy even I'm not sure about nuts but I try to stay away from them my gas gets soooo bad. I don't know if its because the dairy/gluten still in my system cause it takes a while to get out or if its cause of sensitivities how do you know? That's why I've been sticking to meat rice and vegies I have flax or qunioa for breakfast only fruit I eat is bananna but I think it might still give me gas. But like I said not sure what its comming from cause even if I eat two weeks dairy and gluten free I still get gas every day!

[CurlyCyn83]

I can relate to you. I'm still in shock and trying to deal with having to eat gluten free. I'll be good for a few days and then the cravings start. My comfort food is pizza and soda. And after splurging on pizza and soda, my body then craves cookies, candy (any sugar), and more soda. It's a vicious cycle to break and I'm going through it right now. Had pizza last night and I wish I could stay in bed today because I'm sick to my stomach. But today is a new day a fresh start. I know that I can't keep doing this to my body. I only get one in my lifetime and I want to be healthy and live a long life.

Hang in there!

[zentex]

I mean this in the kindest way: you need therapy. A therapist can help you sort out the reasons you are unable to go gluten and dairy free. A medical doctor might also be in order--that person can help you identify all of the foods you can and cannot eat. I think you are fighting both physiological and psychological impluses.

If you continue to follow your urges...perhaps some in-patient therapy is in order. You are fighting an addiction and if you can not fight with knowledge and will power alone...an in-patient setting will control your access to foods you shouldn't have until the impulse control is better.

Best wishes to you.

[Skylark]

Thank you so mucvh for that and everyone for that and everyone for all your help! My problem when I start feeling a little better is that the minitue I try anything like honey too much oil anything citrus I try to stay away from soy vinigar even if they say gluten and dairy free even certin fruits I feel like I still get sick gassy D bloated burping and joint pains. To the point that im even scared of the texture of the food..mushy creamy even I'm not sure about nuts but I try to stay away from them my gas gets soooo bad. I don't know if its because the dairy/gluten still in my system cause it takes a while to get out or if its cause of sensitivities how do you know? That's why I've been sticking to meat rice and vegies I have flax or qunioa for breakfast only fruit I eat is bananna but I think it might still give me gas. But like I said not sure what its comming from cause even if I eat two weeks dairy and gluten free I still get gas every day!

It sounds like you might have fructose malabsorption too. Honey would be awful, since it's mostly fructose, and fruits would tend to give you gas. Meat rice, and veggies would definitely work best. When you get some help from a dietician ask about fructose malabsorption and a diet called low-FODMAP.

Open Original Shared Link

[domesticactivist]

You've taken a really important first step to getting better which is admitting there is a problem. It sounds like there is a lot more going on than "just" cravings (though those are powerful and Takala's post is a good guideline to getting to a point where they won't be so overwhelming any more).

It sounds to me like you need some good support in real life. If I were in your shoes, I'd be seeking out a good nutritionist as well as a therapist with experience dealing with both chronic health issues and eating disorders. Do you have any friends who might be able to provide a bit of emotional support, logistic support, and join you for safe meals as well?

You might also examine how you are getting access to the foods that are no good for you. I've found that I do not have success sticking to the foods I need to eat if I can easily get foods I shouldn't eat. I'm having to work on that since we've discovered I have some problem foods the rest of the family can eat! If it is at all possible for you to control what you have access to I think that might help. Do you have your own kitchen? If not, can foods you shouldn't have be somehow locked up? Can someone else do your shopping from a pre-set list so you aren't tempted in the store?

Finally, it might help to have a plan for when you do experience those cravings. I make mental scripts for myself that help me get through moments like that in all areas of life. The scripts can be reminding yourself of the reasons for the diet, they can be a set of things to do, something to eat instead, someone to call, something to write, you can even use this forum for that... The key is to make it anything that will help you to switch gears, and it must be planned ahead and move you in a positive direction. (No beating yourself up! We all have weak moments and that's a part of life.)

[wheeleezdryver]

It sounds like you might have fructose malabsorption too. Honey would be awful, since it's mostly fructose, and fruits would tend to give you gas. Meat rice, and veggies would definitely work best. When you get some help from a dietician ask about fructose malabsorption and a diet called low-FODMAP.

Open Original Shared Link

I agree, it sounds like you also have fructose malabsorption. along with honey, and some fruits (i know apples and dates give me problems), also some vegetables (onions, for example), garlic, and brown rice are things have fructose in them. unfortunately, a lot of gluten-free items use brown rice (especailly pasta items), onion, honey, or fruit, but if you have a gluten-free only store, or a store that has a huge variety of gluten-free items, you can probably find items without these things... it just may take some searching.

It is very hard to feel like you have to give up so many foods, but the healing is worth it! And hopefully at some point your body will heal well enough that you can eat dairy and fructose again... i myself have been able to re-add dairy

and eat larger amounts of fructose items then I was able to when i first went gluten free.

and I agree with what everyone else has said as far as counseling and dietary help. you need to figure out ways to do this for your health- both physical and mental/ emotional... and finding a counselor who understands the issues should help with that.

Take care, and let us know how things go

[chrissygirlca]

Thank you everyone for your help. Im ready to do this i dont want to feel that pain anymore. I dont understand why the joint/muscles hurt so much like when your sore from working out times 100! Going to look for a good nutritionist to help me my doctor said nutritionist are not free so if im going to pay i want t make sure its a good one. Especially since everytime i was sick my doc said it was just stress and i had to tell him to do the camera test after someone told me. I keep reading about everything i cant eat or should stay away from so now im confused as to what i could eat. now people say dont eat rice and certain veggies cause it could give gas. Jeeze i wish it wasnt so complicated like at least if it was just one thing its easier but it could be anything. Thats the hardest part for me figureing out what to eat. Im ready to start eating my safe foods. I guess ill keep eating the enjoy life flax cereal and quinoa for breakfast. If im supposed to stay away from fruit is it a bad idea to put the banana in it? and lunch dinner what do i eat? I dont mind eating the same thing every day and then experimenting with a journal to see what i can i cant eat. But i dont know what im supposed to eat till i find a nutritionist.

[Skylark]

My mom is gluten-free and fructose intolerant, which is how I know about it. For starters, she avoids ALL high-fructose corn syrup in processed foods. No honey either. She can eat a little cane sugar, but not too much or it bothers her. She eats white rice, not brown, and lots of potatoes. If I remember correctly, Glutino brand breads work for her. I'm pretty sure I've seen her eat quinoa and millet too. She eats a lot of lettuces and leafy greens like collards, kale, or chard. String beans, broccoli, green peas. Lots of big, crunchy salads, though go easy on sweet vegetables like beets or carrots. She can eat a little tomato, but heavy tomato sauces don't agree with her. She eats meats and lactose-free dairy comfortably. If she wants onions, she uses the green part of green onions. Garlic and herbs are OK. She can't eat more than a few bites of most fruits. She says apples are the worst, pears are bad too.

Hope this helps you to get started!

[come dance with me]

It took 4m for my littlie to be better when we cut it out. Prepare for it to take more than 1 month!

[chrissygirlca]

Thank you ill try the rice and potatos and meat that's what I've been doing and start indtroducing stuff after a couple weeks too get it out of my system wow 4 months. (Hats the hard part you don't know if its what your eating at the moment or just still healing from before! I know I'm ready to not cheat cause when I think about how much closer I could have been to healing I get really upset just wanna be better.