Michi8

Maybe I'm grasping at straws here...I don't know how many of you have/had toddlers that were diagnosed with celiac's/gluten sensitivity. My oldest will be 3 in just a couple weeks, and absolutely positively WILL NOT potty train. His main gluten symptom is diarrhea/soft stools. He'll pee in the potty just fine - even standing to pee. This isn't regression from the new baby, either. He's never used the potty to poop. Up to this point he has reached all other milestones either early or on time, and started showing an interest in potty training at 15 months. I let him take it at his own pace, but this is getting ridiculous and I'm starting to wonder if the two are somehow connected.

Am I insane or is this possible somehow ???

I wouldn't connect it to celiac just yet. He is still quite young, and you may not see him completely trained until 3.5 or later. My son was capable, but refused until he was gosh darn ready. When he decided he was done with diapers/pullups he was just done...and had no accidents after that either. He decided he was ready once he started preschool at 3.5 years old. We do not know if he has celiac at this point, but we do know he has allergies.

My daughter decided to stop wearing diapers at 2.5 because diapers were uncomfortable, especially with her eczema problems. She refused to wear panties too...she still won't wear them unless she's wearing a dress or skirt, and she's four now.

Michelle

I'm 5'3"...all the women in my family are around that height.

Michelle

Hi Stinger, this is great information, thank you for giving your input

Michelle, how did you find out you were allergic to the dyes, if you don't mind me asking? Did you react to them while getting a tattoo, or did you have some kind of test done?? Just curious.

I just had skin patch testing done this week (got the results yesterday.) I posted a thread about here: Open Original Shared Link Two of my allergens are to chemicals/colours used in many, many products which include tattoo dyes (some hair dyes too!)

Michelle

The Kraft recipe is foolproof as well. They may feel a little soft when they come out of the oven, but settle well when they cool.

Michelle

Does anyone know where on the body it hurts the least to get a tattoo, and can you have a reaction to getting one (to the inks, the needles, etc.), especially someone who is very sensitive and allergic to everything?

Yes, you can be allergic to the dyes. I just found out today that I'm allergic to two common chemicals used in tattoo dyes. Guess tattoos are out for me. So are piercings due to my metal allergies.

Michelle

I am glad it turned out to be not so bad. I hope it turns out to be only a few easy to avoid things. I am also allergic to nickel and found it to be a great excuse to buy only gold or sterling jewelry

I had my final patch appointment and found out that, along with nickel, I'm allergic to Cobalt Dichloride, Potassium Dichloride, and Neomycin Sulfate (the most commonly used antibiotic in skin creams and ointments...including Polysporin!) I also show slight sensitivity to Oak Moss (a scent used in making perfums.)

The doctor gave me handouts explaining what products I would likely find these ingredients and the lists are endless...I expect it will be more difficult to avoid some of this stuff than it is to avoid gluten. Plus Nickel can cause skin reactions that persist after complete avoidance from skin contact. Certain foods can exacerbate the problem and need to be elimiated from the diet for 3-4 weeks to rid the body of continued nickel ingestion. Then the foods can be reintroduced one at a time. Also, nickel plated utensils need to be replaced to (examples given are egg beaters and tea balls.) Oh, also "the first litre of water from the tap in the morning should not be used, as nickel may be released from the tap during the night."

I think I have some work ahead of me in figuring out sources of irriation. At least I have some clues as to why certain products bother me. Still doesn't answer, though, why I get spots that I think look like DH.

Michelle

hey guys!

i was watching the food network and on good eats he was making angel food cake with cake flour. he said that it is different from regular flour because the gluten has been removed....that doesn't mean that we can eat it does it?!? just curious.....

thanks--

kms

Cake flour has less gluten, but is by no means gluten free. It is not safe for a gluten-free diet.

Michelle

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Why did I never think of that!

Its always a prob because the cooking time is so sensitive and soaking them in the boiling water leaves glue at one end and cardboard at the other if you try it with spagetti....

You can break the spaghetti in half to shorten it to fit in the pot better, and give both ends equal cooking time. I do that for my family...makes it easier for my kids to eat it too...not forever trying to twirl spaghetti around the fork.

Michelle

Unilever will always disclose gluten sources on the label. They are a celiac friendly company!

They don't list their ingredients on products in Canada, however...so they're really only friendly to US customers.

Michelle

Gosh, I'd rather have the little shots that sounds miserable. You have my sympathy. I hope it gives you some answers.

It wasn't all that bad...I got the patches off yesterday afternoon and found out I'm reacting to at least four things, one of which is nickel (not surprising, it's a very common "allergen".) I go back today for a second look (for delayed reactions) and will be given information on what I reacted to and how to watch out for it. I'm very curious to see what turns up.

Michelle

sorry maybe i didn't make that so clear. canola oil is derived from a weed called rapeseed which has similar toxic effects to soy. im very afraid of soy or products that mimic soy. i try to avoid them at all costs. im afraid that if i am intolerant to soy than i could very well be intolerant to rapeseed, "canola" oil. check out this site:

Open Original Shared Link

I can appreciate you being wary about related intolerances.

I have never heard of rape seed (canola) oil being related to soy or having similar properties as soy. I do know that many cultures have traditionally used rape seed oil in their cooking. Just as with anything health-related, there are some alarmists out there...and web-based information needs to be taken with a large grain of salt. There is an entry at Snopes.com about the "controversy" about canola oil: Open Original Shared Link Personally, I'm not concerned about using it, but YMMV.

Michelle

Do you think cashew butter would work and egg replacer as well? Or is that pushing it? Allergic to peanuts and eggs. Can't have almond butter either.

It's worth a shot.

Eggs (in baking) can be replaced with:

2 tablespoons oil plus 1 tablespoon water

or

1 tablespoon cornstarch plus 3 tablespoons (more) liquid in recipe

Michelle

what a great question!!! i used to LOVE my wok before going gluten free. i stir-fried veggies and tofu with soy sauce in vegetable oil, and i thought i was being healthy!! now that i can't have gluten i haven't looked at my wok. i wouldn't even know where to start to make a stir fry. i am yet to find a gluten-free soy sauce and now i can't have soy so vegetable oil (made out of soybean oil) is out too. If you are intolerant to soy than Canola oil is out also. Its safe for me to use peanut oil because no one i know (yet) whom i cook for has an allergy to peanut oil. safflower oil might be a good alternative. hmmm...let me know what you come up with and i woudl love some of recipes, especially that pineapple fried rice!! yummy! i miss my wok

Why is Canola oil not an option for those intolerant to soy?

Michelle

We use Kraft Peanut Butter at home, and there is usually a recipe on the side of the jar. One of their standard peanut butter cookie recipes has no flour...

From Kraft Canada:

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

1) PREHEAT oven to 325°F.

2) MIX 1 cup Kraft Smooth Peanut Butter, 1/2 cup sugar and an egg with a large spoon in a medium bowl.

3) ROLL mixture into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Flatten with fork or squish with your fingers.

4) BAKE at 325°F for 20 min. Remove pan from the oven. Let cookies cool in pan for 5 min. to 'set', then transfer to a plate with spatula.

Michelle

I use pacific's almond milk too. the vanilla is good for cereal. the original is better for substituting in recipes. Also, there is a rice milk (not rice dream) that does not have gluten in it. It's made by "Nature's Promise," which is an organic/natural line of foods that Stop n Shop sells. Im not sure if it's "organic" or just "natural" but it's in the special/ethnic/international foods aisle at the supermarket. Anyway, it's pretty good, too. Oh, and the lactaid has a yucky aftertaste. I used to use it years ago and then i found soy milk...hope that helps.

I find that the lactaid milk tastes different, but if you really, really want to have cereal with milk then it would do the trick. I don't often, but when I do I usually just take Lactaid Ultra with it.

Michelle

Floridanative, that is an interesting fact, thank you. Could he have been referring to himself?

I wouldn't be surprised. He has been known to make jokes about himself and his health before...like when he had his bypass surgery.

Michelle

So now that I am both intollerant to soy and lactose I thought I would never be able to have "milk" in my tea or cereal again. Until I found almond milk. It was great, especially if you enjoy the taste of soy milk. The brand I bought is Pacific Natural Foods, Vanilla Almond Milk. Its low fat and cholesterol free too and we all know how great almonds are for you. So if you can eat nuts but can't have soy or lactose definitely try some of this. If you have a Trader Joes nearby that's where I found mine in the same isle as soy milk and rice milk (which i thought would be safe until it said very clearly on the label: contains gluten!!!)

What about lactose free cow's milk? Or are you casein intolerant as well?

Michelle

This may be one of those "myths" that are out there but I thought when you heated peanut oil it somehow broke down and did not bother people with allergies. I never understood this so I always thought it was a "myth".

You do need a oil with a very high smoke point. When you season the wok you get it as hot as possible. I am sorry I could not be of more help. I always used peanut oil.

Hez

Peanut oil is supposed to be safe for those with allergy, because the protein has been removed. However, there is always the risk of contamination depending on how the oil was handled during manufacture. Additionally, cooking changes the protein in foods, possibly making them safe for those who would otherwise be allergic. For example, I cannot eat raw almonds due to allergy, but have no detectable problems with consuming roasted almonds.

In practice I found that I could safely consume chinese food cooked in peanut oil, even though I had a peanut allergy (I've since outgrown it), but my allergy was never anaphylactic. Of course YMMV.

Michelle

havent posted for a while could do with someinteraction on this. about a year ago i had my nipple pierced ( hurt but ok ) it all healed nicely but about 3 weeks ago i had a small lump appear on my breast by the piercing, it was painful and a bit of goo was coming out of the nipple, anyway the doc gave me antibioics ( 500mg- 4 times a day called fluoxocillin) finished the course but i feel even worse and the pain and the goo is still there, also it has left me feeling sick, bloated and really tired and a major case of thrush that you wouldnt believe seriously its aggoniseing.dont know what to do at this stage, dont want another dose of useless antibioics and my thrush still has gone so i feel trapped, plus what do i do about my breast? any ideas anyone ive heard about an iv thrush medication that they treat cronic patinets with and am thinking of asking for it, has anyone heard of it.

Go back to the doctor for a different/stronger treatment. I wouldn't worry about thrush until the basic infection is taken care of...you don't want to let an infection go on...it could cause serious damage to the tissue, and could lead to a systemic infection.

Michelle

Ugh, carla whd you bring this up lol, I'm getting white! NO not grey which would blend better they are gleaming white hairs! I have very thick long redish hair naturally curly, its like my trademark, and now its turning white AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAahhhhhhhhhhhhhh....I'm going to dye it I just have to find my color somewhere...

I'm getting white hairs as well, and have been since I was 18...now, if I don't colour, I've got an all-over salt n'pepper look...I'm not ready to be grey/white! I console myself, though, with the thought that when I am ready to surrender to being grey, it will be a beautiful white colour.

Aside from going grey early, I'm losing a lot of hair and it's really troubling me (one of the many symtpoms prompting me to test for celiac and autoimmune issues.) I've got a very thick head of hair, and it used to be that when my hair was long, I noticed when I lost the "normal" amount of hair. When my hair was short, though, it was not noticeable. Now I lose more hair than my husband. It's all over the tub after a shower, all over the bathroom after blowdrying, and falls out when I run my fingers through my hair. My hair is very short and I can see it happening. I've got areas where the hair loss is becoming noticeable, and the hair that is growing back appears thinner.

Michelle

All right, my blood tests came back negative. My interpretation is that under the best of circumstances this test is far more specific than sensitive, and false negatives are common.

Here's a question: I was gluten free for several months, and had only added back wheat two months before the blood tests. Even after adding wheat back, I have not eaten a lot of it. Some days I eat none; some days I may eat two or three slices of bread. Is this possibly why my tests came back negative?

Second question. I have a biopsy schedule for end of October. I asked if they could get me in earlier. If I got in earlier, what about my having been gluten free? Should I just pile on the bread pre-biopsy? Even though it makes me feel like I want to die? Or should I leave the biopsy schedule for when it's scheduled for to make sure I'm good and glutened before they test me?

I wish the doctor had called me himself so I'd know what to do. Maybe he will when they get the amebiasis tests in.

I would keep the biopsy date as is, and continue to eat gluten. I'm waiting for my own gastroscopy (endoscopy) at the end of November (I had negative blood tests as well)...as much as I'd like to give the diet a shot right now, I need to keep eating gluten for the test. Regardless of the results, I will be going gluten free after the endoscopy.

Michelle

I learned how to use shadows while I was playing around with the program the other day. I didnt want to download any embelishments or backgrounds until I was sure I'd be able to figure out how to use the tools and everything else. I ended up downloading a couple paper paks but havent had time to do anything since. I have so many supplies and a ton of patterned paper....I was wondering if I could just scan my own embelishments and paper instead of buying them and downloading?? It sounds like thats what you do? I just want whatever I use to look realistic. I found a good book with alot of tips...just bought it tonight...the layouts look so real its impossible for me to tell they're digital. I think I'm gonna be busy with this project for awhile.

Yes, I scan everything...and I'll use the paper patterns for creating original cutouts on the computer as well (cutout letter for example.)

You can scan anything you'd like! If you've got all sorts of papers already, it would make sense to scan them. Just make sure that you scan at a high enough resolution so that they print well. I recommended nothing lower than 300 dpi.

Have fun!

Michelle

I'm highly sensitive to fragrances and chemicals. I use All Free and Clear detergent and stopped using dryer sheets after breaking out in a rash from the Bounce Free and Clear ones. I'd like to switch to Seventh Generation free and clear detergent but dh claims it's too pricey for as much laundry as we do.

For cleaning products I use Seventh Generation Free and Clear, Citra Solve, and Ecover brand products. For scrubbing I use baking soda, for a disinfectant I add Tea Tree oil to my Seventh Generation all purpose surface cleaner.

forgot to mention that I find some of these products at Kroger in their healthymarket section, and others I get at either Whole Foods or Life Grocery

I am sensitive to laundry detergents as well, and have made the switch from Tide (which used to be okay for me) to Purex...not only do I find it more gentle, but it is quite a bit cheaper too. I wish, though, that there was an unscented version for front-load (HE) detergents.

Michelle

Michelle,

How do the pages turn out once they're printed? I have a 12x12 printer but never actually printed a whole layout. I'm hoping the quality is good for the calander I want to make.

I have a few programs but I think the Photoshop Elements has been the easiest for me to work with. Corel has me totally lost.

I have no experience with these programs so its taking some figuring out. I get all excited when I do something and it works.

I think once I get the hang of it I'll probably be able to make pages much faster than I would with all the supplies....plus the biggest bonus is....no mess!!

They turn out quite well when they are printed, however I haven't printed them at home...the work I've done has been printed on a professional quality colour laser printer at commercial printer...so it's on glossy paper, double-sided and trimmed. The colour printer I have at home wouldn't do it justice. If you've got a 12x12 printer, I'll bet you get some nice pages for your calendar.

I don't know anything about Corel. I work on a Mac, and have a full version of Photoshop along with other layout programs. In terms of saving time, I find that I can get lost in the work I do and go over board on time trying all sorts of layouts and designs. I particularly like to scan embelishments for placement on the layout, and include shadows for a realistic page...as if it's been handmade and photographed. Maybe I'll try post an example to show...it'll take me a little while to prep for web viewing.

Michelle

Congrats on a great deal! I love getting new supplies for anything...even if it's a new pen...I'm addicted!

Does anyone do any digital scrapbooking?? I'm learning on photoshop elements...I made one "practice" page and it wasnt too bad. I'm gonna try to make a calendar and my regular pages are always really bulky....thought digital pages would be perfect.

If there are any other scrapbookers I'd love to hear from ya.

The only type of scrapbooking I can bring myself to do is digital. While I love new supplies, I hate committing to cutting paper or photos until I know exactly what design I'm going to do. I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I'm really comfortable with using computer programs for design...Photoshop is a great program to work with.

I've more recently coordinated the design and printing of two kindergarten scrapbooks (will do a third when my daughter goes to Kindy next year) and had a lot of fun pulling together the handmade and digital designs (I did my pages digitally) to create a really unique book of memories for the kids.

Michelle