feelingbetter

Brenda, does making yogurt really destroy the casein? That would mean yogurt has no protein, wouldn't it?

Sometimes I get bored eating the same old things. Any suggestions for snacks? I nibble a lot between meals.

What do you two eat for breakfast, just out of curiosity?

Molly by any chance are you casein intolerant. I tested positive with enterolab and have been afraid to try making the yogourt. My understanding is that there is not much protein left after the 24 hour process.

Do you have a yogourt maker? If so what make?

Brenda

I just wanted to share my experience with the SCD. I have now had 8 really good days with lots of energy. I am 3.5 months gluten-free and 2.5 months dairy, soy , sugar and corn free. Couple of slips with the sugar. Anyway I was just not getting better. I was still so fatigued and having lots of headaches and episodes of constipation. I was getting very, very discouraged. I finally decided to give the diet a try. I also noticed that if I cheat even a little that I don't feel as peppy the next day. I stopped taking iron pills, flaxseed and all other illegal foods. I am now reading the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle. I thought I would be hungry without grains but I'm not.

I noticed an improvement within a couple of days. I never thought that I could live without grains but I no longer even think about them. I feel lighter and my mind is clear. I have had no depressive episodes. The constipation is gone and so have the headaches. I also started a good probiotic and continue with vitamins and good fats.

I am so grateful for this forum as I have learned so much from everyone. I am looking forward to further healing and returning to the gym. I have been so sick for soooo long. I know how difficult it is to lose yet another food but for me this has been a very liberating and positive experience. It might be worth a try to anyone who is still having a really hard time.

Cheers!

Brenda

I have been gluten free for 3.5 months and off dairy, soy, sugar and corn for about 2.5 months. I was still feeling really sick and fatigued. I strictly followed the specific carbohydrate diet for the last 7 days and I feel sooooo much better. I think pele's post is right on. I also take a dairy free probiotic and malic acid and betaine hydrochloride for better digestion.

It is hard giving up things we love but no food is worth being sick over.

Good Luck!

Just to echo what has been said here about dairy. I also had lots of problems with bloating, constipation etc until I gave up dairy.

Thanks Ali- I too seem to do much better on a high protein diet. I crave meat often. I now eat lots of protein at each meal. I just had my breakfast and left out all supps except ones for low stomach acid. Hopefully I will know in a week if my supps are to blame.

This process of elimination can be frustrating.

I hope your testing goes well.

Brenda

Thanks Everyone for your input. You have no idea how great it is to have this forum as I don't have any others in my life who have these problems.

I have decided to quit all supplements except the Now brand betaine hydrochloride and the Health Equation malic acid. I feel these are necessary for low stomach acid.

I am to see my doc next week and should I insist on some thyroid supplements? I am in Canada so I don't know what is available.

My iron was low normal. I can't remember what it was. I have been taking iron pills for the last 15 years. It is still always lolw normal.

Hi Gfpaperdoll- I have checked all supplements and my house is gluten-free/df. I don't use any sodas or sweetener of any kind. I use plenty of olive oil, fish oil and flaxseed oil.

Mamaw my thyroid was checked 2 months ago and my TSH was 3. Low normal I think.

The only thing I can think of is maybe my supplements are not gluten-free even though they say they are. I wish I knew. Maybe I will stop taking them all and see how I feel.

Hi- I have been gluten-free for 3 months and 2 months dairy free. I have also given up soy, corn and sugar. I have many improvements with symptoms but I am still so weak and tired all the time. I give myself weekly b12 shots, take pharmaceutical grade vitamins, adrenal support, betaine hydrochloride, malic acid and iron. I am under an alternative doctor's care. I see him next week.

I sleep every night 9 or 10 hours and have to nap every afternoon for 2 hours. I just have no energy. It is a good day if I can go out and do groceries. I basically eat the specific carbohydrate diet. I really don't know what else to do. I have so little energy.

Is this normal? I am 45. Any ideas? I am getting so discouraged.

Thanks

Brenda

I am in Canada. My alternative doc claims that 37% of the caucasion population are gluten intolerant. The problem with a celiac diagnosis is that no one makes any money from it. The big pharma companies would rather pump out all kinds of drugs to treat the wide range of symptoms. Sickness is big business.

I have talked to all of my family members. Tons of cancer, diabetes, short stature, reflux, constipation, mental illness and alcoholism. Both my husband and I tested positive through enterolab. I am waiting for son' results. We will test older daughters this summer as they are away at school. Family members just kind of look at us as though we are out to lunch. Who wants to give up all of that garbage food that they are all addicted to. We have also talked to friends who have all kinds of arthritis and other problems and people just aren't interested. I think it is only the ones who get really sick and desperate are the ones who will try this diet. People like us. It is so frustrating.

Thanks I needed to rant!

My Smoothie Recipe

1 banana

8 or so frozen strawberries

1 or 2 tblsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp flaxseed oil

1 scoop brown rice protein powder

1 cup water or rice milk

This holds me all morning and is very healing for the colon. You can play around with the ingredients. I love these. I started making these when I gave up all grains.

lizard00- The olive leaf extract is an anti-fungal often used for candida. This could be the cause of your skin problems. Another possibility that comes to mind is dairy. Are you off all dairy?

My husband had the worst exzema for over a year. He went dairy free and all exzema cleared up after 2 weeks. Just a thought.

Meline- I called my doc and he has the probiotics plus by Metagenics which is gluten and dairy free. I will start using that one next week.

Barbara you are right on with not eating any kind of flour products. That is what I was doing just before I had this recent setback. I do really well when I don't eat any flour or grains. I was feeling so well and that seems to be when I get kind of careless with my food. I am going back to big salads with a piece of meat. When I eat this way I have lots of energy and normal appetite.

Meline I am going to continue with the olive leaf and probiotic. Can you or anyone else recommend a good gluten-free/cf probiotic?

Meline- Thanks! I am thinking maybe your suggestion of candida could be it. It kind of makes sense that once I had the sugar I fed the little critters. I have also been craving sugar this week. I think I will really think long and hard before eating any sweets. I am on week 2 of taking a probiotic and olive leaf extract.

Brenda

Hi I am close to 3 months gluten-free and 2 months dairy free. I was starting to feel much better until I had some gluten-free cake and some maple syrup on Mothers day. I have really avoided sugar since going gluten-free. I had the maple syrup on some homemade gluten-free pancakes I made from scratch. Soon after I had them I became really, really tired. All I want to do is sleep. It is now 4 days after the fact and today I had a migraine and still really fatigued.

Does anyone else react to sweets like this? I am so discouraged as I was finally starting to have some energy before this happened.

Thanks Brenda

I have been gluten-free for 2 months and 1 month of dairy. I tested positive through enterolab for both. I went through the worst withdrawal from dairy. I think I am still going through it. I have had frequent migraines, headaches, crippling fatigue, irritability and some ear canal pain.

However when I gave up dairy I finally now have nice daily bowel movements.

Hi Wilem- I have had all of your symptoms while eating gluten and dairy. I tested positive for both 2 months ago. I had the flu like symptoms for 5 mos before I stopped eating these foods. Most of my symptoms have gone away. The only lingering problem is fatigue. I think it will just take a little more time.

Hope you feel better soon.

I think if this situation were mine I would tell her that I will not put up with her cruelty any longer.

I have a family that can be very cruel also. I have had to put all of them in their place by not putting up with anymore dysfunctional behavour.

Your mother seriously needs help!

I have been constipated my entire life. I have been gluten free for 2 months. I gave up all dairy a month ago and lo and behold I have the most glorious movements everyday- and often twice.

I am also off all soy, corn and sugar as these foods will stop me up. I also really limit the amount of rice bread and never eat rice pasta. I eat a small amount of brown rice as well.

I have also added flax seed oil and a good probiotic.

I am 45 and newly diagnosed. I have struggled with depression since grade 3. It has been my constant companion throughout my life. I was first medicated at the age of 31 and was on countless drugs for the next 14 years. One combo of drugs caused manic episodes and I was diagnosed as bipolar.

I lost my career and have been on a disability for the past 4 years. Like many others here my children were robbed of a mother. The oldest girls are in university and my youngest is ten. I hope to be there for him at least.

I finally found an alternative doctor who treats depression as a symptom and not a disease. I am so grateful as I am starting to climb out of a dark pit. Six months ago I pulled myself off of all psyc meds and went through a very hellish withdrawal. I think my recovery is slower than most because of all the meds I have taken. At 2 mos gluten-free I am so fatigued it is unbelievable but I do think I am healing.

I have to be careful as to not indulge in self pity too often. It is very easy to do with all of the losses in my life. I try instead to focus on all that I have.

Sorry to hear you are feeling rough. I am too for that matter. I have been gluten free for 2 months and dairy free for 1 month. In this amount of time I have also figured out that I cannot have corn, soy and most processed foods like rice bread. Popcorn for me is absolute poison.

My hubby got glutened yesterday when he ate some salad at work. It had some kind of salad dressing on it. Today he has the neck and shoulder pain.

I do think this diet is difficult but from what I hear from those who stick with it the rewards are great.

Better days ahead.

I can relate to the fatigue. I am 2 months gluten free and 1 month dairy free. I sleep 10 hours at night and 2 hrs every afternoon. I was never one to nap but I sure am now. I keep thinking that the body is cleansing. My diet is pretty darn healthy as I basically eat meat, vegs, fruit, eggs, brown rice and a few nuts.

I became very fatigued when I gave up dairy.

Anyway I have made getting well my full time job.

My husband went gluten-free and still had a terrible rash , lower back ache and D. He then quit dairy and all problems resolved after 3 weeks. You may have other allergies.

I have been recently tested positive for gluten and dairy myself. I also know that corn, soy and sugar are absolute no no's me. I am still keeping a vigilant eye for other food sensitivities.

Gabby I am going to try the toasted almonds. I bought my last bunch in a net at the grocery store. Maybe these are my problem.

Tracy thanks- My thyroid was last checked 2 months ago and it was low normal. I think the TSH was 3.

Jersey my iron levels were also low normal.

It seems I am always low normal with everything. Yet I always feel so weak and exhausted. Guess I will just keep on plugging.

Brenda

Yolo thanks for all of your feedback and sharing your story with us. I cannot believe how much we have all suffered with gluten and some of us dairy. It certainly helps in that I don't feel so alone in all of this.

I will just continue on cautiously with the bowel cleanse. I am putting in an order to vitacost and so I will try the coenzyme b vitamins.

My naturopath has me on adrenal support, betaine hydrochloride, malic acid, salt solution and b12 shots once a week.

I think this will just take more time. I have been very sick and weak for a long time. I just seem to be sicker now that I am off all gluten and dairy. Maybe this is just a period of withdrawal.

Thanks

Brenda