LuvMoosic4life

yeah. keep us posted. I've been bugging my mom to try the diet just for a week. She has heart problems, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, hemroids, rash and water retention, is taking heartburn meds and all kinds of stuff for her heart problems. She is always complaining about having gas and stomach problems and is overwieght. I was even sitting next to her one day and could hear her stomach, as she was sitting there in discomfort. I told her "try it, just one week? I can almost gaurentee you'll feel so much better and lose wieght in the long run." I am the type of person who packs on wieght if I eat gluten, gluten free I cant keep it on!!!!! SO it wouldnt suprise me if she's the same way....I just wish she would try it!!!

Hi Gluten-Free members,

Wow... honestly only today did I finally do a self diagnosis and realised that it was very likely I had an allergy to gluten (celiacs disease).

Here are my symptoms:

* Stomach Pain and bloating

* Diarrhea (been constant for months)

* Weight loss (I eat like a pig and never go above 53 kgs - I'm 5ft7)

* Irritability

* Depression

* Constantly Tired

* No energy

* Mouth Ulcers

* Mild IgA deficiency

* Anal fissures/bleeding (sounds gross I know)

* Felt like I was absorbing any nutrients

* Weakness

* Stomach gurgling and noises

So from all those symptoms would most of you conclude that I had celiacs disease? I know self diagnosis can be dangerous. I actually went to see the doctor about 6 months ago for my symptoms and she was absolutely useless! Only about 25 yrs old... she did a few tests and although I had a mild IgA deficiency she couldn't tell me what was wrong with me.

When mum suggested today that I might have celiacs (coz of my symptoms and my cousin has it too) - I went online and couldn't believe how many of the symptoms I fitted.

Now this is going to sound kind of gross - but did any of you have an embarrassing problem like an itchy anus? I developed this about a year ago and felt tiny lumps around there... and I just knew that it must be related to my stomach pains coz it all seemed to stem from my intestines.

I am a BIG bread and cereal lover and have never gone a day in my life without them - so I have never been gluten free long enough to realise that that was my problem. So from today onwards I am embarking on a gluten free diet and hopefully I'll notice a great improvement. I knew I was unwell for so long but I didn't know what was wrong with me! I am sooo happy that I might have found a cure sooo sooo relieved that all my problems haven't been in my mind and it hasn't just been me feeling stressed or "run down". To have possibly found an answer is amazing - I would much rather know that I have this disease than be living with all the symptoms that have been causing me a lot of unhappiness. I don't know why people seem so dissapointed to have found out they have celiacs - for me it is the biggest blessing to finally have found an answer!!!

I am also self diagnosed and 22. I completely agree with you that it is the biggest blessing. I mean, there are times it sucks and can get stressfull, but in the end I am so glad I found out the cause to my problem. I just wish people around me could understand how grateful I am. This forum has definitly been so helpful since doctor and family definitly arent!!

What about salad? You can put chicken or tuna in. White Corn tortillas (Mission brand is gluten free) you can make wraps wtih the chicken or tuna. Also peanut butter and jelly on the tortillas. Fruit salad.

If you don't like mircrowaves, then what about a thermos sometime down the road?

I can't think of many things for now without a larger store and not wanting to use a mircrowave.

I like to heat up taquitos and cut them up in a salad. I make my own bread at home (gluten free panty sandwich bread is really good and easy) and bring sandwiches to work with gluten free past salad or gluten free chips.

It is hard in the beginning but once you catch on to what you can eat and how many normal type of foods are gluten free (no gluten ingredients) it does get easier. If you like spaghetti Classico sauce is gluten free. Dinty Moore Beef Stew is gluten free and Stagg Chili is also gluten free.

Good Luck.

thanks. I actually dont mind eating hot foods cold. My break at work is very short and I'm usually starving by the time I get to it so I could care less if my food is heated, especially something like gluten-free pasta and sauce or even rice. I'm a college student, so I'll eat just about anything inany way (gluten-free of course!

I don't eat processed foods at all and I don't starve somehow. The vast majority of the foods I eat never contained gluten so I don't need to find substitutes. Anyway, I'm not gloating, just trying to explain that there's lots of things to eat that are very healthy and naturally gluten free, if you want to consider changing your diet a little.

thanks. I actually dont eat too many processed foods. just gluten-free crackers or cookies on occasion as a treat. The only reason I wan to ge to a bigger store is for the gluten-free pasta, hot breakfast cereals and a snack that doesnt need refrigeration and that I can carry with me that is convenient in case I get hungry. I am very active and athletic so I try to eat a well balance of everything, I get hungry very easily after a few hours of not eating and will start feeling light headed... I prefer eating small things throughout the day.

I've never had this happen, but its funny that people I thought were good friends starting moving farther away from me with this. There was actually this one guy who was pretty much crazy about me (I wasnt about him and never hooked up) but once I found out I was gluten intolerant I told him about it b/c he ask me out for some beers. I told him how I get sick and he slowly backed away thinking I am this sick girl that needs to be fed baby food through an eye dropper- HE REALLY TOLD ME THAT!!!!!!

I know how you feel. I come from a family that based completely around food. i swear, i could walk through the door of my grandma's house during a get together and they wont even say "hi" immediatly its "try this, you hungry? eat eat eat!!!" And since I am the only thin person in the family, if I dont eat, they think I'm annorexic, or are offended that I dont like the food. The one time I actually ate the food b/c I got so pi*** off at trying to explain that I cant have gluten, it wasnt a suprise to me I started feeling sick. Nobody realized that I wasnt feeling sick b/c of the gluten, but it was "oh no, I'm sorry my COOKING didnt agree with you." And then they feel bad b/c they think thier food/cooking doesnt agree with me. I havent once been able to get through to them about the gluten thing, andI'm done trying to explain to them. I'm just going to social events for the piont of being social, not food, if they don't accept that, then I will be more than happy not to go back b/c obviously they dont respect the fact that I am there to visit and talk to them, not to stuff my face with food that will make me feel sick, and just talk about food the whole time. The funny thing is half of my family feels sick after eating also, so they say "oh, its just how we are." AHHH!

Beans and pototoes are also cheap, gluten free and easily available. One option is a bean salad to go with cold chicken for lunch. Also, you can look for receipes online to use dried beans for an even cheaper way to eat. I agree with the option to use a thermos if you don't want to use the microwave.

don't most beans have CC though? I've tried the dried beans and I react everytime...or mabye its just b/c they are a gassy food to begin with, but I also get the stomach gurgling a D. the bag I had said processed in a facility that produces wheat though....

I didn't read all the replies, so I apologize in advance if someone else has already made this suggestion:

I would ask to talk to the owner or manager of the supermarket and ask them to order some gluten-free stuff for you. Do some research before you talk to them about what you would like, and then explain your situation and ask them to dod the ordering for you. Many places are very happy to help customers with special needs. HTH!

thanks! i havent thought of that! I just might do that. I know bars do it with redbridge, order it for specific people that ask.

I was going to say Wegmans, but I see you have been there. I always stock up when I go there. One good meal I got is Take 2 bags of boil in bag White Rice and next time you get to Wegmans, get their soup in the prepared foods section, it is Vermont White Cheddar Brocoli and is marked gluten free. Mix them together, it is a great side dish.

AWESOME! Wegmans became my new best friend when I wen there a couple weeks ago and saw the isle with a sign above it that read "Gluten free" I think I nearly peed myself

thanks! thats actually where I'm going when i can get to civilization

thank you!

thanks!

I cant order online because I have no money in my checking out and I dont have a credit card

I was wondering about rice though. I always eat brown rice,I buy the Lundberg brand in the organic section that is gluten-free. I used to eat instant brown rice that wasnt labeled gluten-free, but it did bother me on occasion ( I guess it depended on the box, sometimes it did sometimes it didnt) Are there any instant rices or even regular rice that are gluten-free and can be bought at any normal store? And I didnt think of salad! i guess I stay away from it b/c it is hard for me to digest and burp it up for hours after, but I'll have it on occasion....

I guess I should mention also that I know all rice is gluten-free, but many are made in a factory that does Wheat and say it may contain traces, so I was just worrie about CC.

thanks!

I cant order online because I have no money in my checking out and I dont have a credit card

I was wondering about rice though. I always eat brown rice,I buy the Lundberg brand in the organic section that is gluten-free. I used to eat instant brown rice that wasnt labeled gluten-free, but it did bother me on occasion ( I guess it depended on the box, sometimes it did sometimes it didnt) Are there any instant rices or even regular rice that are gluten-free and can be bought at any normal store? And I didnt think of salad! i guess I stay away from it b/c it is hard for me to digest and burp it up for hours after, but I'll have it on occasion....

I'm so glad I read this thread. I'm going to the doc next week mainly for problems realated to this. After reading all of the crap everyone has been going through, I'm pretty comfortable with accepting the fact that I KNOW I am gluten sensitive. They cant really test me since I've been gluten-free and I refuse to go back. I'm only going to hte doc because, for one its a new doctor for me, and two, I've been having stomach problems that are still happening even gluten-free (although my D, C and gas are gone- thank GOD!! ) I also have been having lower back pain and mensrual problems, so I'm definitly going to explain to them what I have done with my diet and what changes I've been through b/c of it. I dont really want to get tested since I cant (accept a gene test). Hopefully just from explaining my situation they will be more believing. SO instead of just going in there specifically for gluten intolerance, I am going for my other problems that might be related, though I'm not going to say they are related, I want to see what they say. it should be obvious (w/o directly telling them) that gluten is linked to my problems I've been having for 6+ years just by describing my symptoms with and without Gluten. If they can at least put "gluten intolerant" on my record for the future I will be satisfied!!! PLus I can tell my familyI officially went to the doc, since my info is confedential, maybe I can finally convince them I'm not making this up!!!!!

i ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THIS! Thanks for sharing!

So I moved into my brothers house for the summer from college since it is near where I am working for the summer. well, it happens to be in the middle of nowhere and pretty much farmland. I went to the main supermarket, which is like 20 mins away and they dont even have an organic isle!!! No gluten-free slections whatsoever! (of course whole foods/fruits veggies and rice chex and your general "normal" things that are mainstream and gluten-free, but thats it.) I kinda figured they wouldnt have anything, but now I'm stuck in a crappy situation:

I'm working all summer and start this week. I pretty much cant spend anymore money until next week (thats if my mom helps me out then, I hate having to ask b/c she has already helped me out with gas money just to get to work until I get a paycheck. I DO NOT come from a rich family so I feel really bad when family gives me money)

I have to bring my own lunches to work and all I really have right now that I can bring is apples, brown rice pasta, chicken, tuna, brown rice, and I bought celery and carrots which I can dip in peanut butter (its smart balance, gluten-free) I suppose I have enough to last me until I can drive to where my mom lives where there is a wegmans with a whole GLuten free isle. I made pasta salad with chicken miced in to bring with me for a few days, but I dont want to eat that all summer, and honesly not for a whole week haha

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to buy for when I can get to a bigger store? Something that I can take to work that will be nutritional, at least have some protien and preferably doesnt have to be heated (there is a microwave there, but I really am against microwaves.) there is also a fridge. I am also avoiding dairy and keeping my soy intake very smalll B/C too much will bother me.

THANKS!!!! I pretty much wanted to cry in the store today!!!! Now I'm realizing how hard this can be, especially when you're a broke college student and work is 25 miles away (open road, but still) with gas prices going up to $4 dollars a gallon!!!!!! AHHH@!!!!!

NOPE.

I dunno if this is gluten related, but this all started when I went gluten-free.

I've been sick for a couple of days on antibiotics for pharyngitis. A few days before I got sick, I noticed I was retaining a lot of water, just feeling bloated all over and even put on about 10 IBS. SInce I've been gluten-free I also have been having lower back pain/aching.

TOday I'm starting to feel a little better, but still retaining a ton of water. I decided to take a bath, thinking it may help and I would sweat a little bit. well, about a few minutes soaking in the bath I started sweating, my heart started to beat really fast and I just felt sick. I sat up and my ears felt like they were plugging up (this usually happens before I pass out). After taking some deep breaths I slowly stood up and just felt extremely light headed and my legs/arms and hands were shaky and weak. I pretty much just wrapped my self in a towel and layed down on my bed until I could pull myself together. It's kinda scary having that feeling when you're living alone! I've had anemia in the past and passed out from that, so I'm just tarrified I may pass out and no one will be here to wake me up . Now I'm having the lower back aching again...

has this happened to anyone?? or is this b/c of the antibiotic??

It just seems like in general lately my body has a hard time "cleansing" itself. Its like stuff sits in me for days. If I drink coffee ( on a rare occasion) I can smell it in my urine for hours afterwards, just a few sips of alcohol make fatigued and light headed and leave me tired for a couple days after...I was never like that...

wow, thanks for the info! very intersting, I havent read about that until now.

well,my throat problem got worse yesterday. I've been having a very dry throat for a few days and figured it was just mild allergies and the weather. WRONG.

Last night I started getting pain in my throat (vocal chord area) and my chest. It hurt to talk and swallow and my muscles started aching me. I went to the ER this morning since I dont have a doctor and they gave me antibiotics (amoxiccilan in liquid form) and IB profin for the pain. This is so wierd b/c its all in my lower throat and chest and basically the only thing the doc checked me for was mono b/c I told him I've been very fatigued. It was like a walked in and left with antibiotics all in a half hour...I'm so glad I actually have an appointmen with a real doc for the first time in forever next week! this has been going in too long. I've been to the ER 4 times in the past year all for infections like this.

I have been mostly gluten-free, but I'm starting to wonder if my getting sick was triggered by going out for dinner friday night. My main meal was gluten-free, but I ordered a salad and just took the croutons off, I figured "eh, I'll just see what happens". I didnt really have any physical reactions besides a minor tension headace that developed while I was eating, so I'm not sure if it was from that or just coincidence.... I wasnt really feeling good for the past couple of weeks to begin with, so I dont want to blame it on gluten, it just makes me wonder b/c I havent been sick in a while since going gluten-free. I just had some close calls the few times I tried eating gluten again.....

Really, who is the ignorant person who read this report and claimed there is no evidence of celiac disease? That is utterly ridiculous.

You have chronic inflammation of both your small bowel and stomach. You have villous blunting and atrophy. You have damage in your esophagus that suggests reflux.

And then you try the diet and feel so much better.

What else does anybody need to give you a definitive diagnosis of celiac disease? Come on, I am just shaking my head here!

You have celiac disease. No question about it. Keep being on the gluten-free diet and ignore anybody who claims it isn't celiac disease.

I agree. I'm sure many have seen this before, but this doctors states right up front that atrophy of villi is part of celiacs

I have been taking digestive enzymes that are formulated to help digest gluten. I also plan to use Enterolab for testing in the next day or two. Does anyone know if the enzymes will affect the test results? Will the tests possibly show a false negative because the enzymes are aiding in gluten digestion?

Has anyone here found digestive enzymes to help with gluten intolerance or even celiac. Thanks for any help.

I've never tried the digestive enzymes, but I doubt they would interfere with the test results. Just because you have enzymes helping to break down gluten, doesn't mean your body still wont have an autoimmune response and produce antibodies. If you are allergic to gluten your body will still treat it as a foriegn substance, it just may not have to work as hard with the help of the enzyme.

I could be wrong on this as I am just putting in my thoughts, someone else may have a better answer.

how long have you been gluten-free?

I got heartburn easier from fattier food than when I ate gluten, but not often.

For the first couple of months after going off gluten I got cramps, some bad. I didn't get them before, only mild uncomfortable feeling.

There is a disorder that effects moisture producing linings called Sjorgens. I don't know if your symptoms fit at all. YOu may just be balancing out.

I would say I've been gluten-free for a solid month and very light gluten for about 3 months, although I am sure I have gotten REALLY tiny amounts here and there in the past month. I have bad reactions to more significant amounts ( although I know it doesn mean its not doing damage if its small)

thanks. I will check that out and see if its similar to what I'm experiencing. all I know right now is my vocal chords feel so dry I want to cry. I used to have such a powerful singing voice, now it is a strain to sing and I swear I taste blood when I do try to sing...

yeah eating out sux. Its almost like you are gaurenteed CC. I went out last night to eat and ordered broiled haddock. It was an itailan resturant and every dish comes with some sort of pasta. The nice thing though is when I order the fish there the pasta comes in a seperate bowl and the only other thing on the plate with the fish is fresh itailan style veggies......I didn thave a problem with any of it.... I usually stick to plain broiled stuff when I go out.

Since I went gluten free MY lower GI problems are 95% better!! NOw I notice the stomach acting up more often (mostly after fatty foods or meats) I've also been having occasional redness and red bumps in my mouth, they dont hurt too bad, just ugly looking. As far as my "monthly" symptoms, I've been having discomfort in my lower back and lower to mid abdominal. I didn't get my "P" this month, but multi colored discarge (sorry for the visual-lol) I just feel like I have constant pms lingering. I am also a singer and notice my voice is "dry." its almost like a soard throat,but not, I dunno how to explain it.

Is there any type of virus or symptom that may possibly attack the inner tissue of your body? ex. inside mouth, throat, esophogus, stomach, intestine, uteris walls, vocal chords...ect.ect???? Or is this a sign of cealiac? I have not been diagnosed. I believe I am more likely to just be gluten sensitive, but who knows. seeing a doct in a week or so finally....

OMG! I though this was my own post when I read this!!!!! I had this exact same thing in febuary, soars, followed by a burning tounge, making it hard for me to even talk! I went to the helath center at school and they just told me type II herpes: canker soars...these were not canker soars!!! It would come and go and eventually a friend recommended to try going gluten-free, it worked! I havent been diagnosed though...and I still have occasional redness on my tounge and litte dots that look like soars, but nothing like what i had before.....

I find that since I've been gluten free alcohol and I do not agree like we used to. I feel drunk after only 1 or two drinks, and if I go beyond that I'm puking, sometimes I wont keep anything down for 12 hours if I have too much. If I drink anything now its b/c I still want to be social. I get one drink and sip it slowly. Wine really is the only apealing thing to me anymore, but still gets me dizzy and dried out aven after one I tried redbridge, but I think the pack I got was expired, it tasted reallly old!