Googles

It doesn't have anything to do with blood pressure for me. The Dr. said it was a reaction to a virus that was going around. After getting over the virus (don't know why after) you can get dizzy. For me I went to the doctor finally when the dizziness lasted all day. I did try eating and drinking thinking that it might help, but in my case (this time) it was beyond my control. I seem to be mostly over it (at least I hope).

I want to thank everyone for their advice on how to deal with my issues. I didn't mean to snap at anyone, though I'm sure I did. While it is not an excuse, I'm really stressed out and really angry. And not just angry about how the university is dealing with the celiac. I have been diagnosed for two months and during that time I have also had to deal with many major life changes. So I'm sorry that I got angry with people's suggestions. I just feel so stressed out and for me money has always been a sensitive issue. I wanted to make sure you knew that I'm not angry at all of you who responded, I'm just really angry in general. At first I was able to accept all this as another complication that I would have to deal with, but right now I seem to have entered and area where I'm just pissed at life and everything seems like it is too much to deal with. Plus I don't as of yet know anyone where I live so I spend all my time alone since other students are not yet here.

Have you ever tried rice noodles, available in the 'oriental foods' section of many markets? I eat Thai Kitchen rice noodles all the time and they are only pennies more than regualr pasta. My Wegmans carries both the angel hair variety and a thicker one like linguine. I throw them into chicken broth along with a handful of peas or corn from the freezer and also will do a stir fry with fresh veggies and butter and then toss. They also are good with pasta sauce mixed with a bit of ground beef. I am also on a limited income and can stretch one pound of ground beef for three or four meals and a chicken breast baked will last me for at least 2. If you have a rice cooker that is a good thing to work with also. I use either white or wild rice in the rice section and then put whatever veggies or leftover meats in the steamer part that I have on hand. There is always some rice left over to stir fry the next day. I am not much of a bean eater myself but have found that garbanzo beans are quite tolerable. I put a half a can in one meal and then use the rest to make hummus. You can also see if there are any Angel Food ministries in your area. You spend $30 dollars and get $60 worth of food. They do have gluten free boxes available also. I discovered them after someone mentioned them here so a board search or general search should bring them up.

Thanks for the advice. I will look into it.

Now, you live on rice, beans, and eggs. Oh, and still peanut butter.

A gluten free diet does not have to be more expensive, but it may take more creative cooking.

The only problem is that I've never ever been able to get beans down. Taste, texture, I don't know. Never been able to do it.

I am talking to people about it. I have contact the disability office. I let everyone know during orientation today. I've talked with the graduate secretary and the program director. I am talking to people.

But for me it is a financial issue. I am a graduate student and don't at this point know how I am going to afford all of my current semester, much less my next semester. I am counting pennies. Since they consider meals provided at dept functions and such when considering the expected cost of living and that dictates how much money in loans I can get, it is a significant financial issue. Plus the cost of gluten free food being more expensive it puts me in a sever financial bind. When I was applying for this program and accepted I didn't even know I had this disease. There was no way for me to know things would become so financially unstable. I expected to be able to survive on peanut butter, Ramen, and wheat spaghetti, for getting through grad school. Not the best diet but I would have survived. Now everything is different, and I would expect them to help accommodate me since I am paying for everyone else to be able to eat, and don't know where my food is going to be coming from.

I am getting a job but right now the job market isn't that great and I hope to start a min wage job soon. But all that money has to go to rent. (Another thing the university lied about-Yes I am mad at the university for a number of misrepresentations.)

When I first when gluten free I had the worst protein cravings. One night I ate half a package of sliced ham. (I bought it meaning to last). I still get them and go after my apples and peanut butter. But not as often.

Hi,

Thanks for both of your responses. I only had intermittent D before I was diagnosed (and my regular pcp who I didn't see the day I went in said she wouldn't have thought of celiac as a possible problem). The only time I had pain was with really bad D. The GI didn't seem to like what she heard (as in it wasn't a good sign) when I described what was going on. I just wish there was a way to know when everything was back to okay inside. I feel like I never know anymore what is normal and I just want to be able to trust my body. I used to be able to know what was going on (stress etc) by how my body reacted. Now I just feel thrown for a loop. Thanks again.

This is probably a really gross question, but I'm hoping someone will be willing to help me. I was wondering what a "normal" (ie what people w/o celiac would experience as normal) BM would be. I realized that mine weren't normal after seeing my GI doc and her reaction to my descriptions. But they have been normal for me. What is normal for a person with a healthy digestive tract? Is there a point when I will know that my digestive tract has healed because I will have normal BMs? Thanks.

I went to the doctor (I was surprised to be able to get a same day appointment but the semester hasn't started yet.) She said that it was garden variety vertigo and gave me meds to help. Now as long as they don't make me sleep through my interview tomorrow, all hopefully will be good in the next couple of weeks. And yes to your question about my meds. The pharmacy checked for gluten. But with the vertigo meds they weren't sure. Aparently it isn't listed as an ingredient on it, but I don't know how much i trust the pharmacy. I think I might have to find out the manufacturer and call myself to be sure. I checked and it does not.

I'm glad to finally have some problem which is garden variety, being as nothing else recently has been.

I am fine with talking about it with other people, really it is the financial aspect of it that pisses me off. Its not like they are going to give me a break on paying. Its not like the university is doing anything to help me with my other financial complications. It would be nice if they would help with this.

I understand your anger. It looks like the university has a big learning curve to make on this issue. If the university is unwilling or unable to accommodate you then you should get some kind of financial break I would think.

Due to this being about what we eat the social implications and feelings of being left out can feel like a huge hurdle. However it is just food. If you bring your own most people won't even notice; and if they do -- if you want to you can talk about it to help others become more aware -- or just tell them its doctors orders, special diet--period.

Other people have health issues too, many of which are a lot more difficult. As far as talking about it, more and more people are finding they are gluten intolerant. So doing some politicking and educating around this at a university and maybe even forming a club or something or writing articles to the school newspaper wouldn't be a bad idea as a long term project--and also as a way to get back so to speak.

Meanwhile, if you can still handle eating grains, tomatoes and cheese, you can make your own pizza and bring it. They have good easy to make crust packages out there. And then you just add your own topping...

Bea

I had my vitamin levels checked when I was diagnosed and my vit D was low. I have been taking supplements for that, and for B12, and calcium along with a multi vitamin. All the other tests were in the normal range, though maybe I should get them checked again. Get to meet a new doctor (I moved).

So I talked to the director of the graduate program this morning but it does not look hopeful. The director was like, 'we are ordering a big order of pizza and I don't know what is going to be able to happen. I don't know how the restaurant will be able to accommodate you or if they would be willing to with a bulk order. I don't know if we would be able to talk to the restaurant.' I am so mad! Maybe my madness isn't realistic, but I'm mad. I understand that the adviser does not know much about Celiac disease, but it made me angry. Why should I have to bring my own food when everyone else gets to eat all the food provided? Along with the usual costs of being a student I have to pay the extra costs of gluten free food and then can't take advantage of the "fringe benefits" of being a student (for which I pay through tuition) such as meals provided during functions. Why in the world do they have to order pizza? Pizza was one of my favorite foods.

I also do not have kids, but two suggestions I would make in this situation is 1) make sure the adults around your 2 year old know what s/he can't eat. That way you will cut out them offering something that your child can't have (like donuts at church), you may want to set up a system so that your 2 year old checks all food with you before eating. That way you can approve it until s/he is able to know what is okay and what is not. Also make sure any daycare that your child attends also knows. It will be important for them to make sure you child doesn't trade food with other children. 2) When you know that there is going to be food available that your child can't eat, make sure to bring other tasty snacks so your child doesn't feel left out. This includes church and school functions to name a few. I read through Gluten Free For Dummies and it had a whole section on helping your children go gluten free. If you have not looked at it, I suggest it as it has a lot of good ideas. I hope this transition goes well.

Hi,

I have a question about intermittent dizziness. I went gluten-free about two months ago. I am now experiencing intermittent dizziness. I have not been able to connect it to any one specific thing. It happens in the morning and at night. It isn't enough to make me faint but it does make me feel like I'm on a rocking boat. When it happens even sitting in a chair and moving my head can make me dizzy. I don't feel nauseous at all along with it. It does get worse if I bend over and I can get it from rolling over in bed to turn off my alarm clock. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Is it the gluten? Could it be my other meds (anti-depressants) are getting absorbed differently and now I'm having reactions to them? Has anyone else experienced this? I don't think I'm getting cc'ed anywhere.

Thanks for any advice (even guesses).

Googles

You should totally get her out of the meal plan! Keep going up the ladder until you get what you need. Not that this is an okay thing to happen, but now you have proof that they can not deal with her dietary needs. I hope she is feelinig better soon. And just know that from my experience in college, there is nothing that is absolutly mandatory unless they are taking attendance. And for most things there are too many people for that to happen. Also try seeing if getting a note from her diagnosing doctor helps. They will take a doctor's note as worth more than your word (sadly) Good luck.

My daughter is dealing with this issue tonight - after only one day at school as a new college freshman. They told her their french fry fryer was dedicated, but she still got really sick and at this time they are taking her to the hospital because she can't stand the pain.

They would NOT let us opt out of the food plan because they said "we can feed her," although she told me she inadvertently met someone with celiac today that DID get out of the food plan, and has an apartment where she can cook all of her meals. That girl's parents probably brought up the ADA and persisted. I didn't push the issue, because we trusted the dining services guy, but now look where it's gotten her. She's probably going to miss some mandatory stuff this weekend.

This time it is a one time thing of an orientation dinner, however, from when I visited it sounds like they do a lot of meals together and so I thought it would be best to let them know about my dietary restrictions as early as possible. Also it gives me practice in what should be a supportive environment talking about it since I was just diagnosed two months ago. I sent an email and am now waiting for a response. I tried to convey the severity and complexity that comes with celiac so the secretary wont just blow it off. I will follow up in a couple of days is I haven't heard back.

Sorry to be unclear,

There will be a restaurant that will cater the food to the university. I was talking with the graduate secretary who was setting the orientation up to try and get the name of where they are getting the food.

HI,

I went by the department office today of my university to try and explain about my food restrictions. They seemed to (in my opinion) blow it off as if it were someone deciding to be vegetarian (not trying to offend the vegetarians out there.) They just asked me to send an email with a list of what I could eat. I asked if I could contact the place providing the food to talk with them about it, but she seemed to think that was unnecessary. I really don't want to get glutened right before classes start. How do I expain it in a way they will understand (they requested I just send an email about it with a list of what I could eat.) I will ask again to be provided with who they are ordering food from so I can talk to them directly, but how do I get the department to understand the importance? If they wont provide the name of the restaurant then I feel like I can't trust the food as I don't know how they will keep from ccing. Any advice is welcomed. Thanks.

So I'm back from my day trip to Cedar Point. It went mostly well. The only problem was that I didn't really trust the cooking because of CC. I couldn't see them prepare my food. Since then I have been feeling intermittently dizzy. I don't know if that is from the rides or from some new glutened symptom (no gi problems). I just ended up eating food bars I took with me. Though when we went to customer service the person was really friendly and had a list for us of what should be gluten free.

HI

My dad and I are thinking of going to Cedar Park in Sandusky Ohio. I was wondering if anyone has been there and might know about any food they have that is gluten free or if I should prepare all my own.

Thanks,

Googles

I am starting a graduate program. The introduction to the department starts with a lunch meal. I am almost positive that it is going to be catered by the university dining services. I know that I should contact the department to make sure who is catering it and then contact them about my food (or bring my own). This is my first time having to do something like this as I was recently diagnosed. I know that I am going to have to have a discussion at some point with the department as I am going to be there for two years and it will need to happen sooner or later. However, I'm nervous about being seen as demanding and needing special treatment. I was hoping people could give me encouragement and/or advice about having to do this. I just really like to blend in. I will thank you before you give any advice as I am moving tomorrow and don't know exactly when I'll be back on line.

Thanks again everyone. I am somewhat worried about the cleanliness because it is a university apartment. I don't really know what to expect when it comes to these. There are no toasters etc provided so I don't have to worry about that. Hopefully it will have been cleaned. But I'm starting to question the university in a number of areas. I don't know how well they do details.

I am moving to Ann Arbor, MI. I need to find a psychiatrist or psycho-pharmacologist who has experience with celiac disease. I have a sneaking suspicion that my healing is affecting my medication absorption. My current psychiatrist doesn't know anything about celiac disease, and I wouldn't trust a pcp or gi doc to mess with my psych meds. Are there lists of psychiatrists who know about celiac disease?

Thanks.

cmom,

Thanks for the reminder. Should I wear a mask while I do this? Or is that overkill?

Thanks.

My dad is coming too to help me move. I will be putting him to work while he is there. He still thinks I joking about the fact that the apartment is going to be gluten free. I think I am going to have to have another conversation about that with him.