jeanzdyn

I have tried gluten free Bisquik, but it just is not the same...I did not like it at all.

I probably need to be gluten free for a longer time and then try it again some time. Maybe if I wait a while it will taste better to me.... I was only gluten free for about 2 months when I tried the gluten free Bisquik.

age is just a number, and I'm not a number..... but I'll throw this out there: 52.

I was diagnosed in November 2011, but I have had sypmtoms of celiac disease since I was a teenager.

Thank you to all the folks here at the celiac.com forum with all their information, stories, and advice!!

I have been gluten free since January 1, 2012 and I did not start losing weight until just last week. I know that I was overcompensating at first and eating larger meals. I have gotten to the point where I do not eat unless my stomach growls and that has finally started a nice, slow weight loss in the past week about 3 lbs. came off. I hope it continues as I am in the 'obese' category according to the Mass Body Index on another website. I need to lose 40-50 lbs, but will be happy to lose 15 or 20 lbs, as then I can fit into most of the clothes in my closet.

I was never so ill that I lost weight, although I now believe that I have had celiac disease for many years. I am greatful that I was never that sick and I am sympathetic to any who have been terribly ill. I am told that I have 'mild' celiac disease, and that the villi in my intestines are not badly damaged right now.

Anyway, dmcook1990, what I think is that your body needs some time to adjust to the gluten free diet, and it may take weeks or even months before you start to lose weight. Everybody is different, everyone's body is different, and everyone's body reacts differently in some way to any change in lifestyle.

I guess this is a two-part question:

1. Once you figured out gluten was the problem and you'd had some time to look back, did you find yourself remembering symptoms and reactions from long, long ago, and suspect you'd had a gluten issue for far longer than you'd originally thought?

And,

2. Did you notice that perhaps you unconsciously preferred a lower-gluten diet (just weren't that "into" wheat-based carbs), as if your body was trying to protect you with a natural disinterest or aversion?

Just curious. I'm looking back and realizing there were subtle clues...

1. OMG YES!! Actually, I have had gluten intolerance and/or celiac disease for over 30 years BEFORE being diagnosed at all. (by endoscopy and colonoscopy). My symptoms seemed widely varied and unrelated to each other. If I complained of fatigue I was told "everyone is tired", my gastro-intestinal symptoms were "irritable bowel syndrome" --I was to take Mylanta daily, and worst of all the itching that did not include a rash, breakout, or any visible signs was 'all in my head'. (and many many other symptoms, which apparently are attributed to celiac disease according to the helpful folks here at the celiac.com forum).

Going gluten free relieved the itching! That was the first and biggest, most noticable relief of any symptom and my main motivation for staying gluten free --no more horrible, burning itchy skin!

2. Yes again. I had lost interest in pasta almost entirely. I was no longer interested in pizza at all. It should be noted that I had not purchased bread in about 18 years, which does track back to a time of bad intestinal symptoms that led to some dietary changes. The real problem I had, pre-diagnosis, was that when I did have bread served to me at a restaurant or at someone else's house, I could not get enough bread and ate far too much, then felt ill later. But I did not make that connection at that time.

I would say that being diagnosed with celiac AND coming to this forum were huge revelations to me.

At the same time, when I was told of my diagnosis with celiac disease I was not really that surprised.

About 2 years before diagnosis I had experimented with cutting 'wheat' from my diet to relieve that itching skin.

As for subtle clues, I am really annoyed that no doctor in over 30 years even tried to figure out if any of my symptoms were connected in any way, or what they might mean. I was left to wander the Internet, reading medical websites, searching, always searching for some kind of answer. (I was not too far off, shortly before my diagnosis I had started researching Sjogrens Syndrome, which is not that different, just has some different symptoms.)

Also, I would tell you that I decided, on my own, to have a colonoscopy, as it is recommended for folks near my age. Also, I have had too many folks I know and love in treatment for various types of cancer --and at least colon cancer can be detected and cured if you are tested early enough. So, really my diagnosis was more or less accidental and would not have come about if I had not made this decision myself.

I would only add that I was never gravely ill, never hospitalized for any of my celiac symptoms. For that I am very thankful and I feel extremely sympathetic to those who have suffered severe illness and/or been hospitalized due to the celiac disease.

My DS got the crazies after eating them. In comparing them to regular rice chex, my guess was the dyes in it. Not sure that could cause bloating but it may be something to watch for in other things.

Okay, I have had a bad reaction from eating foods with certain dyes in them.

That is to say that I suspect that the dyes in the foods are what caused my bad reaction symptoms.

why not buy dry black beans? you just soak them overnight and then cook them. it's really easy.

I do not like food that comes out of cans. The only canned food I do eat is gluten free 'baked' beans.

I don't eat much Cinnamon Chex at a time, maybe only 1/2 cup (or less) is a serving for me, or maybe I should say that amount satisfies me. I have not noticed a bloated feeling. But I usually do not want more than the 1/2 cup or less of Cinnamon Chex.

I think I got glutened today, by driving on a highway where they have been mowing in the right of way and median 'grasses' recently and still are today. (who knows what grows wild out here in Wisconsin!) About 45 minutes to an hour later I suddenly had some old, familiar intestinal symptoms.

I cannot figure out what else could have caused my body to react this way. I tracked back for 48 hours and cannot think of anything I consumed that has ever made me sick before.

My intestines started gurgling and I thought I was going to have diarrhea, and then I had intestinal cramping. All this while driving a truck... so it was not as bad as it could have been, obviously, as I did not have to pull over. I did make it to a rest area, where I used the facilities and then took some immodium, because what else could I do? It's a 90+ degree (farenheit) day and I had a few more miles to travel before I could stop.

I was able to continue to sip water to stay hydrated and by the end of my drive, about another hour, I was feeling much better.

But those symptoms --I had not experienced anything like that in a while, so it was scary and a bit of a shock!

Oh! Reading this thread just made something 'click' for me! My Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, BUT I believe that she may have had either Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. The words BRAIN FOG just now hit me hard --I feel bad thinking that she may have had better brain power if only we had known to get her gluten free! (Mom passed away in 2005.)

Makes one really wonder about the 'relationship' between different diseases and illnesses, doesn't it?

I know that I had brain fog pretty bad before going gluten free. It really worried me sometimes -how bad my brain power was. I just added B12 to my vitamin/supplement regimen a couple of days ago, and already I am noticing better brain function -clearer thinking.

Not saying that I have brain fog 'licked', but I believe that I have some improvement.

BTW -I am gluten free since January 1, 2012.

Wow!! Thank you for the info Hootie!!

Good to know, as I have only tried one rice bread and hated it!

I will definitely look for this bread from Gluten Free Houston or order on their website.

I sympathize with you, amcam17, it is not easy to make a major change in your diet and then watch someone else have what you cannot.

I had already been altering my diet in an attempt to alleviate my symptoms. The result of that was that it was a little bit easier for me to make the jump to gluten free.

You need more time away from foods you cannot have.

At least your boyfriend is sensitive to your troubles! Sounds like he is a real good guy.

There are many, many subsitutes for some of the food items that normally contain gluten. Search around here on the forum, you will find a lot of sympathy and advice here --and friends!!

You are not alone in this!

My asthma would be worse anywhere dusty like that, gluten or not! N95 masks are very easy to breathe through and used to be enough for my animal allergies when I had to visit a vivarium where I worked. Breathing 5% of the smallest particles is better than breathing 100%, especially if you're finding that you're not getting too many symptoms.

You can usually get N95 masks at hardware stores. Be sure you're getting a particulate mask designed to keep stuff out rather than a surgical mask designed to filter your exhalation. An N99 or N100 with a seal and exhalation valve would be better but you'd have to see whether you are comfortable in it. I'd be inclined to bring a change of clothing and change and rinse off any exposed skin before leaving the site so I didn't get a bunch of flour in my car. Investing in a set of coveralls could work too, if it's appropriate.

Okay, I will try using a dust mask the next time I find myself at a flour mill. I do know what you are talking about. One of the things our company does is Qualitative Fit Tests for respirator fit, so I know what N95 masks are and what to look for. (fyi: we do not sell or supply dust masks or respirators, so I am on my own to purchase such items.)

Oh! I once had diarrhea (much as you describe) off and on for about 2 years. Try taking acidophilus --that is the probiotic that is found in yogurt. You can buy it in capsule form. That really helped me. (At the time I had no health insurance, so I did a lot of research into what I could do, without medical intervention, to make the diarrhea go away.

But, you are describing more of the same kind of symptoms I have experienced.

In view of your circumstances, not having health insurance, etc. I think you should try going gluten free. It is worth trying dietary changes to see if you can feel better or relieve some of your symptoms.

I also agree with Lisa that you do need to talk to a doctor about this.

You certainly have come to the right place. There are a lot of people, here on the forum, a huge 'body' of knowledge and ready to share information.

Welcome to the forum.

I don't know why this posted like this --I only meant to EDIT the post, not quote it --I clicked on EDIT not quote.

Oh! I once had diarrhea (much as you describe) off and on for about 2 years. Try taking acidophilus --that is the probiotic that is found in yogurt. You can buy it in capsule form. That really helped me. (At the time I had no health insurance, so I did a lot of research into what I could do, without medical intervention, to make the diarrhea go away.

But, you are describing more of the same kind of symptoms I have experienced.

In view of your circumstances, not having health insurance, etc. I think you should try going gluten free. It is worth trying dietary changes to see if you can feel better or relieve some of your symptoms.

You certainly have come to the right place. There are a lot of people, here on the forum, a huge 'body' of knowledge and ready to share information.

Welcome to the forum.

Just get a business membership, I believe that I paid $35 this year for the plain business membership. They don't check to see what your 'business' is, or verify it in any way that I am aware of. I have never been questioned on it in

4 years of membership at Sam's Club.

I can't get the forum to 'multiquote', but anyway, here are some answers to tarnalberry:

I was diagnosed with celiac disease by a gastroenterologist after endoscopy and colonoscopy, and blood test.

I do live in the US, so I will think about your advice regarding the ADA.

I have asthma and that means that I have trouble breathing through a respirator. I do not know if a simple dust mask would be sufficient, especially at a flour mill. (there was flour in the air there)

Fortunately I do not usually have to eat meals at job sites where I work.

Symptoms that I noticed at the second session at the flour mill are:

mild abdominal cramps, and a worsening of my asthma (which I do not know if aggravated asthma symptoms are to be attributed to celiac disease or not...).

Other than that I do not believe that I have experienced other symptoms from this exposure to flour. I worked at that location on Wednesday from 2pm until 4pm and on Thursday from 7am until 11am. It has now been over 24 hours since the Wednesday session. I was in and out of their offices and the room we did part of our job in had chairs in it that were covered in flour dust, and the workers were coming in from the processing plant with flour dust on their clothing.

I have experienced this too. It is an itching sensation, apparently internal, in the abdomen area. It is occasionally accompanied by pain the same area.

It makes me crazy sometimes, I have to really work to ignore it. I think it is occuring less often now, as I have been gluten free for 5 months.

I am not sure I am starting this topic in the right place...

Anyway, it's my job: I work for a company that provides services to various factories and plants of all kinds all over the U.S. It is my job to travel to the client locations to provide the services of my company.

Today I have been working at a flour mill. Literally, they mill flour there, like raw grains. Obviously I am exposed to gluten at this mill. I was inside their offices and in our work trailer on the site. In plain view from our trailer is a car that looks like it is coated in flour dust. The whole area smells like dough.

The only symptom I can say I have noticed so far is a sinus headache. My asthma is worse since my arrival at this place as well.

I have had a conversation with my boss about some of the places I feel would be unwise for me to be for the job. But, this is a bad thing when it comes to my job! I cannot just 'randomly' tell them where I can and cannot go or I may as well quit my job.

The main problem with that is that I have no skills that are in demand -other than to continue at this same job. I cannot just quit my job --I have nothing, no savings, no family, absolutely nothing that can be used to support me, other than to continue at this job. Also, it is not as if I can work for another company doing what I do now, as I would still have to go to places that would expose me to gluten in some form --it is the nature of the work to go to such places.

I pretty much know what your responses will be to this, but have at it...

This topic thread is very interesting to me. I have been gluten free for 5 months and have recently started waking up, after about 5 hours of sleep, and feeling extremely anxious / nervous / rapid heart beat.... I was wondering about it. Maybe it has to do with detoxing from gluten? I have not consulted a doctor as yet, mainly because I cannot afford medications I already need to take- without being prescribed more meds. Also, I would like to avoid taking more meds at all.

2 months before being diagnosed with celiac I was diagnosed with asthma. The asthma has not improved with the gluten free diet, if anything it is getting worse.

Anyway, I will continue to follow this thread with interest.

Welcome to the forum.

For a few reasons I decided to have a colonoscopy. The GI also did an endoscopy. Biopsy with both procedures of course. They also did a blood test. The result was a diagnosis, but how they verbalized that was "we think that maybe you have celiac disease".

I was not surprised by the diagnosis. I had experimented with a rotation diet where I did not eat any bread or pasta for 3 days, and on the 4 day I ate whatever I wanted. So, 3 days off and 1 day on. That relieved my main symptom that was bothering me which was severe, burning itching of the skin. (no rash, no eruptions, no scaly skin, no visible evidence of the itching)

So, I was diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, but I was on my way to figuring it out for myself (after many years of symptoms).

I was never terribly ill, never hospitalized, and for that I am very thankful.

before cancelling the biopsy --are you getting an endoscopy, a colonoscopy, or both?

I would still get a colonoscopy, as that is also a method for detecting colon cancer, which is preventable if a colonoscopy is performed at the right time. In other words, while they are there, the doctor can remove any polyps, etc. and send that in for biopsy as well. AND they can test for celiac disease.

One thing I do remember is that eating gluten just made me want more gluten. Like somehow my body craves the thing that is worst for it. Any time I ate bread, pasta, donuts, it seemed like I could not get enough --never felt full until I was literally stuffed full.

And diahhrea was a daily thing, every morning without fail.

You need to get gluten free and stay that way to feel good all the time.

Who wants to feel sick at all!

Some of us have been very lucky in that we have not experienced severe illness due to our celiac disease. Very lucky.

I am greatful that I was never so very sick as some of the folks on this forum have been. All my sympathy to those who have suffered and been hospitalized.

What you need to take to heart, CanineGluten, is that you feel terrific when you are gluten free. Why not feel terrific all the time and just give up the things that make you feel bad or make you anti-social. It is for the best!

I did not go gluten free in support of another person. But I did find out on my own, but did not accept that I needed to be gluten free until the diagnosis:

For many years I was plagued, every winter, with severe itching -mostly on my legs. There was no 'eruption', no blisters, no rash, no swelling. I tried many different ways to alleviate that horrible, torturous, burning itching.

I did a lot of research into possible causes of the itching, allergies, illnesses, you name it.

At one point I thought maybe I had hypoglycemia. When I started reading food labels I was well and truly horrified at the enormous amount of sugar I was consuming. So cutting back on the sugar intake seemed to help, at first.

I should mention that for most of my life I have NOT had health insurance, so I felt that I was on my own to figure this out. When I was able to consult a doctor I was always told that it was either an allergy to laundry soap or 'it's all in your head'.

Finally I decided that maybe it was an allergy to wheat. That winter I tried a rotation diet, where I avoided all breads and pastas for 3 days in a row, and on the 4th day I ate whatever I wanted to. Well, the itching went away -completely!

2 years later I decided to get a colonoscopy. I did this because I was 50 and had a couple of acquaintances in treatment for cancer (not colon cancer). I just figured it was a good idea to get it over with.

When the nurse called and told me that, from the colonoscopy (and endoscopy and blood work) they found 'evidence of sprue' I was almost relieved. The doctor later read that as "we think that maybe you have celiac disease".

While I am not happy about it -at least I now have an answer! And being gluten free took away the itching, which had become much worse, with a burning feeling but still no visible evidence. I would do anything to keep the itching away! So being gluten free has been a blessing on that front.

Also, I had a long list of other symptoms, which are mostly relieved by being gluten free. I finally found my way to this forum and learned that most all of my symptoms could be attributed to celiac disease.

I have been gluten free for 5 months and I feel so much better, with many of my symptoms relieved for the most part.

My gastroenterologist told me "we think that maybe you have celiac disease". How is that for a definitive answer!

The only thing is that I was not surprised to hear this diagnosis. A couple of years prior to the colonscopy I tried avoiding bread and pasta on a 3-day rotational basis. That is to say that I did not eat any bread or pasta for 3 days in a row and then, on the 4th day I would eat whatever I wanted to eat. I did this to alleviate severe itching --(just itching, no blisters, scabs, or inflammation was apparent at all). It relieved the itching, but it did make me start thinking about what the cause of the itching could be.

So, when the nurse said 'sprue' and the doctor said "maybe celiac disease" I was almost relieved.

Being gluten free has relieved a great number of my symptoms, so I am going with that --I have celiac disease -no maybe about it.

Pin the doctor down and make him/her explain the test results!

Chex Cereal cinnamon flavor is a lot like Cinnamon Toast Crunch --one of my favorites for snacking out of the box. If you have not had Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a while you will probably just love the Chex cinnamon flavor.

Chex makes 3 or 4 flavors of cereal that are gluten free.