hez

I was very sick for about 5 months before I was diagnosed. After I was dx with celiac disease I started telling people. Their comment was always "You've been sick?". I later realized that because I had two kids I had no choice but to do it (I did not do it well). I think this is true for so many of us. You work through the pain because there is not an alternative. The good news is that there is a cure, make sure you are gluten-free and stay gluten-free.

I have finally started feeling better and what a difference it makes! Stay gluten-free and your life will get easier and you will feel better.

In the meantime try to take care of yourself. Make sure you have some quick gluten-free frozen meals for those days you are tired, watch a funny movie and laugh, surround yourself with supportive friends, come to this board for encouragement.

Hez

I was able to order a gluten-free ice cream cake from Dairy Queen for dh surprise party. They were very nice. But I still need to bake a cake for his actual birthday so thank you for all the input! I will see what mixes I can track down!

Hez

That sounds yummy! What a fun family acitivity.

Hez

I have to admit that I always get the flu shot. After a horible winter a few years ago we vowed to try the shot. It has worked for us as far as I can tell. As with everything it always comes down to a personal decision.

For me there seems to be evidence that the celiac disease comes from my Mom's side of the family. My Mom might have celiac disease but does not want the endoscopy so she is just gluten-free. My maternal grandma has "stomach issues" and I suspect it is celiac disease.

I am not sure on my Dad's side but there are other auto immune diseases there.

I think it is very possible both of my parents carry the gene.

Hez

Thank you. Just trying to track down what caused me to be sick.

I know that Kraft makes Cheese Whiz and they clearly label but I am trying to track down why I am getting sick. The only thing in the ingredients that looks weird is mustard flour. I am assuming that this is gluten-free. Anyone else have a reaction?

Hez

PS- I know this is not real cheese!!!!

It might be helpful to compare celiac disease with a peanut allergy. Alot of people understand the severity of a peanut allergy, ours is just as serious to our long term health. Another thought is an analogy. Kati had a great one with pizza. Friends wanting her to just eat the cheese. She put liquid soap on the pizza and then wiped it off. Would you want to eat the pizza? They did not want the pizza! We do not want the gluten, not even a crumb. I think it is exciting that they are interested in knowing about celiac disease. Good luck!

Hez

I have fine thin hair and use Pantene for this hair type. I really like it!

I need to bake a cake for hubby's birthday next week. I am looking for the best box cake (have no desire to make a homemade cake). I could do chocolate or a yellow cake mix. Let me know what you like or which ones were gross so I can avoid them.

Thanks Hez

I take One a Day Multi Vitamins for Women. However, this is what their web site states

"We do not add any gluten to our products. However, we cannot guarantee that all raw materials are 100% gluten-free."

Not sure if they are just covering themselves. I am sensitive and do not have problems.

Hez

If it is the soup I am thinking of it is gluten-free. However, it is not cream of mushroom soup like Campbell's. It is more like mushroom soup. I have heard that people use it in their recipe's and just hold back some of the liquid that they would normally use.

I use the replacement cream soup recipe from Bette Hagman. I have used it about 4 times and have had some success. It is not the exact same thing as a can of cream soup but it is a decent replacement. I can post the recipe if you like or I am sure it is out there somewhere on the internet.

One other brand that is safe is Ortega. Someone also told me that Beritos is safe but I am not sure on that one.

Thank you! Now I understand.

I hate to be the da (dumb a**) in the room but I have missed the point! Why is this book causing such reactions? How is the author wrong? I have not read this book or any book by this author. However I would like to understand why this person has not received celiac3270's respect.

Hez

I have a gluten-free dessert almost every night! I have joined this board and found a wealth of opinions and information! I sometimes use my dictionary since there is no spell check.

You might not like my answer. You need to do what is best for you and your family. I am not a doc but I am a Mother. You need to balance the info from the doc and your instincts. You are the one who is with him all the time, not the doc.

I depend of 7-up or Sprite when I am feeling off. I have yet to find a comfort food that is gluten-free for me, still searching.

I do not like using cornstarch for a roux. I have had a bit of luck using All Purpose gluten-free Flour from Bob's Red Mil. It will not give you exactly the same results but fairly close.

Think of it as yet another small change in your lifestyle. It took me awhile to change my hair products but it is well worth doing. Now I do not nned to spit in the shower to avoid possible contamination!

I called Infusium 23 (they make hair care products) to ask about gluten-free status. They do not know how their ingredients are sourced. Therefore, they are unable to confirm or deny presence of gluten in their product. Hez

Let me start by saying that I am not an expert. I have two childeren. One has had blood work which has come back negative (could change later). My second child will be tested in October (need to wait until well child check up). So, I have no experience with endoscopy and children. However, if having a firm diagnosis would give you peace of mind, I would do the procedure. I am not sure I would choose this diet unless I had to nor would I do this to my kids. But this is a personal call that you will have to make. The other upside to having a firm diagnosis would be with your other child and yourself and getting tested. I have heard that there are some children with autism that improve with a gluten-free diet. Again you would need to research that since I have no experience. Take a deep breath and listen to yourself. Trust your instincts! Good Luck, Hez

The problem with dark rum can be the carmel color, sometimes not gluten-free. As far as alcohol goes that is going to wind up being a personal decision. Some people who have celiac disease will have a reaction from distilled spirits while others do not.

Kim- I went years with this disease not knowing I had it. I only wish I knew sooner. I would strongly urge your husband to go get the blood test. I am 35 and the doc thinks I have 10 years damage to my small intestine (have no idea how she knows that). I do know that healing is slow coming because of the damage.

I, like your husband was tired (but I am a stay at home Mom, who isn't exhausted) and would have occasional d. But other than that I felt fine. At least until November. That is when I had the dreaded "d" all the time! I could hardly get through the day, I was so tired. My weight started to come off (I was small already). After a month of feeling bad I went to the doctor. By April I had a firm diagnosis. If I had known sooner I would not have done so much damage to myself.

Yes, things could possibly get worse for your husband. It did for me. It is only a blood test and the alternative of doing nothing is far worse (if something is wrong). Hope this helps! Hez