kbtoyssni

Awww, he sounds like a keeper!

Oh, man, that really stinks. Sorry you get sick every time you go home. I'm not sure how far it is for you, but could you just visit for a day and bring your own food? Or stay in a hotel and make your own food there? Or invite your parents to visit you in your gluten-free kitchen instead? If it makes you feel any better, I manage to get sick every time I visit my parents, too, and my mum is gluten-free and the whole house is 909.9% gluten-free (dad is still allowed gluten cookies and crackers on occasion).

NoGluGirl - I think of celiac as an excellent way to screen potential boyfriends. I don't want to be with someone who doesn't care enough about me and my health to deal with the gluten issue and this way I can find out what type of person they are right away!

There is a company in Canada that makes gluten-contamination free oats. If you do decide to try oats hoping that you're one of the 90% who won't react, you might be able to find them at a gluten-free/health food-type store. That's where I found mine (and I live in the USA).

There was a thread in the kids section about what to take for school lunches that had tons of good ideas: Open Original Shared Link

Having access to a microwave makes things much easier. What types of things did you used to bring for lunch (or used to buy for lunch)? Maybe we can give you some suggestions for modifying your old lunches to make them gluten-free.

Oh, I used to love hot dogs for lunch when I was a kid! We only got them as a special treat! Not sure how old your daughter is or if she has access to a microwave, but here's some things I take for lunch:

-baked potato (nuke it at work) with cheese and salsa on top

-rice with cheese and salsa

-string cheese - fun for kids!

-pickles

-chips and salsa (obviously salsa is one of my favorite foods

-soup in a thermos

-cheetos or other flavored chips

-chocolate (dove, almond joy, mini M&Ms, etc)

-apples with peanut butter (I use sunflower seed butter now that I'm peanut free)

-hard boiled eggs

-cold pizza

-salad (but maybe only big kids like me are salad fans). Sometimes I put the salad on the baked potato.

-crackers and cheese

That's all I can think of right now.

So that begs the question for me that I would love to hear about from others. I know a lot of the stories I read here seem to be of the really bad cases, where any amount of gluten is a killer and there are multiple allergies... So what about the rest of us with celiac disease? Could I be healing well and my body isn't reacting as violently as it used to?

I will say that I check every single ingredient that goes into my body and when in doubt I pass.., BUT... I don't have a gluten free kitchen yet-- so one would think I would be cross contaminated.

I am starting to take chances and took a chance at a Taco Shop and ordered two chicken tacos on corn Tortillas and didn't have any bad reaction (can't believe that was safe with cross contamination etc.) Went to Souplantation and so far so good, and I am just hoping the Thousand Island Dresssing was gluten free.

So how about some of you out there? Do you find your symptoms have retreated greatly after going gluten free? I wonder if I am getting glutened and am just not getting severe reactions... (which could be bad since I need to stay away from the stuff.)

Or am I just that lucky? How many of you out there aren't affected by crumbs after going gluten free? Also, I am a college student and am off for a few weeks, I know stress really affects me... would my symptoms be a lot worse if I were feeling the "exam" stress of school?

All these questions... It's been a horrible year and the results from going gluten free are so amazing, perhaps I am just moving into the denial phase :-)

Happy New Year!

Cin

My symptoms have definitely lessened. I still get most of the old symptoms, but they're tolerable now, and I can still get on with my life.

Stress definitely makes my symptoms worse. But I've found that I am so much less stressed out now that I'm gluten-free. In fact, I rarely feel stressed out now.

Try not to push your luck with gluten, though. You may have gotten lucky at Taco Bell, but next time might not be so pretty. And if you keep getting trace amounts of gluten, eventually your body won't have time to do it's little bit of healing in between and you'll start getting sick again.

Welcome! I'm sure your dad will really appreciate you learning about the disease. And don't worry about calling him all the time asking about ingredients. He's the expert since he lives it everyday. I love when my friends call and ask about ingredients because I know it means they care enough to get it right.

My favorite book about celiac disease is Dangerous Grains. My favorite cookbook is The Gluten Free Gourmet.

Maybe you can go over to you dad's place and cook with him. He'll have all the gluten-free ingredients and will be able to teach you as you go along. Don't worry that you don't know everything about the disease. It takes a long time to learn it all. I've been gluten-free for 16 months and I'm still learning things that do and do not contain gluten!

Welcome! I'm 24, diagnosed 16 months ago. The social aspect can be frustrating, but by now I'm so programmed to always bring food with me everywhere I don't feel like I'm missing out. I ask lots of questions so I can bring similar foods. For example, the two foods I really do miss are pizza and beer so if I know I'm going over to a friend's and we're going to order pizza, I bring my own frozen one along with me and pop it in the oven. I also feel absolutely no guilt bring my own food to restaurants. Going out to lunch is now a social event for me rather than an "I'm hungry let's eat".

Some of the things that made/make it easy for me to deal with this:

-I have never had much of an emotional attachment to food. I could care less about eating "traditional" food which makes things like holidays so much easier because baked goods, while still yummy, do taste slightly different.

-I was vegetarian before so I was somewhat used to having a restricted diet.

-I always brought my own lunch with me and rarely ate out before so that wasn't a big adjustment. I could see that if you were used to eating out it would be really hard to deal with this one.

-I live alone so I don't have to deal with gluten and cc on a regular basis. I don't ever feel worn-out from having to deal with this disease all the time. Only occasionally do I have to deal. If you can make your life as naturally gluten-free as possible it might help.

-I have extremely supportive family and friends. They're the kind of people who will go out of their way to include me and make sure I have something to eat. I had one old friend I visited over the holidays turn he nose up at a gluten-free cookie I offered her. She could have just told me "ewww, there's no way I'll eat anything that doesn't have wheat because it must taste like dog poop." I'll think twice about offering her food or eating around her again. These are not the type of people I need in my life. Most of my other friends love my cooking and are over in a flash if I say I have homemade food!

-And the biggest one: I was very sick pre-gluten-free and I am reminded everyday, every time I eat how grateful I am to have been diagnosed. My diagnosis was the best thing that ever happened to me because it gave me my life back. Having a job, hanging out with friends, doing gymnastics again, going back to school, being able to stay awake for an entire day - these are all things that I can do because I'm gluten-free. This is why I do not view being gluten-free as inconvienent. Being sick is inconvienent. Living life is not.

It can take a while to get to this point. It's perfectly normal to go through a mourning period because it is a major life change. But I'm hoping in time you'll become a pro at the diet, and it will turn into something you just do naturally.

I think I did because I certainly don't feel well. Went to visit my parents and my mum's gluten-free, too. My dad and brother still eat gluten on occasion, but the house is for the most part gluten-free. But somehow I manage to feel sick every time I visit...

Congrats!

It sounds like you'll need to give her some medical "proof" to show that you're not just being an overprotective mother. How about a copy of Dangerous Grains for Christmas I can't remember if you had positive bloodwork or scope for your daughter, but if so, you could bring that. I would also bring a bunch of food she can eat. Then you can tell grandma that sh can feed her anything that you've brought.

I remember someone on here having a list of good food and bad food that they gave to the grandparents when the kids went to stay for the weekend. Maybe whoever it is will post it.

Corn gluten simply refers to the protein in corn which is not harmful to celiacs. The term gluten alone technically means the protein found in wheat. The proteins in barely, rye and oats are slightly different than the protein in wheat, but still cause intestinal damage to celiacs which is why anyone on this site will use the term gluten to refer to the proteins in all four of these grains. The "gluten" in other grains is fine to eat.

After being gluten-free for 15 months, I no longer view eating out as a "I'm hungry, let's eat" thing. It's more of a social event for me, and there just happens to be food there. Which is why I don't mind at all that I bring my own food to restaurants. I go out to lunch with work friends every week or two, and I nearly always bring my food. It's about hanging out with them, not about eating.

It can also help if you research where you're going first and suggest safe restaurants. Everyone I know is more than happy to go to a restaurant I can eat at.

I smell random things all the time when other people can't. Today I was driving to the store and I would have sworn my car smelled like syrup, which is pretty much impossible. I'm also very sensitive to chemicals. There are days at work when I smell chemicals near my desk, and I spend most of the day trying to avoid sitting at my desk because it's making me feel sick. No one else seems to smell the chemicals, just me.

Colgate and Aquafresh toothpaste are gluten-free. Sensodyne is NOT.

All pepsi and coke products are gluten-free. Kidney beans are ok (as long as they don't add weird flavours and such).

Most oatmeal is contaminated and therefore not gluten-free. You can get gluten-free oats, but they're really expensive (like $10 for 5 cups or so). Plus there's some debate as to whether celiacs react to the protien in oats. Some do, some don't. I don't eat them just in case. Have you tried any of the hot rice cereals? They're pretty good.

The usual brands of Rice Krispies are not gluten-free, but you can get some really good gluten-free brands. I love Ehewhon brand rice krispies. (but watch out, they have a gluten-free kind and a just wheat free kind so make sure you're grabbing the right box!)

It takes a while to get the mindset of not eating anything you haven't done a full inspection on first. When I was first diagnosed I was really worried that I'd accidently pick something up off the counter and eat it and it would contain gluten. Because I used to eat random stuff all the time. Now I don't put anything in my mouth unless I've done the full analysis of ingredients. And if I'm not 100%, I don't eat it. Most of the time I'm 99% sure, but it's just not worth getting sick over.

It looks like the party is already over - I hope it went ok! Yes, soda is fine. At least all pepsi and coke products are (There may be a generic brand out there that contains gluten, I don't know). If it's a snack-type party (i.e. not sitting down to a formal meal), I would eat before I go. Even things like fruit trays make me nervous since they may have been cut in her wheat-filled kitchen and are likely to be sitting on a table where wheat crumbs can drop on them. I also put some small snacks in my purse for when I get hungry.

At restaurants, I often don't even look at the menu. I ask for plain grilled chicken made in a separate pan, steamed veggies, bakes potatoes. Sometimes I order salads and I find it's best to say "make me a salad with no crutons, smoked ham, wheat rolls, etc" rather than ordering a salad off the menu and taking ingredients off. You usually get a better salad that way.

I always bring a loaf of gluten-free bread, slices of cheese, lettuce, sometimes sandwich meat, those mini-packets of mustard you get at fast food places. You can make a pretty mean sandwich. I also bring toaster bags so I can make toast or have a restaurant toast my sandwich for me. Open Original Shared Link .com/Toaster-Bags-Set-of-...;s=gourmet-food I know it's too late for you to get some, but maybe for next time.

I also bring individually wrapped string cheese, lots of apples/bananas (but I'm not sure about the boarder stuff), chocolate (Dove or mini M&M bags). Last time I traveled we were going to a BBQ so I brought chicken sausage and foil. I also brought some Thai Kitchen "ramen" noodles. I usually bake before I travel and bring peanut butter cookies. Last time I brought PB and chocolate bars. Crackers and cheese is good, too. You can buy a lot of this stuff when you get there if you don't have time to shop now. I'm sure someone could take you to the store.

Sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope your weekend goes well and try not to stress out about the food too much.

How old are you again?

Most potato chips are fine. I don't usually call the companies on this one. I just read the ingredients and go by that. I know Tostitos brand corn chips are gluten-free as well as most other brands. Not sure on Snyders.

The diet can be expensive if you buy a lot of the gluten-free substitutes - bread, cookies, pizza, etc. But there are ways to get around eating these products. Instead of sandwiches for lunch, I often eat baked potatoes or rice with cheese and salsa. Or I use corn tortillas as "bread". The tortillas I buy are maybe $1.50 for a package of 36.

In the beginning you're probably going to try to take exactly what you ate before and buy substitutes. But if you want to save money, it's going to take a little bit of thinking outside the box.

For snacks I like fun-sized bags of M&Ms, string cheese, apple sauce, apples, bananas, pickles.

Baking things on your own can also make it cheaper. Although it sounds like you're pretty busy so it might be hard for you to find a lot of time to bake. How old is your other son? If he's older maybe he can help you make meals. It might be a fun mother-son activity?

You sound like you're doing a great job of trying to figure out the diet. But it's going to take time. Hang in there, and trust me, it will all be worth it in a few months when you're a pro at the diet and your husband's health is back.

I definitely had this problem before I was diagnosed. I was actually diagnosed with chronic fatigue at one point because I just couldn't get enough sleep. I could never figure out how people managed to work 40 hour weeks - I'd be too exhausted to think by 2pm. I've now been gluten-free for 15 months and the fatigue is gone. When I get glutened it returns, but I have trouble falling asleep so the insomnia/fatigue combo is a killer.

I wish I knew what to tell you. Since she's gluten-free, there must be something else going on. Has she ever been tested for mono? Not that there's much you can do for mono. Hmmm. Sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck figuring this out.

Aw, that's really sweet of him to be so concerned about you. I think the pot will be fine for you to use.

I get smoothies from tropical smoothie, or I make my own. I emailed tropical smoothie for alist of ingredients and the ones I get they said are gluten free, and from the ingredients they appear to be correct.

Cokes seem to bother me a lot whereas they did not before, I cant figure that out, but I eliminate them. It helps some but not completely.

I have not changed any toiletries, never thought of that.

Sounds like you're doing a pretty good job of being gluten-free. I picked out the three statements that made me wonder.

I'm not familiar with tropical smoothie - is it a restaurant-type place? If so, if they make other smoothies with gluten ingredients and don't clean the blender they could be contaminating yours.

Some people are sensitive to the caffeine in coke. I get horrible stomach pain from the caffeine in coffee. I have to drink the decaf.

The toiletries are definitely worth a close look. Gluten is usually pretty well labeled on them.

Welcome!

Yes, there is still hope. It sounds like you've got some gluten sneaking in somewhere... It's going to take some detective work to find. Or you could have other intolerances. My peanut intolerance sure makes me feel like I've been glutened.

I'm interested in your answers to broncobux's questions. I also wonder - do you live alone? Could other people be accidently contaiminating your food or your kitchen space or touching things with their hands after using gluten-lotions?

I'm so sorry. {{{HUGS}}} You're still going to do the best you can on that final inspite of everything that's happened.

Is there a way you can get your own mini-fridge in the staff room? I'm way too scared to put my food in a communal fridge. I like it on my desk where it's nice and safe and I can supervise it.

The one thing I found was that the gluten-free diet doesn't really cut out many protein sources. It's not like I was getting all my protein from wheat products. The only issue is that a lot of the "fake" meat products contain wheat so those had to go. Instead of eating the pre-packaged veggie products, I use a lot more plain tofu and beans.

I eat a lot of cheese and eggs, too. All that cheese probably isn't good for me, but I do try to eat mozeralla more because it's lower in fat.