Mo92109

What state are you in? I'm a benefits administrator. I know all about CA and you absolutly can take intermittent leave with FMLA - I have people do it all the time.

Disability would be more difficult, but possible. FMLA is non-paid unless your company has another policy.

I would go to a state-specific dept. of labor site or if you tell me what state you're in, I might be able to help.

Hmmmm pizza....

Have you tried Chebe brands? SO EASY and pretty good. I made pizza pockets for a football game and NO ONE knew they were gluten-free. I have not tried actual sandwich bread, but the pizza crust, calzones and breadsticks are really good. I also think I might be yeast intolerant that they don't have that either (at least some of them don't)

I go out a lot and I feel your pain. My husband got this amazing looking white spinach/gorganzola lasagna the other night. I got risotto with eggplant, ho hum.

What I miss most is being able to have something "on the go" - Like road trips or stopping for breakfast in the morning.

So sad.

Thanks for the advice.

There is just something I have once in awhile that kills me. I am hoping it's

not corn (looking on site, seems like a lot of people can't eat corn). I am thinking yeast or dairy (gasp). I need to start keeping a food log maybe. I went to an allergist (who ruled out corn at the time) and he said I had a very slight reaction to soy, but it was so small that I should not have to avoid it.

Anyway - just hoping someone would mention something and I would have an "ah-ha" moment.

I have been gluten free for years now. I go out a lot so sometimes I get "glutened" but usally not that bad. I take an allergy pill, pepcid and Gluten Ease and am usually ok (I am not Celiac - just allergic/intolerant). Sometimes, like today, I feel really bad and can't think of anything that I ate with Gluten. I think I have it narrowed down, though - it seems like gluten-free Bread might be the main culprit? I had a sandwich yesterday at lunch and then got heartburn and stomach pain (much later) afterward. Today, my stomach feels like a hot air balloon. I had bad heartburn and gas/belchy, but that seems to have gone away after a Gas Ex and pepto.

I am thinking I might be allergic to yeast, maybe? Has anyone else had reactions to gluten-free foods? Any ideas on what to stay away from? I thought that gluten-free labeled items would be one thing I am safe with, but I am MISERABLE and want to throw out that bread now.

I bought two cookbooks off Amazon. One by Carol Fenster... something like Gluten Free 101 and then another by Betty Hagman. I use the Fenster one so much that it has fallen apart. (Try the breadsticks!!!!) The only problem with making your own gluten-free food is that you have to buy so many flours/mixes to use. I bought some glass canisters and have lables on them telling me what it is. Once you gather all you need, then everything is at your finger tips and it gets pretty easy. If you told me 5 years ago that I'd have xanathan gum and cornstarch in my cabinet, I wouldn't believe you. I love cooking now!

Good luck!

Great!!! I can't wait till we catch up with Finland ... I'd love to have a Big Mac!

Really, they have gluten-free Big Mac's? I am so moving.

Thanks - I know I don't make sense, I just feel so lost. Sometimes I think I can't eat ANYTHING. I don't know if it's gluten, wheat or anything. I made an appointment with an allergist and am thinking about a holistic healer. I know I am forever done with "breads", but it would be nice to have light beer here and there and not be in a panic in a restaurant.

Getting rid of the giant bloated stomach would be nice too and I have had that on and off (mostly on) following a strict gluten-free diet.

About 3 years ago, a Dr took blood and said I had an intorerace to wheat. After that, I had that horrible celiac test done, and it was negative. Well, I went on eating what I wanted and dealt with the D and all that. Eventually, I was getting so, so bad, that I decided to go gluten-free on my own. I started to feel great, for awhile. I did start to notice allergy symptoms - like itching and sneezing if I was gluttoned by accident.

Anyway, my stomach was bloated to the point I was getting mistaken for being pregnant (I am pretty thin otherwise) and I was having occsional stomach pain, even though I was very strict with my food.

So I go see a specialist. I get a blood test since he is positive I developed celiac, but, alas, that is negative too. I am happy and sad. Now what? ANYone been through this or have any ideas what I should do now? I am going to see a dietitian soon, but I don't know what that's gonna do since I don't know what food exactly to stay away from.

Has anyone ever looked into holistic healing? I'm usually a skeptic, but mainstream medicine is getting on my nerves. This is so slow and no one knows what's wrong with me.

I thought maybe I'd go on a gluten challege of some sort and keep a diary of what I eat and how I feel after, but am kind of scared from the allergy perspective. I just ate a teensy bit now and my nose is itching really bad...

Thanks for any feedback/suggestions/stories, anything...

I had a horrible allergy attack, twice, in a bakery just by being around baking food. After that, I got rid of all my flour and bisquick. I miss my Bisquick.

I am confused or at least clueless. I have been seeing a GI Dr. about my "wheat Intolerance" that he (and I) believe is Celiac. I won't go on the Gluten challege, and he doesn't want me to because my initial reaction is classic allergies (sneezing, itchy, etc) and he is afraid of them worsening to a reaction similar to a peanut allergy. But I think I might have more intolerances, sometimes when I KNOW I have been gluten free, I still get symptoms, especially bloating, gas and the big D. Sometimes even itching like an "allergy".

So, my question is, can an allergist test me for food allergies? How do I go about that? Can any allergist doi it? I thought only GI doc's can help, but I have no idea.

Thanks.

If not, is there ANYTHING I can take to make it not look like I am pregnant? I'm so uncomfortable and think it's either gas, or perhaps I am lactose intolerant (and in denial), but I am huge and feel like I need to pass gas to feel better, but hardly do. I THINK I remember Gas-X containing gluten, but can't remember.

Anyone know? Anyone have other remedies?

Thanks

Is she Vegan? Because I would love to just say, "Well, if I'm picky, what does that make you?" I know... Childish... but sometimes you just want to say it, don't you? I'm sorry she's being so awful... I wish there were more I could do for you.

Ha, thinking about it, it's kind of funny. She will eat chicken, but not on the bone. Will eat turkey too, but not pork, red meat, or seafood. So, not vegan, just, dare I say, picky?

In a sense, we are the picky ones. We won't eat a number of things. We are very choosy over what we will eat, and will turn down a number of things. By most people's definitions, that is picky. Whether we choose to associate the word 'picky' with a negative connotation is our own choice.

That is an excellent point, actually, and kind of made me feel a little dumb reading it. I guess I associate "picky" with not liking a lot of foods. I LIKE everything, I just can't have anything.

I get classic allergy symtoms like itchy face (and kind of all over) and sneezing, watery eyes RIGHT after. Then I know what I am in store for for a couple of days.

I would just look for others who are more willing to share this with you and avoid the topic of celiac around her -- unless it comes down to deciding where you are going to go out to eat or something. Maybe over time she'll come around...

It's funny you say that because the last time we were going out to eat, she told me to choose where because I am the "picky" one. I was seething about that for days. PICKY.....

Thanks you guys. Really needed to vent.

I have been reading about this in depth for a few months now and am learning that it's pretty common. Not that I am wishing people GET this, but I hope the ones that have it already hurry up and find out about it and then eventually everyone will know about it (Like the peanut allergy or diabeties like you mentioned).

Is that mean I think that way?

I don't know what to do? I got a celiac test done 2 years ago after a blood test showed I was wheat intolerant. Well, the test was negative and I continued to eat gluten and feel like crap. Just assumed I was meant to feel like crap. After about a year of reseaching, I decided to go full on gluten free and WOW. I didn't know it was normal to not have D everyday or not have a stomach ache.

Anyway, since then, pretty recently, actually, when I have eaten something with wheat/gluten, I have a classic allergic reaction right away (itchy, sneezing, watery eyes) then the next 2-3 days, I just don't feel good, have D and the stupid's. So, I went back to a specialist who confirmed what the test said, but thinks I developed Celiac since then. However, he does not want me to take the gluten challenge (was 1/2 hoping I could... miss so many things) because of the allergic reaction similar to someone with a peanut allergy. Anyway, he took a blood test and I am wating for that, but I swear my friend does not believe me!!

For example(s): When I get gluttoned and say I must have eaten something bad, she says I am a hypochondriac and that sometimes people just get upset stomachs.

She had a dr. tell her to not eat "white" carbs, so when I say I can't have something, she'll say "Well, I am not SUPPOSED to either, but I still do sometimes..."

I told her how upset I was at this last appointment, I need to see a dietitian and may be allergic to other things and she's like "Well, no big deal, you'll just have to eat healthy like I do" (She's a vegetarian). I told her thanks for trying to be nice, but my diet is NOTHING like hers just because she eats "healthy", that I can't have condiments, can't go out to eat and be 100% safe, I have to watch everything. Well, since then, she just ignores anything I say about it I mention finding something gluten free and she'll tell me where she's going after work. She'll tell me she got a great sandwich for lunch and I'll say how I wish I could have a sandwich (and I'm not all weepy about it) and then she'll change the subject again. I am so frustrated. She's supposed to be my best friend but won't talk to me about a HUGE part of my life. I seriously think she doesn't believe me! My husband wants me to ditch her (he took awhile to get on board with me, now he eats rice pasta) but she is a close friend. Anyone have advice?

Thanks for letting me vent, I feel a little better.

Oh man - me too. Sometimes I get so bloated it hurts - I swear I am bruised on the inside. I have to wear low rise jeans or an elastic band skirt most of the time (with big tops) I an pretty skinny too so I am sure it's a matter of time when someone asks when I am due.

I have no explaination, though. I have been gluten-free for over a year. I have just begun to keep a foor diary complete with symptoms after each thing I eat and I see a Drr. who knows about Celiac (a first for me) in a few weeks. I was never diagnosed, just told I was wheat intolerant, but since being gluten-free, I feel toons better and now, I am SUPER DUPER sensitive. Used to be I would eat gluten and maybe have a reaction, maybe not, now if I have a crumb, watch out. All of this is too weird. I am over it.

I hope someone who knows more responds too

I would like to change my name too, how you get in touch with Scott. Sorry, new to site.

My boyfriend was skeptical until he saw how much better I feel and especially when sees how I react 10 times worse when I am gluttoned since I have been off it. (What's up with that, by the way!)

I have one "friend" who says her Dr told her her body can't process white breads or white flour and each time I mention that I can't have a sandwich with her she's like "well, I am not supposed to either..." AGH!

She also tell me to choose were we go to eat because I am the one that is picky. PICKY? I'd eat everything given the chance! PICKY?

I could just say ditto. I have a cubicle too!! I try and ruffle papers and turn on my fan. Oh and my pants are unbuttoned too because I am bloated so I look cool as well as smell cool.

Gee, aren't we all lucky!!

I always microwave mine in-between damp paper towels to keep moist. About 10-15 seconds on each side, then I add turkey and cheese and nuke again for 20 seconds (with no towel on top). Roll and eat.

All these suggestions are good!

Here is my stuffedd mushroom recipe. I am thinking about trying it with crab next time. They are so good! I used garlic feta instead of blue cheese.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 pounds medium mushrooms

• 6 tablespoons butter

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (Feta)

• 2 Tablespoons chopped green onion

PREPARATION:

Remove stems from mushrooms; chop enough stems to

equal 1/2 cup. Cook 1 pound of the mushroom caps in

3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat for 5 minutes;

drain off fat. Repeat with remaining 1 pound of mushroom caps and 3 tablespoons butter.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and blue cheese, mixing until well blended.

Stir in chopped stems and green onions; fill mushroom caps.

Place on cookie sheet and broil until tops are golden brown.

Makes about 40 stuffed mushrooms.

I found a crustless cheesecake I can't find now, but I am positive I just googled "crustless cheesecake" and got it.

When I served that, I also made a chocolate mousse. I got regular chocolate syrup and heavy whipping cream and put it in my Magic Bullet (a blender will work, I am sure) and all of a sudden, it's whipped into a creamy dream! I served it in martini glasses with raspberries on top. I kind of had to play with how much of each ingredient I used until I got to the consistency I liked.

Baby Quiches

1 pkg of frozen chopped spinach (10 oz)

3/4 C. egg substitute ( I even use just the egg whites one or half and half)

3/4 C. shredded fat reduced cheese (for those with dairy problems I use goat or sheep cheddar)

1/4 C diced bell peppers

1/4 C diced onions

3 drops hot pepper sauce optional.

Microwave spinach for 2.5 minutes if frozen and drain excess liquid. Mix everything together including any seasonings you want to add or other vegetables, mushrooms, garlic, shrimp etc., in a large bowl together. Then put foil muffin liners in muffin pans, spray with non stick spray and scoop mixutre into muffin cups.

Cook on 350 F for approx 20 minutes or until knife comes out clean when put in the middle. Take them out of oven and let cool. Take out of foil shells. This makes approximately a 12 baby quiches. However, if you put in lots of vegetables etc., like I do then make sure to add more egg substitute and cheese. You will get more of these quiches then. They keep well frozen and can taken out and reheated in the microwave.

The vegetable ones are approximately 77 calories.

Hi -

what size are these? Like cupcake size or smaller?