BRUMI1968

Agree with all. Lots of folks seem to have trouble with tapioca, if that is the base of your bread. Have you always eaten peanut butter?

Sherri

I agree with everyone else; you should probably see the doc, esp. if you have insurance. That said, my period changed when I went gluten-free -- sometimes it is so light it is ridiculous; other months it is normal. I thought at first it was normalizing (with the normalizing of hormones), but it seems just as wacky as ever.

Extra periods, though, can be a sign of various things. If you have any other bleeding (gums, little red dots on top of your feet or where your seatbelt hits you), or bruising, you could have a blood platelet problem. It is unlikely, but I've had that and an extra period was one way to tell.

Take care.

I really hear what you're saying about food and drink being a social bonder in our culture. I do not drink, and I find it often is a barrier for my inclusion in social events. People try to include me, but after a while and so many drinks, it's hard to relate with folks, and I represent to them a healthier way that on some levels, they likely feel guilty for not pursuing, especially if they think they have drinking problems.

I experience this with food as well, to a lesser degree. In my house, we've gone gluten free even though my dh is not celiac. Except for pizza and beer, we have no gluten in the house whatsoever. This helped, because then he was eating gluten-free as well -- there was no innate separation based on WHAT we were eating. Further, I was a vegetarian/vegan (veggie plus fish -- but no dairy...there's no word for that) for some years before that. In that sense, I was used to be separate...but the town in which I live is chock full of veggies (college town) and lots of our friends are veggies, and my dh's family is veggie. So the veggie bit was easy. About six months ago, I stopped being veggie. This was because when I found out I had celiac, the limitations were such that I no longer could find enough to eat. I tried the Paleolithic diet which was great (in the summer) and I'll stick to it to a large degree nine months out of the year (I find I have to eat some rice or something in the winter, or potato, or I just feel cold and undernourished).

If you are vegan for political or ethical reasons, then you need to respect your values. However, if your values are getting in the way of your health, you have to ask yourself why you don't value your health more. If it is not the vegan/veggie lifestyle that is causing your illness (physical or social) and you're ethically bound to it, you should stick to it.

Just one last thing. I've been thinking a lot lately about how we as humans often consider ourselves outside of nature, when in fact, we are part of nature just like every other animal. Vegetarianism was not an option for early human beings -- this is something made possible by settling down and farming, which is part of our evolution I understand. What I'm saying is, the last time I bbq'd some trout for some friends, and I slapped the trout bodies onto the BBQ I thought, 'I could've caught these for my sustinence - that is perfectly ethical to do - it is perfectly ethical for ME (perhaps not you, I understand that) to cause the death of another living creature in order to live myself. That is the biological imperative. (It is NOT ethical for ME to eat poorly treated animals, or animals fed things they don't digest well, or animals kept in confinement, etc.)

If you're vegan for health reasons, you might consider researching the difficulty of digesting grains and beans, the staples of a vegan diet.

I hope you find some way to feel comfortable amongst others with your eating issues -- it is extremely difficult, I know. Good luck to you, and sorry for rambling so much.

Out of curiosity, have you tried goat milk?

I was told by my Japanese restaurant server that the vinegar they put in the rice had gluten in it, at least at her restaurant. Japanese food is actually really hard. I did the same thing - made a lunch date at Japanese thinking it would be perfect; then ended up with nothing to eat. Good luck.

Hi. I've been bloated since I was about 2. It is finally better these days, but took a while...AND did get worse temporarily when i quit gluten. Here are some of my suggestions:

to relieve it a bit:

stick your butt in the air - either on an exercise ball by just laying on it and aiming your butt as high as you can, or by laying on the floor with your knees under you with butt in air. If the bloat is GAS, the gas wants to rise up. This helps quite a bit. Just laying down in the fetal position also helps, but it makes it even more effective if your butt is higher than the rest of you.

small meals. If I eat too much, i bloat.

Watch for dairy. i can't remember if you said you eat it.

another possibility for the bloat is a yeast issue. If you are feeding the yeast a lot (or even irritating the yeast, as I used to do with garlic), they may cause bloating. Cut back on any sugar you're eating, and consider going grain-free for a while. I know it sounds like a huge deal, and it is a bit tough, especially in winter, but it is what finally got me a bit better.

Other things that get people: tapioca, nightshades (potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers (but not black pepper), and tobacco), DAIRY, soy, corn

I feel for you. Especially if this is new. I realized just how "normal" it was for me when I hand't had it in a while and then got it again. I thought I was just going to die. How did I live like that every day for thirty-five years?

Take care. If I think of anything else, I'll surely report it. and Welcome.

-Sherri

Hi. I'm in college - am 38, so a bit on the old end of things for college - but I NEVER eat on campus. Well, on Wednesdays they have baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes, and sometimes I have that. But otherwise, I take food.

I take:

trail mix (homemade)

bacon in a zip lock bag (a current problem of mine: bacon addiction)

Tupperware dishes of pasta salad (rice pasta)

bananas

Lara bars

thermos of tea

meat roll ups (think sandwich w/o bread)

I recently got a new backpack, and I also recently found the camping section of a store near us. So now I have a super lightweight spoon, a salt/pepper shaker.....it's fun.

boiled eggs

salad rolls (made with rice paper stuff - this is a good summer one)

walnut butter and apple slices

I don't know. It's hard. That is part of why I spent the good money on a backpack. I have to be so bloody prepared everywhere I go. I have to take my own kitchen. I only have 2 days a week when I'm on campus long enough to HAVE to eat there. The other day is only 3 hours on campus, so I just take drinks/snacks. I'm still getting the hang of it.

Good luck.

Sherri

Oh yeah, as to touching your daughter's bread -- I'd definitely wash my hands before eating my own food. YOu certainly could be digesting gluten in that way.

You can't absorb it through your fingers, so washing your hands should suffice. Make sure you wash your hands with gluten-free soap - and check out your dishsoap for having gluten.

As to Cross Contamination (cc) -- I've found that bread products in my kitchen are a bit tricky, because of the crumbs. I decided to go gluten-free in the household, except for beer, which is easy to keep track of, and pizza from the parlor. With the pizza - after they eat it, they scrub their dishes in our laundry room sink, and then put them in the dishwasher. It seems to me that sponges would grab the crumbs and keep some gluten on its surface. Then I wash the place mats and the table cloth, so that I don't accidentally get crumbs in my food.

I'd say big deals are:

toaster

cutting boards (gluten gets stuck in the cuts)

plastic tupperware stuff (gluten gets stuck in the cuts)

old teflon with cuts (same as above)

I think I've been doing better since the house has gone gluten free. But I don't have kids - so it is only my dh and friends that I have to convince to be good. Sometimes they bring in ice cream with gluten, and I just make them do the dishes in the laundry room. So far, so good.

As to oats: the oats available in America are apparently all contimated with gluten. There are brands of oats now that do not have gluten - and European brands MIGHT be safe, I'm not sure.

Everyone has different sensitivities. If you eat tortilla chips made on a machine that made flour-based tortillas as well, or somethign like that, there could be gluten left on the machine that is getting into your food. Some folks will notice it, others won't. As to whether or not those small doses are hurting you - that is hotly debated as well.

I TEND to not buy anything that is made in a factory that also produces wheat.

Soy is gluten free, but is probably not too good for us in any quantity. Folks that are allergic to soy (top allergins are wheat, soy, dairy, and corn) are plentiful. I don't eat it, not because of allergies but because of some nasty stuff I read about it (see drmercola.com), but others think that it is good for your - once again, big debate here.

I hope I helped a little bit. It is confusing to get started. And the CC issue is a HUGE one -- it is why I rarely eat out.

Good luck to you. Take care. -Sherri

You're so lucky to be close to Portland. You'll have to try out the gluten-free fish and chips -- soo good...most folks don't even know they're gluten free. Portland is the perfect Celiac City.

I live in Bellingham, WA - about an hour south of Vancouver BC, and 1.5 hours north of Seattle. Welcome.

I was just trying to find out more about fat and constipation. Cooked fat does seem to trigger IBS symptoms in lots of folks. But most interesting is a new study to come out showing that over 50% of IBS sufferers in the study tested positive for fructose intolerance. Thought I'd pass it on.

One Internet page talked about two different kinds of constipation: lazy bowel and spastic bowel - and wanted to compare the final product to decide which one has - the latter having ribbon like stool...more like there is a blockage than like it's just been sitting in there for a week.

Lastly, I read that high doses of calcium supplements cause many to have constipation - and I recall that is true with some iron supplements as well. Good luck.

When I quit gluten, my constipation got worse for a spell. After about three months, it got better. However, there are other things that are affecting me with constipation -- definitely dairy - one tiny teaspoon on toast will constipate me for days, possibly corn, possibly nightshades.

So, I think everyone is going to be different; but for me it got worse, then better in about three months. (Yes, it was a frustrating three months, especially as other things faded away - canker sores, itching, brain fog, etc.)

As to the fats - everyone is different. I read the fats affecting bowels on a British site about Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It was actually an interesting article, and included concepts like different timing in the digestive tract, i.e., quick digestion through the stomach; slow digestion through the intestines -- in part controlled by nerve reactions and connections in the brain, which might be "wrong" in an IBS sufferer. It was one of the most comprehensive looks at IBS I had seen - not just focusing on fiber. But I do know the essential fatty acids are really important. The Omega oils. But if you're eating walnuts, you're getting at least some of those.

As for the uncomfortable subject of being bloating due to gas ( I wish I had $3.00/gallon for my gas) I found one trick that helps but is a bit embarassing.... I get on the bed or floor tummy side down on all fours (like a doggie), I put my chest all the way to the floor and stick my arse in the air and try to relax... don't do this around others, they will be shocked at the "music" you release. I then lay down on my right side for a moment, on my belly, and then on my left side. I call this my "Rotation" It sounds odd, but it really helps with the gas/bloating. Rinse and repeat as needed. It is a sensative subject, but now I know why I get it, and find that it really happens when I slip on my diet. hope this helps.

My mom taught me this when I was small...I've had bloating issues since I can remember. Another alternative is to get on the excercise ball with your hands on the floor, and your butt in the air. Woooooeeeeeeee.

If it's hard and it hurts when you push on it, it's probably bloat. If it doesn't make a good pillow - bloat. It you CANNOT stuff it into your pants - bloat. If you pass gass and think to yourself, "perfect, now just a hundred more", you've got bloat.

I've had it my whole life, and only recently have gotten it under control. Stick with the diet; watch dairy; consider giving up all grains; consider giving up nightshades; consider giving up beans -- all those at least temporarily to see if any of them contribute. Quitting gluten helped me a bit; quitting dairy helped me a ton; quitting most grains helped me the most...and beans too. Boo hoo.

Sherri

I wonder why you're on a "low fat" diet. I know some folks have difficulties with fat. However ...

Pooping requires three things: water, fiber, "grease". A very low fat diet might not be offering enough grease to the system. So if you don't have some health reason for being on low fat - you might add some healthy fats. RAW olive oil, avocados, walnuts, etc. I wouldn't add cooked fats, since they tend to become ruined with cooking or downright dangerous -- with the exception of coconut oil, which can withstand high heat without degrading, and is reportedly very good for us in many ways.

Good luck. (I've been gluten free for six/eight months, and I still have bouts of constipation; but I've noticed right now in the winter I've been eating high protein and low fiber in my diet -- all those yummy summer foods hidden under the snow.)

I assume you've tried prunes?

Thanks all. I bought some tee tree oil today and play to swish with it. Otherwise, I'm keeping it stable with eating alkaline, swishing with salt water, and ZERO sugar. Hopefully the tee tree oil will help. What a disgusting horrible thing this is. Oh well, at least my cough is gone.

I just want my immune system to get back on track after a few months of perpetual illness.

Anyway, thanks again.

Sherri

Emmett (see avatar) gets mostly raw meat diet. He is into lamb right now. He does not eat grains at all (so that makes it easy to avoid gluten). The raw food diet for the most part has been really good for him...but I'm sure all dogs are different.

As to the idea that human food is bad for dogs ... I think if the human food is bad for the humans, it's bad for dogs too. But otherwise, we have to remember that dogfood didn't even exist until the sixties or fifties or something.

Certyain foods are bad for dogs. Not only chocolate, but also onions. It's good to look into that.

Hi all! I was recently on antibiotics for a persistent cough/throat issue (it did help, so at least there's that). However, I've been off it for two or three days, and for about four days, I've had a bizarre tongue. It is not white spotted, like the thrush on the Internet shows. But it is kindof yellowy and utterly disgusting. It feels fat and fuzzy. Normally if I get a weird tongue it is not this bad, and I just scrape it. When I scraped this tongue, it seemed weirder than ever -- like it might bleed or something.

I am thinking mild thrush. So I quit eating any sugar, starting swishing with salt water, and am trying to eat alkaline. and have been taking mass doses of acidophilous. It did get worse last night when I drank a tea latte with sweetener in it.

Has anyone had oral thrush? Can this be it w/o the white spots? Any ideas for home treatment? Anyone use that antifungal drug I can't think of the name of...nystatin, something like that?

Please help. It's gross and disturbing.

Sherri

I've also been told that sushi rice is made with vinegar, which may or may not be gluten free. My gal looked up the vinegar and found that it contained gluten, so I was told sushi is out. Depressing? Yes. However, we could make it at home I suppose.

-Sherri

I have found that I can reduce the symptoms and duration of a virus to about half or less, once I come down with it. Here's what I do.

--sinus wash at least three times a day, and rinse eyes, too (oh, so soothing)

Can I ask about the sinus wash real quickly? My mucus (nose) right now is super thick - to the point where it is difficult to blow out, sounds real bubbly and the like. The ONE time I tried my nasal wash thing (the one that's like a syring - nasaline maybe), it reminded me of snorkling and I freaked out. That was w/o a cold.

Will the super thick snot make it tough to nasal wash?? How gross is it? How do you handle the fear? Of course, maybe you're not one who freaks out when salt water gets up her nose...I realize that. But what do you think?

I'm already on antibiotics due to an infection inmy tooth that has come back 4 times now, ergh. I am supposed to get oral surgery on the 4th for it, but I think I'm gonna have to cancel. I am definately getting sick. I hope this doesn't drag on for months.

And yes I am in the metropolis of Everett. Glad to hear it wasn't a hernia. Feel better soon!

-Laurie

are you willing to explain your avatar?

You don't live in Washington state do you? There is a horrible bug going around here.

Right away, start gargling with salt water.

Honey is good for sore throats - in hot water or herbal tea or something. If you can't eat that, try Agave nectar. I doubt it has the same antibacterial properties, but it does coat similarly.

Don't talk too much or sing too loudly. I got laryngitis a month ago from a sore throat i'd had for weeks. It was from having a meeting, and then singing loudly the whole way home in the car (I live 1.5 hours from meeting).

Good luck to you. Drink lots of water and tea. Zinc should help. Vitamin C should help. Goldenseal might help; check with the pregnancy thing, though.

I just called my mom and asked her (she is a nurse). She said she would think it is entirely possible to do so, she even explained about tearing holes in your esphophugus (sp)? (throat). Yadda, yadda, long story short, sometimes you can see external bulging sometimes you can't. If the pain persists you need to be seen.

By the way there is a nasty bug going around here in WA that won't clear up unless you get antibiotics. I know a couple of people that have been fighting it for just under a month now. Both Dr.s said it is either whooping cough or bronchitis. I am hoping I will miss out on this one, but I'm not usually that lucky.

Hope you feel better soon!

-Laurie

You're in WA too? I've heard a lot of folks have this bug. I am on antibiotics now, so hopefully it will get better. They don't do squat for the common cold, though, so I hope it's gone bacterial. I hate taking meds for no reason.

I think it's all the bloody rain this winter that has got folks sick. Anyway, take care. Thanks for the info.

I quit dairy a couple years ago. It was hard, especially since everyone talks about cheese like it is the be-all-end-all, and can't understand why you're so nuts as to not eat it.

A few things to keep in mind.

You'll miss creamy. The whole essence of creamy will be missing. This can be lessened by eating sweet potato or squash or potato with olive oil or walnut oil or toasted sesame oil.

If you're not a vegetarian, bacon fat seems to be the most like butter in consistency, so if you can use that for frying sometimes, that will help. If you are veggie, fry with the smallest amount of olive oil, then add some when you're done frying. It is healthier for one thing, but also sticks to the food better if it's not fried up.

I would personally stay away from soy. There is quite a bit of evidence that it has some health issues. Especially, though, the highly processed stuff should be avoided, like tofu, soy milk, textured soy protein, etc. Apparently fermented soy is better, but that has nothing to do with butter.

The drawback to this, is that there are no margarines/butter substitutes really that are solid, that don't contain soy. I keep looking, but they haven't invented it yet, at least not as is carried in my co-op. Earth Balance is a good one if you decide to go with soy. It melts and tastes roughly like butter. Spectrum spread tastes like butter, but doesn't melt and is a bit weird. Again, though, I now just use oils instead. Coconut oil is good for you (if you buy it unrefined and the like), and tastes good with some foods, but not all.

As to cereal, if you eat it, different ones are better with different milks. I used to be addicted to this one crispy rice cereal, but when I quit soy, it didn't taste right anymore -- rice milk just didn't do it justice. Coco puff type cereal tastes best with hazlenut milk. yum.

Good luck. I think you're doing the right thing. Dairy is just glue, for the most part, along with soy, wheat, and corn. You don't really want your system mucked up with glue, do you?

Take care and good luck. If I think of anythig else, I'll let you know.

Sherri

Well, said potentail hernia was probably just a muscle spasm or pulled muscle. It's lots better now.

Beware this virus. It can hang on you for quite some time; I have felt partly sick/cold for two months, then it flared with the coughing last month, and flared with the nose thing this month. Arg!

Everyone take their vitamin C/