queenofhearts

Yes, there's a lot of debate on the skin absorption, but even if it doesn't work that way, there is always an issue (especially with children) that what touches the skin eventually might make its way to the mouth. I'm always careful about lotion & soap for that reason.

I think the paper issue is not so worrisome, though-- it was mainly the concern that if you use paper in the microwave, trace amounts might get into the food. Few products actually contain wheat. I know Bounty is safe, I checked since I do occasionally use it in the microwave or to wipe my mouth. The main concern is the glue that holds the towel to the roll, so I doubt napkins or plates would pose the problem.

Leah

Hey, it was new to me too as I was only diagnosed this May. (Shows how ineffective past campaigns must have been, though...) I hope with the new NIH program this year will really make a mark.

I believe that envelopes made in the US use cornstarch, but all bets are off for foreign manufacture, & who knows who made the envelope in hand? (You may know your own, but I'm referring to bills & such.) So I keep a dropper bottle of water in my bill basket & use that to moisten the stickum when returning an envelope. It's neater than a sponge & you don't have to rewet it whenever you need it.

Leah

I also felt there were some very fuzzy statements in this one, & thought some of you might want to reply to the article as the site allows. But I still find it encouraging that some form of information is trickling out into the mainstream press...

I guess newspaper readers these days are themselves a minority, but at least some will have heard that Celiac exists & have some vague concept of what gluten is...

Thought folks might be interested in this

Open Original Shared Link

I have hit refreshed and F5 - Nada. Maybe she removed whatever by now. All I see is the penquin.

There is nothing wrong with taking anti-depressants, no matter what Tom Cruise says. Anybody who needs them should take them. So, none of you should apologise for doing what is necessary to give you a normal life back.

Look where that comment got Tom Cruise! (And about time.)

Did you look CLOSELY at that penguin? Put on your glasses!

Welcome to the board & to the gluten-free world! Yes, doctors can be so frustrating, but the good news is, you don't need a doctor to authorize you to do the gluten-free diet. If worse comes to worst, you can just do it yourself with nobody's permission. I understand the psychological need to be certain, & to convince skeptical friends & family members, but if you stick to your guns long enough to get well, they'll have the evidence before their eyes. Meanwhile, at least you'll have support at work-- You have one smart boss!

Have you got Nini's newbie kit yet?

Open Original Shared Link

(scroll to the bottom for the link)

Feel free to vent whenever you like, & we'll be here for you!

Leah

I'd advise not making any huge decisions until you have a chance to get used to this. It's all-encompassing at first, but it gets easier.

Hit F5 for her new picture... scared the spinach out of me....

Oh, that little... whatever... wouldn't hurt a fly!

Celia, you are a fruit cake LOL. I am going back into the postings looking for whatever Penquin is suppose to have done. Could not find anything, unless she is sitting right next to you and she goosed you, I have no idea what she did. Oh, well, since I am always two weeks late in figuring anything out in my mind, I am normal - he he.

You should go back & find her post. Hit refresh if you don't see it. You'll get a kick out of it!

I find I do best with a lighter lunch, anything heavy makes me sleepy in the afternoon. I always have an afternoon snack so I don't fade out before dinner. Maybe you should try the "grazing" approach, & eat several smaller meals.

1. FIRST NAME? Leah

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mother's middle name

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Probably this morning, I tear up easily.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, I'm a professional calligrapher so I'd better!

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Mesquite smoked turkey

6. KIDS? 19-year-old twin boys

7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'm friends with some of my personalities & not so crazy about others.

8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes

9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Probably more than I should.

10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Only after the brain transplant.

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I'm really more of a toast girl.

13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes

14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Not especially strong, but good endurance.

15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Butter Pecan

16. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU LOOK AT IN A (WO)MAN? Mischievous eyes & an original mind.

17. RED OR PINK? Red

18. LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I get too worked up over little things.

19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My friend who moved to Chicago.

20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Sure.

21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black skirt, blue tights, black sandals.

22. WHAT IS THE LAST THINGS YOU ATE? A big bowl of cherries.

23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? NPR

24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple

25. FAVORITE SMELL? It's between lilac, baking bread, & baking gingerbread

26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister

27. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? YES.

28. FAVORITE DRINK? Depends on the season. Rum & hot cider in cold weather, g&t or margarita in Summer And wine, & then there's coffee!!!

29. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Allergic to sports

30. HAIR COLOR? Dark brown beginning to gray

31. EYE COLOR? Hazel

32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? I like weird movies. Brazil is my all-time fave.

34. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? American Psycho on DVD. Yikes!

35. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black

36. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, I love gardening!

37. HUGS OR KISSES? Both, please.

38. FAVORITE DESSERT? Homemade strawberry shortcake with tons of whipped heavy cream. Once a year we go to pick strawberries & have this for dinner. Not dessert, mind you, but dinner!

39. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ??

40. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? ???

41. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman, & Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A vintage poster (for Metropolis) but I prefer my tablet.

43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST ON TV? Hardly ever watch tv.

44. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Walking on autumn leaves

45. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles

46. THE FURTHEST PLACE YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Austria

47. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I'm an artist

48. WHEN WERE YOU BORN? 7 June 1956

49. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Austin, TX

50. WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? Illustrator & Calligrapher

I'm not sure about the connection, but I do know that refried beans can contain flour so that may explain your glutening.

Leah

My mood just after diagnosis bounced like a bungee cord... one day I'd be teary all day, the next full of incredible hope & excitement. It's a wild ride, but I'm steadier now, & more on the hope side. Still get a little sad in restaurants though!

If you are feeling sad about your limitations, or impatient for results, I recommend reading the Unexpected Positive Results thread. That one really helps me when I'm down.

Open Original Shared Link

Leah

Sounds yummy, thanks!

Snickers bars are gluten-free

Bless 'em!

Now we have an excuse to get chocolate with our peanuts.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for these.

Leah

Thanks! That's really useful!

Leah

What a great story. I'm still hoping to get my sister & one of my sons to try the diet... no luck yet.

Leah

Is there such a thing as brain fog for no reason?

I've done similar things myself... well, just yesterday I left my hubby's dinner in the microwave-- he was running late for dinner so I popped it in there to keep warm while son & I ate, then we cleaned up, still no dh & I was on to other things-- husband finally called to say he wanted to go by the gym before dinner-- YIKES! His dinner was still in there, I'd totally forgotten it. If he hadn't called just then we'd have had to scrap it. (It had chicken in it & I've been down the food-poisoning road recently so don't take chances.)

But if it's MY dinner, no way would I forget it! My tummy just complains way too much if I don't eat.

I think there is sometimes an element of anxiety with those who love us that if they don't DO SOMETHING we will just waste away before their eyes. They feel helpless, & all they know how to do is tell us to eat more. They don't realize how counterproductive it is. Show your husband & mom the thread on Unexpected Positive Results-- they'll see that with patience, astonishing healing can happen.

Open Original Shared Link

It just takes patience & careful attention to the diet. But it's a hard adjustment for others as well as ourselves.

Leah

Sending me virtual meringues and paintbrushes.....what a delight....can you somehow make them REAL and not virtual? But here's something.....that miscreant singer JR, whom we have alluded to in here (I erased the actual posts), bought me very expensive brushes - at least ONE good thing came out of that.

I gave up painting for years, and yes, that is a danger sign, despite the nagging of everyone....lost every bit of desire to paint and never thought it would come back....and now, it is here again, mercifully. This is a huge thing!

I'm so happy for you-- I predict a wonderful flood of work. When I've passed through a creative block, it feels just like a tsunami-- you know how all the water goes out to the deep sea & the ocean bed is dry for miles? That is the block. Then when the wave comes, look out!

Go forth & paint!

Leah

I already have my stuff separated... my own shelf in the fridge, my own cupboards. I have some of it labeled, but I think the idea of stickers is a good one, even if everything is kept away from the other stuff.

I don't think she's "crazy like a fox" (though I love that description, debmidge). I think it's likely she's just unobservant; however, as I've told her, she really doesn't have that option right now. This is so difficult for me, too... we've been good friends, and she was one of the few people that was really understanding and "good" when I was first starting out. So few people were, and I really appreciated it. I just figured she'd be completely safe when she moved in (especially since my other roommates thought I was crazy at first, but still stayed away from my stuff). I am willing to take the steps I need to to keep myself safe (which includes asking her to move out if this doesn't stop).

Does anyone have links to information that might be helpful in the I'm-not-crazy-this-will-really-hurt-me speech we're about to have? Especially something about how long it takes to heal after getting glutened, or what happens internally, long-term effects... basically anything that shows that this is serious, not just a small stomach thing that happens when I eat wheat. Oh, and where do you padlocks for cabinets?

Thank you all so much... I was starting to feel like I was Miss Crazy-pants for being so adamant about this.

Maybe it would help to show her this site from the National Institute of Health. It clearly states that small amounts are toxic, & describes long-term complications, & it's from a very established government health organization, so hard to dismiss as a flaky diet guru or whatever...

Open Original Shared Link

I have the same trouble with my family, even though they mean well, they are just a bit sloppy & careless, & it has taken me months to get them on board with cc issues.

Leah

I'm so sorry you're having a hard time of it. Battling illness is tough enough without the pressure from loved ones. Even if they think they are trying to help, it doesn't come off that way!

When I was younger I was like you; it seemed I could never eat enough to gain without getting sick. My mom & grandmothers tried stuffing me with one thing after another & it just made me more phobic about food. Now I know it was all related to celiac.

You won't be able to gain until your intestines heal, & they'll take longer to heal if they are constantly under stress. Tell your husband that patience now will result in greater health in the future. Eat wholesome foods that are appetizing to you & your appetite will slowly increase. Stuffing yourself with any one food may set you up for other intolerances.

Hang in there, & keep in touch with us-- I hope we can help you keep your spirits up.

Leah

Thanks for the head's-up. It's cheaper to bring your own, too! But there goes another "emergency-nosh".