jabberwife

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking that the challenge confirms my suspicion that I am sensitive...I have Enterolab results coming to me in about 2 weeks to prove it. But I'm staying away! On to a healthier life....

What would I do without my message board buddies?

Thanks!

I'm still new to the diet, but tried to challenge on Thursday. (bagel) It was weird. Nothing really seemed to happen (digestively speaking). I was in a bad brain fog and my head hurt starting that night and through ALL of Friday like a hangover. And I was constipated. And I had a bad night sweat Thursday night. But what I expected--severe diarrhea, cramping, bloating...didn't happen until Friday night/Saturday morning. I'm wondering if that was the gluten or something else. But man..sorry to go into such detail...but I spent 5 hours in/out the bathroom Saturday morning between 5am-10am. Racing thoughts that kept me awake once that finally stopped.

So...am I out of the ordinary? What is to be expected when this happens? I haven't had my results back from Enterolab yet, but am back gluten-free until I get them, at least. Part of me hopes this is really the problem, so I can feel better.

I agree with everyone! Do the enterolab stuff on your daughter (and yourself, if you'd like to use it to rub in your doctor's face) and it won't be invasive and won't make you sick for months! And find someone who will not tell you it's in your head. That makes me just as mad as those OBGYN's that tell you the pain is in your head. Screw them.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had these diagnoses! My heart goes out to you while you wait on these results. I too am awaiting the results of my celiac tests, hoping that the gluten-free diet will make me feel better in the long run.

If you do have celiac, cutting out all gluten will keep it from progressing. I'm not sure about the effects of celiac on your other diagnoses, but I imagine that if the doctors thought enough that it might be linked (way to go doctors!) that perhaps the gluten free diet will help there as well.

If you are going to have a blood test, eating gluten will give it a better chance of being positive. However, the blood test is not all that accurate--you might try looking into enterolab.com and ordering the test from them. You can do it in your own home, and it's kinda pricey, but it might be worth it, even if your colonoscopy comes back negative, you could still have a gluten intolerance that is causing these symptoms. This test does not require you to continue to eat gluten. Check it out. This is what I'm waiting on right now!

Good luck. And stay posting on this site--some of these folks have eased my mind in the last few weeks!

Vyderscope

Don't know where you're at, but here in DAllas, TX not only does Whole Foods carry them, but even Kroger here has these waffles. And they do rock!

Ok folks. I have been gluten-free for 2 1/2 weeks, ordered the Enterolab stuff and am waiting on my results, but decided last night that I would do a gluten challenge. Just curious, I suppose. Well, I had a bagel. Other than a great deal of brain fog, and a headache like a hangover (last night and this morning), night sweats, not a lot happened. I was expecting a run to the bathroom or something within a few hours...but in fact, I haven't "gone" since Wednesday. Not even a huge amount of bloating or gas...a little, but not much. I'm going to continue on the gluten-free diet from here on out until I get my results, but this surprises me--especially since I've had tummy troubles throughout the gluten-free diet and always before. (alternating constipation and D before) I'm wondering--anyone else have constipation and these other symptoms with gluten instead of D on a challenge? What does this mean? I know I'll find out once and for all on the results of my lab tests--but that's a few weeks from now.

I keep hearing about these dining cards--can someone explain to me where to get them, and are they something you keep one of and the restaurant returns it to you, or do you get a bunch (like business cards) and hand them out? These seem to cut a lot of HASSLE out of the dining out thing.

I am wondering if they use wheat in their beef seasonings and their chili. They're website isn't sophisticated enough to include this information. They happen to be a favorite fast food stop of ours. I'm sad enough I can't have a bean burrito because of the flour tortilla, but if I can't have the beef or chili sauce either? Waaaah!

I'm just recently dx'd so I can't answer this personally--but my dad has been dx'd for more than 10 years. We eat pretty often at TRUE mexican restaurants--taquerias--and he has no problem. He'll get like a beef or chicken taco plate (always corn tortillas) and the rice and beans are great. The authentic places though don't use as many shortcuts as the Tex-Mex and fast food places do--so there's less likely to be some wheat in sauces and soforth. The downfall? You have to speak pretty good Spanish if you want to ask questions!

Good point, Leah...we all are so quick to blame the gluten! It would surprise me though...the chicken was flash-frozen Tyson...but you never know sometimes!

Could be that. Maybe I'll lay off anything that could be triggering any issues. Spicy foods included. Also, wondering if it could be that I got into gluten unknowingly last Thur and Fri? Just now attacking me on Sunday? I had bloating, gas and a headache when it happened, but that was it...

I have similar questions, actually. I have been gluten-free for 2 weeks, and as I'm learning more, I realize I had a few hidden gluten episodes during that time. I was feeling better overall though--less bloating, less gas. But in the past few days it's suddenly changed--I've had D several times, and I know I haven't eaten anything with gluten. (I've eaten at home this whole time). Sunday I started to have problems, but they got really bad that night/Monday morning after I made this pizza (with a gluten-free crust I bought at Whole Foods) that has ranch dressing (gluten-free--I checked), mozzarella cheese, and chicken with buffalo wing sauce (also checked). It was spicy but not nearly as spicy as I usually eat (and have eaten with no problems these past 2 weeks--I'm a spicy food junkie). But I was back and forth to the bathroom 15-20 times Monday, and then every time I'd eat a meal, I'd be back within an hour to the bathroom. I'm ok this morning, but I'm trying to understand what could have caused this. Is it just my body getting used to the idea? Does anyone else have other sensitivities that only showed once they started a gluten-free diet? It doesn't seem to be dairy--there's not a real link to the dairy and how I feel.

That could be it. Also, I was asking my dad (a celiac--dx'd for more than 10 years now) and he said he'd been glutened by tortilla strips from other restaurants. Apparently some tortilla strips for salads and such are a flour/corn blend. Who would do that to us!!!??! Oh well. Next time, I'm just eating the salad. No corn anything. I don't even like On the Border that much anyawy....

I went today for lunch, felt I was safe with the taco salad (didn't eat anywhere near the bowl) with chicken, it had tortilla strips on it that were obviously corn and jalapeno vinagrette dressing. I suspect either the tortilla chips or the dressing....because I'm again feeling bloated, crampy......already. Does anyone know anything about On The Border and their habits?

Bottom line is....regardless of whether the fries themselves are gluten-free, which according to McD's past history, I would believe they'd lie, every fast food restaurant is a gamble. I went to Whataburger last night and watched them use their fryer. Good news? They fry onion rings in a dedicated fryer. I started to get excited about the fries--until I saw a girl pull apple pies out of the french fry fryer. Dang it! But even those restaurants that have dedicated fryers are only as trustworthy as the managers are at watching over their staff. Employees at those restaurants can be lazy, and will fry whatever, wherever, they want. I'm not as sensitive to it as some other celiacs, but it's enough to make some never eat out!

Thanks for everyone's help. My dad, who is celiac, has no issues with any diet coke/pepsi. But you're right too to say that it's probably bad for me anyway! I'll die of some asparatame cancer. I am trying to incorporate more seltzer water in its place--I'm truly just a fan of carbonated drinks. I would be better off health-wise if I could just cut out most all processed, refined, preservative-laden foods. It's just hard to get into the habit when you're groomed to depend on convenience foods. Good thing I enjoy cooking!

I have a list of things celiacs should stay away from. are all of these really true? Some I know...like modified food starch, malt, anything with barley, etc. and of course the obvious wheat flour, wheat starch, etc. But what about caramel colorings? Isn't that in colas? It says it's made from barley malt enzymes. Does this mean no more Diet Coke? Also blue cheese. Is it separated with flour? And it says grain vodka--has anyone had issues with this? Sorry so many questions, but I'm new to this. Thanks!

Well, thanks for all the well wishes. I think I still am not used to this gluten-free diet...I glutened myself today. Forgot that egg roll wrappers are flour (duh). Did well with the whole not eating Hoison sauce in my vietnamese soup, no soy sauce, read labels, but then chowed right down on an egg roll. At least it was only one.

Fortunately, I think I have been so new to this that the worst I got yesterday and today was bouts of bad bloating and gas. I imagine if I truly challenged myself after a few weeks being gluten-free, which was my intention, I would have eaten a bagel or something so that there'd be no question as to the results. Bloating and gas only seems somewhat inconclusive to me, but being otherwise gluten-free except for these 2 boo-boos, I am starting to see a pattern as to where these issues come from. Evil gluten!

I did get my Enterolab stuff today in the mail...so I figure I'll get an official diagnosis. I'm not sure that's truly necessary, but I do want to know if lactose or casien has anything to do with my issues as well.

I WILL get the hang of this!

I haven't known there was "raw" cheese and "not raw" cheese. Hmmm....you learn something new every day! Are these labeled as raw cheese at Whole Foods, or how do I know?

Well, the fact that I have almost immediately had some reaction (although mild--bloating and gas, mostly) probably confirms the intolerance question, I'm hoping that since I'm probably not THAT sensitive yet, since I just went off of it, that this will be the worst for the next few hours. Here's hoping! Thanks for the support.

I have been gluten-free for over a week (suspecting intolerance) and just accidentally glutened myself. Dang imitation crab meat. I grabbed some sushi from the grocery, and looked carefully at the soy sauce ingredients, and the soy sauce actually WAS wheat-free (a miracle!) but didn't look until afterwards at the imitation crab. wheat starch. Dang it. So....I have a presentation in 2 hours, am I going to make it through? I haven't tested with gluten since going gluten free....didn't want to test unintentionally! Yikes.

Ok so I'm still gluten-free. Truly, it's not as hard as I thought--but probably only because I'm so used to family members and their needs that it didn't take much to adapt. My husband still thinks I'm a hypochondriac, but anyway....

I ordered the Enterolab test. we'll see what comes of that.

I'm still having some issues, though, some gas that I can't pinpoint. I'm wondering--should I remove all dairy as well? Or just wait for the test? (what's sad is--in my mind, dairy seems harder for me to get over losing than gluten products! Soy cheese just isn't the same for me!) It does surprise me, however, how much less I crave the gluten-laden products. I don't really want them, unless of course someone is sitting next to me chowing down on a big burger on a bun or something.

Anyway, thoughts on dairy--yes or no? Anyone else have similar experiences?

at least I'm somewhat knowledgable on the "truly" gluten-free part--I was still living at home, reading labels when my dad was diagnosed, so I know the drill! Thanks for the advice. I'll keep going....I'm just missing beer already! Dang it.

Hello all!

Hope someone can help me determine how long is truly long enough being gluten-free to determine whether gluten is my problem. I have been diagnosed IBS and iron-deficient anemia but nothing helps the IBS--had a blood test for celiac a number of years ago but tested negative, but I've heard that's not super-reliable. Brother and father both celiac. Sister unsure, she's having the same issues I am but has not been tested (hence the reason to suspect gluten as the enemy) I have been gluten-free for a week now, and most of the stuff I've read states 2 weeks for allergy tests, but I am wondering if anyone else has had experiences and if so, with what success/failure using this method? Just don't want to do the colonoscopy if I don't have to! I feel better, somewhat. No diarrhea, much less bloating and cramps. Think it's time to reintroduce gluten as a test? Or give it another week? Help. Thanks!