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[Terrilyn]

I have just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and would appreciate any tips on how to be strict with a gluten free diet.  I seem to do good for a couple of days and am sure I have not eaten anything with gluten and bang, I get sick.  Any tips.
Terrilyn

[the sensible celiac]

Hi TerriLyn, welcome

You can greatly reduce your risk of accidental gluten intake by doing most or all of your own cooking from basic ingredients.  You can also look for foods explicitly labeled as gluten free too, they are becoming more common.

In what kind of circumstances do you think you are getting accidental gluten? Is it when you're eating out, snacking, eating your own cooking?

[Terrilyn]

I am usually eating at home.  I have been very strict and have started keeping a daily log jus to see if I have eaten anything out of the ordinary.  The last time I did not feel well was after I had eaten some ore-ida fries, which I checked the package and the website and they both indicate gluten free.  I also had a hamburger cooked on a propane grill.  Could that be the source
Terrilyn

[the sensible celiac]

It's conceivable your burger was contaminated on the grill,  Ore Ida fries are definitely OK.

Sometimes when people first go GF their digestive system goes through a grumpy stage as it is being forced to adjust to a new regime. Newly GF celiacs seem to often develop lactose intolerance, which often proves to be temporary.

I find that the best thing to settle my stomach is usually some plain white rice with a bit of salt.

[Terrilyn]

How can the grill be contaminated.  It gets extremely hot I would think that anything left on the grates would be burned off.  And yes I was also diagnosed with a mild case of lactose intolerance, which I have been taking a pill for every day.  I have been staying away from cheese and at the moment only use milk in coffee and tea.
Terrilyn

[Sharon]

I thought my George Foreman grill would be safe after I spent a month "burning the gluten off" by having just my family eat what was cooked on it.  But when I tried it after the month it still wasn't okay.  It just seems to have to do with whether the grill has absorbed gluten and transfers it.  My friend says she's "contaminated and then given away her kitchen at least 3 times."

[Terrilyn]

With the intense heat of grills I wonder why the gluten wouldn't have burned off.

[Sharon]

That's what I thought too, but no such luck.  I try to liken it to why I can't scrub tomato sauce stain out of tupperware.

[spokanesweetpea]

How's 3 days of knowing you have CD? I have found this site and my anxiety is slowly going down. I have been through alot until the blood test for this. I have had skin samples taken off due to the size of the lumps I've gotten, many doctors couldn't diagnose the problem. I've been on acne meds, depression pills, anxiety, muscle relaxers, anything for allergies too. I had blood drawn for a variety of things too.
Now the source many used was my coffee creamer. I purposefully steered clear of milk thinking the problem laid somewhere in dairy. Read the Mary Lou Henner book on dieting and milk can cause alot of problems for anyone.
If anyone knows of more hints&tricks please let me know. My face is clearing,back,chest,arms finally after having problems my whole life. Thought it was serious skin problems(everyone)and it is naturally healling now. Summer consisted of meat(bbq'd), vegetables(fresh), and salad. Funny how its all ok until the winter months. i cook more stews,spagetti,pastas,breads,cookies,cakes, and home-made stuff.
My self-esteem is getting better now that my face is clearing. I can't believe the improvement.
Anyone that can help, chat , or have some tid-bits that they have learned please help me. I really feel trapped starting this whole new adventure. Oh I know time will help but greatful to find a site to make the time fly alittle faster.
thanks,
spokanesweetpea@yahoo.com
Casey

[annilyn]

  Hi,
Okay I read this per your instructions...
I'm so happy to find a group of folks like me.
I've only been dealing with Celiac for three years..
I'm learning as I go, still making stupid mistakes...
its all so frustrating 
One of my biggest complaints has to do with the
way non-celiac people treat me... 
How do I get it across to them that I'm not 'just a picky eater' ?
hugs,
anni
 

[the sensible celiac]

Hi,
Okay I read this per your instructions...
I'm so happy to find a group of folks like me.
I've only been dealing with Celiac for three years..
I'm learning as I go, still making stupid mistakes...
its all so frustrating 
One of my biggest complaints has to do with the
way non-celiac people treat me... 
How do I get it across to them that I'm not 'just a picky eater' ?
hugs,
anni
 

I find that it helps to make an impression of seriousness at the very beginning, so I tell clerks at fast food shops and waiters in restaurants that "I have a medical condition that requires me to avoid even the tiniest traces of wheat, rye, and barley...."
If it does not seem I have made an impression yet I'll add something like "I will become very ill if I eat any wheat."

Once you have impressed the person you are talking to with the seriousness of the matter it seems you get better interaction with them. People working in restaurants much prefer not making their customers ill, you just need to be assertive and unambiguous about telling them you must avoid these grains and letting them know they will make you ill.

I generally do not mention celiac disease and I prefer to shy away from the word allergy.

[Double Trouble]

Hello,

Thank you so very much for this site... I have been a celiac for about 10 years and doing great.. My daughter who is 18 now is also a celiac with out having all the drama that I Had for years. 

Its amazing all the new and wonderful food that we have found over the last couple of weeks... 

I think the word is getting out that this is a huge issue in the United States...

My daughter is going to Case Western Reserve in Cleveland to become a Nutrionist, we need more of them so that the ones who are still suffering can get help with this diet that can consume....

Thank you again...

[mbhardy67]

Hi Steve,

My name is Beth and my daughter Ashley was dx'd with celiac disease at 18 mos.  Ashley is now five and doing great.  She started kindergarten this year which was a little scarey but she has a wonderful teacher who works very closely with me.  Since celiac disease is genetic we did have the genetic testing done and much to my suprise I am the carrier. ( I have the gene and so does my other daughter).  The reason I say this is I am the youngest of 8 children and none of my other siblings have issues with it or their children.  Whether they are carriers is a different story, but if problems arise down the road they can makesure that their drs are aware of the fact celiac desease runs in the family.  Anyway, that is my history in a nutshell, but I am glad I ran across your website and look forward to making new friends...

Beth

[the sensible celiac]

Welcome Beth,

It sounds like you've got things well under control there.  My daughter and I are both diagnosed with celiac disease, and I truly believe my mother had it too, but one doctor told her yes while others said no.  She had many of the symptoms, and eventually died of stomach cancer in January of this year.

I mention this not to be morbid, but because it is important for people with an increased risk of celiac disease, our relatives, to monitor their health and be alert to the signs of malnutrition, digestive problems, and osteoporosis.

Thanks for signing up for the forum, I hope you find it useful.

Steve

[cookie]

:-)Thank you for this site...my husband decided to go GF about two weeks ago. This web site gave me some insight into what to do....what to fix...where to buy...restaurants...how to speak up about your dietary needs etc. It is always good to go to those with experience and see how they handled things. Thanks you to those that have gone before!!!  We are a work in progress...as many of you I am sure. I have always so loved to bake so now I must try different things...getting the hang of this will take time. Thankfully he is so easy to please and glad that I am on board to get him feeling well....so far so good he says!!!! Looking forward to more info from all of you!    Sincerely, cookie