Gluten free by choice!

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  • katmix
    katmix Posts: 296 Member
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    Consider being tested for Crohn's if you are negative for Celiac's... My son's IBS turned out to be that, unfortunately.

    I was tested for Crohn's last year. The doctor informed me that I more than likely had it.. then retracted his statement after going through the testing. Then, it was a thyroid problem.. then it wasn't. It was very frustrating because I never got an exact answer other than he told me to start taking care of myself. (I did have fatty liver) So, since I left that day, I've taken care of myself. My appointment is scheduled at the first of August for my yearly check up with the gastro. We will see then what he says and I will bring up everything again then.

    To know for sure, you'll want to go to a gastroenterologist, and have a colonoscopy (in which they will do a biopsy). My son's specialist told us at same appointment that it was Crohn's (based on her knowledge), biopsy confirmed. Have good insurance...
  • rlbs
    rlbs Posts: 14
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    I, too, was diagnosed with IBS by multiple gastroenterologists, but nothing helped. I went through bouts of being able to keep nothing down, not even water. I kept a food diary and discovered that my symptoms were triggered by gluten. I then found a new doctor, who tested me for celiac. I have the gene for celiac, but was unable to have the "gold standard" confirming test of an intestinal biopsy because I had been off gluten for three weeks, and was unwilling to start eating it again just for the test (I had a new job and couldn't afford to be throwing up for a week). So, I am officially gluten-sensitive, possible celiac, and gluten-free for over three years. All digestive issues are gone, and other stuff is better, too--including pollen allergies, vertigo, and hives. A good article about gluten sensitivity is at:

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200393522456636.html?KEYWORDS=gluten+free

    There are lots of online resources with recipes for gluten-free foods. I like www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com. But folks are right, don't fill up your diet with junky gluten-free food like cookies, they are no healthier than the gluten-filled version. Good luck!
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    Consider being tested for Crohn's if you are negative for Celiac's... My son's IBS turned out to be that, unfortunately.

    I was tested for Crohn's last year. The doctor informed me that I more than likely had it.. then retracted his statement after going through the testing. Then, it was a thyroid problem.. then it wasn't. It was very frustrating because I never got an exact answer other than he told me to start taking care of myself. (I did have fatty liver) So, since I left that day, I've taken care of myself. My appointment is scheduled at the first of August for my yearly check up with the gastro. We will see then what he says and I will bring up everything again then.

    To know for sure, you'll want to go to a gastroenterologist, and have a colonoscopy (in which they will do a biopsy). My son's specialist told us at same appointment that it was Crohn's (based on her knowledge), biopsy confirmed. Have good insurance...

    I had the biopsy done last year. It came back negative.
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    I, too, was diagnosed with IBS by multiple gastroenterologists, but nothing helped. I went through bouts of being able to keep nothing down, not even water. I kept a food diary and discovered that my symptoms were triggered by gluten. I then found a new doctor, who tested me for celiac. I have the gene for celiac, but was unable to have the "gold standard" confirming test of an intestinal biopsy because I had been off gluten for three weeks, and was unwilling to start eating it again just for the test (I had a new job and couldn't afford to be throwing up for a week). So, I am officially gluten-sensitive, possible celiac, and gluten-free for over three years. All digestive issues are gone, and other stuff is better, too--including pollen allergies, vertigo, and hives. A good article about gluten sensitivity is at:

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200393522456636.html?KEYWORDS=gluten+free

    There are lots of online resources with recipes for gluten-free foods. I like www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com. But folks are right, don't fill up your diet with junky gluten-free food like cookies, they are no healthier than the gluten-filled version. Good luck!

    Thanks for the websites. I will definitely look into them. I am glad you figured out what was bothering you. I hope I can say the same soon!
  • Bernadette60614
    Bernadette60614 Posts: 707 Member
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    Don't replaced processed gluten products with processed other grain products and you'll not only continue to feel better, you'll lose bloat as well.

    I went gluten free a month ago, and I have done the whole popcorrn, cornbread thing and still felt good. My next goal is to replace those foods with veggies, ideally, and then fruits.
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
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    I have problems digesting gluten. (Could be celiacs but maybe not, I haven't been tested). These days, you really don't even have to think of any substitutions because any sprouts, trader joes, or Whole Foods has any possible gluten free item you can think of. Bread, pasta, crackers, flour etc. In fact, it's getting to be kind of a trend so I've even found some items in Vons. I don't get why people choose to go gluten free though. If I COULD eat it, I would. lol I agree with a previous poster though that said the brand Udi's is best. Their stuff is the closest to normal tasting.
  • peniculala
    peniculala Posts: 81 Member
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    I didn't read all of the posts because I got turned off by some of the early ones. However I want to say that Enjoy Life is a great brand. They have almost anything you could want and are free of many allergens. I agree that processed foods are often a source of problems. I haven't been diagnosed by a doctor, but I found that when I stopped eating gluten life was a lot better. Gluten can be a source of many digestive problems. I try to stick to whole foods, but when that is difficult, I look to Enjoy Life and Rudi's breads. I'm also sensitive to diary and am allergic to soy, so things are difficult when it comes to processed foods. Message me if you want to talk more about this.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
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    I am wheat free since December.. with a few slip ups. I had major inflammation throughout my body. My joints were so bad I could barely stand my whole shift at work and FORGET exercise after work. I could no longer crochet due to the stiffness and pain in my fingers.

    There have been a few occasions where I just said "screw it" and ate a piece of delicious bread resulting in lethargy, stomach cramping.

    Since giving up the wheat my joint pain has disappeared almost completely. I still have some slight aches in my knees but I'm able to work a full shift at work and then walk to the Y and do an hour zumba class! Also I no longer require medication for my thyroid. Previously I was on synthroid for hypothyroid but now the condition is completely resolved which I'm told is a VERY rare occurrence. Apparently inflammation can interfere with your thyroid function and as long as your actual thyroid hadn't been damaged reversal is possible.

    I still miss many of my favorite foods and I refuse to do gluten free substitutes that are made with highly refined potato and tapioca flours so I'm just trying to make due with other things.

    I used to be skeptical of people of people crying "inflammation" or "wheat sensitivity" and I felt that only celiacs had to give up wheat due to gluten and everyone else was just following a trend. It took giving up wheat to make a true believer out of me!
  • Mom2Lizzy
    Mom2Lizzy Posts: 23
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    My husband and I are doing the same, by choice. It has forced us to eat healthier. Less processed crap. My diary is open. You can check it out for ideas. I'm on vacation now - so it will be off. As you can see, I enjoy a large variety of foods. Neither of us really miss the gluten. We both feel better since we've given it up. I was doing it for hypothyroidism symptoms. Fortunately, we have a friend who has been GF for years and I became accustomed to cooking for him.
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    Don't replaced processed gluten products with processed other grain products and you'll not only continue to feel better, you'll lose bloat as well.

    I went gluten free a month ago, and I have done the whole popcorrn, cornbread thing and still felt good. My next goal is to replace those foods with veggies, ideally, and then fruits.

    So far, the only thing on my diet that I really had to adjust was sandwhich bread. My diet consists of mainly just fruits/veggies/some diary/meat. Pretty simple thing going on, however I do have a desire for a cracker every now and then. I just bought a thing of rice crackers to begin. I hope to one day not have to find "substitutes".
  • gbaker941
    gbaker941 Posts: 4
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    Doctors can't test for Coeliac if you are already on a gluten free diet as the villi in the intestine recover without gluten (if that is the problem). Many people are gluten "Intolerant" but not Coeliac. They are 2 different conditions and many doctors are not supportive of patients that "feel"" better on on GF diet as it is not a physical thing they can test or see.
    If your doctor thinks you may be Coeliac, you will need to go back on normal diet (put up with all the discomfort) and then have a colonoscopy (with a biopsy of the small bowel) although sometimes they can do a blood test first to check but the blood tests are not always accurate.
  • MaureenC127
    MaureenC127 Posts: 150 Member
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    A good book to read about going wheat free is "Wheat Belly" by William Davis.
    He has some gluten-free recipes in the book, but he also explains how eating wheat, which is where the gluten is, gets you to eat non-stop.
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    My husband and I are doing the same, by choice. It has forced us to eat healthier. Less processed crap. My diary is open. You can check it out for ideas. I'm on vacation now - so it will be off. As you can see, I enjoy a large variety of foods. Neither of us really miss the gluten. We both feel better since we've given it up. I was doing it for hypothyroidism symptoms. Fortunately, we have a friend who has been GF for years and I became accustomed to cooking for him.

    Thank you for the request! Always great to have another friend and a resourceful one as well!

    I see that you are a teacher. I just graduated with my degree to be a Special Education teacher. This is why I am concerned about not feeling well. I know how much of an impact my attitude can have on the students each day. I am trying to resolve these issues because it will be a win for everyone!
  • choochoobell
    choochoobell Posts: 147 Member
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    Bump!
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    Doctors can't test for Coeliac if you are already on a gluten free diet as the villi in the intestine recover without gluten (if that is the problem). Many people are gluten "Intolerant" but not Coeliac. They are 2 different conditions and many doctors are not supportive of patients that "feel"" better on on GF diet as it is not a physical thing they can test or see.
    If your doctor thinks you may be Coeliac, you will need to go back on normal diet (put up with all the discomfort) and then have a colonoscopy (with a biopsy of the small bowel) although sometimes they can do a blood test first to check but the blood tests are not always accurate.

    I had the colonscopy done (with the biopsy) to check for Chron's. Do you think that they tested for Coealic as well? He never mentioned it to me.
  • nessayessa
    nessayessa Posts: 8 Member
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    Pamela's has some really tasty cookies with good texture. Obviously these are once in a while treats, but those of us who can't eat gluten don't always feel like having to make every. damn. thing. from. scratch. I once I use Pamela's gingersnaps and dark chocolate cookies for crusts around the holidays.
    Cup 4 Cup is an expensive but good flour for pie pastries, but not so great for thickening sauces or making rouxs. For that I'll use garbanzo bean flour. Bob's Red Mill has a lot of really good GF mixes and such.
    Some of my favorite foods are GF just naturally. Eggs, fruit, veggies, rice, fish.
    Glutino has great crackers, as does San-J (not all are GF so check). San-J also has gluten free soy sauce and marinades.
    Udi's has good bread, and so does Schar.
  • sandylion
    sandylion Posts: 451 Member
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    My husband has what was previously diagnosed as IBS which we have discovered is actually a gluten intolerance or celiac. He has not gotten the blood work he needs to do to get diagnosed, but through trial and error we have figured out it is gluten that causes ALL of his symptoms, and he is highly HIGHLY sensitive. He cannot even drink any grain alcohols, even though the process is supposed to destroy the gluten. (He was very upset to have to get rid of the whiskey and scotch collection!!) If something says "May contain" he reacts, and if something has "Maltodextrin" or a few other weird things, he reacts. If you're really sensitive, do some research in to all the 'hidden' forms of gluten. If you're not that sensitive, you probably don't have to worry.

    Because of his strong reactions, I've gone more or less gluten free just because I feel like it is super mean to have the stuff in the house if he wants it and can't have it. And making two dinners ect because one is gluten free and one is not is a pain in the *kitten* and opens up the opportunity for cross contamination.

    What we have discovered is Udi's bread is so far the best. Gluten free baked goods, with very few exceptions, suck. GF cookies are the worst. The best way to do it is not to try to find a substitute. Don't eat crappy textured substitutes because they make you miss the real deal more. Just don't eat that stuff anymore. I used to have a sandwich ever day for lunch, I have a smoothie now. We both used to eat cereal for breakfast every day. Now we eat bacon and eggs, fruit and yogurt, some weird meat concoctions that the DH comes up with, instead. Its more nutritious and doesn't make us miss the mini wheats or cheerios. If you want a pie, try making a crumble instead and use almond flour and GF oats to make the topping. Just forget the crust. Besides, who ever ate a pie because the crust was good? The middle is the stuff you want anyway!

    Depending how much of a hard-liner you want to be, its really hard. Eating out is the worst because there is always a high risk of cross contamination unless you go to a GF restaurant, which are few and far between and tend to be very very expensive.
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    I didn't read all of the posts because I got turned off by some of the early ones. However I want to say that Enjoy Life is a great brand. They have almost anything you could want and are free of many allergens. I agree that processed foods are often a source of problems. I haven't been diagnosed by a doctor, but I found that when I stopped eating gluten life was a lot better. Gluten can be a source of many digestive problems. I try to stick to whole foods, but when that is difficult, I look to Enjoy Life and Rudi's breads. I'm also sensitive to diary and am allergic to soy, so things are difficult when it comes to processed foods. Message me if you want to talk more about this.

    Thanks, it seems the topic has had a turn for the better! I will send you a friend request, if that's okay? Good to have support of people who understand!
  • jdhobson
    jdhobson Posts: 42 Member
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    My husband has what was previously diagnosed as IBS which we have discovered is actually a gluten intolerance or celiac. He has not gotten the blood work he needs to do to get diagnosed, but through trial and error we have figured out it is gluten that causes ALL of his symptoms, and he is highly HIGHLY sensitive. He cannot even drink any grain alcohols, even though the process is supposed to destroy the gluten. (He was very upset to have to get rid of the whiskey and scotch collection!!) If something says "May contain" he reacts, and if something has "Maltodextrin" or a few other weird things, he reacts. If you're really sensitive, do some research in to all the 'hidden' forms of gluten. If you're not that sensitive, you probably don't have to worry.

    Because of his strong reactions, I've gone more or less gluten free just because I feel like it is super mean to have the stuff in the house if he wants it and can't have it. And making two dinners ect because one is gluten free and one is not is a pain in the *kitten* and opens up the opportunity for cross contamination.

    What we have discovered is Udi's bread is so far the best. Gluten free baked goods, with very few exceptions, suck. GF cookies are the worst. The best way to do it is not to try to find a substitute. Don't eat crappy textured substitutes because they make you miss the real deal more. Just don't eat that stuff anymore. I used to have a sandwich ever day for lunch, I have a smoothie now. We both used to eat cereal for breakfast every day. Now we eat bacon and eggs, fruit and yogurt, some weird meat concoctions that the DH comes up with, instead. Its more nutritious and doesn't make us miss the mini wheats or cheerios. If you want a pie, try making a crumble instead and use almond flour and GF oats to make the topping. Just forget the crust. Besides, who ever ate a pie because the crust was good? The middle is the stuff you want anyway!

    Depending how much of a hard-liner you want to be, its really hard. Eating out is the worst because there is always a high risk of cross contamination unless you go to a GF restaurant, which are few and far between and tend to be very very expensive.

    I absolutely love to cook. I have not tried baking anything GF thus far because I have no clue where to begin. I will start with the crumble.. that actually sounds like it would hit the spot right now.

    I try to avoid processed anything, so no worries there!

    I think it is wonderful that you have made this commitment for your husband's benefit. I am sure that makes things much easier on him. I hope you also benefit from the healthy - and unselfish - food decisions that you have been making!

    Thanks for the ideas and the response!
  • Subzeromambo
    Subzeromambo Posts: 27 Member
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    After you have been diagnosed with IBS, gluten intolerance tests are not needed. The "bad" bacteria in your gut flourish after eating products that contain gluten and a few other foods. This is not something that shows up in any test. The easiest way to determine what should be in your lifetime eating habits is to try the FODMAP elimination diet. It is very easy and lasts about six weeks. FODMAP is an internationally recognized diet for people with IBS. I learned about it from both my colorectal surgeon and my GI. There are many good online resources. This was the best online source I found: http://www.katescarlata.com/fodmap.htm. The book IBS: Free At Last! provides another interpretation as well as sample diet plans and a shopping list. I found kate scarlatta's suggestions to be more creative and delicious. You will have to pay extra for the 21- day menu and recipes but it is worth it. It also works without any adjustment with the MFP food tracker.

    If you are not already taking a probiotic you should look into it. I take VSL #3 DS. It is prescription only. It takes your body about four weeks to redevelop the good bacteria that keeps IBS in remission. Other good probiotics for IBS include Culturelle and Fortiva. Only VSL #3 DS needs a prescription.

    I had seven organs removed during emergency surgery and have a partially man-made digestive system. I have lived with IBS for 25 years.

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