I want to cut gluten...

People... im not going to start eating small children to see if that helps my digestive issues. cutting something out that i dont need. There is no need in my diet for gluten. Except a filler.. it's fluff.

and why dont i want to go to the dr? Because i would end up going to 14 different doctors, missing out on work, just to be put on zantac or some other reflux med. Ive been to the dr for it.. and they tell me to cut alcohol and caffeine. Do i want blood work taken, sure... why not. Do i want a camera stuck up my butt... nottttttttt really. I dont want to take off work and pay 14 copays just to get told i should cut gluten.

So.. ill cut gluten. Ill eat potatoes, and veggies, and fruit, and the gluten free girl scout cookies i have in my kitchen (kidding). It's not a big deal. I really didnt realize gluten was such a controversial topic.

Again.. im not going to hunt you down and switch to a diet consisting of your children... thanks for the advice from everyone.

Did you cut out the alcohol and caffeine?

If you truly think you have Celiac Disease, it is important to get the blood test and intestinal biopsy while still eating gluten.

Yes, OP, you should get tested for Celiac. It's a simple blood test.

DO NOT STOP EATING GLUTEN BEFORE GETTING BLOOD WORK. If you stop eating gluten before test, you will test negative.

Eh, no, takes like 3 months to get it out of your system. Garuntee it would still pick it up if she got it any time in the near future.

Considering I've been tested for Celiac multiple times and EACH time my doctor told me not to stop eating gluten prior to having the blood work because it can give a false negative, I'm 99.9% sure you are wrong.

Three months is a long time to go without pooping.

OP, if you don't have a medical condition that necessitates avoiding foods with gluten, you might make things worse. The most common complaint doctors see with people who self-diagnose and stop eating gluten is constipation, lethargy, and bloating caused by the constipation. Those grains are where most people get their fiber. Have you tried changing up what sorts of gluten-containing foods you eat? Try some with fiber.

**But most importantly, not talking to a doctor about your symptoms and just cutting gluten is not a good idea for one reason: you could very possibly have other health problems that your doctor may want you to consider or rule out before you cut anything out of your diet. For this reason, talk to your doctor about this regardless of whether you start a GF diet.

Another reason why I stressed the importance of going to the doctor, specifically a gastroenterologist. OP, you are just assuming the problem is gluten. But you could have a number of other things going on…… gallstones, kidney stones, Crohn's, IBS, colitis, etc. Some of those require medical attention. You may not WANT to have a colonoscopy or endoscopy but I know you want to find out the cause of the problems you've been experiencing. Trust me, both procedures aren't a big deal. The worst part is the prep, honestly. What are you going to do if you cut out gluten but still experience the symptoms you are having? Then what? What I'm saying is it's better to deal with it now than wait… especially if it's something serious. I doubt it is but just saying.

i ate the protein bar last weekend. i dont eat them on the regular. i like special k cereal.

and yes.. i WILL cut out all gluten. I have checked labels before, when i cut dairy out of my diet for my child. i learned all the tricky ways they put dairy on labels, i can do it with wheat too.

jees... and i am AMAZING insurance, the copays, time missed from work, numerous tests and pure aggravation that i am trying to avoid.

so you don't want to know if there's anything wrong with you? You'd rather make some dramatic gesture of cutting out gluten rather than actually investigate the problem. So you're doing it for attention because if you really had a problem you'd want to get a solution

I'm out

That really sucks that you feel so crappy! Hopefully you figure out the cause soon! I just want to add that I work for a surgeon who does upper GI scopes which is another way to test for celiac and I can tell you that honestly 99% of the patients that come in thinking their bloating and abdominal pain is caused by celiac or gluten sensitivity find out it is not. Most times it is actually caused by gastroesophageal reflux. Just something to look into. There are so many different symptoms related to GERD, most people confuse their symptoms with other disorders. Good luck

And this is why OP's doctors told her to cut out caffeine and alcohol. Both are triggers for GERD.

Also why they told you to take Zantac.

OMG. This thread is ridiculous. I'm sorry I'm not sorry people are so offended by the notion that there might actually be something to eating (or not eating) in a manner that makes you feel better. Medical tests have their limitations. We're talking in circles and everyone is just defending their own positions - you're not "winning the argument" because we're already convinced in our own beliefs. Yes, you will need to have your own toaster/toaster oven and read labels, and do a lot of homework on it.

P.S. my entire wedding cake is going to be the most amazing organic gluten free wedding cake EVAH and ALL of my friends (including the half dozen of us who are GF) are going to eat the **** out of it!

i ate the protein bar last weekend. i dont eat them on the regular. i like special k cereal.

and yes.. i WILL cut out all gluten. I have checked labels before, when i cut dairy out of my diet for my child. i learned all the tricky ways they put dairy on labels, i can do it with wheat too.

jees... and i am AMAZING insurance, the copays, time missed from work, numerous tests and pure aggravation that i am trying to avoid.

so you don't want to know if there's anything wrong with you? You'd rather make some dramatic gesture of cutting out gluten rather than actually investigate the problem. So you're doing it for attention because if you really had a problem you'd want to get a solution

I'm out

Not eating one type of grain is a dramatic gesture? Maybe that is a form of investigating a problem?

its very possible to enjoy yummy carbs without having gluten! Why cut out gluten? If you're allergic or feel you may lose more weight without it, then I totally understand because I am highly allergic to gluten too! Going gluten free is so cheap and fun IF (big if) you have the motivation to learn how to cook your own breads, cookies, crackers, etc. Buying special and expensive gluten free breads is often not that tasty... I don't know what it is but I swear everything I make myself is a hundred times yummier, healthier, and lower fat/calorie!
Anyway, do what you can manage - it sounds like you are getting 'fed up' with cutting foods from your diet, and that's definitely not a mindset that is going to help you make healthy changes for life! Find a way of eating for you that is based on whole, fresh foods that you test over time to see how your body responds. Some people can't seem to lose weight if they eat that magic combo of high fat and carbs, so watch out and make sure your diet focuses on one or the other, I hope I could help, I wish you luck with your health!

my daughter was diagnosed with GERD at 3 months... at a gastroenterologist.... she was allergic to dairy. Im not replying to this post anymore, waste of my time. Thank you to the people who messaged me with helpful advice.

A gastroenterologist specializes in the digestive system. An allergist/immunologist specializes in the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases. Hence the reason a gastroenterologist isn't going to test for food allergies. Most 3 month olds have GERD. In fact, food allergies can cause GERD.