Gluten Free

Oy, those first weeks after diagnosis can be really disheartening and sad! You're not alone we all go through a sort of "mourning" when we get diagnosed! I have celiac disease and I've been living with it, mostly asymptomatically now for almost 4 years. There are a lot of resources out there, but also feel free to shoot me a message your best resource is someone who as been there. In the meantime, try and chin up- there are so many different things out there that you don't need to feel like your life is over. (This is coming from the person who cried in grocery stores for weeks!)

DH was how my father was diagnosed as a celiac. He never had any of the digestive symptoms that celiacs typically have, but when he was middle-aged, he developed a rash - which was later diagnosed as DH.

Then he went in for all the endoscopies and biopsies and found out he had celiac disease.

It took some effort to adjust to a gluten-free diet, but he's doing great now. We still have all our traditional dinners and normal foods, everyone has just learned to cook with alternative, wheat-free flours. It involves a lot of trial and error, reading labels and being careful, but your life will be normal again!

It's not that bad! Take this as an opportunity to find new foods and restaurants! Do you like Sushi? (Just make sure to use Tamari or Wheat-Free-Soy-Sauce). How about Vietnamese? Many of the noodles they use are rice-based. I live in Edmonton, which is the largest city this far north in Canada. (What I'm saying is that it is not a huge city). And yet, many many restaurants are offering gluten free menus, or have gluten free indicators. Some of them (The Bothy!) will even make gluten free versions of their foods if you call about 1/2 hour before you go... that way your food and everyone else's will come out at the same time! Maybe restaurants in your area will do that too. You'll find a number of gluten free things in grocery stores too, but they're often a little pricier than their wheat filled counterparts.

Because Gluten allergies and intolerances are on the rise, there are also SO MANY COOKBOOKS now! Again, this could be a great thing for you. One of the ways I lost weight (I put it all back on because I stopped doing this) was I made all my own food. I stopped buying anything processed. I even made my own bread. You can take this as an opportunity to really take your diet by the horns (to mix metaphors ) And if you don't really want to change much, there are options! Bob's Red Mill offers a really decent gluten free flour mix. If you have a Bulk Barn near you, they also offer a number of gluten free products (cake mix, pancake mix, flours, crackers, cereals... you get the idea).

Maybe you can even cook for the in-laws. You know. Lead by example. Show them how yummy food can be, even when it's not cheesy bread combos. Or when Christmas/birthdays roll around, get them a gluten free cookbook! I have so many now... everything from gluten free baking to gluten free vegan. Just do a search on amazon, there are tonnes of books (include dairy free, those books exist too!). Oh, and a magazine called Living Without. It has GREAT recipes that are gluten AND dairy free, it focuses on people with eating allergies and sensitivities. I don't buy it often enough.

Good Luck! One more time, take this as an opportunity! You're on MFP to lose weight, and get healthier... now it's not a choice, it's a must!

aross362 wrote: »

Yesterday I was told I have DH (Dermatitis Herpetiformis). I have been suffering with this unknown, reoccurring rash since February 2009. The cause is gluten. The cure is to become and remain gluten free. I am also lactose sensitive. Today I feel like: I will never be able to eat out again; dinner parties and socials are out of the question; and the worst will be family get-togethers. My in-laws constantly complained about my eating habits because of dairy food intolerance just wait until they find out I cannot eat gluten. Would love to hear from people who are gluten free. Today I have been obsessed with reading labels and scared to eat. I could use some help with this.

Going through the ssme thing. And yes it feels like mourning. But what feels worse is the god dam rash. Bright side is i havr been suffering with almost debilitating pain in heels and achilles for 18 monyhs. After dh forced me to go gf pain is gone. Read in a couple spots that one side symptom of celiac and dh is rheumatoid like pain in knees and or ankles and or heels. Silver lining.

I have SO MANY thoughts on response to your post. First off, I'm sorry you're going through this but welcome to the world of GF!!!! I won't bore you with my story but it started suddenly at the holidays in 2015. I thought maybe I had an ulcer. Turns out I tested positive for gluten intolerance. I didn't believe it, but have suffered with eczema off and on at varying degrees of severity since early childhood.

Like you, I had no idea and was devastated thinking like the entire chip aisle was off limits!

Good news is if you aren't a Celiac and your intolerance is like mine you can actually cheat once in a while and still be OK!!! You will know it. If I've had gluten I'll definitely flare up and have delayed digestive issues for about a week.

You don't have to write any of those things off. The great thing about having to go GF is that is a better time than ever as ppl become more aware and within months of my going GF General Mills actually put out their GF on certain cereals.

It's a bummer at times, like there's always going to be the things you can't it shouldn't have that you *really* want but sometimes you luck out and you learn to make do. Me? I really miss my Einstein Brothers bagels and the big greasy flappy pizza from the local take out my bf orders vs my tiny, frighteningly perfect round crunchy pizza that is half the size but twice the price.

There are so many alternatives now and plenty of restaurants offer GF. Red Robin and Ruby Tuesday both have awesome GF burger buns. Olive Garden has GF pasta. Chik Fil A has a bfast sandwich you can order, it's grilled chicken and comes on a GF bun. To me, that's been the most frustrating thing- grab and go fast food bfast from places like Wawa or something, bfast sandwiches and wraps are like the only hot option on the go in the morning and if my bf and I are hitting the road to go somewhere we end to arguing cause I am a PIA about where to stop. I just buy stuff to premake my own to heat up and take along.

If you have friends and neighbors like mine you will quickly learn how thoughtful and accommodating people can be and will often consider you when hosting, by preparing a GF dish or something you can eat, too. So many others are into this now even by choice (like what the heck is wrong with you voluntarily giving up all these great things!?) you will find something you can eat.

It's really not as bad as you think. Yes be aware of the "hidden gluten" but there's plenty of stuff that isn't listed as "GF" that actually is. It's a huge liability and to be able to say that, your company has to follow certain strict protocol and it's way easier to just not open that can of worms.

Also note- you're going to pay an insane amount of money for stuff because it DOESN'T have an ingredient others, do. You're going to pay $6 for 5 slices of stiff bread (5... What to do with that odd extra slice??) or $4 for crackers, $16 for an 8" pizza, $3 for a box of pasta when your S.O is paying 50 cents for theirs.

You're also going to encounter plenty of companies trying to market crap as GF even if *it's already automatically GF*!!!!! like eggs or rice, etc.

Learn to bake, there's so many great recipes! We do gf pies for me at holidays. I did a lovely batch of scones. King Arthur flour blend is great.

Our BJs now carries Freschetta 2-pack GF frozen pizzas and THEY'RE AMAZING! Closest to the real thing, for me, that I've had. It's really good the next day. And they're only $16 for two vs. $12 for one at the regular food store.

Let's be friends cause I'd love to walk you down the GF road 😁