Celiac Disease...

[Kellee]

My sister was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago. Previous diagnoses have included ulcerative colitis, ibs, etc.

She and I both have similar symptoms, especially in terms of food allergies and inability to process food appropriately. I called my doctor today to schedule an appointment and they immediately recommended me to a specialist. Apparently her diagnosis puts me into a higher risk category of getting a similar diagnosis. I won't be able to see the specialist until early September.

Anyway, in the meantime, my doctor told me to go ahead and start a gluten free diet to see if I see any benefit. Her office also prescribed special vitamins that I'll pick up later. Has anyone here done a full-blown gluten-free diet? Any tips?

Also, mixing this with my other allergies and intolerances is going to be interesting - no citrus, no mangoes, no papayas, no kiwi, no black cherries, no lactose (without lactaid), no gluten. And damn if gluten isn't in just about everything processed.

[Amy]

Guh. :( My aunt has it and I think she pretty much just stopped enjoying good food at all. I'm basing that completely on the food she brings to family gatherings. /not helpful

[purple]

The one thing I caution you to check into is whether the specialist wants you to start GF before being tested. If you're doing GF, the test won't be accurate.

[Kellee]

The one thing I caution you to check into is whether the specialist wants you to start GF before being tested. If you're doing GF, the test won't be accurate.

I'll call and ask. Apparently there is a blood test that shows indicators of the disease, but often times a diagnosis isn't done until someone has given up gluten and seen benefit.

[Amber]

Kelly- If you want to go to my fb and friend Becky Steinberg. She has celiac and uses the diet. I know for our bake sale at the relay she made gluton free stuff and per all the people that asked she is happy to discuss it. Tell her you are my friend and friend her if you want

My sister was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago. Previous diagnoses have included ulcerative colitis, ibs, etc.

She and I both have similar symptoms, especially in terms of food allergies and inability to process food appropriately. I called my doctor today to schedule an appointment and they immediately recommended me to a specialist. Apparently her diagnosis puts me into a higher risk category of getting a similar diagnosis. I won't be able to see the specialist until early September.

Anyway, in the meantime, my doctor told me to go ahead and start a gluten free diet to see if I see any benefit. Her office also prescribed special vitamins that I'll pick up later. Has anyone here done a full-blown gluten-free diet? Any tips?

Also, mixing this with my other allergies and intolerances is going to be interesting - no citrus, no mangoes, no papayas, no kiwi, no black cherries, no lactose (without lactaid), no gluten. And damn if gluten isn't in just about everything processed.

[Phoebe]

Ms Kim is too, right?

[Kellee]

Ms Kim is too, right?

Really? I didn't know this.

[TurkeyGirl]

The one thing I caution you to check into is whether the specialist wants you to start GF before being tested. If you're doing GF, the test won't be accurate.

:agree:

My neighbor and her family on a gluten and diary free diet. They eat lots of eastern type food...chinese, thai, indian...

She shops a lot at Whole Foods and makes most of her own bake goods. Its not as horrible as it sounds once you get into a routine :hug:

There is gluten hidden in a lot of crazy ways though...MSG, the generic term "flavorings", some soy sauces...you really have to read the labels.

[Ms. Kim]

Kellee, there are a couple of threads floating around here. Let me get some links.

Hold please!

[Ms. Kim]

http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/showthread.php?t=43970&highlight=celiac

That one has the link to the other threads!

[purple]

I'll call and ask. Apparently there is a blood test that shows indicators of the disease, but often times a diagnosis isn't done until someone has given up gluten and seen benefit.

The definitive test is a biopsy of the small intestine, and that would have to be done while you are on gluten in order for it to be accurate. BUT, if you try going off of gluten and you feel better...well then, you don't really need a test to tell you that, right? :dunno:

[Kellee]

Thank you for all the information, everyone. I am waiting to hear back from the specialists office (who apparently specializes in allergies and gastro-intestinal issues). My doctor speculated it would be about a month before I get an appointment. And she (my doc, not the specialist) thinks that I should try GF to see if I get any benefits before we do testing.

When I was working with Amanda, my old nutritionist who moved to the East Coast, we tried GF for awhile because she and I discussed some of my symptoms pointing to that. I remember feeling significantly better when I ate grass-fed/organic meat vs. grain-fed, non-organic, which ties into Ms. Kim's discussion about grain-fed meat.

I have a grocery trip planned for Whole Food's tonight because my house is full of processed, unhappy crap. This just reminds me of how happy (and healthy) I felt when I was doing a non-processed foods version of Atkins.

[Allison]

this is so random, but it's all I have to add.... Elisabeth, on the View, has celiac and has put out a few cookbooks, I believe. HTH. :laugh:


(((((((your tummy, and your tastebuds)))))))))))))))

[Tina]

I've eaten pasta made from brown rice and it's quite good. I've only put it in Asian type dishes, not eaten it in Italian ones, but the texture is good. So, if you're craving noodles, you might try that.

www.vitacost.com has a lot of gluten-free products at good prices.

I don't eat gluten-free now, but I tried it for a few weeks.