Well I just got shitty news from the doctor.

[Deep13]

No, I'm not dying or going blind or anything, not that anyone here would necessarily miss me. I had a bunch of tests with more to come, some of which are pretty unpleasant. Well, my HMO Doc called me with the result of a blood test and guess what? I have fucking celiac disease. I'm allergic to gluten, wheat flour. Sweet, suffering Christ nailing a dead baby! I can't begin to tell you how pissed off I am.

All these years of wondering what the fuck is wrong and I find out it is a goddamn food allergy. And what am I allergic to? Wheat. Let's see now, wheat is an ingredient in--um--oh yeah, everything. Shit, the fucking cure is worse than the disease! No more breakfast cereal, toast, bread, pasta (fuck!), pizza, doughnuts (bastard!), waffles (assholes!) and if I want ice cream it has to be without the cone. I can't even eat cornbread because that has goddamn wheat flour in it. Oh! but not to worry, there is rice bread and pasta. Well hoo-fucking-rah! I get to buy all the lame-ass food products made for people with special diseases because, guess what, I have a fucking special disease. Oh, and maybe I can join a support group. That will be almost as much fun as junior-high school gym class. Hey! This is a good recipe! Just substitute antifreeze for wheat flour. (I'm not going to!)

The test is just presumptive, but it explains everything. Jesus fucking Christ in a chicken basket! At least if it was rheumatoid arthritis or lupus it could be treated with cortisone. But there ain't no rat-rapin' treatment for celiac.

To confirm the diagnosis, I get to got to the clinic in two weeks to have a periscope shoved up my ass and another one (hopefully a different one) shoved down my throat so they can go prospecting for diseased intestine. That sounds like a barrel of fist-fucking laughs. It was bad enough when I had to produce a turd sample and six tubes of blood. Goddammit, but the human body is gross!

Fuck.

[idgiehkt]

1. I am sorry you have this allergy

I have worked in a few health food stores and have met people that have had it. If I'm not mistaken I think there are a few or couple DU-ers who have it. And wheat substitute foods are actually a whole lot better than they used to be, things have improved in the last 15 years or so. Sorry you are having a hard time with it. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Nevernose]

2. My 62 year old mother was just diagnosed with that

And she managed to make it 62 years without ever knowing she had a major food allergy (or at least without knowing she was allergic to wheat). It's never affected her health. Ever. Of course, shellfish could kill her, so there's probably something to food allergies...

[Redstone]

6. Shellfish could kill her? Tell her she's welcome to my club.

Not that I'd eat a shrimp if I could, anyway. You ever see one of those things with its legs on? You know what it looks like? A big old BUG, is what. And I'd have to be damn hungry before I'd be eating any BUGS. On purpose, at least.

Redstone

[Nevernose]

12. We actually had school field trips devoted to shrimp boats.

We'd go and see them, visit the crew, take the boast out for a spin, watch them put the shrimp on ice, and have a cook-out afterwards. It was real John Dewey kind of stuff, the kind of stuff not tested by NCLB.

Of course, I also see no problem with sucking the tabasco-soaked brains out of a crawdad, but that's growing up in the South for ya.

At one of our homecoming pep rallies, the piece de resistance was an old shrimp boat crowning the bon fire, thus combining my love of eating weird shit with my love of burning weird shit.

[hedgehog]

15. I won't eat shrimp either, but did you ever wonder about why we like crispy foods so much?

Aside from carrot sticks and celery, I suspect that grasshoppers and the like were the crispy foods that were part of our primeval diets.

[Deep13]

23. You said it.

When I moved to Cleveland in 1991 from Mass. this guy I knew used to give me a hard time because I was from New England but did not eat lobster. I told him I ate regular fish and that the big, underwater bugs were fed to tourists.

[Karenca]

3. kEITH oLBERMANN HAS IT TOO ......nt

[crim son]

4. That's a tough one. It's like discovering you have GERD,

and pizza and fast food are forever verboten; or diabetes, and you need to monitor your blood sugar and shoot yourself with insulin every day while on a permanent diet. The good news is that you aren't alone. Idgie is right; especially at a health food store you will find all kinds of wheat/wheat flour substitutes to make your life a little easier. I happen to LOVE buckwheat noodles!

Hugs, Deep13. Try not to think of this as a disaster, but a challenge to which you WILL rise and FUCK the bad luck monster that's giving you the finger. You will triumph.

[Deep13]

24. Well, I'll survive.

If I can't eat doughnuts it will not seem like much of a triumph.

[crim son]

43. Honestly, I know where you're coming from.

When I found out about my dietary restrictions I felt just like you. Eventually my symptoms were controlled with medication and I was again able to eat what I wanted. Then I decided to eat a better diet and all those options went out the window anyway. It was hard not to notice the difference in my emotional response to the enforced diet vs. the diet by choice. Eliminating wheat products will be tough, but you can do it and ultimately, your attitude will make all the difference. This may sound a bit like a lecture; I don't intend it to. :hug:

[krispos42]

51. This bakery uses ground almonds in place of flour

I've heard them advertized on my local Air America affiliate. Thom Hartmann does ads for them. They deliever, too.

Sorry, man. I'd think I'd go crazy, myself. Well, at least you can still enjoy popcorn and tacos.

http://www.madwomanfoods.com/commercecgi/commerce.cgi?page=Home.htm

[Hugin]

71. I stand united with my fellow GERD victims...

*removes hat*

*hangs head*

*whines about yet another round of Prilosec*

[crim son]

78. I just took my daily Prilosec,

and I've had the nissen fundoplication surgery. I HATE the frickin' disease.

[Radio_Lady]

90. Join the club, Crim Son and Prag...

I've been on the Prilosec (omeprazole) bandwagon since August 1990, when I landed in the hospital in roaring pain from poor diet and stress.

Prilosec 20 mg. does the job, or at least, did the job, until a couple of weeks ago.

Erosive esophagitis has me in its grip tonight. Yikes! I've eaten only oatmeal, cooked carrots and cooked potatoes today.

Supposed to up my dose of Prilosec to 40 mg. (20 - 2x daily) and get onto a bland diet. Just made an appointment with the G/I doctor to see if he wants to check me with the endoscope. Yikes!

At least, I've had sixteen healthy years. It was a question of "quality of life"...

That surgery sounds kind of extreme. Did it really help you?

[crim son]

96. It completely eliminated all my GERD symptoms, including

the heartburn & chest pain but also heart palpitations and untreatable asthma. It failed after three years and I'm doing the 20mg/daily too. Prior to surgery, I found Nexium to be far more effective but at the moment it's not necessary. Awfully sorry about the esophagitis... once you've developed erosions even water can give you heartburn. It does for me, anyway, and they take weeks and weeks to heal! Hugs to you. :hug: :hug:

[Radio_Lady]

98. Thanks for the hugs. Yeah, I've been uncomfortable since June 6th.

But they've done all kinds of heart tests (all negative) and I thought it was chest wall pain (costochondritis). It was only this week that I realized it was my swallowing tube. I should have figured it out by myself.

Back on the bland diet. Not too bad. I've had oatmeal, cornflakes, cooked carrots and cooked potatoes, plus a really nice cheese omlet today. Not to bad.

I'm feeling better already, but will see the doctor on July 27th.

[Redstone]

5. Don't apologize for complaining, even if what you have ain't fatal. As you pointed out,

living with that celiac business is NOT anybody's idea of fun. Not mine, anyway, and I'm sorry you have to live with that. Give up PASTA? Christ on a crutch! Can you at least eat that health-weenie pasta that's made from Jerusalem Artichokes?

PS: Your rant was particularly well-written. Seriously. A good rant is hard to find.

Redstone

[Deep13]

26. "...made from Jerusalem Artichokes?..."

You gotta be shittin' me. There's macaroni made from artichokes? Is there some distinction between Jerusalem artichokes and the regular variety?

[Redstone]

47. Well, "Jerusalem Artichokes" aren't ACTUALLY artichokes, per se:

They're a tuber native to North America, and starchy enough to make pasta from. It's actually in the health-food section of mainstream supermarkets, at least around here.

Give it a try. I've never tried it, but for Chrissakes, if you can't have REAL pasta, maybe you could live with this subsitute?

I hope you can. I'm damn serious in saying that a life without pasta sounds kind of too grim to contemplate. If you can't find it in your store, I'll volunteer to buy and mail you some.

For real.

Redstone

[pitohui]

85. they (jer. artichokes) are sunflowers and i think they are okay

not the same as "real" pasta but okay

[Xipe Totec]

93. Well, there's always Mexican food, or Japanese

Corn, beans and Rice are Ok, I presume?

:shrug:

Edit: was trying to post to the OP but got confused. I supose this is a good parking spot too?

[supernova]

7. Your rant is hilarious

and I sympathize with you about the disease.

I've recently decided I have a wheat intolerance if not full blown celiac. So I do sometimes buy the rice flour stuff. You can also use nut flowers: hazelnut, almond. They make excellent desserts and sweet breads.

Believe me, once you start feeling better, you won't miss the wheat at all.

And you can make cornbread. Just make it with 100% cornmeal. Edit: As a native Southerner, wheat flour in cornbread is an abomination anyway! :P

again :hug: to you

[hedgehog]

16. That'd be nut flours, not nut flowers.

I'm only pointing this out because I'm intrigued by the notion of eating nut flowers. They sound tasty.

[supernova]

17. SNERF

You're right

I meant nut flours. :P :rofl:

[hedgehog]

19. This is terrible, now I really do have a craving for nut flowers.

[Inchworm]

8. Watch that "gluten" too

It sneaks into stuff almost.

Sorry about the news, but at least you may know what's been messing with ya. Then you can choose which is worse.. the cure or the disease.

:hug:

[supernova]

11. That's really the heart of it

What people are reacting to is the wheat gluten. and it's in damn near everything! :P

[BarenakedLady]

9. I'm sorry

:hug:

[AngryOldDem]

10. I know it;'s hard

It's amazing that wheat, or wheat byproducts, is in just about everything you eat. I've known people with this and similar food allergies, and it is tough. I hope your tests go well (I know, cold comfort) and that you adjust to things as best you can.

I know this sucks. Big time.

[XemaSab]

13. There is life after allergies.

I am allergic to tomatoes. :(

[Maddy McCall]

14. I am sorry, Deep13.

:hug:

[LostinVA]

18. You don't have to give up any of those foods

There are gluten-free versions of ALL of them.

[libnnc]

20. I'm sorry. I have a friend who was diagosed

earlier this year. She thought she was dying. Had to change her whole way of eating...no more eating out (and they DON'T COOK). Major pain in the ass to get used to. It can be expensive too since the "good" foods and gluten free stuff can be pricey. But the good news is it is manageable -- sort of...but you have to change a whole lot of eating habits that the rest of us take for granted.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[Yavin4]

21. You Can Still Have Sex

Have more sex to compensate.

[Deep13]

28. Well that is a whole other story for a different day.

Nice try, though.

[ThomCat]

22. I'm sorry.

:hug:

I have two friends in the same situation. It's a very managable diet, especially if you have a good health food store nearby. There are wheat-free versions of a whole lot of things now.

I have some food alergies, so I understand too to an extent. Complain here when you need to. Some of us will understand what you're dealing with.

[hedgehog]

25. I can remember a brief period when all my little brother was allowed to eat

was peanut butter on white bread and canned goat's milk!


Here's hoping you find some good stuff to eat.

Remember, fine chocolate and champagne are still acceptable!

[Deep13]

29. I wonder if Scotch is okay.

It is made from malt. I know beer is right out.

[pitohui]

86. it may be the answer is "no" -- and a link

http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=418

might be well to stick w. vodka or rum for hard liquor choices

wine rather than beer for soft liquor should be okay, i think?

[Deep13]

99. Scotch is aged for at least 3 years and has no direct sources of gluten.

Good Scotch is aged for at least 10 years. Unlike Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey, there are no caramel or molassas additives. Consequently, The odd bits of gluten that get in from washing the malt are rendered inert after spending a decade in a high-alcohol environment. That is my supposition.

Pure maize-corn Bourbon should be all right as long as there are no glutenous additives.

If Scotch is out, then so is vodka which is also made from grain. (Only bottom-shelf by-the-gallon crap is made from potato.)

[Omphaloskepsis]

27. Do you mind me asking...

what were the symptoms?

I'm just curious. And Good luck.

[Deep13]

31. I shit-load of autoimmune syptoms that could have been from anything.

Actually, I don't know for sure that this condition accounts for them all. Fatigue, joint pain, bathroom problems, fatigue, fatness, fatigue, sensation of pressure on the eyes, facial skin rash blah, blah, blah. Actually, Graves explained everything except the fatness.

[Blue Poppy]

33. I'm sorry Deep13...

I have autoimmune issues too. I had dermatomyositis in high school (muscle disease) and was diagnosed with Sjogren's last year (they thought it was lupus at first). When I get weird symptoms, I figure I will be diagnosed with some other fucked up nonsense.
It blows when your body decides to attack itself.
:hug:

[SoCalDemGrrl]

48. I hope your doctor ruled out thyroid disease. Your symptoms are

very much like hypo-thyroidism which I have and have been treated for for
about 10 years.

It's amazing how many docs misdiagnosed my illness based on the same symptoms

you describe.

[Deep13]

56. Ruled it out with blood testing.

All ruled in celiac the same way.

[The Straight Story]

30. I was gonna type something

and realized I don't even know what to say.

It sucks, and I feel for you.

Know that you can rant here any night on it and we will listen.

[SaveElmer]

32. My wife has this...

It sucks now, but there are alot of good alternatives to most wheat laden foods. Spelt bread from Trader Joes is very good for example...

She has discovered that not only that she has been able to replace nearly everything she always liked with something wheat free, but it actually helped her to a better diet overall...

[Deep13]

37. I read on a website that spelt is a no-no.

What about that "sprouted" bread I wonder?

[SaveElmer]

39. As long as it is gluten free...

Is my understanding...she eats it all the time with no problem...

[realisticphish]

34. wow, to never have a Skyline ever again

I feel for you :(

[Richard Steele]

35. All things considered, that's actually GOOD news.

Considering the range of symptoms that Celiac Disease presents,
that's about the best diagnosis you could ever hope for.

And your opinion of the "special diet" is WAAY mistaken. There
are tons of amazingly good gluten-free foods out there. I hope
you'll take the time to discover some.

[Ptah]

36. That's difficult. Here's a flour free cornbread recipie: 'No-Flour Cornbread'

No-Flour Cornbread

2 eggs
2 cups white cornmeal
2 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup bacon grease
salt (most bacon grease provides plenty of saltiness)


* < 30 mins Flat-shaped Breads
* Southern U.S. Flat-shaped Breads
* Eggs/Dairy Flat-shaped Breads
* New Years Flat-shaped Breads
* Gluten-free Flat-shaped Breads

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Put first 5 ingredients in mixing bowl. (If it makes you feel better, go ahead and mix the dry ingredients, whisk the eggs into the buttermilk, then combine dry/wet ingedients.).
3. Mix with large spoon or whisk.
4. Put bacon grease in well-seasoned 10" cast iron skillet over medium to high heat.
5. Just as the bacon grease is about to start smoking, pour it into the other ingredients, stirring as you pour (if you can manage it). Leave enough in the skillet to coat the bottom and sides.
6. Pour entire mixture into the skillet.
7. Place skillet on middle rack of oven; bake until cornbread is springy in the middle, browned and pulling away from the skillet on the sides (about 15-20 minutes).
8. Remove from oven and invert skillet over serving plate. If cornbread does not drop easily, you may need to run an icing spatula or even a flexible metal egg-turner around/under it so it comes loose.
9. Recipe halves well, just remember you can't cut the bacon grease by half because you still need to coat the skillet.
10. Serve hot, with plenty of butter. Or margarine, if you insist.

http://www.recipezaar.com/173017

:hi:

[Kali]

38. 3 of husband's sisters have it and I suspect he does too

He has been having lots of similar symptoms to you, since about January. He is not going to deal with it well - the guy makes and eats pancakes 3 to 5 days a week for breakfast.

Me, I could live on meat, beans and corn tortillas but good bread would be an issue occasionally.

If you want I can find out where the sis-in-laws order stuff on-line - I know at least one of them gets pasta and various other stuff delivered.

Another lives in Albuquerque and knows of a pizza place that does gluten free pie, so if you are in a city there may be a few restaurants that you can enjoy.

It will truly suck but I expect after a few weeks you sill begin to adapt and my understanding is that you will feel so much better that will help with motivation.

edit to add my agreement that it was a well written and yes funny rant!

[hippywife]

52. Get you husband to try

Pamela's Pancake Mix, if he's game. We aren't Celiac but we use it because it tastes so good and they are so light! Doesn't leave us with that heavy, weighed down feeling that often comes after eating regular pancakes, either. You can get it at Wild Oats and, I assume, Whole Foods. I make it with soy milk instead of water and add a little vanilla extract.

http://www.pamelasproducts.com/recipes/pancakes.html

I use it to make waffles, too. We haven't eaten regular pancakes since we tried this.

[TommyO]

57. There's a pizza place near me that has a full gluten-free menu

that includes pizza, gluten-free pastas and wraps, and I'm not in a major metropolitan area.

[The Inquisitive]

40. Well at least it's not vampirism

now that would be a bitch to deal with... although you would get a lot of cool powers...

[Deep13]

61. Yes that would suck.

Damn, did I really just write that?

[no name no slogan]

41. Get thee to a food co-op ASAP

Or if you don't have one, try Whole Foods or a natural foods store.

There are literally HUNDREDS, nay, THOUSANDS of gluten-free products on the shelves at these places-- including bread, cereal AND pizza. In fact, the cereal I have for breakfast is gluten-free, and is actually pretty tasty, too.

You may even be able to find a lot of these products at your local supermarket, as food allergies have become much more common in recent years.

A food allergy is like any other chronic disease-- it's annoying as hell and can be deadly if you don't take care of yourself, but you CAN live with it. It will take some work, but in the end your life will be a lot better.

Best of luck to you.

[LeftyMom]

44. GF is a hugely expanding market segment, so there's a lot of new, good stuff to be had.

Allergy foods generally are so much better than they used to be. Labeling is also so much more helpful now.

[Neoma]

42. Wow.

Although I'd be amazed if you get diabetes and that. It'd be the worst case of the 'I can't eat what I want' ever.

[elshiva]

45. Sorry, hon.

:hug: One of my dearest friends, a openly lesbian Episcopal priest, has celiac disease, as well as some other people in my Integrity group. We are going to switch to rice hosts soon at Integrity eucharist soon, I hope. :hug:

[astral]

46. Well that's a bummer but when you get accustomed to it

it will be not so bad when you realize how much good stuff out you still **CAN** eat. There is gluten-free corn pasta, which in my in opinion is a lot better than rice pasta. Unless you happen to be allergic to corn, too, but hopefully not! Corn spaghetti noodles have to cook a bit longer but hey you can still have a heaping plate of spaghetti with them.

I am learning, since last March or so, how to be gluten-free, and eating out of my own kitchen usually works pretty good, restaurants are a major disaster especially in this town.

One thing I have a problem with, and you will find it takes time and maybe mistake after mistake to learn, is you have to read the ingredients of everything that has them listed. And, you may or may not be able to tell from reading them whether or not there is gluten in the product. And, if something is gluten-free, it still can change later so you have to keep on top of it and don't assume things stay the same.

Best bet is to stick with regular food you know is safe for awhile. You can have all the fruits, vegetables, meat, (some kinds of) cheeses you want, corn tortillas actually are pretty good, and you can really eat pretty cheap and healthy sticking with what you know is safe, for awhile.

More trouble, more planning ahead, more bringing your own food with you when you leave home. It's kinda hard to adjust to, but hey, it's not terminal cancer, and you are actually kind of fortunate that this is the hand you were dealt. Try to look at it that way. Go to celiac websites and forums to learn alot more.

My major reactions were skin problems, still are because I eff-up on what I eat! Tiredness and fatigue and anemia, most likely are also from having this and not knowing about it. Right now my face has gotten better as have my hands, but my legs and ankles have itchy spots on them and it's very tiring. I look forward to the day when I have been 'clean' long enough to not itch anywhere, not to have puffy places on my face, itchy eyelids (try organic coconut oil on your skin problems, helps quite a bit), cracks and blisters and lizard-skin patches on hands, ears, eyelids, ick! My symptoms are kind of mild so far, but I tell you eating something 'anyway' is not worth the consequences, and yes, I've messed up both accidentally and on purpose on that one!

[Skittles]

49. may I ask

what your symptoms were?

[Deep13]

62. See post 31. nt

[Skittles]

97. sorry, I missed that

I wish you the best Deep13; be sure to take care of yourself whatever it takes

[leftofthedial]

50. "hopefully a different one" -- !

I'm sorry for your shitty news. That does suck, but there are alternatives.

Meanwhile, you just cracked me the hell up telling me bad news. I think you'll be fine.

[TZ]

53. I was recently checked for celiac disease

First of all with the colonoscopy and endoscopy, the test itself is not bad, you are sedated and won't remember anything. Its the prep for the test the night before thats a little unpleasant....I was negative for celiac but I have been told its pretty easy to find stuff thats gluten free, that certain stores specialize in it

[Deep13]

77. Glad you dodged that bullet.

I just hope whatever is causing you to have these tests is not even worse.

[TZ]

89. They never figured it out really actually

2 CT's numerous doctors appointments the colonoscopy and endoscopy only found a bit of gastituss. My GI specialist put me on a powerful antibiotic (which cost all of 3 dollars) and I got better in about 10 days! Go figure.

[mainegreen]

54. You can still eat other flours, like Amaranth.

Boxed food is out, but maybe that's for the best? People eat to much boxed food.
Plus it's a great excuse to buy a top notch bread machine!

[deadparrot]

55. My mom's good friend has the same condition.

These days, it's actually getting easier to find more gluten-free stuff. It just makes your grocery trips a bit more time consuming, in that you have to check all the labels. Still, not being able to have a lot of the foods you once loved must be tough. :hug:


Here's a website that may help. It's not much, but about all I can offer right now.:)
http://www.glutenfree.com/

[AngryAmish]

58. What a pisser

I love bread.

Fancy, expensive bread.

I could not give it up. Period.

No beer, only cider, wine and hard liquor. I love beer.

I'd deal with the consequences.

[Deep13]

63. The consequences are too destructive to deal with...

...if there is a way to avoid them. As much of a bee-atch this news is, at least I know how to avoid feeling like shit all the time.

[av8rdave]

59. My MIL has had that for 45 years now...

sorry to hear the diagnosis, but it can be dealt with. She is careful about her diet, obviously, but has no problem finding things she likes to eat. She is now 75 and in great health. Still skis, plays tennis and travels all over the world.

It will take you a while to get used to watching for all things gluten, but once you get the hang of it, it's very doable. There are more and more gluten free foods being produced, and lots of resources available.

We just did an 8 day cruise with her. She explained her allergy to the waiter in the dining room the first day. They were familiar with the situation (it's not as uncommon as you might think) and all week, she had great meals, all gluten free.

I know this sucks, but (as opposed to some of the other conditions you mentioned) this one doesn't have to be debilitating or life shortening at all!

All the best,

[dysfunctional press]

60. i'm allergic to ALL forms of dietary starch.

you've got it easy.

btw- check out things like 'the caveman diet'

starch and wheat flour are NOT a natural part of the human diet anyway.

[Deep13]

64. Yes, that is even worse than mine.

Sorry to hear it.

[dysfunctional press]

73. once you get used to it, you'll find that it isn't that bad...

in fact- you'll probably be eating much better and healthier.

[Deep13]

75. Well, I'll stop being fat. Everything I like is on the prohibited list.

Too bad I can't sell the celiac weight-loss diet. I'd be rich.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

65. I've seen worse.

My mom has celiac, asthma, and a host of other nasty allergies. She's on a highly restricted diet, and we don't do any experimenting unless there's someone in the house who can drive her to the hospital at a moment's notice. When your only carb sources are rice and yams, then you may whine :).

Seriously though, you should do what others on here have suggested; check out a health / alternative food store. Gluten-free stuff is relatively easy to find. And if you like baking, they do make flour from rice and other non-wheat products.

Edit: I spel gud

[Deep13]

68. Yes that is worse.

I'm going to bitch about it anyway. As a side note, the tests are not complete, so I do not know the whole extent of it.

[Connonym]

66. There's no cure but it's treatable

It sucks, it really does and it complicates your life. You're going to have to do a total lifestyle overhaul but the good news is that when you do it you'll feel better and feeling better will make it worth it. I have a friend who literally went from being on disability to fully getting a good quality of life back once they discovered his celiac and treated it. Eventually with the help of a dietitian this will happen to you as well.

I hope you feel better soon -- and p.s. periscopes up the ass are much more tolerable if you can convince your doctor to give you valium first. Trust me.

[Deep13]

69. They're knocking me out for the endoscope tests.

thanks

[yellowdogintexas]

95. the drugs are a wonderful float! I had a Valium Versed IV

blend. I felt great and wasn't hung over after. I was awake but didn't give a damn, and the violent headache I had because I had to fast the night before and had thus had no coffee, tea or anything since 6 pm plus that damn stuff they make you take before the exam to clean out your gut was totally erased. Really good .

Good luck with this. My out come was fine, I was being searched for bowel obstructions, polyps and other stuff. It was IBS, which has improved greatly over the years.

I have several friends who suffer from this and all have said they hated having to turn their lifestyle upside down but all also said they felt so much better it didn't matter.

[Beer Snob-50]

67. this may be a repeat

and if so sorry, but my boss has this also and he makes his own bread and trader joes has great cereal that is made for those with celiac.

[dropkickpa]

72. Aramanth flakes are yummy!!

I love them much more than cardboardy total!

[Midlodemocrat]

70. Well, I would miss you.

And some thoughts. I have a friend who has it and her three little girls do as well. They are all happy, healthy and thriving.

All you have do is alter your diet a bit and it truly isn't as hard as it seems.

As for the endoscopies, you will probably get Versed and not remember a darned thing.

Good luck.

[grace0418]

74. Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Trader Joe's keep expanding the number

of products that are GF. All is not lost. Once you get used to it, you'll be fine!

[Deep13]

76. We have a Mustard Seed (healthy/natural/special diet) store...

...in Akron. That's about a 25 minute drive in the Honda Civic Hybrid. Whole Foods and Trader Joes are a haul from here. Plus they at not union. The regular supermarkets are. All those stereotypical white-bread, suburban characteristics well describe this area.

[helderheid]

79. lots and lotsa queso.

:hug:

[applegrove]

80. Sorry. Celiac is a beast of a disease. Your local health food store

will be your new best friend.

But hey you can still have steak and corn. So turn on that barbeque and live on!

[Lindsey]

81. I'm almost 99% sure that I have it too. I had the tube jammed down my

throat two weeks ago. It was actually quite nice because I got the conscious twilight which was a very nice high. I'll get the results on Aug. 1. In 2002 I started bloating as though I was 8 months preg. I had many, many tests (except any that would detect Celiac because I was on a screwed up HMO that wouldn't cover it) and they found out that there was absoulutely NOTHING wrong with me even AFTER I showed the doctor a picture of me looking like I was about to give birth - NO SHIT - I SWEAR TO GOD - f'in insurance companies. Anyway, I ended up going to an acupuncturist on my dime shortly thereafter and she figures it out after talking to me for about 10 minutes and I've been eating accordingly ever since. I can't tell you the difference! I feel 100% better and the bloating has almost completely stopped. Thom Hartman this ailment too and he recommended a website that I haven't checked out yet but here it is:
madwomanfoods.com. Good luck.

[applegrove]

82. Thanks

[supernova]

83. Thank you for that link!

I was wondering if there was a baker producing stuff with nut flour instead of rice.

[pitohui]

84. yeah this is really tough and it stinks

wheat or corn IS in every damn thing except simple basic food like eggs and chicken

we eat a shitload of eggs and chicken these days, let me tell you, my husband has metabolic syndrome (not celiac disease) so unfortunately he doesn't even have the alternative of rice, as he reacts badly even to rice except in very restricted quantities


you could try atkins or south beach for a couple weeks, one thing i will say for the low carb diet is you lose your appetite for carbs faster than you would think if you cut them all out, i'm not sure if you would get the appetite suppressing effect if you only cut out wheat


if you are overweight then you are going to lose weight if you follow the plan, if you're already at your correct weight i have no idea what to say, my husband lost 40 pounds but honestly he needed to so he's happy about the restricted diet and feels it is well worth it for him

[GreenPartyVoter]

87. I am so sorry *hugs*

[NC_Nurse]

88. Great rant!

I sympathize. The gluten alternatives have improved greatly in recent history...but it still
SUCKS ASS!
I'm glad you got diagnosed, though, celiac can get REALLY bad. Good luck with it.
:hug:

[Bryn]

91. Go to this website

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com Even though you're not on low carb diet, they have plenty of wonderful advice and loads of recipes using almond flour, flaxseed flour, etc. and yes, you will be able to enjoy pancakes and waffles. People over there are very helpful. Go to their message board.

[Bluestar]

92. I understand your rant--I have Celiac too

I have been gluten-free for two years. It is a difficult diet, but you can manage it and you will feel a lot better when you go on it. In fact, I feel so much better I don't mind the diet so much anymore. I've also found it can be the basis for a number of other auto-immune diseases. I have an auto-immune disease of the muscles and I have been steadily improving since I got off of gluten (no progress until then).

When you start to feel better check out www.celiac.com. You will learn more there than from any doctor--lists of foods you can and cannot have, products, people who know what you're going through. It's my version of a support group. Best of luck to you.

Oh, and you can eat in restaurants too. I do it all the time.

[u4ic]

94. Did he do a gastroscopy?

If it's only the blood test he/she did, insist on a gastroscopy. It's not unusual for the blood test to be positive and the gastroscopy negative. The latter is the final say.


I'm GF, too. It lead me into a much healthier way of eating. I don't do the bread thing anymore (the best bread is the ones you make yourself - try Bette Hagman's book: http://www.amazon.ca/Gluten-Free-Gourmet-Bakes-Bread/dp/0805060774); I had to learn to be creative, but it works in the end. It will take some time to get used to a new diet.

Gluten's in a lot of stuff, but there are lots of alternatives, some good, some wretched. PM me if you want some options or opinions.

[Rambis]

100. Once you get going

it is not as bad as you think right now. My brother and his daughter both have it. She almost died and he has been miserable for years with stomach pain ulcers etc.
My first bit of advice drink rice beer if you drink at all it will do wonders. YOu can still eat pizza just not the crust depending on how severe it is with you. My brother just thought everyone had stomach pains after they ate now he is doing really well and is off ulcer meds for the first time in 30+ years. Be glad that you have a physician that tested for it this is a disease that goes undiagnosed for years and years. they only reason my brother is now ok is because his daughter was on deaths door and they tested her for it.
Good luck!

[dembotoz]

101. at least you know

You can take steps now
you can start to fell better now.
you are young-you can and will adjust.

news can be bad
but knowledge is generally good.

Best of Luck to ya

[TommyO]

102. I was just going through my TiVo and found an episode of Good Eats that might interest you

(especially if you like chewy chocolate chip cookies)

Alton did a gluten-free cookie that he said was actually better than the original recipe, I'm tempted to try it even though I don't have celiac disease.

Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_37255,00.html