Celiac Disease Support Group

I'm in exactly the same situation as you, timing and all. Except that I see a light at the head of the tunnel. You need a PLAN FOR RIGHT NOW, not for next month or so. First head for the nearest Walmart grocery, hopefully not too far away. Plan to spend a couple of hours. Walk through the fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy aisles. You can have virtually everything you see that hasn't been processed, mixed or packaged. Next head for the canned goods. Look at anything that might suit your taste for a label of GLUTEN FREE. Look especially at the Walmart brand Great Value. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. In dairy products for example, you'll find Yoplait yogurt labeled GF. You'll even find some competitively priced boxed cereals labeled GF. Don't waste your time yet in the so-called health food stores - unless cost is absolutely irrelevant for you. Later you may want to look for "substitutes" but it isn't necessary right now. You'll soon need to learn about reading ingredient labels, but you need not be in a big hurry.

Now head for home and clean out your frige and cupboards of all that old stuff. If you haven't over stocked too much you won't waste too many $; but you'll go a long ways to prevent mistakes or cross contamination. If you have a favorite salad dressing you'd really like to keep, you'll always be advised to call the distributor or manufacturer. And, there's no reason you should starve.

Don't expect results too soon. We are constantly warned that it may take weeks to flush our systems out and see our symptoms subsiding. To plan ahead get on the web site of the Celiac Sprue Association. There is a wealth of valuable material that you will need to study. You may want to spend about $30 for their 460 pages or so manual of products, sources, and generally important information about the Gluten Free life style.

Hey - Don't be too discouraged. There's a lot of good life left ahead for all of us.

I have both as well, in addtion to other autoimmune diseases.

Thank you Traverone for your wealth of information. the Dietician at the VA hospital came out and spent about three hours with us helping us more with his diet. She left a large notebook of things he can eat that I thought he couldn't. I am introducing him to things a little at a time. At first I gave him everything she said he could have but he got really sick so I had to go back to the drawing board and start all over again. This time it is slowly. He has not felt good for about two weeks now and the nurse from the VA came out and drew some blood to see what is going on. I will keep all of you in my prayers. Blessings