hJules, I am so sorry to hear about the struggles you are enduring due to your gluten allergy. I was diagnosed 15 years ago, and before finding out what my ailment was, I combated pain and frustration everyday of my life. When I was a small girl, I made countless visits to the hospital, which ended in the same results every time which was to be given Maalox and sent home to have a bowel movement. As I got older, I remember the pain being so bad I had to crawI on my hands and knees because I could not bare to stand upright. I agree that it was hard at first to get used to a gluten-free diet, especially since I was cooking for a family of four. At first I made two meals, one for me and one for my family; however, that got too difficult and I learned to just replace some foods with gluten-free and eat a lot of veggies and meat. I can say that after all these years of not experiencing the intense stomach pains and inability to have regular bowel movements, the diet change has been worth it. When I first found out I had Celiac, the selection for gluten-free products was slim, but now there is such a wide variety of foods, I hardly feel cheated. I do still miss fresh homemade bread, but I know I can not take the chance of splurging even once. It is a process and you will learn to get used to the change, and being free from the pain is a HUGE plus. I would be happy to share some of the product names I have found I enjoy. You may not like them at first, but you will get used to them if you keep trying them and have a positive attitude about changing your lifestyle. As far as others being able to eat anything, I would say that anyone who is not gluten free has a hard time understanding and are usually very forgetful about what you can and cannot eat and sometimes forget and ask you if you want something they have. They do not mean to be uncaring, they just do not understand. I hope you reply and that we can talk more. I would love to help any way I can to encourage you.

I will give you the words of advice that I was given ~ and you may read it and make a horrible face at me, as I did to the person that gave it to me, but...... "Keep on and one day it will all be second nature to you."
It sounds trite, but it is true. While I don't suggest processed foods, you may find them a comfort as you adjust. Look for some good gluten free subs. Love pasta? Find a good name brand g.f. Love bagels? Find a good quality g.f. brand.
Most people (friends & family) forget. I smile and do the "no thanks, I brought my own" thing and again, it will become 2nd nature. Fake it till ya make it.
I am 8 years g.f. It will get easier! Promise!!

Gee I understand just how you feel!!! Drives me mad. Friends and family seem okay about it, but I am not. I think of some food, or what friend orders in a restaurant and want to have the same. But can't because there is gluten in it, or it may have gluten in it.

Then there is travelling. What a nightmare, getting paranoid that I might eat something with gluten in it, then finding out on the plane home that I need the toilet in a hurry, but the toilets are all busy.

A first class nightmare. There is only one person I would wish this on and that is one user on a like site. :-)

I am dying for a McDonald's and KFC. Am thinking one day I will have a McDonalds and then KFC. Will get both the reactions over at once.

Capt.

I can totally understand. People forget that food is social and not eating food with people does leave you out and alone. My husband said to me today...."but no one minds if you don't eat the food!" Hello....I mind! It's awful to never again in my life be able to sit together with people and enjoy food together. It's awful to watch people eating delicious food all around me and try to keep looking happy when I'll never in my life again be able to eat even one bite of ANY of it. Ever. In my life. The other day I was in a large group of women and they were talking about dieting and "cheat" days. It was all I could do to bite my tongue. They didn't have the slightest idea what a diet even is! They have no idea what deprivation or restriction is. Some of them said they couldn't keep on a diet and that hurt me like crazy. If they think their diet is difficult, try celiac disease for life. Within one hour of eating even a crumb of gluten by accident...I go into anaphylactic shock. My blood pressure drops, my body goes ice cold, I can't even stand up by myself and I vomit until I don't even have the strength to breathe deeply. That is deprivation and restriction. That is unfair. That is self control. When most people are faced with eating, drinking and joy around food. A person with celiac disease is faced with the heart-break every single time that they will never in their life eat what everyone around is munching or ever again be part of that type of enjoyment at social gatherings again. It 100% sucks....but....we'll survive. There will never again be an easy social gathering for us. We have to adapt. It's tough and uncomfortable for us, but a few things do make it slightly easier for us if we push through - force yourself to explain celiac disease to people you see regularly. Some of them will try to "get it". Some won't. Some will forget. Bring along a pack of cookies or something for yourself just in case they have nothing for you. Appreciate tea or coffee....it's the one thing you can enjoy almost anywhere with people. To me that means a lot, because it's often the only thing. Hang in there! And be gentle with yourself - tough days can end in tears, but it's not your fault that you have celiac disease. You're wonderful anyway, don't let the food side of life take away the rest of the wonderful YOU that you bring to a gathering! Those words are probably more important for me than for you today! Good luck.

"It's poison. Do I want to eat poison?" That's what I told myself when I was testing out gluten free to see if it was the problem. I learned it was because reintroducing it makes me feel like a Mac truck hit me and backed up over me again for good measure.

I don't know if I am intolerant or have celiac. I'm going to ask my doc to do the bloodwork this week but I haven't eaten gluten consistently for several weeks. I'm not willing to eat anymore. It's too painful to withstand for 6 weeks. So I'll ask him to do it and see what happens since I need bloodwork anyway.

I started suspecting gluten was the cause of some of my health issues a few months ago. I think it was partially subconscious at first but I stopped eating fast food and rarely ate out. A half of a small anything at McDonalds woudl make me sick, especially if I hadn't had it in a while.


I'm committed to 100% gluten-free, no matter what my bloodwork says. I've tried a few times to eliminate it and each time I introduce it again, my body acts violently. And it gets worse each time. Yes, this is gonna suck but only for a little while. When you are tempted, play out how you will feel and what will happen in your head. Then remove yourself from temptation and find a gluten-free substitute. I know I'll feel weak and want to give in. And I'll pay for it if I do. Possibly with internal damage. It's not worth it. I don't know if I should be cautious of non-food gluten products. I need to ask my doc about that one. But if you have to, there are alternatives for everything now a days.

The gluten-free sections of stores now are HUGE! Check out the option on Amazon's grocery section too. You can adapt. You can exercise some creativity and not feel deprived. I highly recommend getting a bread maker and making your own bread. It tastes pretty darn good. Also, gluten free cinnamon raisin bread tastes great. I can't remember the brand but pick one of them and give it a shot.