Gluten free pit falls

When I first went gluten free I had been sick for a long time. Every piece of food I put in my mouth made me sick. Teetering on the brink of insanity, wondering how much longer I could stand never feeling good. Doctors didn't seem to help. They had no answers. I was getting desperate.
Finally, I would drive home from work each night and talk to God. I said I needed answers, that I didn't care what was bothering me, but I had to know. I prayed for answers.
So, after another show down with my doctor (You know the kind where you insist there's something wrong and the doctor offers you Valium-or whatever the latest anti anxiety drug is-and you tell the doc its not nerves, there's really something wrong...etc) Okay, then I kinda yelled at him because I really felt he wasn't listening. When I said that even bread made me sick he stopped and said that magic word; Celiac.
Two weeks later I'm mastering the diet and feeling better. (Not great, but definitely better.) And then I discovered ...FOOD!
Something I haven't really enjoyed in years. And I found out a most dangerous thing; Breyer's Ice Cream. (Check the label but most flavors are GF.) And those Whole Foods GF cookies. The more I explored the gluten free land the more I found I could eat safely. However, safe did not always equal healthy. Lots of the GF foods were high in sugar and fat and calories.
Through out the whole time I was sick I still had a problem with weight. I often wondered how I could be so sick all the time and still not lose weight. My new doc had a theory on this one; Starvation mode. Since food made me sick, Whenever my tummy was upset (like any day that ended with a Y)I would go all day without eating and basically starve myself until I was safely home. So, the human body, wondrous creation that it is, held onto the calories because it thinks it's starving.
Hmmm, could be possible? I've read that bodybuilders eat six or eight times a day to maintain their energy. Could this be a key? And if so, how long does it take the body's metabolic clock to recalibrate into a fat burning machine?
Are you a Celiac who needs to shed a few pounds? Tell me your weightloss secrets!

NEW Gluten Free Magazine!

There's a New Gluten Free Magazine! I'm so excited. I believe this is the FIRST magazine completely dedicated to the Gluten Free lifestyle.

Check out this amazing new magazine! Delight gluten free is a fun food & lifestyle magazine for people with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance and food allergies. It hosts delicious gourmet recipes and easy semihomemade as well. Don't miss the Gluten-Free Meals on a Budget either. Whatever your food allergy you should be able to find something that fits your household, in their February issue they offer gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, soy-free and even some rice-free recipes. Not only that, this magazine has a travel section coming in May that will host lots of fun ideas and good advice for when you venture out on the road. Personal stories, inspiring articles on Autism, Q & A with the Doc are among the other features of this magazine.

B-12 deficiency?

Still having tummy problems after five years of being totally gluten free. Not finding any help anywhere. Then I watched Mystery Diagnosis on TLC. The woman there had horrible D, balance problems and migraines with visual disturbances. As I'm watching this I kept saying, "Yes, I have that."
A doctor finally diagnosed her with Pernicious Anemia; a B-12 deficiency.
According the websurfing I've been doing a B-12 deficiency can cause a whole host of random problems from diarrea to balance problems to shortness of breath. I have these and a few more from the list (see here) . One interesting note is that this is often associated with absorbtion problems like....Celiac Disease!
So I asked for the test and today it came back with low B12 levels.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have linked the symptoms of the big D, breathing issues, and the fact that I often trip over my own two feet almost everyday. Who knew?
I started B12 shots today and perscription supplements. I'll let you know how it goes.

Blogging to Stamp out Hunger

Celiac's know how hard it is to manage a diet. Whether you've been Celiac for a month or a year there is always a time when you hit a bit of a brick wall and the realities of this lifestyle slam into you full force. Imagine having no food on your table, no money and kids to feed. And what if that kid is Celiac.

Not a lot of options.

The food banks are reaching new lows, shelves are depleted and there are lots of hungry families out there.

December 15th Bloggers are uniting to get the word out about our Food Banks. Spread the word and ignite the fire and lets bring out food banks up to an acceptable level.

Check out Bruce.

Start a food drive.

Drop off some non-perishable food.

Spread the word!

Oh those Christmas Parties

Dealing with Christmas parties can be especially trying for a Celiac. The best strategy for dealing with these parties is to bring a fabulous dish or desert with you so everyone will be drooling over your food. Also be the first to dish up your portion so there's no cross contamination!
My daughter attended a Christmas party with a group she belongs to and brought a tray of her Delicious chocolate chip cookies. (I steal these cookies every time she makes them-they are soooo good!) When she was questioning one party goer about the chicken and rice dish they made-any flour, breadcrumbs, etc in there?-another person stepped up to her and asked if she was Celiac. This woman had been diagnosed about a year before. My dd pointed to the cookies-those are GF too! The woman was so excited to have something from the desert table she could eat she practically danced.

Moral of the story? Where ever you go...there we are!
Oh yeah, and be prepared. . .
Celiacs of the World Unite!

Autism and diet

I don't have an autistic child. A friend has a son with it and I've watched what she's gone through for the past ...12 years. I do have Celiac's disease and so do my two daughters. I think the fact that a gluten free diet helps autism is amazing.
I can launch into the politics of that fact that wheat is the cheapest filler used in too many foods in our diet but I'll save that for another post...
Let's talk about Jenny:
I saw Jenny McCarthy on one of the morning shows and was very impressed. Truthfully, I used to think she was a real ditz, all glam, no brains, (sorry Jenny) but after hearing her speak and seeing the lengths she went to, to help her child I now think she is an amazing woman.
Louder than Words is on my to be read list now and I think it's something everyone should read. Autism is on the rise in this country so get informed! The next person diagnosed could be someone close to you. Read this book!

Scary part of Celiac Disease

Doctor's refuse to diagnose it.

I was recently at a Celiac picnic and one of the most profound things these people had in common was all the doctors they had met -- over 100 people-- never tested them for Celiac and they waited years for a diagnosis. My own doctor refused to test me. Amost wouldn't test my daughter until I sat down and refused to leave. (both positive-thank you!)

In parts of Europe a Celiac test is quite common. So...excusseee me! Aren't most of us European? I'm 100% Irish. So, if I lived there would I have been diagnosed years ago?

Modern medicine in the USA should be ashamed. Everyone would with cronic digestive problems should be given a Celiac blood test. If doctors would wake up..the could save people years of suffering.