Posted 10/13/2005 6:13 AM (GMT -7)
Hey eyesoffire, i am in the process of being tested for Celiac, i had the biopsies and the blood work done and now i am in the wheat/gluten free diet days.
do you have Celiac in the family? i do and found that apparently the irish decent can carry Celiac (though i am only a bit irish) i have not been confirmed with Celiac (yet) but have noticed a huge difference after not eating wheat/gluten--in just 2 days i began to feel better. i might just be sensitive or intolerant to it.
i was told to remain w/g free for 3 weeks...
as for recipes and such: i found a "celiacs helping celiacs" website http://www.csaceliacs.org
(i guess it did not create a link, sorry.) or google Celiac Sprue. also i have a "whole foods" by me, they have pamphlets on the diets, it tells you which company makes w/g free foods. if you don't have a organic/health food store, some major grocery chains are providing a natural line, there might be some help there.
mainly i have not been buying any processed foods--hidden wheat (modified food starch is actually wheat...) i have been eating a lot of rice, meats, veggies and fruits and plenty of water. i modifed some bread recipes with rice and soy flour--tastes dense. it is hard to get used to, but i just do everything "home made". you have to read lables though--everything has wheat/gluten in it it is ridiculous.
is she just on gluten free? (gluten is found in wheat, barley, oats and rye--and even corn. it is also in rice but it seems that rice is okay on the diet.
how did the doctor determine it was Celiac? what were sypmtoms? (i am asking because mine were diarrhea attacks.. basically painful fecal incontinence, and very foamy poo, and a whole lot of constant pain) but it was after the foamyness that i had cut out the wheat and gluten and haven't had an attack since. like i said though, i am in the process of finding out...
so my ultimate suggestion for getting through the next two weeks.: read all lables!!! (everything including condiments, i was using a mustard that had wheat! there are sites that have what wheat is often called in products, i will try to find the site and post it for you.) stick to rice, veggies, fruits, meats. find a organic/natural food market in your area, i was able to get w/g free cookies, pasta, bread, waffles all the fun stuff to make me feel normal... also if you have a doubt on a product i have been googleing it with the words "wheat gluten free" and i have found information 100% of the time. oh and no alcohol (i don't know how old she is...) though with liquor the distilling process removes the gluten, but if it was made from grains it is most likely a no-no...
but don't fear--the diet is doable-- even when i make dinner for me and my husband i will make something wheatish for him and i am very careful to not cross contaminate anything, it takes getting used to, but i am feeling so much better that it is worth it. (my only complaint is that my immune system is really low and i keep getting head colds and sore throats.)
best of luck to you though, let me know if there is anything i can do...
--bunny