I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS MOST OF MY LIFE. WAS TOLD 30 YEARS AGO I HAD IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. PROBLEMS GOT MUCH WORSE IN AUGUST 2005. SAW A NEW DOCTOR AND WAS TOLD I HAVE CELIAC. I HAVE BEEN AS GLUTEN FREE AS I CAN SINCE THEN. I HAVE BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER AND HAVE LOST 25 POUNDS WHICH HAS MADE ME RATHER HAPPY. STILL NEED TO DROP ALOT MORE. I DO NOT FIND THAT I AM AS HUNGERY ALL THE TIME LIKE I USE TO BE. IT HAS BEEN HARD, BUT NOT AS HARD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAS HIDDEN GLUTEN IN IT. I CAN TELL A DIFFERENCE IN HOW I FEEL IF I DO EAT GLUTEN. SO ANY ADVICE I CAN GET FROM DIFFERENT ONES I WOULD BE THANKFUL.

MACE

If you haven't already, take a look at the safe/forbidden list here at the celiac.com site. It's quite useful, and small enough to carry around. I prefer to stick with whole, naturally gluten-free foods to reduce the risk of contamination, to reduce the cost, and generally because it's often healthier, but there are a number of specialty items that can provide a nice "treat" for us.

Others will probably mention this as well, but it is *vital* that you are 100% gluten free. The immune response is a chemical reaction in your body, and it takes next to nothing to start the lengthy reaction which causes damage to your intestines.

At the same time, don't let it entirely stop you from enjoying social events that have to do with food. Eating at a restaurant is tricky, but can be done, and eating at other's houses can be trickier, but you can just eat ahead of time.

Make sure you've checked into all the sources of cross contamination in your food, cooking tools, household, and toilettries.

And feel free to ask lots of questions - we're a friendly bunch. :-)

I too am new to all this...does the label reading thing ever get any easier?? It just seems so overwhelming.

Dallas

Yes, it does. I would like to suggest that you download the Delfi Product List and stick to those products that others have already researched already. That will be a monumental help for those just beginning. It was for me.

When I get accidently glutened, I always go back to the list that I know was safe and stay there for a while. It would be a good idea for you to stick to the list of products until you get the hang of shopping on your own at the grocery store.

Hope this will help and if you need to know about specific products, feel free to ask.

Lisa B