Hello everyone

Part A lI left last Thursday to stay with my family over Easter. I came home Monday night. My dr's nurse had left several messages on my machine saying I had a biopsy scheduled for me the next day. However, I had to go to work, so I canceled the biopsy and I rescheduled for April 25. The internist who does the biopsies only comes out to this area on Tuesdays. I live in a rural area in Minnesota in a town of about 500 people so most of the doctors are available one day a week.

I told my manager what the problem was so that she'd understand (I bake bread). Most people I work with have never heard about celiac. I am a little uncomfortable explaining to my manager and co-workers what the problem is. Maybe I am just being too weird, but I think they may think I'm nuts.

Does anyone know if I could purchase some pamphletts or something that would explain to my manager and co-workers what celiac disease is?

I haven't told my family about this yet either. I'm not sure exactly how to tell them.

I have a bowling banquet the night of the biopsy I'm the secretary of the ladies league. I am thinking of telling them I have an upset stomach and leaving early.

Part B I plan to go gluten and lactose free after the biopsy. I am thinking that I should start with just veggies, fruits and tuna. Does this seem reasonable?


I don't know really what to eat and there aren't any natural or whole food stores around here. (The nearest one is in Minneapolis but that's too far away). I'm not sure what I should order off the internet by way of books and foods.
I'd really like to get your advice on what to do.

Thank you!

Aquina

Good luck on the 25th!

As far as pamphlets go, I'm not sure - but there are many many on-line resources that you could share with people - or print from. It's hard to explain sometimes.

When I first went gluten-free I relied a lot on plain home-baked meats, fruits, and rice. Then I (slowly) started branching out.

Buying food online can add up costs quickly - but is also very convenient!!

Again, good luck.

Auuina:

First of all I as well as other welcome you to this site. You will learn so much here.

Let me see if I an can address your concerns:

First take one step at a time. Continue to eat gluten, breads, pasta, pizza and do it now because of it you diognoses those taste may not be available as you know it now.

Second, don't take two steps in front of the horse. Wait for you biopsy, and wait for the results.

Third, when all is done and you have some knowlege about what your difficulties are, then it will be time to adjust you diet, if your are diognosed with Celiac.

We will take you step by step as all here have been through this. With the gluten free diet, you have a few months of cramming information and then it all seems to level out as you learn and get the swing of things. It is really a non issue as you learn what is safe and what is not. In about six months, you will have it down.

Re schedule your appointment for the biopsy. It is a breeze and nothing to be scared about. Just remember to bring someone with your because you will not remember when the DR returns and tell you about the proceedure.

Best of luck and continue with your testing. Let us know.

Lisa

I'm sorry this is so stressful, for you, but most of us have been there, except for the bread baking part. Ugh! Not sure what to tell you there.....unless you could start baking gluten-free bread!!!!

I order online a lot since my daughter is ill and I can't leave the house much. These are some items I order:

From glutenfreemall.com I get Chebe pizza crusts, Enjoy Life Snickerdoodles, and Authentic Foods Flours and blueberry muffin mix. This is a good place to order a sampling of stuff. If you order 10 or more you get a 10% discount.

I love all the products I've tried from glutenfreegourmet.com. They have the BEST bread mix and Cake mix. I order by the case and it's much cheaper in the long run, but a lot up front. The yellow cake mix is really out of this wold, though. My gluten eating family love it too.

There are a lot of other places to try, but these are my favorite.

A good place to get a description of celiac disease is http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/p...eliac/index.htm

Your inital diet plan sounds reasonable, but you can add other meats safely, like Tyson chicken breasts, etc. If you're looking for more options, look around on this site. There is so much info.

I hope that helps. Good luck!

I agree with everything that is said so far, take it one step at a time. Just go for the biopsy and see what the results are. Then if you are positive, then you can start easing your boss and co-workers into the idea of you probably not being able to work there anymore.
For the biopsy, it is a breeeze, not any problem. I have had 3 already, and didnt mind any of them. Just make sure you have someone there to drive you home after the procedure, because you will not be able to drive.

Good Luck!

I don't know if your closer to Rochester, but my mom gets a lot of stuff at a store there. If your interested, I can get the name of it. )

Thanks!

Go here to view and print off the Chicago Celiac Disease Center's Fact Sheets--all about the disease, treatment, stats etc. They would be a good resource to share with your co-workers: http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/cel...eets/index.html

I agree with everything that's been said. The biopsy is a breeze -- NOTHING to it. You swallow some stuff to numb your throat, they give you a little happy juice, stick a brace between your teeth, then the tube, and it's over. Piece of cake.

I would highly suggest that you go to the site that JenVan recommended -- she has LOTS of knowledge about those kinds of things, and, to my knowledge, always knows the best ones to pull up.

Take a deep breath, take things one at a time, and it's going to be fine. Keep us posted on how things are going, and welcome to the forum . . . . . Lynne