gluten intolerance? any experts?

[mom2tatum]

I have sort of had a lightbulb go off today. I am thinking now that many of my "problems" and possibly my son's are due to gluten intolerance, after talking with someone today at a LLL meeting. I am pretty convinced actually after reading a little about symptoms. I for sure am a classic case of it, it seems. And ds has some symptoms as well, from my observations. Both of us have major gas and abdominal cramps quite often (ds, always. me too but more so when I eat processed foods though), low weight gain and hard to maintain (we're both tiny and struggle to keep our weight), iron deficient (both of us), headaches (me), I'm always tired (even on a really good iron supplement), and my mood is greatly affected by me feeling crappy and dragging all the time, and I get sick easily and badly(ds does not).

So, maybe its just me, or maybe the both of us. I actually started looking into it because my ds doesn't sleep well at all. Never has, though. Very sensitive and seems to have belly pain through the night. Always gassy, always tossing and turning. ITS KILLING ME STAYING UP ALL NIGHT LONG off and on WITH HIM!!! Especially because I always feel tired anyway.

Does anyone have any advice for replacement foods? I gotta try this elimination diet and do it right I guess. UGH! I eat a lot of whole grains, some rice, some pasta, etc. I feel like everything contains some gluten. I have trouble eating enough to sustain my weight, which is hard for many people to feel sympathy for, I know. But seriously, I am thinking, "How in the world am I going to survive when I eliminate foods, I have a hard enough time as it is?" I need lots of replacement ideas for this time period to really be sure this is whats going on.

PLEASE HELP.

[jocelyndale]

If you want to be tested for celiac disease, that needs to be done while you are still eating gluten.

If not (and remember, if you do have celiac disease, the diet is lifelong and you must stick to it--no cures and the complications of non-compliance can be nasty), you can just go GF.

Tinkyada brown rice pasta is good. Trader Joe's also has a good brown rice pasta. You're near Philly--Mr. Ritt's has GF stuff, though I've not tried it. Jules Thin Crust in Doylestown makes GF pizza (superthin wafer-style crust. it's delicious).

Rice of all sorts (brown, black, red, wild) is great. Quinoa, buckwheat, and millet are all tasty. Amaranth and chia can be fun. Corn tortillas. Teff. There are lots and lots of options.

[tallanvor]

Sometimes people who don't have celiac's can just greatly reduce their gluten and it makes a huge difference. If I were you, I would go ahead and be tested for celiac's. If you don't have it, but want to just reduce your gluten, there are a lot of grains that have very little if no gluten. There are a lot of gluten free products out there (and a lot even taste good). You can still do potatoes and corn, if you're needing starches. I've seen gluten free tortillas, all sorts of cereals and snackfoods, and if you are willing to do some baking of your own there are several good cookbooks out there to help you out.

Crystal

[mom2tatum]

thanks for the advice and insight so far, both of you taught me things I didn't know.