I've just been diagnosed with a rare form of Coeliac Disease and I've had it all my life but never knew until yesterday. I had the blood test for it last year but it came back negative. They wanted to test me again at the end of last year. My GP told me to make sure I have something to eat that has wheat in i.e toast or the blood test will come up negative, which I never knew. Now I've got to go on this gluten free diet for life and I'm finding it a bit scary as it's such a massive change. I have joined CoeliacUK which seems like a great website but there are no forums for any advice.
Does anyone have any advice on being on the diet?
Written by
LauraleeH
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You should be able to get stuff on prescription. I believe it's better to bake your own food rather than buy ready made. Take a look on Gluten Free Guerrillas and also Thyroid forum. Many people who have Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis keep to a strict gluten free diet as they believe it helps to reduce antibodies. Some have also tested positive for Coeliac Disease. Sometimes people with an Autoimmune Disease also have others. So ask for Thyroid Antibodies blood tests, TPO and Tg to eliminate Autoimmune Thyroiditis.
Also ask for some nutrients to be tested as you may have some deficiencies due to absorption issues :
My OH has coeliac disease, and the gluten free guerrillas group is helpful if you have questions.
Coeliac UK membership is very useful to begin with, as they have a barcode scanner to help with food shopping, and a venue guide.
Visit coeliac UK events too, it's a good opportunity to ask questions.
There is a lot of information online to help you with the diet. You aren't confined to shopping in the Free-From section either, you can find safe products in the rest of the supermarket, you just have to spend more time reading the ingredients.
Cooking from scratch not only is healthier than eating prepared foods, it is actually not that difficult to be completely gluten free. You don't have to do anything special either, many recipes for cakes use almond flour for instance. And of course we used to eat a lot less gluten when we were under the old 'meat and two veg' style of eating. I had been making gluten free cakes for years before I had ever even hear of gluten free.
If you try to just substitute one thing for another, you may find it frustrating and unsatisfactory. Take breakfast. Many people can't think beyond cereal, but that is a modern invention helped along by the Kellogs family and huge marketing companies. Try having left-overs from the night before. Soups and salads for lunch are good. And meat and lots of veg for dinner, and a slice of cake made with almond flour for a treat. You might actually find you eat better this way, and actually enjoy food more!
My husband had many symptoms of colitis. He starting taking multi vitamins, a probiotic and omega 3. He checked out the Paleo Diet. Miracles do happen. I hope it can work for you.
As long as you've got the internet you'll find everything you want. Even when you go abroad for your holidays you can print off a restaurant note asking them for gluten free menu. It will take time to get used to the diet but I'm sure you'll feel much better and full of energy if it's done properly.
I have now spoken, to my Mother, regarding any advice she can offer you. She has suggested that you ask, in your local supermarket, for the location of their 'Free From' range. These products are without (free from) Dairy, Gluten, Wheat along with other 'Allergens'. She recommends that you do physically look, at what's available, as each store has a slightly different range.
It might also be worth your while to 'Check out' health food shops, i.e. Holland & Barratt, though these shops can sometimes be expensive.
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