New to this.

[MaineFyrman]

Hi all,

I have been diagnosed as on Monday to have Celiac. I know it is going to have a total life style change for me and yes I am a tad scared of change in this way anyways.


At one point in my life I weighed 328 pounds and was unhealthy in that respect ,but in the past year I have lost a total of 60 pounds and now at 238 pounds. I look healthier again and was feeling great till about a month ago and I got very fatigued and had all the symptoms for about a 6 years and have been finally diagnosed with this.

I am starting to feel a ton better but now is the hard part of trying to cope and change the lifestyle.

I just bought my first gluten free products today, bread waffles and macroons lol. I am very active outside the home with work and love to travel so this is a big change for me.

So any suggestions from other our hearing stories on how to cope would be great so I can learn from others!

Thanks

Steve

[aklap]

Welcome aboard Steve!!

I won't lie...it does take some time to get use to this lifestyle. It took me a good 3-4 months. It's OK to be scared. Being a fireman (judging by your user name) - you know that fear is a much needed response. I suspect you will go thru many emotions by the time you're fully acclimated. Whatever they are...just accept that they "are" and ride it out. Always know that this lifestyle gives back what you put into it - many fold. It's very much worth the effort it takes.

I hope you stick around and read, read & read some more. There's lots of good info here and links to many more places with good info. The more you know - the better off you'll be. You'll find there are GF replacements for just about everything!!

Are you a baker? (Thanfully my wife is!!! LOL!!) You'll find baked goods are much better home made and prepackaged things. Of course this is true for non GF food...but you REALLY notice it in GF food.

Good luck in your GF journey!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[MaineFyrman]

Thanks for welcoming me. 20 years of running into burning buildings and that never scared me because I respected fire and I knew what it could do to me. But dealing with a disease within me that does hit home harder.

I am sure things will be fine as I adjust to them but its the intial thought about doing it. I have been out of work now for about a month because I just got so darn fatigued and didn't know what was going on it took alot out of me.

Well so far the things I have tasted that are GF don'r seem to bad and really can't notice a difference. I am the cook between me and my wife so I am sure I will be trying all sorts of new recipes.

I think the only hard thing I am going to find real hard to adjust to is the meals at the Firehouse. In my station we have 8 guys on duty at a time so we all have a day to cook and then we don't worry about it for anothr 8 shifts but now I have to teach these guys what I have and how I have to adjust and not get offended when I do not eat their meals if it falls into a non meal for me. But I am sure they will adjust to just like me.

[Tobiskena]

Hi Steve, It really is a life changing event in your life but you will be able to adjust. And it does take time. Both you and your wife should meet with a dietitian and definitely find a support group. Other celiacs are super helpful and have already plowed a path for you. The firehouse will be more difficult. Some people totally clean out their kitchen, even pots and pans. I don't think this is reasonable for the fire house. I still bake and cook in the utensils I used before I knew I was celiac with no problem. I thought IU had to buy all specialty foods but not so. You need to get a list of everyday items like catchup, mayo, etc.

Do not hesitate to ask questions, especially on this forum. Everyone is most helpful.

Jan

[aklap]

Steve...respect this as much as you do the fire...you'll be fine!!

Yup - the fire house will be an adventure. Cross contaminiation issues will be a trick. Dont miss the Cross contamination post (I think it's in General Discussion forum). Wooden spoons & utinsels, cuttings boards, toasters...yes and even non stick pans can be an issue. Like Jan said, you just need to find everyday things that are GF. There is a Mainstream food list in Proper Foods - that's a good place to start. The Safe & forbidden ingredient list is another lifesaver (this tells you what ingredients you can and can not have). Which means you must read the labels on EVERYTHING. Also around here there is a link to another board with great GF food lists...the board is Delphi.

Good luck. Let us know how things go at the firehouse. I am interested in that.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[bqrn]

I was just diagnosed last week...have lots of questions. At first I thought this gf thing would be easy...I am a nurse, after all, and have some understanding of medical stuff But after a week of spending all my free time in the grocery store scrutinizing labels too small for me to read without my glasses and leaving the store with very few items in my basket, I'm feeling a bit discouraged! I guess I'll go back to basics for now, until I have the energy to deal with the bigger picture...Any words of wisdom???
_________________
Barb:)

[aklap]

Hi Barb,

Sorry to hear about your dx (diagnosis). My words of wisdom...hang in there...don't give up...it does get easier!

Yes going to the store will take f o r e v e r at least for now. But once you know what your looking for, you'll be able to breeze thru like before. You may find yourself stopping a several different stores to get all your GF goodies - but it won't take you as long.

Poke around here - there's lots of good stuff!! Don't miss the Safe & Forbidden Food Ingredients lists!! These (and your glasses) are a must when you go to the store. After awhile you'll be able to leave them at home (the lists..not your glasses LOL!!! )

Anyway...glad your here. Hope you stick around and ask all your questions

Good luck in your GF journey!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[bqrn]

Thanks for the words of encouragement...see your signature around the site a lot...do you live here?!lol. You're right...lots of good information here...have already printed off the list of "no" ingredients to take on my next trip to the store...
_________________
Barb:)

[aklap]

[Janet75]

Hey Steve, Welcome - I haven't had many posts - just spent goobs of time reading. Al is the resident expert And his wife must be a dear to give him up to all of us, so Al, thank her for me.

It's funny, I was diagnosed in late January through blood work but biopsies were negative. I've learned enough to know I don't need the paper. I've got enough problems to know I have CD. But doc is still looking for damage by running blood tests to look for immune disorders and did a GI series which I'm still waiting on results for. He's pretty convinced there's damage that didn't show up in EGD by the way I squirm when he touches me.

I don't think I reacted, I just did my research. I firmly believe my Mom had this disease and it contributed in a large part to her very early death at age 66. The first sign that should have clued in the docs was that she was so anemic she needed iron injections every month. And of course, she wasn't very forthcoming with her docs. But I know how she felt and what she was experiencing so I know in my heart she had CD too. That was enough to clear my head real fast and make me very serious about changing my lifestyle. It's not that bad - but I am still learning. We are driving out west in May for 2 weeks so that will be my big challenge

Carry the list of forbidden foods everywhere. When I grocery shop it's in the top basket of my cart. I'm lucky that I have a couple of stores close by "Wild Oats" is one, and the other is a locally owned market that has a couple of aisles of nothing but GF foods. Now, if I could just find a support group I'd be great.

But these guys here are terrific when it comes to support! So poke around - you'll get a great education, mainly thanks to Al.

Janet

[Janet75]

Just looked at the length of my post to Steve. I'm sorry guys. I just can't seem to keep it short.

Janet

[aklap]