Apr 7, 2010

HELP me gluten-free girls!

hey guys - got a question for ya that's been ticking through my head for a while....

has anyone tried going gluten-free?
has it helped you? what changes did you see?

          last summer, i went to the allergist after a few months of AWFUL stomach cramps. i got tested for about 120 common food allergens, and was allergic to about half of them... no joke (all nuts, dairy, pork, turkey, cinnamon, black pepper, etc!!!). after a few months of "testing" them out, i discovered that only three really bother me at all: walnuts (scratchy throat), cinnamon (headache, i rarely indulge), and oats (can't eat them two days in a row or my stomach... lets me know it. ahem.), but i didn't test positive for wheat allergy, so i dismissed it as a possible offender. i kept eating a clean diet, and the symptoms seemed to go away (sort of) for a few months. sorta.
          since then, my stomach has gone from ok to worse than ever. the cramps used to come and go, but now it just hurts all the time. i feel like a swallowed a balloon. i'm pretty much always bloaty, and it makes some funky funky noises. so i've been thinking...
should i try going GF?

my little sister has been gluten-free for about ten years, so i'm very familiar with the diet. i'm just curious if any of you guys have tried it (and some i know already!), how long, and if it's worth a shot. i've also been reading about the possible connection between gluten-sensitivity and fibromyalgia, so i'm DEFINITELY willing to give it a go!

thanks guys!!! and heads up - have two foodie dates and a soy post this weekend i'll be looking forward to sharing :)
- rebekah

8 comments:

  1. Have you considered lactose intolerance? I have a mild case and when I consume too much dairy I can get bloaty and have noisy intestines (like I can hear it moving through my intestines...sorry if that's TMI). It might be worth checking out if you haven't done so already. Good luck figuring it out.

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  2. I've never tried going gluten-free (other than for a two-week cutting diet), but I do have a ton of WICKED gluten-free recipes if you want them ^_^

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  3. I was diagnosed with IBS 16 years ago... my symptons have come and gone since then... I totoally get the description of having a baloon in your belly! My co worker mentioned to me about 2 months ago that she thought I had a gluten intolerance instead of IBS. I argued with her for about 3 days and then decided to look into it... and MY LIFE HAS CHANGED! I decided to stop eating it anfter reading about all of the symptons associated with gluten intolerance and realized I had most of them. I tell you, I fell 100% better. I still have to take it wasy on some foods that don't even have gluten. But, from what I have read, it takes your body about 1 year to repair itself from the damage gluten can do to someone who cannot tolerate it. But, my symptoms are pretty much gone. It is hard somedays, but when I think about the pain that gluten causes me it makes it a breeze :)
    Melodie

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  4. hi rebekah! i've only been trying the GF diet for two weeks now, but so far i've noticed that my stomach is much happier. i cheated last weekend and had a roll at easter, and i immediately noticed the next day that i felt more bloated and cramped up. i would say it's worth a try - maybe for a month like me? good luck!

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  5. replied to your email you sent me and read those posts i linked you to, yes, it will help!

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  6. Im not super up to date on all the gluten stuff, but Im interseted to see where it goes for you!

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  7. thank you guys so much for your input! food intolerances are such a confusing world.

    my little sister gets back from spring break (lucky!) today, so i'll probably shop gluten-free for us today and start our journey tomorrow. wish me luck!
    - r

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  8. It is hard to say if gluten is the offender. I would recommend just eliminating it and see how you feel. It definitely can't hurt.
    Let me know if you have any questions about gluten free foods.

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