HELP! DH just diagnosed with Celiac's...

[HughJackman'n'me]

...Disease! At least we finally know why he dropped 35 lbs without even trying. But, many months later, with much poking and prodding, my DH had a handle on how he can go forward from here. Anyone else wanna share their experiences??

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My neighbor was diagnosed with it. She "gave up" things in stages as she couldn't do it all at once. She created a strategy for replacing the food in her life.

 

[amid chaos]

My husband is a celiac. The problem is that gluten and wheat are used in alot of preservatives. He needs to become a label reader.
My husband cannot have ANY gluten or he gets very ill..

There are companies making gluten free products...Kinnikinnick Foods, The Gluten free Pantry. Gluten Solutions, Glutino..there are substitutes out there but he needs to eat very clean for awhile, no processed foods ..to get his system back to were it will function with ease.
The grocery store is carrying more and more gluten free products...DH likes the frozen waffles.

DH also gets a magazine called Gluten-Free Living and has a book with regular processed products that have been tested gluten free. For example, some of the Newmann's Own products have been tested and are ok.

The web is a great resource and there are some great cookbooks out there too.

With a little research and some label reading he will be fine. Going out to dinner can be troublesome...very often DH has to ask for no sauce or another request. Just telling the server you are allergic to wheat isn't enough. DH recently told a server that he couldnt have the wrap on a sandwich because he was a llergic to wheat, he just requested the sandwich on some greens, but then it was brought to the table with pasta on the side.

 

[Meriweather]

No advice, Kim, just a
Glad you have the problem figured out, that's the first step.
Good luck to him....and you.

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...for the 'vote of confidence'! All this time it was the "not knowing" that had us so worried and frustrated!!

amid chaos ~
Can you share some recipes/specific products/ etc with me? I spend the good part of 2 hours, last night, at the grocery store just reading labels, and didn't even get HALF my food shopping done! Boy, you are SO right ~ it's amazing how many food items contain wheat, wheat flour, malt, gluten, etc...... ! For instance, I usually prepare some kind of Chinese dish once a week; how do you do that WITHOUT soy sauce??!!?!?!

On a lighter note: my DH is REALLY upset that a BIG NO-NO on his list is ketchup! However, he can still eat his FAVE cereal - Cocoa (and Fruity) Pebbles!

[PS ~ if anyone else wants to comment, please feel free to join in... ]

 

[Traveliz]

I didn't see where you were from but your best bet would be to find a Health Food Store...we have a small one and there are TONS of gluten free products. That will at least help. I will say my husband doesn't like alot of the products but some are better than others so best to experiment.

Next up read the labels in the grocery stores.

There are also some good substitute recipes out there for gluten free cakes and brownies.

Good Luck

Liz

 

[Kimberle]

No experience, Kim,

Just a few 's.

(b/t/w, how's your Mom doing?)

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

....did you say, "gluten-free BROWNIES???" If you have the recipe, PLEASE POST IT!! (BTW ~ Bergen County, NJ)

Kim ~
She is doing fine; thanks for asking. One of her good friends just passed a few days ago, and she was kinda upset that she could not attend the services. They DID lose electricity for a few days (just after the latest hurricane) but they have been really lucky!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I was (mis)diagnosed with Celiac and tried to live gluten free for about a month or so. It's very hard.

I bought 2 Bette Hagman Gluten Free Cooking cookbooks, both of which I have no use for and should probably sell on amazon or something... anyways, they were chocked full of LOADS of great info, basic cooking instructions, and lots of everyday recipes using gluten free ingredients. Highly recommend them (I was recommended them by various celiac support sites I was posting on).

I'm so glad he finally found a diagnosis... I went through that last spring, dropping weight, no diagnosis, lots of tests... very draining and frustrating for everyone involved.

I do know that it's recommend to cut out all processed foods and start from the very basics first, then slowly add in foods... to try and get your body in shape. I hope he sees a difference soon.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh - there are some restaurant chains that are recognizing gluten free dining, since most Celiacs can't eat out due to cross contamination issues and such.

Outback steakhouse has a gluten free menu on their website that you can bring in and show your waiter, it tells you which items you can have and which you cant. they have a flourless chocolate cake, I believe, that is completely gluten free. Most Celiacs eat it often =)

PF Changs also has a gluten free menu you can get when you go there, and they provide gluten free soy sauce.

I had meals at both of those places when I was eating gluten free =)

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...the doctor recommended a nutritionist, to follow a strict diet for 4 weeks, and he wants to see my DH again, to see if he has improved. Apparently, one of the tell-tale signs was when the Dr. did the endoscopy and took photos of his sm. intestine lining. A healthy one should have bumps and ridges - his[my DH] was smooth, which meant that the interior wall was wearing away!

 

[Aimeedyan]

did they biopsy to confirm? That's how they realized it wasn't what I had - the biopsy came back normal. Its hard to tell just by looking at the interior wall, so they usually will biopsy some portions of it.

It's the villi on the small intestine walls that shrink up and disappear when he ingests gluten. It only takes a few months of gluten free eating for the villi to come back.

Good that he's going to see a nutritionist! That will really help. Gluten is 'hidden' in SO many things, it's unreal!

 

[amid chaos]

Good news...he can have Heinz ketchup. DH read somewhere that it was gluten free. He has been eating it for several years now.

as far as meals...keep it simple.

DH made this the other day.
Browned chicken tenders over brown rice. he mixed the chicken with some fresh diced tomato, some leftover onion soup I had made, mushrooms.
Also, you can never go wrong with a meat, vegetable and starch...simple but a very wide variety. Try some things you have never tried...ground turkey, pork tenderloin, fresh sausage with no filler.

meatloaf....egg, parmasean cheese, garlic, ketchup and crushed gluten free pretzels. same recipe for meatballs. use a corn based pasta found at the health food store or sometimes in the grocery store.

There are also gluten free cookies, breads, english muffins, pizza dough (use Newmann's own marinara sauce).

Walmart (of all places) has a trail mix called Sam's Choice Mountain Trail Mix. it has m&m's, almonds, peanuts, raisens and cashews. DH loves this and he can eat it all.

Newmann's Own Olive oil and vinegar salad dressing makes a fantastic marinade for chicken breasts...wonderful on the grill.

Chicken tenders marinated in some heavy cream, ranch dressing and garlic. Before cooking, roll each piece in parmasean cheese and bake...cooks quickly.

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

..you mentioned gluten-free pretzels - MY DH's FAVORITE MUNCHIE SNACK-FOOD!! (I've never seen those!) He'll REALLY be happy about the Heinz ketchup (Hmmm, does that mean I have to vote for Ketty now????)

PS - YAY for Outback Steakhouse!!! (Ithere's one nearby... !)

 

[MerryPoppins]

DH's cousin is a celiac. She had good luck at Disney on vacation at sit-down meals. They are very informed and if you warn them in advance they'll fix special foods that aren't on the menu.

I picked up a used cookbook at a book sale recently called Creative Cooking. It has a section on cooking gluton free. I intend to pass it on to DH's cousin. But if he can have potato flour, rice flour, corn meal, etc., I'll share while I still have the book. I have recipes for cakes, cookies, breads, pancakes and muffins. Just let me know what you'd be interested in and I'll share.

 

[kimmar067]

...yes, the dr. DID do a biopsy; that's why it took almost a week to get the results! As for the ketchup, are you SURE it is gluten-free?? (I mean, ketchup is made with vinegar, and the main ingredient of ketchup is GRAINS!)

 

[ZachnElli]

I have a friend who's dd was diagnosed around the beginning of the year as having it. She stopped growing about 2 years ago. She has grown 3 inches since starting the gluten free diet, just 7-8 months ago! (she's almost 6 years) I'm pretty sure she said she can have Lay's potato chips. They were Pringles eaters and had to make a switch!

 

[eeyore65]

My MIL has celiac. LaChoy soy sauce is gluten free. There is also a wheat free one at whole foods if there is one near by you. I have also found rice noodles in asian markets give her a taste like pasta.

She finds the gluten free breads taste better toasted. There is a pecan one she likes for breakfast.

It is really hard and I wish you luck.

 

[kimmar067]

...I think the hardest thing will be having my 3 DS's adjusting. I'm NOT gonna cook separate meals for everyone. And, it'll be hard for my DH to resist eating products containing wheat if I have them in the house! (like Maier's Potato bread, Ovaltine, Cap'n Crunch....)

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...knows any "gluten-free" recipes, feel free to post 'em here!! Also, where can I do shopping for gluten-free products in the central Bergen County, NJ area??