YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Celiac disease

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Celiac disease https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:20:58 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1115085 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 23:13:54 +0000 anne 1115085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Firstly, Krista - thanks for that link. looks very yummy and I do love baking (occassionally) so I'll be sure to try some of those recipes out if I get a positive diagnosis. Movingfashionforward I REALLY appreciate your words. So great to hear from someone potentially in the same situation (as in no obvious symptoms or necessarily reactions to gluten). How did your celiac get discovered in the first place?  Also, I do understand that gluten avoidance needs to be absolute. I just meant that it is hard. And also I think that one hard and fast rule is all I could cope with at one point. I could cope with being gluten free if I didn't have to be completely carb and sugar free for instance. I'd need some gluten free treats (which is where the baking might come in to it) Got to go to work, but thanks again and I'd love to talk more about this Krista on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1114576 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 04:48:01 +0000 Krista 1114576@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I switched to a GF diet a few years ago to try it out even though I am not celiac. While I have gone back to eating gluten, one thing I did enjoy about being GF was learning how to bake GF goods. In fact, it's my preferred method of baking now! It takes some time to set up your pantry, but once you do, it's totally easy to bake gluten-free. In my opinion, the best website for recipes for baked GF goods is "Gluten-Free Goddess." Her recipes are so well tested and I have never made a recipe of hers that has failed. Now, I am the type of baker who likes to follow recipes to the exact letter, so this is perhaps why I've had success. Even so, she has excellent recipes and resources. Best of luck, Anne! If you would like a suggestion for a good recipe to start with, it would be the banana chocolate chip bread. Yum! MovingFashionForward on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1114471 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 02:44:26 +0000 MovingFashionForward 1114471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have coeliac disease (and have been diagnosed for many years now) so feel free to ask me anything you like. I have it all down now, though it was a horrible shock to receive the diagnosis, especially given that I had never heard of gluten, let alone celiac disease at the time, and I had none of the supposedly standard symptoms. But blood tests positive and endoscopy totally conclusive -- flattened villi and all that. Initially, I was absolutely devastated. Some of my favourite foods were heavy duty gluten foods like granary bread, etc. In those days there were not many gluten-free options in supermarkets and the bread was dire, but happily that is no longer true. Fresh Genius bread (multigrain or brown) is the best imitation of the real thing I have found. I don't actually eat it at all often though. It took me several months to finally remove every last trace of gluten from my diet -- gluten is in EVERYTHING, it seems -- but now it is second nature. I don't think about it at all. Sometimes I am even glad I have it, because it stops me eating a lot of junk I would have eaten pre-diagnosis (because I don't want to increase my risk of horrible cancers and all the other associated problems) so that alone makes it easy for me not to gain unwanted weight. I tend not to eat that much carbohydrate from grains now anyway so I rarely if ever eat grain products labelled gluten-free. Instead I eat mainly meat, fish, eggs, some fruit and loads of vegetables, and occasional dairy products. Unprocessed stuff like that is completely fine, but you do have to watch out for hidden gluten. I can send you vast lists of such info if you tell me where to send it. I would take a lot of what you read about "being glutened" with a pinch of salt. Whilst I DID get those symptoms when I ate a cheese spread containing gluten a few months after giving up gluten, I recently accidentally ate a non-gluten-free roll (be REALLY careful on flights -- they so often make a mistake in this regard!) and had absolutely no obvious symptoms. And I DEFINITELY have coeliac disease -- in fact it had done a lot of damage to me quietly in the years I had it before being diagnosed. So all the stuff you may read about "being glutened" or not having had a problem is all rubbish. The thing about coeliac disease is that it tends to be SILENTLY doing bad things to your body. It is an autoimmune condition, and you can't use whether or not you have bowel issues as a guide to whether or not you have consumed gluten. Don't worry -- it is a piece of cake once you get the hang of it. I can now use any ordinary recipe and make substitutions without even thinking about it. It is easy. It did take some experimentation but I'd be happy to share my results with you! Happy to talk more if you like. Feel free to message me. Sarah P.S. Re restaurants -- in general, really fab restaurants have no trouble creating amazing dishes that are gluten-free. My experience is places that have gluten-free menus is that they are often not good, or the menu NEVER CHANGES, as though anyone wants to eat the same stuff year in year out. So I tend to prefer to try places that are simply great restaurants, and go when they are not too busy, and call ahead the day before to talk to the chef. If I am going out to eat I want something interesting, creative and spectacularly delicious, not just any old rubbish. Good chefs tend to be really good at making something delicious. Re weight, I think it is much easier not to gain weight if you're not eating junk. Junk food nearly always contains gluten. Once you have tried a range of gluten-free junk food you will probably not feel like continuing to eat it all. Or at least, that was my experience. Before you decide to adopt the "a little bit of gluten occasionally" approach please do read all the literature about that. It is a very bad idea, medically. I think once you read up on it you will have no trouble being absolutely gluten-free (well -- of course there may be the odd accident like my recent roll, but that was totally not my intention and I have literally NEVER 'cheated' or thought just a little bit won't hurt. I am fully persuaded that it will. Or at least that it could. But I do have the evidence of the damage it had done to my bones etc before diagnosis despite the fact that I have done heavy duty weight training (and even body building!) my whole life. I have also taken vitamins and so on all my life). anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1113852 Sat, 14 Dec 2013 12:33:40 +0000 anne 1113852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed so far to this thread. And I wanted to apologise for not having responded more fully to everyone's comments. I find it hard to write as much as I'd like even on my own threads these days, with full time work and 3 kids at home. Also now I get YLF on my phone, I catch up on reading it on the bus trip home, but I am not good at writing more than a sentence or so without a keyboard. (But I have one in front of me know) Carter -  I'll remember this "going from feeling fine to feeling amazing so far outweighs any frustration or craving along the way." Nebraskim - thanks for recounting all your experiences and your advice. I wanted to add that I did know many people lost weight going gluten free, but I think that it would usually be, as in your case, because as you say, you're not eating "a whole group of calorifically dense food" I also realise that if you eat processed, sugary foods just because they are gluten free, you may gain weight.  Another thing have been reading about  is that gluten free substitutes  often are more calorific. But I was also interested in the absorption issue I mentioned above. Another factor in weight gain I read about was the idea that celiacs may have been subconsciously eating more before they are treated, in order to get what they needed from food and that this can lead to weight gain when they are treated. I do realise that probably more important to fix the celiac than stay the same weight but I wouldn't mind both! I have stayed within the same general weiht  range  since I was about 18 (pregnancies excepted) so it is known territory, and this will be unknown. So that why I was interested to hear if people had gained weight after treatment. Lyn - thanks for the encouragement! I went out to a lovely restaurent with my workgroup the other night and they had a gluten free menu which looked fab! Lyn D. on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1113840 Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:12:05 +0000 Lyn D. 1113840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sorry that I didn't get back earlier Anne- Life- you know :) It sounds as though you have excellent self-control generally with your diet, so I don't imagine you would find Gluten Free difficult if required. When you consider that every tiny amount of Gluten can be harmful- (even if you don't experience obvious symptoms) it is easier to accept this life-long way of eating. A bonus is the joy in discovering a Gluten-friendly menu or delicious cake at an unexpected venue! Anyway- best of luck with your tests and results Ornella on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1113831 Sat, 14 Dec 2013 10:23:17 +0000 Ornella 1113831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne, the absolutism in the gluten free lifestyle for celiac MAY SEEM rather daunting, but trust me - the benefits outweigh the inconveniences so much that you'll never look back. anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1112660 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:46:04 +0000 anne 1112660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Lyn. I have just booked the endoscopy for the 12 Feb, so it will be awhile til I found out, but I am sure I'll be PMing you. Great to hear from an Aussie.  My cousin was diagnosed a little after you maybe 30+ years ago. She was a clearly malnourished looking child, and I always thought celiacs were like that, but I am learning that it is not always the case. Getting this diagnosis is particularly important to me becuase I have no symptoms. If it was a case of "eat gluten - get bad reaction" I'd have an immediate incentive to not eat it, but as it is I feel just fine.  And I have a friend who thinks she may be celiac, but because she cut gluten out first and has bad reactions to it  she can't bear the thought of going back on it for 6 weeks in order to do the test.  I just don't think I could embark upon this huge and absolute lifestyle change without knowing for sure that it is necessary.  I tend towards moderation in my diet - cutting down not completely cutting out - and that has worked in terms of maintaining weight and also allowing me to particate in social life and ordinary eating. So I won't drink alcohol for a month, but I'll have a couple of glasses at the christmas party. I try not to have sugar too often (because I have got into overeating provoked by it  - but I can cure it by a few days off) but I might have one spoonful every few weeks, and eat dessert when I go out, or have something with a sweet sauce if I consider the dish otherwise worth eating etc So the absolutism in the gluten free lifestyle for celiac is rather daunting! Lyn D. on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1112234 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 21:05:26 +0000 Lyn D. 1112234@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Anne. Long-term Ceoliac Here! I was diagnosed about 40yrs ago via the Childrens' Hospital and a very persistent Mum. In those days there were very few Gluten-Free options, so I grew up not eating any cakes or biscuits or pizza etc. Now there is a Gluten-free version of most goodies, and the bread and pasta is not too bad! You are doing the right thing having a proper diagnosis, because a Gluten-Free diet for any other reason is unnecessarily restrictive and not as 'healthy' as some would think. This definitely runs in families (my Father and Brother were diagnosed with late onset) so it might be recommended that your children have at least a preliminary blood-test if you are confirmed. It isn't a difficult diet to manage with a family when you are accustomed, and there are some simple things you can do to handle cross-contamination such as separate toaster and your own jams for Gluten-free bread etc. The Coeliac Society is great support, and at the very least provides you with a small Ingredient List book to carry when you shop. Be prepared to spend time reading labels at the supermarket! Please let me know of your progress, and if I can help in any way PM me. Nebraskim on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1112003 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:07:43 +0000 Nebraskim 1112003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've not been formally diagnosed, and never will because I think I am just wheat/gluten sensitive/intolerant but not completely celiac. So my story is kind of like Deborah's. I've never had blood tests for anemia, etc.  I do not use separate utensils but for some families, that is indeed critical; it depends on the severity of your reaction.  I lost weight because I quit eating whole groups of calorically dense foods. For instance, last night I made spaghetti sauce and my husband had his on penne. I had mine on steamed zuchinni. That's probably 400 calories I did not eat but I was completely satisfied and full. Some people who switch to eating gluten free bread, cookies, etc. do not lose weight because those items contain the same or even more calories. I eat "sandwiches" now not on bread but in lettuce wraps, or corn tortillas or rice cakes, which have way fewer calories. Good luck. If you can find a support group or dietitian, you would do well to consult with them. Suz on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111817 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 13:32:47 +0000 Suz 1111817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In my family it worked the opposite way ... my cousin had never been well, really, had always had some troubling yet nonspecific symptoms...and she finally got herself tested, tested positive -- and then her dad (my uncle) went and got himself tested, too! He had not been as symptomatic as my cousin but he also has celiac.  They do use separate cooking utensils in their family because my cousin's disease is quite serious.  When we went gluten free we didn't use separate utensils but again, celiac was not the issue. On the other hand, we all essentially adopted the gluten free way of eating for that period (apart from when away from the home) so that made it easier.  anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111677 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 06:39:53 +0000 anne 1111677@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Deb and Fi  -I'd definately interested in hearing about product recommendations from your friend (don't hurry her though - I won't even get the test until some time in the new year) Deborah on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111638 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:09:36 +0000 Deborah 1111638@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne, I have actually self diagnosed lol.  I have been tested for celiacs and for years my low iron and aneamia was an issue. Long story short, I travelled overseas with friends three years ago and she is celiac.  I shared some symptoms with her and decided that I would eat what she ate for the three weeks were on holiday.  With in 24 hours, I felt remarkably better... and the rest is history:)  I have since spoken to my GP at length and she has encouraged me that if I feel better then continue to eat gluten free.  Cutting gluten out of your diet is not going to do any damage.    I don't use separate utensils but some people do have keep things quite separate.  My friend was seriously ill and she has the type of condition where she cannot eat gluten.  I can have a little every now and again and am usually ok. If anything it has helped me maintian a healthier weight because I am choosing fresher and much healthier options. And I have another friend who sounds similar to you.  No specific symptoms apart from the low iron.  She now following a strictly gluten free diet. anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111512 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:30:28 +0000 anne 1111512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks so much for all your responses so far. I'm at work so will just respond briefly Lyn* - the info you sent agreed with the online research I'd done, which is reassuring! Re : feeling better. So glad so many of you do. However if I do have coelic it must be the "silent type" as I am not in any pain or have any symptoms! It was only picked up because I was anaemic, and that was only picked up because I tried to donate blood I did however read somewhere that even those who have this silent type still feel better when they go gluten free. And there are benefits internally that make it worthwhile doing. Of course since I have had the initial postive blood test every tiny twinge makes me wonder if it is attributable to celiac! I will certainly look for paleo recipes etc, thanks IK A few questions 1. For those who have been actually diagnosed, did you get your kids tested? 2. Did you go so far as to get separate cooking utensils and not kiss your spouse if he/she had been eating bread/drinking beer (etc) 3. Did any of you gain weight? I understand this can occur when the nutitional absorption is healed. I have always thought I had a fast metabolism, and have never been overweight though I am not underweight either. ironkurtin on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111495 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:17:16 +0000 ironkurtin 1111495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I suggest looking into the Paleo diet and recipes. I've never been diagnosed with celiac but I have much less dietary upset without processed carbs. Ornella on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111284 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 23:13:54 +0000 Ornella 1111284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have been diagnosed and it's the best health-related thing that had happened to me - knowing at last. For me the most difficult thing is educating people around me and disappointing my hosts who make an effort to cook me something nice, but I can't eat it :-) Will come back to this thread later.  Anonymous on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111194 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:42:11 +0000 Anonymous 1111194@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My DD's best friend was recently diagnosed with it. The poor girl was rushed to the hospital and almost died, so the diagnosis came just in the nick of time. Thanks to medication and a drastic change in diet, she's fine now. Hope this helps. londonkiwi (now back in NZ) on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1111187 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 21:34:35 +0000 londonkiwi (now back in NZ) 1111187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Anne, My best friend was diagnosed in her late teens. Once she eliminated gluten from her diet, her health improved dramatically.  As she points out, the range of gluten free products available now is much greater than it was 15 years ago, so that has helped too. The most frustrating thing she finds is that people do not understand that Coeliac's disease is often understood. As you are probably aware, it is an auto-immune disorder, not an allergy or an intolerance to a food group, there are some similarities of course with allergies, but the with Coeliac's eating gluten actually damages your bowel. She can't have "a little bit of flour" and she isn't being fussy or difficult, nor does she not eat bread so she can lose weight (she has always been slim). She is now Australia based, so if you want I can ask her for recommendations for products etc if you would like me too. carter on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110901 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:14:15 +0000 carter 1110901@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi, Anne.  I do not have Celiac, but I do have food allergies and voluntary restrictions on what I eat.  I'm allergic to eggs and dairy.  I also limit carbs to vegetables and lower sugar fruits like berries.  Step one for me was the total elimination of egg and dairy.  This was quite a challenge...not because I craved egg or dairy (after my initial pity party about never having a cheese omelet again), but because small amounts of egg and dairy are in so many foods.  Restaurants are also a challenge for me since so many things are doused with butter, things are dipped in egg washes, either item can be used to thicken sauces, etc.  These are things the servers just don't know, so the chef has to be consulted on darned near everything. Fortunately for you, gluten free has such a wide following these days that GF items are highlighted on grocery products, restaurant menus, etc.  Hopefully the learning curve won't be quite as steep for you as it was for me. I eliminated all grains, starches and sugars a couple months ago after reading Gary Taube's "Why We Get Fat".  Although I had about 8 pounds to lose, the primary thing that caught my attention was the effect of these foods on blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.  Reading the process the body goes through to deal with carbs was all it took for me to eliminate them with zero cravings. After eliminating egg and dairy, all of the associated symptoms went away, which is great.  But it was not until I eliminated grains, starches and sugars that I went from feeling fine to feeling fantastic.  I have also lost 10 pounds, and I'm eating significantly more calories than I used to. My thought for you is this: Eliminating symptoms is super important, but going from feeling fine to feeling amazing so far outweighs any frustration or craving along the way. Anonymous on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110828 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:28:13 +0000 Anonymous 1110828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Anne, I've been on and off gluten and wheat for years. After my episode with shingles, I went back on the Eat To Live plan and I'm not eating any grains or yeast at all. I feel SO much better like this. I have never had the test for Celiac disease done (there are a family of diseases that are all exacerbated by wheat and/or grains/gluten) but since the "cure" is to not eat the stuff, I just skipped right to that.  Like Nebraskim, I overloaded on "healthy" whole wheat for years. I bought whole wheat berries in 100lb sacks, ground the wheat myself and made all of my family's bread and baked goods each week! Of course I missed it first, but I can't even remember that now. The health I enjoy now is so worth it, and the unprocessed food I'm eating is yummy and wonderful. Good luck.  Nebraskim on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110795 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:10:32 +0000 Nebraskim 1110795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have not been diagnosed because I don't do blood tests or invasive procedures. But because a friend's husband was diagnosed as having a wheat allergy three years ago, and his symptoms were identical to mine (various long-term GI difficulties for years, intense and unrelenting itching on legs and torso--to the point where I would wake myself up bleeding) I very skeptically decided to try a wheat-elimination diet for a couple of weeks. I felt guilty like I was some Gwyneth Paltrow trendmeister wannabe, but I thought, well, there is no harm, right?  I was stunned by the positive results.Not only did the above issues resolve quite quickly, but I realized about six months later that low-grade asthma that I had developed in my 30s (and I am now 58) had almost completely vanished. Added bonus: I dropped about 20 pounds almost effortlessly. A dietitian friend told me that her clientele is filled with people who tell similar stories. My diet had been very wheat focused: Wheat cereal with fruit for breakfast; whole wheat turkey sandwiches for lunch; whole wheat pasta for dinner. Lots of things like tricuits, Etc. Etc. I was overloading. I can cheat slightly (which if you are a true celiac, you cannot eat a speck of gluten), meaning I can have small amounts of real soy sauce, for instance, and some minimal cross-contamination at a restaurant will not kill me. But I would never eat wheat pasta, bread, etc. I basically dropped those foods from my diet because i do not find the substitutes to be palatable. I have not eaten pasta, bread, cookies, cake, crackers etc. for three years. I did deeply miss beer but have found some reasonably palatable substitutes. I can tell if I have had wheat, however, as I do have mild GI upset. My mother also went wheat-free and her results were equally as dramatic. She cannot, however, tolerate any wheat/gluten as she appears to be much more sensitive than I am. The fact I find interesting about celiac/gluten intolerance is that there is a strong linkage between the condition and lymphoma, a "blood" cancer. A friend's spouse was diagnosed with celiac in her early 20s, and at 26, was diagnosed with lymphoma. She is three years into remission right now. My maternal grandfather died of lymphoma, as did his sister. So there could be a family connection to my wheat intolerance. The only real inconvenience for me is that when I go to others' homes for meals, I have to ask questions or I just bring my own food, which can feel rude, but it works for me. Good luck on your journey. You will feel better. Even if you are not diagnosed as having celiac (it's my understanding that the tests often will not pick up folks who like me are allergic or intolerant but do not show the small intestinal inflammation, thus they fall short of being a true celiac), eliminating wheat/gluten is more than just a "trendy" diet. It can mean you will feel much better. (The dietitian told me there really isn't that much nutritional value to wheat, and that the fiber can be replaced with other vegetable sources and a gluten-free multivitamin makes up the difference in B vitamins). shedev on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110680 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 12:48:47 +0000 shedev 1110680@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have Celiacs and have been gluten free for about 3 years. The first year was an adjustment, but after that its been fine. Natural foods are best, and cross contamination can be an issue with processed foods even if there are no gluten containing ingredients on the label. anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110619 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 08:52:36 +0000 anne 1110619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks so Mum Suz, Debs and Lyn (I have read all that you sent already) Am out tonight so can't respond for a few hours but would love to hear more! Deborah on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110530 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:35:00 +0000 Deborah 1110530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne I am not celiac but I am gluten intolerant.  The changes are not as hard to make as you may think and you will be absolutely astounded and much better you feel when you are eating right.  I am at work at the moment and dont have time to write more but would be happy to share more when I am at home. xxx Suz on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110522 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:30:39 +0000 Suz 1110522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne, I have family members with celiac disease and what I can tell you right off the bat is that although it can take some planning and organization to eliminate gluten entirely, if you have celiac and you do this, you will feel SO MUCH BETTER and you will never look back. These days it is easier than it ever was to find ways to eat -- even to dine out -- and the payoffs to your health would be enormous.  Your doctors will advise you, of course, but if you already eat a mainly whole foods diet your job will be easier. Many prepared foods contain gluten, so it is not as simple as eliminating bread and pasta.  I ate an essentially gluten free diet for almost two years because my daughter was on it (for reasons other than celiac disease) and it was simply more convenient to cook that way for all of us.  It was a bit challenging at first, but we quickly adjusted. One fun website is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://glutenfreegirl.com">gluten free girl. </a> I would make a list of all the foods your family currently enjoys and makes regularly that are gluten free. That will give you a sense of confidence.  Then I would make a list of all the things you would miss and mourn. Find out if there are acceptable, good substitutions, or find new favourites to take the place of these. (So, for example, some people just don't like gluten free bread no matter what. So sandwiches become out of the question and you need to think of other options.)  lyn* on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110521 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:29:04 +0000 lyn* 1110521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a "Beyond the Basics" info sheet from UpToDate, one of the databases that we docs like to use - it's geared towards patients who are more involved in their own care and would like some explanations of the tests and stuff. There's also a big list of different links! <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.uptodate.com/contents/celiac-disease-in-adults-beyond-the-basics">http://www.uptodate.com/conten.....the-basics</a> anne on "Celiac disease" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/celiac-disease#post-1110505 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:14:02 +0000 anne 1110505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Would love to hear from anyone here who has this, especially on how they adjusted to it. I have had 2 positive blood tests now, and am awaiting an endoscopy for a final diagnosis (so not off gluten yet). Am trying to work out what steps I'll need to put in place if the next test is positive. Of course I have been reading a lot on the web (including some links from YLF people mentioned in other threads) but I can always read more!