PeaceBang

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1. Hey PB,
   I’m gluten intolerant. When gluten intolerant folks eat wheat products regularly, they usually don’t have an allergic reaction that can be traced specifically to a serving of gluten. It usually creates other health problems like chronic digestive, sinus, or skin issues. An endoscopy is the “gold standard” diagnostic tool for celiac disease (the cause of many people’s gluten intolerance), so if you get that test it can help you figure out if the issue might be gluten related.

   Check out the fabulous blog http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/ for lots of information, great recipes, and the author’s juicy over-40 love story.

   Comment by Sarah Millspaugh — September 3, 2008 #

2. *Raises hand high*

   I’ve been gluten-free for six years and the change in my health was so profound that I’m never tempted to go back. I’m wondering, though, if it’s possible you have an allergy to barley? My mom has no problems with wheat but is severely allergic to barley — she can’t eat most breads and even flours because she’s discovered that many of them have small amounts of barley in them. Sorry to hear this is ailing you–please let me know if you need any recommendations for a knowledgeable gastroenterologist or doctor (since so many of them know zilch about celiac disease).

   Comment by elle — September 3, 2008 #

3. Can you see my hand jumping in the air? I feel like Horshack, “Oh, Oh, Mr. Kotter!! I got a gluten allergy, tooo!”

   It all began after sinking my teeth into a luscious warm cinnamon crunch bagel smeared with walnut cream cheese while chatting with the girls at Panera Bread. The keeling over with intestinal cramping, then slipping into a complete fog and finally just collasping in bed are all so familar. After many ultrasounds, colonoscopy and an upper GI, I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance.

   Apparently it happens as we (cough, cough) get older. The inability to properly digest gluten.

   A good reference is http://www.celiac.com. This will give you some good info on the why, what and how.
   Keep a food diary and make note of what bothers you. For me, pasta, bread, pizza and cereals are out. Gluten in dressings really doesn’t bother me. Check with your healthfood store or Trader Joe’s for good gluten-free alternatives.
   My fav’s are Barbara’s Bakery Puffins cereal, Van’s Wheat Free/Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon waffles, Kinnikinnick Foods Tapioca Rice English Muffins and Italian White Tapioca Rice Bread(LOVE THESE). Just make sure the label says Gluten Free. I also take enzymes and periodically do a Dr. Natura’s (www.drnatura.com) cleanse.

   Just go slow. Like every change in life, it just takes a little getting used to.
   Hope that helps! Rags

   Comment by Ragamuffin — September 3, 2008 #

4. PB, celiac disease runs in my family. I’m lucky that I don’t have the worst symptoms of it — my first cousin suffers from it horribly. For her, any time she eats anything with gluten in it, she gains A LOT of weight. (Other people with celiac may lose weight…it depends on the person.) She also has all the intestinal issues, etc. She’s been warned she is slowly killing herself with gluten, so she is now much better about avoiding it.

   For me, any time I eat gluten-based carbs I pack on the pounds — far more than should be typical for “carbo-loading.” I feel MUCH better overall, lots more energy, lots less moodyness, when I just avoid gluten. And I drop weight unbelievably quickly.

   Comment by Lynette — September 3, 2008 #

5. You can’t have a food allergy unless you have an excess of food. For better or for worse, that’s what we live with in this day and age.

   The meds I take for my bipolar make me extremely glycemic, so I minimize my intact. Still, I love bread.

   Comment by Comrade Kevin — September 3, 2008 #

6. Interesting. I know I have trouble focusing my thoughts if I eat too many carbs. I get A.D.D. and can’t write papers if I eat a lot of carbs, but do much better if its meat or veggies.

   Comment by Frank — September 3, 2008 #

7. Dittoes on the food diary recommendation. I did one when I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia 20 years ago and it was immensely helpful.

   If you do turn out to have a gluten allergy, I’ve heard from a friend who has it that you can make amazing gluten-free bread in a bread maker.

   I’m just sorry you’re having to deal with yet more dietary restrictions just as you’re also working on vegetarianism! [All part of the same piece, my dear! - PB]

   Comment by Miss Conduct — September 3, 2008 #

8. Umm, that sounds more like an insulin/blood sugar thing to me than an allergy. Big load of starch, quickly converted to sugar, then your body reacts and the insulin spike is what makes you feel so woozy.
   Trust me, I’m a biochemist!

   If you dare, run the control experiment by eating an equal amount of potatoes (gluten-free) and watch the same thing happen.

   Comment by joy — September 3, 2008 #

9. One of my dear friends, now a first year teacher, doesn’t do well with gluten. Sometimes she eats it anyway because she’s a first year teacher, does not have a lot of time or money, she needs to eat, and that’s what she can find that’s fast and cheap. And then she just deals with the pain and nausea (this is perhaps a mild allergy, but still plenty obnoxious).

   She discovered the gluten problem largely through keeping a food diary (before it was just general not-feeling-good-and-not-knowing-why). She has found some helpful resources which allow her to avoid gluten most of the time. I will try to dig them up for you.

   But then again, the problem may really be blood sugar. After having mono for the 2nd time, I discovered that I feel lots, lots better if I avoid sugar/refined carbohydrates (almost impossible for me to do if there is ANY of it in the house). Fish, fruits, vegetables, and the real-deal fresh-ground whole-wheat local Great Harvest Bakery bread are my friends. I now find supermarket bread gross.

   Food journals are a pain. I have trouble keeping one for more than about a week. But they can reveal a lot (and are less expensive than allergy testing, etc. at a doctor’s office).

   Good luck. May you be happy, healthy, and peaceful.

   Comment by Jessica Alexander — September 3, 2008 #

10. The phrase that really caught my attention was “I hadn’t eaten all day.” I get the same crash effect when I take in a lot of simple carbs when I’m already running on empty. Maybe it’s simpler than an allergy.
    Maybe try starting the day with some fruit and protein and see what happens before going after the gluten-free products? [Very good point. I usually start my day with a smoothie and had skipped it yesterday. It’s so true that eating a hunk of carbs of any kind on an empty stomach crashes me out. Thanks for the reminder. I was back to Miz Smoothie again this morning. - PB]

    Comment by Barbara K — September 3, 2008 #

11. I have celiac disease.

    Have you had the blood tests yet? That’s a logical first step.

    I never had an endoscopy. My blood tests were positive and the doc said I should go on a gluten-free diet for 6 weeks and see how I feel.

    I felt terrific…what a difference!

    Even if they discovered a cure for celiac I would remain on a gluten-free diet; it’s so danged healthy and passing by all the desserts on buffet tables gives me an excuse not to gain weight.

    The only thing I miss is pizza but there’s a local bakery that makes a gluten-free crust that is better than regular pizza.

    Keep us posted.

    Comment by Anita — September 3, 2008 #

12. That is exactly what happened to my sister. She cut wheat out of her diet, and now she doesn’t crash into comatose states anymore. Her gut feels much better and she has much more energy.

    She misses easy pasta dinners (and with two kids just starting elementary school, pasta was a lifesaver)

    She also misses a good pint of beer, but sometimes she allows herself just one, knowing that she will feel crappy later.

    Comment by bluish — September 4, 2008 #

13. PB, I’d get your blood sugar checked. The crash-fog-need to sleep thing sounds more like an insulin reaction. Gluten intolerance should cause more stomach pain and cramping. And if you don’t have the reaction to bulgur, it’s unlikely to be a true wheat allergy (wheat allergies and gluten intolerance are two different things). Unfortunately, we women of curviness can have a propensity toward blood sugar/pre-diabetes/diabetes problems.

    Like joy suggested above, you could test yourself with a massive helping of white potatoes or white rice.

    Your dinner probably helped you because beans and sweet potatoes are low glycemic, so you didn’t get another insulin spike.

    Comment by Rev Janet — September 8, 2008 #

14. The reason the wheat bread gets you and wheat itself does not could be… Barley or Yeast. In most non whole wheat breads they include Barley flour. Yeast can be tricky for people. If it’s barley then eating whole wheat should be less problematic. (Barley and Malt are related, it’s a clue). If it’s yeast than any bread will react with you regardless of the flour. I have trouble with both. For yeast I take acidopholis pearls daily and avoid bakery bread, I eat all bread toasted usually. I get really sick when I eat bread out in a restaurant because it is usually yeast and barley both.

    Comment by Myra Symons-Kazanci — September 10, 2008 #

15. It sounded like a rapid blood sugar swing to me, which is more likely if you are already running a sleep deficit and then eat a lot of bread when hungry. As a vegetarian, I don’t go very long without eating something, unless I’ve eaten really rich food which satiates for a long time. Also, though I’m a generation older than you are, I get that “Eat, Sleep, Cottonbrain” reaction more than I ever did when I was younger, but then again, I ate more regular meals in the past. If you are moving into a veggie lifestyle, one thing I recommend is baked tofu that comes in packages ready to eat. Various flavors. Cut some into cubes or slice and put into a sandwich, or use in something more elaborate. This is one of the best instant foods for me. And if you like, dab it in a little puddle of soy sauce or tamari or some other stir fry type sauce you like, or lemon zest. Warning: avoid Tofurky! A loving sister fixed it for me last Thanksgiving and it was about the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, really scary. I’d be really disappointed for you if you are trying to be a vegetarian and can’t eat bread. Before you give up, try to eat whole grain instead of white bread.

    Comment by Diane Miller — September 10, 2008 #

16. You DON’T have a gluten allergy. Most of the people who’ve gone “gluten-free” don’t have the allergy. They’re just bored. “But I feel better!” Good for you. Every religion does that. Well, at least you’re not hurting anyone with your reason intolerance. [This is a pretty incoherent comment, but, um, thanks! BTW, I never said I had a gluten allergy. A lot of folks jumped to that conclusion, but I just think it was a carb crash. I’ve been eating gluten ever since with no ill effects. But as for believing in lots of unreasonable things, like in an incomprehensible mystery I call God whose essential creative energy is something we vaguely understand as love, you’ve got me there. - PB]

    Comment by cwmaxson — September 22, 2008 #

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