Gluten free diet???

suggi · 03-08-2005, 02:18 PM

Hi
I was wondering how you find out if you are allergic to gluten. Also, I am supplementing my diet with Boost and Carnation Instant Breakfast with Lactaid milk because I lost weight (5 5 and 104 lbs) and have severe osteoporosis. Doctor said I have to gain weight. Since I am unable to take the usual Crohn's drugs like Sulfa or Asacol (allergies) I have to be diet careful and only eat canned asparagus, carrots and beets - no fresh veggies or uncooked foods (no salads) ---- very low fiber diet. I do eat a lot of potatoes with Olivio margarine and only white bread.....wheat bread has fiber. Am I in big trouble??????????????

The reason I am asking is I have Crohn's disease. Then got gastritis and esophagitis and acid reflux which has been getting worse and worse despite double medications (30 mg Prevacid AM, 30 mg Prevacid PM and 300 mg Zantac PM plus Librium or Librax 4x/day for the Crohn's which is under control. I have been thinking of trying a special aloe vera I saw on the internet but am also allergic to Balsam of Peru and was told that could cross over to plant extracts so with my worsening stomach problems are a little hesitant. I take Omega 3 fish oil capsule (for Crohns), multivitamin with extra D (for osteoporosis), Culturelle Lactobacillus GG (for Crohn's) and Tums for calcium for the osteo also. Also taking Evista (raloxifene) for the osteo which doesn't seem to be working for the bones.

I have a 2 page allergy/adverse reactions to drugs so there is very little I am able to take including antibiotics. I also have chronic sinusitis and winter hand eczema which I became allergic to cortisone cream after using for many years. This year not using it my hands are better.

Any advice would be appreciated as I don't know how in the world I could experiment with my problems. Thanks.

Suggi

Zenfish · 03-08-2005, 06:58 PM

"Diagnosing celiac disease can be difficult because some of its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, intestinal infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. Recently, researchers discovered that people with celiac disease have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to substances that the body perceives to be threatening.

To diagnose celiac disease, physicians test blood to measure levels of antibodies to gluten. These antibodies are antigliadin, anti-endomysium, and antireticulin. "

You have my symptoms. Could be Celiac disease. Educate your doctor, and if he's not receptive, then switch to vegetables, fruit, rice, certainly no bread of any kind. Because it sounds like doctors haven't really helped you, which is not unusual for this disease.

rheanna · 03-09-2005, 01:55 AM

Suggi,

First, try to get the blood tests SOON, because if you do eleiminate gluten from your diet, the antibodies in your blood will go away after a few weeks/months and a test won't find anything. Then you'll be like the rest of us, feeling better because we've gone gluten-free, but no doctor can find anything to support our hypotheses!

Second, look in health food stores for "gluten-free bread", and read labels to make sure they're substituting for white "balloon" bread, not whole-grainy. Some low fiber ingredients are rice, corn, potato and tapioca flours. This way you can still eat bread while you sort out your other problems. Avoid anything that says "whole grain" or brags about how much fiber it has.

--Rheanna

hockeymama · 03-09-2005, 03:45 AM

I don't know about the gluten, but I am also allergic to Balsam of Peru, specifically the benzoate component in it, which is also a common preservative in packaged foods, cosmetics and cleaning products. I suspect it is in your Carnation drink as well as the inactive ingredient in some of the other things you are taking. If this is why you are allergic to Balsam of Peru, then eating things and coming in contact with things that have benzoates or parabens may be exacerbating some of the other diseases and allergies you are facing. If you are of course allergic to Balsam of Peru because of a different component, then I am off course with this suggestion. But just thought I would mention it.

suggi · 03-09-2005, 10:28 AM

Zenfish and rheanna
Thanks for your input and suggestions. I have an appointment with the gastro doc Monday & will try to get the blood test.

I'll let you know. Any more info on gluten would be appreciated.

Suggi