My husband has suffered for over 20 years that I know of with stomach problems. He has been to all sorts of drs. inc luding a physoicaltist. He takes several meds. and never any change. We've been married for 17 years and together for over 20, and only in the last 5 to 10 years has he really let me know of the things that go on with his stomach and in the bathroom. Because of his health problems we really don't go out much, meaning to eat or movie, just simple dating places and never go on vacation. Well after several doctors and tons of prayers our answers came on March 5, 2007 when I took our 3 yr. old son to his early check up and his dr. has not happy with his growth rate and wanted some blood work done. She says she wanted him to be tested for Celiac dieseaese and I asked her about the symptoms and the symptons she listed sounded just like my husband and I told her that, she said he should be tested also. Well ofcourse I went straight home and informed him of this and he researced Celiac on the internet and said "Oh my gosh they are describing me and my life!" Well that next morning we started his gluten free life with what we had in the house and then off I went to grocery store. He felt great that day!! So it's been over a month now and he still feels better than he did before March the 5th, but has had some bad days. I have done alot of research and have been reading from this forum for a month and it has been such a great help. I have people in my life that have Celiac or gluten intolerance and have been helpful also. I just have so many questions that I don't know where to begin. Just this morning I told my husband to check his toiletress and he had know idea that gluten was also in some shampoos, toothpaste, ect. so we checked and sure enough his shampoo has a wheat protein in it. And his altoids surprised him. Also I think I've read that mylanta or something helps when he feels really bad? He's been using rolaids and I suggested he stop because there was a questionable indredient. I have so many more questions but my 3 yr old is having a melt down at the moment so I must sign off for know.
SORRY FOR THE MISSPELLED WORDS, MY SPELL CHECKS NOT WORKING AND I WAS TYPING AS FAST AS MY BRAIN AND FINGERS WOULD KEEP UP.

Thank you and the gluten-free world:)
Tabatha

Hi TBird,

Your husband sounds abit like me. Hmmm....I wonder are you my wife? So your question is can I use Mylanta, right?

Love,

PainPill

I'm not sure about Mylanta, but Pepto Bismo is good stuff. Rolaids are fine, but NOT the soft-chews. I think Tums are questionable too. I also take Pepcid and that's fine.

Welcome to both of you!

Thanks for the info. I just bought him some pepto tablets and the rolaids he takes are chewable also, I not sure what the difference is between chewable and soft-chews though.

Tabatha

Dear T-Bird,
I have a list that should really help. This is overwhelming. I went through this with myself six months ago. You spend most of your day cooking and cleaning obsessively. The rest you are on the phone with reps from companies trying to find out what is safe. I decided to save you the trouble!
1. There are a number of things in the regular grocery that are safe. Some things are labeled already. Wal-Mart's Great Value brand has numerous things you can eat.
2. For the love of God use Coupons on items you are allowed to eat. People can get them and print them out online even. Call some of the local stores and ask if they accept online coupons.
3. Check the ads online and in the newspaper. You would be surprised how many people do not do this.
4. Some items like rice flour and rice noodles are safe to buy at the Chinese or oriental market. The merchants are more than happy to help you if you cannot read the label.
Now, here is my list of great things to get you started:
Condiments:
Smart Balance Margerine
Crisco Shortening
Crisco Oil
Pompeiian Olive Oil
Great Value soy sauce
Heinz Ketchup
Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
Kraft French Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Kraft Thousand Island Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Pace Picante Sauce
Ortega Salsa
All Classico Red and White sauces
All Jif Peanut Butters including Smooth Sensations
Welch's Grape Jelly
Cool Whip
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Miracle Whip
Daisy Sour Cream (fat-free, low-fat, regular)
Snack Foods:
Utz Potato Chips
Lay's Stax Potato Chips (All other kinds have had cc issues!)
Act II Microwave Popcorn
3 Musketeers candy bars
Butterfinger candy bars
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Meat and Protein :
Eggs
Great Value Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Extra Lean ground beef
Carl Buddig lunchmeats all are safe
Kraft Cheese Shredded or sliced (Kraft is a great company, they never hide gluten in their labels. If it does not say wheat, barley, oats or rye, then it is not in there!)
Cereals:
Cocoa Pebbles
Fruity Pebbles
Dora The Explorer Cinnamon Stars
Seasonings:
Durkee Cinnamon-ground
Durkee Ginger-ground
Durkee Chili powder
Durkee Vanilla Extract (in fact, all of their liquid flavorings, food colorings, and extracts are g.f.)
Emeril's Essence - Asian, Italian
Ortega Taco Seasoning (In fact, since they are under a very strict labeling policy, all of their products are gluten free at this time)
Miscellaneous:
Ortega Taco Shells
Starkist or Great Value Tuna
Butter Buds
Great Value Soy Milk
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Apples
Pears
Carrots
Great Value Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Del Monte Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Ore Ida Tater Tots
Ore Ida French Fries
Hormel Chili
Hormel Spam
Hormel Turkey Spam (Oven Roasted and Smoked)
Jimmy Dean Fresh Taste Fast Sausage (links, rolls, and patties)
Plumrose Bacon
Progresso Creamy Mushroom Soup
PAM Non-Stick Cooking Spray (all except for PAM for baking; it has flour)
Beverages:
Coca-Cola (Diet, Regular, Vanilla, Caffeine Free)
Diet Rite
Folgers Coffees (all including Cappuccinos)
Luzianne Tea (We get decaf)
Arizona Teas
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Some Household Items that are safe include:
Cascade Dishwashing Detergent
All Laundry Detergent
Wisk Laundry Detergent
Dawn Dish Soap (all including the Power Disolver)
SoftSoap Hand Soaps
Murphy's Oil Soap
Hygiene, Cosmetics, and Beauty Items:
Dove Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)
Colgate Toothpastes
Suave Soaps, Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, and Styling Aids (Will clearly label gluten if present)
Maybelline (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)
CoverGirl (Gluten is clearly labeled when present)
Wet'n Wild (All except for one of the mascaras)
Olay Quench Body Lotion
Crest WhiteStrips
Colgate Simply White
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

StrongerToday, thanks for the welcome. My wife and I just figured all this out a few months ago. And NoGlueGirl, THANK YOU, T-Bird will really appreciate all this information. We are very fortunate to have found such a friendly helpful group.

Sincerely,

Karl & Tabatha

thanks for so much info noglugirl! do you know much about the glutenease i've been hearing about? my husband has'nt been well for about three days now and not sure why. also is it possible that something could say "gluten free" and not be? that's the only thing i can figure has happened, so i threw the chips away this morning. i guess he should be tested for other allergies also. we have kept dairy out to his diet since we started this on march 5th. what do you know about probotics? how different are probotics compared to glutenease?

sincerely,
tabatha

Dear PainPill and Tabatha,
You are very welcome for the help! We all understand what you guys are going throught. It is a difficult adjustment to make. I know some foods are not made in dedicated facilities or on dedicated lines. Just because they have no added gluten does not necessarily mean that they are safe. Cross-contamination is a big problem for all of us on here!

The glutenease is a digestive enzyme supplement. Some people on the forum have reported good results from taking it. Certain people just lack the enzyme needed to digest gluten. However, if your husband is Celiac, it will probably not help him much if at all. Celiac is an immune reaction. His immune system is attacking gluten, so any time he ingests it, his intestines are damaged.
A buddy of mine on here, CarlaB has taken it to help her. I think she is gluten intolerant. She could answer this question of yours better than I can.

Probiotics are great to help restore the healthy microfloral balance in the intestines. Bad bacteria can cause dysbiosis. An overgrowth of bad bacteria or low amount of the good bacteria that should be present can cause extreme gastrointestinal discomfort. Antibiotics can cause this. I take Accu-Flora by North West Naturals. It also has prebiotics, which aid probiotics in metabolizing. I definitely feel a difference when I forget to take them. In choosing a supplement, make sure it contains L. Acidophillus, L. Bifidum (I think that is what it is called), L. Plantarum, and L. Salivarius. If those are at the very least in there, the benefits will be good! You can go to a local healthfood store to find a gluten-free, casein-free supplement.

Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce is not gluten-free in Canada.

I am brand new to the gluten free diet, I have to say a million thank yous for this list, you have no idea how much this list will help me Thanks again, and again

Oops, sorry, me again, I just noticed I can check a box for to notify me about replys. again a million thanks for the list

Dear annaleeb,
Just make sure that you are not in Canada. I really wish people would put where they are from. In Canada, as CarrieFaith pointed out, certain items are not safe for Celiacs there that are in the U.S. If you are in the U.S., you are fine. This is list will help. You are very welcome, and don't worry, if you are in Canada, I have a site I can direct you to.

Sincerely,
NoGluGirl

WHAT?? The soft-chews are gluteny? Oh, NO!! I could have sworn I checked those. What is the gluteny ingredient? I must have missed something.

Hi

ya! I can have my 3 muskateers bar, I don't like alot of chocolate (don't hate me for this) all you chocolate haters out there. But that is one bar that I will, love to eat. And IceCream not a lover of it (don't hate me for that either) I have to be in the mood for Ice Cream. My family has to beg me for me to buy them anything sweet at the store because I have never been a sweet eater, but I do have cravings for some sweets but not too much.

Oh I need to add where I am from to my profile, sorry wasnt thinking........I am from Vermont tho

Dear annaleeb,
Hey, it is no prob! I just wanted to be sure I did not give you a list that could make you ill! Other countries, including Canada, have ingredients that are not safe that are in our nation. Maltodextrin can be derived from wheat there. Here, it is from corn. There are people from the UK on here even!

Sincerely,
NoGluGirl