I'm still trying to understand what I'm going through and was hoping someone could explain. I started having problems back in November, pains before a bm then turned into urgent and painful bm's within a few weeks. After a colonoscopy, the doctor diagnosed me with lymphacytic colitis but wanted to do more tests. A blood test for celiac came back negative but before I got the results I started the gluten free diet and felt better within a week. But still, more tests. I had an endoscopy to biopsy the small intestine, which came back normal. I'm wondering if the colitis has anything to do with gluten or if I may just have a gluten allergy that might go away. I haven't been able to find much that links colitis to gluten, was wondering if anyone else is in this situation. Thanks for any advice...
~Emily

Dear Emily,
Gluten intolerance is permanent. You will have to remain on the diet the rest of your life. Colitis is related to Gluten Intolerance and Celiac. It is frustrating, because this is such a big change. However, it is not as complicated once you get in the swing of things. My problem is, I share a kitchen with two inconsiderate people who could not care less if I get sick. Yesturday, my father glutened my safe baking sheet. Now I have to get another! He said I could just wash it. He said that I should not leave it laying around (I had just finished cooking and placed it on top of the stove to cool.)
I have something that should help you.
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 (all Lea & Perrins Products are safe)
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 (Found at Sam’s Club)
Lay's Stax Potato Chips (Do not get any other kinds, these are the only ones made on dedicated lines)
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)
Dinty Moore Beef Stew
Jimmy Dean Fresh Taste Fast Sausage (links, rolls, and patties)
Plumrose Bacon
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)
Crest Whitening Expressions Toothpastes
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

* Includes dairy
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
NoGluGirl