Going Gluten Free After a Celiac Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with celiac disease may seem overwhelming and that life will never be the same. I mean, the way you eat will definitely have to change. Going gluten free, cold turkey, seems scary at first, but for me it was relief! I finally had an answer to what was making me sick all the time and I had a solution for dealing with it. There is so much to process, it is imperative to have a good support system around you.
There is so much to learn. Currently, there is no cure for celiac, other than a completely gluten free diet. A lot of people do not understand what celiac disease is. They think “a little won’t hurt you” Unfortunately, we become the student and the teacher sometimes. It is much more than cutting out breads and pasta. It seems like gluten is in everything! From our food, to our medications, to our beauty products. Did you check the toothpaste? Yep, that too!
When will I feel better?
It is different for everyone. Some people start to feel better in as little as a couple of weeks, other it takes months. Remember, your intestines are healing. If you haven’t heard of the gluten detox, rest assured it is a real thing. I survived on fruit smoothies, baked potatoes, and plain salad for about three months. That was all my stomach could handle. I will say after a couple of weeks the bloating and gas were gone. Happiest days ever!
Once everything started to heal I added things back in. It really was trial and error. Keep in mind I am a vegetarian. Soy went right through me for several months. Now I am fine with it. No eggs. I have recently cut out dairy as I noticed I feel better without it. Other than cheese, I didn’t eat it anyway. The two things that I can’t seem to add back are broccoli and cauliflower. They cause havoc. I definitely recommend a good dietitian to help you through this process. One that specializes in celiac disease.
I gained about 10 pounds after my diagnosis. Cruel, I know. My doctor said it is normal. Your body is healing and can now start actually absorbing the nutrients you are eating. Stick to naturally gluten free foods like fruits and vegetables, potatoes and rice. Those seem to be the easiest to digest in the beginning and even now. I try to avoid processed stuff because they are so high in calories and carbs but those gluten free Oreos are really good! Check out my recipes section for some of my favorite meals. I love a good bowl with rice, some veggies, and avocado. Simple and healthy.
Beauty Products and Medications
It is not just food we need to worry about, it is anything we ingest, including medications and beauty products like lipstick/chapstick. Walgreens and Target are good about labeling their meds gluten free.
Hear a list of over the counter gf meds I have used without problems, but always read the labels as they can change ingredients. Check with your doctor/pharmacist for prescription meds. I find myself calling the manufacturer often.
- Tylenol
- Mucinex
- Sudafed
- Theraflu
- Flonase
- Kirkland brand Aller-Tec (Costco)
Some people with celiac disease have dermatitis herpetiformis. This cases an itchy blistering rash on the skin. Others, like myself, just have more sensitive skin. Once I switched to gluten free shampoo/conditioner and lotions my skin felt much better.
Products I use…
Gluten free sunscreen/lip balm – Sun Bum (also reef friendly according to their website, YAY!)
Body wash/body lotion – Hempz…I love the variety of scents they have! And they work really great too!
Shampoo/Conditioner – Fekkai…leaves my hair really soft and helps maintain my color. I use all of their hair products. They are a little pricey, but I don’t wash my hair everyday.
It has been a little over 2 years now and I still have good and bad days. We have a mostly gluten free house. I have a very supportive husband. He knows about cross contamination. I always have snacks in my purse like nuts or kind bars. You never know if something is available for you to eat when you’re out and about. We have our favorite “safe” restaurants we can go to. If you’re in the Austin area check out Local Eats and Drinks for some of my favorite places. If you have travel plans check out Traveling with Celiac for my long haul flight tips!
For more information on celiac disease visit https://celiac.org
Check out my favorite recipe Taco Peppers – Gluten Free, Vegetarian, And Low Carb
The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. I am not a doctor, I am just sharing my personal experiences with celiac disease. Please consult a medical professional if you think you might have celiac disease.