Anyone gluten intolerant? tell me about your experiences

Hi...I'm experiencing some major stomach issues lately and my doctor thinks I may have a gluten intolerance. I'm advised to cut out wheat for a few days because if that's the issue I'll immediately feel better.

So....what can I eat?

I was thinking (sample menu):

Breakfast: Apple and Peanut Butter with 1 cup vanilla soymilk (I'm also cutting dairy)

Lunch: 1 cup vegetarian chilli and a "veg to go" pack with celery, carrots, and peanut butter

Snack: 1 cup vanilla soymilk (I can't think of anything else to eat here...normally at this point in my day I'd have either an apple and cottage cheese, a nonfat greek yogurt, or if I was feeling bad a cookie - all no-no's)

Dinner: a 6 oz serving of chicken breast and a side of the vegetable of the day

Ughhh I hate my stomach!

Also: Can you describe to me symptoms you had before you were diagnosed? I have major gas, bloating, cramping, food goes immediately right through me, and constant stomach pain.

I'm gluten intolerant and have been eating that way for three years.  There are lots of options out there, everything from gluten free noodles to polenta.  Get a good gluten free cook book, it will help you.  Here's my average day:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup cooked brown rice with raisins, soy milk and cinnamon

Lunch: Rice cakes with no salt sardines, tomato, cucumber, hummus and EVOO

Dinner: Potato, rice, quinoa or polenta with 3oz protein, and a big side of vegetables and salad

I buy gluten free pizza crusts for a treat sometimes.

Thanks...it's kind of tough because I'm in college on a meal plan. I eat a moderate amount of gluten - cereal for breakfast and a sandwich on good multigrain bread for lunch everyday. I guess that's out, sigh.

What was your life like before you were diagnosed? Did you lose weight or anything after you switched to gluten free?

my mum has coeliac disease and she first went to the doctor when she thought she had ibs. so she had irritable bowel symptoms like the ones you described. also for some reason she lost a lot of weight pre-diagnosis, probably due to her body not absorbing the right things. she hasn't gained weight since being on a gluten free diet. she eats a lot of fruit, vegetables, gluten-free bread and cereals, rice and protein. i suggest you look up the things you can't eat because a lot of it is hidden - ie. soy sauce, beer, heaps of condiments/processed things.

I have a wheat allergy so I understand where not eating wheat or gluten products can be hard.... I eat alot of rice products.... For snacks I love rice crackers and fruit or nana's gluten free cookies are good... (and they aren't that bad for you because they are gluten free, dairy free, and some are sugar free).... a good cook book will help and just thinking outside the box... I found out that I had this allergy when I was in college and I found it hard at first. The only good thing about having to eat a gluten free diet is not eating tons of processed foods.

Also: Can you describe to me symptoms you had before you were diagnosed? I have major gas, bloating, cramping, food goes immediately right through me, and constant stomach pain.

 I am having these symptoms minus the food going right thru me... I am bloated, gasy, cramping, and severly uncomfortable. The difference is food is NOT moving thru me- should I look into this gluten intolerance or am I experiencing someting completely different?

I would suggest going to your doctor - I am getting a variety of tests today, celiac disease, SED rate (to test for inflammation), CBC rate (to test for infection), hypothyroidism, and they took a stool sample to test for parasites. If all of that comes back negative they're going to send me for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. I'm not sure about the gluten intolerance - it's just one theory, I may be lactose intolerant or I may have IBS, I'm not sure - right now I just know there is something VERY wrong with my tummy.

I did lose weight, probably because I had to be way more aware about what I was putting in my mouth.  It's so easy to grab a doughnut or burger when you are hungry, but being gluten intolerant means you have to plan ahead a little bit, and provide yourself with healthy alternatives.  Honestly, it is a good thing, once you get used to it.

whole foods has a pretty large gluten-free section, try grabbing some snacks there that you can put in your bag when you go to class and things like that.

my boyfriend has been having similar symptoms and I have tried to tell him to go to the doc to see if he has a gluten allergy but he won't listen...ughh stubborn men!

hope you get it all figured out!