Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

First off, do not panic!

You don't even have a diagnosis yet! But it's good to be thinking thing through.

Did you check out the the Gluten Free Mall? If you did, you can see that there's tons of stuff out there that is still edible if you do have celiac. And that's just one website. There's stuff at my Health Food Store that doesn't even show up on that site. And if you start surfing and checking links, you'll see that there are lots of options. Do not worry... you will not starve.

Now remain calm and read this next bit!

You may be underweight because of the celiac problems. That's right! If you are, indeed, diagnosed with celiac, then that may explain things for you. You said you read celiac.com? You may want to go back and check it out again... I know it's overwhelming, but sometimes it takes 2 or 3 reads to get your head around something new like that, especially if it freaks you out (like it did, me!). What happens with celiac (please understand this is a very generalized non-medical explanation) is this: because you cannot handle gluten (wheat, oats, barley, rye, oatmeal?) the villi (fingerlike projections in the small intestines that push food through the system) get all flattened. They can't, then, do their job and help get nutrients out of your foods. What happens if you're not getting your nutrients?? You lose weight. What happens to celiac patients when they stop eating the offensive gluten (wheat, oats, barley, rye, oatmeal?)??? Eventually, they should regain that weight 'cause now they're getting the proper nutrients!

Feel a little better? PS: I've been gluten-free for several weeks and it's not as bad as I thought it would be... Write me @ my email if you want more info. I hate to hog up the IBS boards with Celiac crap....

PS: see my pic at the bottom? Hope you like rice! Rice is your friend if you're GF....

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