cbhungry

The usual screening is a an antibody test , the most specific and sensitive are antitissue transglutaminase antibody,(TTG) and EMA or endomyosial antibody followed by antigliadin antibodies (both IGA and IGG). (the latter can be postive in other diseases.) However, if you are already on a gluten free diet the tests will be negative (In fact they , especially the antigliadin antibodies, are used to assess person's compliance with gluten free diet along with history.) Thus, this blood work needs to be drawn while you are on a normal diet full of glutens! If they are positive, then the gastroenterologists recommend a small bowel biopsey. Internists, being less invasive, recommend a gluten free diet and see if the symptoms improve and may also recheck the antibodies (which usually disappear with the gluten free diet).

By the way, did you know Outback Steakhouse has gluten free entrees? (I believe one of the owners has Celiac Sprue)

It is common disease among whites about 1/250 (studies say anywhere from 1/80 to 1/300) in both continents Europe and America and very rare among Asians and Blacks.

Brian

My very well-meaning parents took my wife and me to Outback Steakhouse for her birthday, when we were in the states once. Tragically embarassing. The only thing Aussie about that restaurant is the word "Outback" in the name. I wanted to crawl under the table and hide in shame, but my wife kept a good sense of humour about it.

cbhungry

Never liked it myself, the steaks were grizzly and the service was bad. I believe the chain started in Tampa Florida, unfortunately, it's one of the few places a celiac can eat unless they are real selective about what they order in other restaurants.

wabbit

i never knew that about outback.... never ate there either but I've heard it's less than spectacular.

Is there a test to find out if you have a candida infection, or intestinal yeast? I've been hearing about this and I'm just curious.

cbhungry

Unfortunately no. There is a lot of controversy about intestinal candiasis ( i believe in it) but the diagnosis can be tricky and the diagnosis is best measured by response to therapy, (low sugar, low starch foods, antifungal therapy etc.) This a a hotly debated topic among allopathic medicine doctors but the naturopathic doctors have embraced this as a real disease entitity .

Brian

My less than exciting news is that I did find some corn tortillas at my LGS. They were with the "Ethnic" foods, rather than the little Mexican food section.

Next question. Which is worse - wheat, or preservatives?

ed073

Or if you listen to my naturopath.....alcohol and caffeine.

Seriously....all the good stuff is out the window.

Boudicca

Oatmeal cookies? Rye bread? Rice pudding?

Brian

Ed, I've only had two beers this year, and quit caffeine 4 weeks ago. What would your naturopath say about Australia's favourite herbal crop?

ed073

I got off the coffee too.....but the grog is sooo much harder. Grand Finals, Bathurst 1000, MotoGP this weekend. I tell ya.....it's a conspiracy!!!


Herbal? Are we talkin that funny smell wafting around the LaTrobe Uni halls of residence???

Brian

Yeah, that stuff. What do naturopaths think of it? I heard a Uni in either SA or WA found it helps people with gastric reflux or something like that.

ed073

Dunno....my father in law is a GP, he sees too many come in with schizo symptroms after years of use.

I'm sure the occaisonal puff is fine.

Brian

Yeah, I reckon that the closet hydro stuff is a very bad thing with all the added chemicals. But my mum used the naturally grown stuff for pain relief from cancer. I'm not opposed to a bit of that myself, but it would be so infrequent as to be inconsequential. Losing weight would probably be the way to go for my reflux problems.

ed073

I'm hearing ya....I'm 30kg more than when I was a racer. Never heard of gastric reflux until a couple of years ago. Now just about anything sets it off....

-pastry
-red and white wine
-tomato sauce
-rich stews/casseroles
-white bread

Being fat and old sucks!!!

Brian

Pretty much, but that's why I'm cutting out all the bad stuff now. Change is good. You go first.

ed073

you sound like my boss...."change is good...embrace it, don't fear it."

lol...

Brian

That quote was on the wall in the photo lab when I was in college. Management likes it because it's better than asking you to be flexible. My old boss fell into that trap. She told us to be flexible, we assumed that meant the company was planning on bending us over.

John B.

If you want a great tasting wheat free cookie try the Newman's Own "Fig Newmans".
These are made with barley flour, brown rice flour & yellow corn meal & are much tastier then Fig Newtons. Of course if you gave up sugar there aren't too many cookies out there you are going to be able to eat.

Layton

You're not the only one. (Sister-in-law.) E-mail her for some ideas - her glutenless goodies taste better than most people's glutenous gluttony.

Brian

I'll have to give that a go, and see what she can suggest. Thanks.

cycleprincess

Oh man...like you wouldn't believe. My cat was sitting in the window and let it rip. Of course I had company over. They were looking at each other like...was that you? Nope...kitty.

Give up wheat? No way no how! There's just nothing better then a fresh, soft bagel toasted to perfection slathered with cream cheese

ed073

If it gave you crook guts for the rest of the day, I think you would.

Brian

Actually, that's the only wheat I refuse to give up.

psurrena

I lost weight fairly easily using this diet:

morning: 1 serving Muscle Milk with whole milk (good supplament)

afternoon: meat and eggs or a sandwich. Not too many carbs but a few make digestion easier.

evening: Train! 10 hrs a week Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 2 hour week strength and bike where I have to go and a longer ride on the weekend.

Night: Little to no carbs. Meat! A few vegetables, no fruit really. Water, some wine and a little beer keep you human.

Snack: Peanuts, nuts in general

Sat-Sun: Enjoy myself a bit more. Don't worry about what I'm eating (pasta, some snacks, some sugar)

Fruit doesn't agree with me (maybe genetics). Don't like it, don't miss it. Vegetables are hard to digest for everyone. I use them to keep regular. Sugar isn't good for anything.

I felt a bit weird when I switched. When fighting I felt a good bit weaker but after about two weeks, I dropped a few quick pounds and felt very strong.

The best thing is I didn't put on much mass, if any. My shoulders are still flexible as are my legs.

Great diet if you bike a lot or well....Jiu Jitsu