coeliac diet
Hi Ceann Comhairle, Sherib,
Very informative post Sherib and Im delighted to see that you were at last diagnosed. Its very distressing to know that there is something wrong with you and have doctors regard you skeptically, as I was so young when I was diagnosed I wasnt privy to that but my poor parents were.
As Sherib rightly points out there is a difference between Coeliac Diet and a wheatfree diet. Simply put, on the coeliac diet you are allergic to more, all cereals except rice and corn/maize.
-> It's not a nice diet so not to be embarked on lightly and pointless if you're not a Coeliac.
This statement I disagree with, its not that hard. Especially not now, with a wider variety of g/f breads, cakes, biscuits, pasta, pizza bases to choose from. I do appreciate though that this is a personal thing, whats hard for some people is not so hard for others etc.
I have remembered one thing though that I think will help you. There is one very clear symptom of a Coeliac (as oppose to someone with IBS, Crones, intolerance to gluten). If you are Coeliac and go on a 100% gluten free diet (not just wheat but also avoiding rye, hops, barley, oats, everything but maize/corn and rice) you will very quickly notice a dramatic improvement in weight gain, height (if you are growing, in your teens). For example, Im on a g/f diet and Im a very very normal weight for my height/age and by looking at me you cant tell that I have dietary restrictions. Interestingly when Sherib tried the diet he/she lost weight (if I read your post correctly). Anyway, in short, try the diet for 6 to 8 weeks (you have to give it long enough for current damage to heal) and see if you have a dramatic improvement in weight, lethargy, bloatedness, nausea etc. If not, its more than likely you are not coeliac.
Hope this helpls,
Cas.