Goodbye Gluten!

What a day.  So I went to the doctor today because I seem to usually feel crappy after eating.  I told her my symptoms and she told me that I am Gluten Intolerant.  Farewell:

Wheat, wheat berries, wheat bran, wheat germ, wheatgrass, or any form of the word wheat (other than buckwheat, which is an unrelated plant)

• Barley, barley malt, barley flour, or any form of the word barley.
• Rye, rye flour, pumpernickel flour, or any form of the word rye.
• Oats, oatmeal, oat flour, oat groats, or any form of the word oats.
• Flour, including instant, bread, cake, enriched, graham, and all-purpose flours.
• Triticale
• Einkorn
• Spelt
• Semolina
• Durum
• Bulgar or Bulghar
• Kamut
• Cracker meal
• Couscous
• Tabbouleh
• Tempura crumbs
• Malt

Avoid foods containing the following unless the label indicates they are from a non-gluten source:

• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Modified food starch
• Vegetable starch or vegetable protein
• Gelatinized starch or pregelatinized starch
• Natural flavorings
• Soy sauce

Be especially alert for the presence of wheat and gluten in the following:

• Breads, pastries, cakes, cookies, crackers, doughnuts, pies, pretzels, and all other baked goods. The majority are made from wheat flour; look for alternatives by allergy-safe manufacturers.
• Breakfast cereals, both hot and cold.
• Pasta, including gnocchi, spaetzle, chow mein, lo mein, and filled pastas. Rice noodles, pure buckwheat soba noodles, and pastas from allergy-friendly manufacturers are good alternatives for home cooking.
• Snack foods, especially if seasoned or highly processed.
• Soups, gravies, and thickened sauces.
• Breaded meats or vegetables, such as fried chicken or okra.
• Dumplings, meatballs, lunch meats, meat loaves, and similar foods (often held together with breadcrumbs or flour).
• Beer
• Salad dressings, Worcestershire sauce, and other condiments.

(Courtesy:  foodallergies.com)

I also had blood drawn to test me for Celiac disease.  Blech.  I am extremely afraid of needles, like I usually hyperventilate and start crying.  When I was fourteen I knew that I was going to have to get another tetanus shot and I had detailed re-accuring nightmares.  I think the fear comes from when I was three or four years old.  I was dehydrated and had to go to the hospital and get blood drawn.  I was so dehydrated that they could not get a vein, so they would try sticking me, then wait awhile and try again.  This took all day before they finally could draw enough blood.  My throat is getting tight and my hands are shaking just thinking about needles.  Anyway, I had to get over my fear and just do it today.  I layed down and closed my eyes, so that helped because I never had to see the needle.  I was shaking still though even an hour afterwards.  Oh well, I did it!  If I can live through a stupid needle attack then I can handle a dumb gluten intolerance.