To think that going gluten-free is hard?

[Sugarlightly]

I recently visited my GP with a host of different symptoms and have been recommended to try a gluten free diet while waiting for my coeliac blood test.

I've had mixed messages on what sort of food to eat and, although I am feeling a little better, I am struggling to have varied and balanced meals. I wasn't this bad when I was a vegetarian, or lactose free. It just seems so much harder .

Finding it all a bit difficult - I know it's much easier to be gluten free now that fad diets had started to pop up a bit more, but there still seems to be conflicting information online - and would love some tips from fellow gluten free mumsnetters

Going gf is hard but being gluten free isn't as bad once you accept it. I find the bread just isn't nice. Anything breadlike seems to be dodgy. Things that are nice are hard things like crackers and soft things like brownies and cakes. I made an orange and almond cake which everyone loved.

I also eat more things which are naturally gluten free. Things like nuts, fruit, veg. I feel so much better now that I couldn't go back.

Hate to say it but i hope a week back on gluten is enough. Was that ok with the doctor?

The GP recommended I cut out gluten as soon as possible but I've been on holiday for a week so i decided to have a bit of a blowout week. My GP has also made me aware that he knows that people who have coeliac disease can have false negative blood tests so dependant on results I may request another.

If the blood test is negative request a biopsy. It's the only completely reliable way to determine if you are coeliac and the only way to get an official diagnosis as an adult.

Once you get into it its easy.

I find grabbing a quick sandwich hard though! M&s do several gf sandwiches.

Instagram has great ideas for gluten free recipes.

Sauces and gravy work fine with gf flour - I use Doves too.
You can get gf versions of most staples like lasagne sheets, pasta, couscous, pizza, bread, pitta bread, stuffing etc. They work fine.
It requires a bit of shopping around to find a full range and quite a lot of ingredient checking but you get the store cupboard set up and it's ok.

I do miss decent pizza. Sainsbury did a nice place but they've decided to bugger about with and fresh gf pasta doesn't seem to exist :(

I was diary and soya free for nearly 2 years due to breastfeeding an allergy baby. I felt so hard done by as it wasn't because of my own a allergy. I do remember being so jealous of people that were gluten free though. There just seemed to be more choice of alternative products in the supermarket. Only a very small diary free shelf no soya free at all but rows and rows of gluten free. Anytime we went out for a meal and I told them about my allergies I lost count of the amount of times they said 'oh we have a gluten free menu' so the choice and availability of products seems good.

Certainly before the biopsy you need to eat gluten for 6 weeks.

It's a bit of an adjustment, but the benefits of going gluten-free are better than the consequences of not changinf your diet.
And remember... YOU CAN STILL DRINK WINE!

I tested negative for coeliac but doctor has recommended I stay off gluten as I am now symptom free (think horrible digestive issues, nausea, tiredness). It was an adjustment but would not go back. GF substitutions are improving and becoming more affordable all the time. I am a passionate cook anyway and eat practically anything - those who are fussy or don't cook would struggle i imagine.

There are great recipes on the internet. Get your own toaster to avoid cross contamination. Don't be embarrassed to ask how things are cooked. It has been a real eye opener to find out exactly how much gluten us used in modern food manufacturing.

I've been GF for over 10 years now (dairy free for about 5) and it's amazing how much more is on the shelves in supermarkets compared to then.
Doves farm plain flour makes a perfect white sauce (Delia's one), I use the self raising flour to make cakes that everyone is happy to eat but pastry and scones have always failed. You can get some pretty decent sausages now and I picked up some burgers in Lidl that had rice flour rather than rusks in them.
It takes a while when shopping at first as you have to check everything, dairy wise I always have to check as they change the recipes occasionally, but allergy labelling has gotten so much better in the last few years.
I will say watch out if you drink vodka as some of them are made with wheat and even though some sites say it shouldn't bother you it does for me, hugging the toilet on my birthday in tears after 4 Russian Standard's and coke was not fun at all and led to this discovery the next day as I have never gotten that drunk and ill so fast in my life!

Gluten free is a piece of piss.

Gluten, dairy and soya free is a challenge

If you are unwell enough to need the diet then it is easy enough to follow.

I'm wheat, dairy, egg and soy free currently as breastfeeding an allergic baby. I find the toughest thing is having to think about food all the time. It takes a lot of mental energy. But gluten free products in supermarkets are mainly good (though I'd avoid Sainsbury's GF cakes, they were grim!). Good luck with it.