Newly diagnosed coeliac, where do I start?

[theladylovescupcakes]

Have just received a letter from the hospital to advise my recent gut biopsy results were positive for coeliac disease, and to start following "a strict gluten free diet".

Where do I start?! Any tips? I don't really suffer from stomach issues, the only hint was a slightly positive blood test followed by a positive biopsy. Thanks in advance

Hopeful bump

It feels completely overwhelming to start with. Becky excel is your friend.
Google gluten-free cuppa tea which is her blog.

Warburton's GF bread is preferable to the others IMO. And my son's.

Do you like to cook/ bake?
How many other people in your household? You need to be very careful about cross contamination so no handling gluten products.
And gluten.wheat, barley and rye are hidden in all sorts of things unfortunately. Watch out for stock cubes!
Rice based meals were our go to at the beginning.

I think there was a coeliac or gluten free discussion thread on here recently. Perhaps if you search those words it will take you to them.

my dh was diagnosed nearly 30 years ago. It was a shift but there is so much good food out there for coeliacs that it’s ok to make the change.

you’ll soon have your favourite gf products. We also are careful with our cooking spaces so we don’t contaminate. I tend to cook gf for all but if I want pastry might buy a pie, with a gf alternative for him.

Definitely Becky Excel. There’s a Facebook group you can join. You can also join the coeliac society and they will send you information. I would think you’d be referred to a dietitian..?
It’s important to note even if you have mild symptoms, you need to be really strict with being gluten free. Even a tiny amount of gluten can cause damage to your gut.
I’m Gf (intolerant, coeliac tests were negative). When I started, I was always checking labels on food. Now I know what’s ‘safe’ for the most part, but anything new or change in packaging I double check. If you follow Becky Excel, she does loads of GF recipes, make some excellent subs. Eating out is more challenging- you need to ask for the gluten free options and ask them to be careful about cross contamination.
It’s not easy to start with but the food options are so much better than even when I went GF about 13 years ago so don’t despair!

Hi, there is a coeliac thread on here with some great advice. It’s really overwhelming at first, I’ve been diagnosed 3 years now. I went through my cupboards and checked all the labels, look for BROWS (barley, rye, oats, wheat, spelt) then make a list of anything you need alternatives for - google is your friend here!
i always try to find naturally gluten free rather than the free from section to save £££, other than bread and pasta I manage quite well.
eating out hasn’t been a problem but take aways are harder to find/trust.
i struggle most with convenience, not being able to just grab a sandwich when you’re out is a pain but you get used to it!
Just ask if there’s anything you want to know.
I second pp on Becky excell too - she’s great!!

💐

Thanks for the replies, some good advice. Off to find Becky...!

My daughter was diagnosed coeliac when she was 2 years old 10 years ago. It is really overwhelming to begin with. Easy to find gluten free food but hard to understand what other food is safe for coeliacs and not at risk from cross contamination. I am assuming you're in the UK so would advise joining their coeliac society and get access to their annual food list and app where you can scan products to see if they're safe for coeliacs. Also if you live with others keep your foods seperate in the kitchen, have a seperate toaster and possibly utensils.

I've got 2 coeliac grandchildren and was a nervous wreck cooking for them originally. Now it's a breeze - I've got a separate cupboard for their GF flour etc, and keep separate butter containers for them in the fridge. I have a marker pen for putting GF on the lids of jam/chocolate spread. A separate toaster has also saved some grey hairs.

My tip is that lots of foods are naturally gluten free, the GF supermarket products tend to be very expensive so the only things I buy are bread as my own attempts have been disastrous! BBC good food have lots of tips and good recipes: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/gluten-free-foods-what-eat-and-what-avoid

Becky Excell is a legend, everything I've cooked from her recipes works well. I did try the Phil Vickery book but it's too complicated with blending flours for me.

@StarsBeneathMyFeet

I appear to have developed gluten intolerance. I am assuming it's just intolerant not coeliac as I am fine if I don't eat too much.

Can it still case damage if I am eating some or should I get tested for coeliac to make sure?

As well as the usual stuff about checking labels, learning about cross-contamination, not ruling out the muggle food, and making sure you get referred to see a dietician, I would also recommend finding at least one gluten-free cereal bar/packet of crackers/other resilient, long-life snack that you like, and making sure there's always one at the bottom of your handbag. You never know when you're going to end up in a giant service station with three food shops and four restaurants where practically the only thing you can find that's safe to eat is a giant bag of prawn crackers 😒

(To be fair, I'm additionally restricted by the need to eat a low sugar diet to control diabetes, but I find it mind-boggling that I can go in a big service station like South Mimms and not be able to put together anything even resembling a meal from what's available.)

ETA: I think it's especially helpful at this stage, early on, when you're not used to checking labels and allergy menus yet, meaning it all takes longer than it will do once you're used to it, and you maybe haven't yet got properly comfortable with asking questions and feeling confident that you've communicated the issue and it's been taken seriously. It can just take the pressure off a bit knowing that you have something with you that you can eat if necessary, without any faffing or stress. I also found it useful for things like, for example, easing conversations with friends, if they were uncomfortable about ordering a cake with their coffee when there wasn't a safe option for me — I could say "No, no, have the cake! I've got something else I can have."

I am newly diagnosed gluten intolerant..not coeliac and l find Aldi good..porridge, rolls, treats etc. My biggest difficulty is eating out. Here in lreland all allergens are marked on the menu and there is usually just one thing l can eat. Also l carry a snack with me everywhere as if l am having coffee in a friend's house etc l don't want it to be awkward. Rice cakes are good here..chocolate ones!!
Watch gravy!
I don't get sick but get a rash which is quite itchy and uncomfortable.

Thanks for all the info and personal experience. Today was day one, so far so good.