Lets get personal......

[Silver Ether]

I drink vodka and I survive ...

You could try Rye bread ... the poper stuff though dark brown and like cardboard ... I do quite like but in small doses... Nice fluffy rye bread quite often contains wheat as well ...

good luck

[Silver Ether]

here a few booze links for us ...

http://www.wheat-free.org/wheat-gluten- ... cohol.html

http://gfkitchen.server101.com/GFAlcohol.htm

http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=271

[chadspad]

Thanks for the links - it says wine is safe!!! Phew thats a relief lol

[Silver Ether]

its alright for some ...

[chadspad]

Cant believe how much stuff has wheat in! Altho I want to find the cause Im hoping its not wheat or gluten. Most of the contents in my cupboards & fridge are inedible at the moment! Was surprised to find crisps and sausages with wheat & gluten. I have found a bread that is made from flour of oats - would that be alright?

[nessnco]

Chadspad - oats depend on the factory they are processed in - more factories run oats through the same mills as wheat - In NZ Harroways have mills for oats only all the rest have gluten in from the wheat - oats don't actually have gluten. Hope this helps.

[chadspad]

Yes thanks. Very difficult for me to tell exactly whats on labels as my french isnt that good on those subjects - yet!

What about popcorn?

Was surprised to see mayo is on the no-go list too from the vinegar I asume? Its a huge list of no-go stuff!

[Annpan]

My MIL is a coeliac and I have had a few friends who have suffered too.
Vodka is fine, as long as it is made from potatoes ( beware some cheap vodka is made from wheat)
Popcorn should be fine but check flavourings for wheat based additives (homemade will be OK)

You can get really good gluten free flour from Doves Farm in britain (it is a mixture of rice and corn flour (mostly)

try this BBC site for more pointers

good luck

[chadspad]

Thanks AnnPan, another interesting & helpful link.

Ive only been doing wheat-free since Friday and already Im craving all the naughty things that I usually eat lol.

What all of these sites say tho is that a wheat-free diet shouldnt be tried without the supervision & say-so of your Doctor. I have looked on the NHS site for various illnesses that could be my problem - either IBS, colitis or the coeliac disease (with colitis being the most probable). This would be treated with a variety of drugs that I would then need blood test afterwards to check if the drugs arent damaging me in anyway. I really dont fancy that and that, along with the fear of the endoscopy, is keeping me from going to the docs again. I shall free-of weeks and see if any of those help before admitting defeat and being pumped full of rubbish!

Thanks for all thos that have replied with help

[Stonehead]

Vodka is fine, as long as it is made from potatoes ( beware some cheap vodka is made from wheat)

That's a bit too simplistic!

Vodka can be made from wheat, rye, beets, corn, potatoes, barley, grapes. sugar cane, hemp seeds and rye, among others.

The grain-based ones tend to be smoother and can be a bit fruity; the vegetable-based ones tend to be slightly oily and more herbal (bad ones can taste overly medicinal).

There are very good wheat vodkas and very bad potato vodkas.

So, if you're a coeliac and want a good vodka, what should try? Chopin. It's a Polish potato vodka, made from organic potatoes and very smooth with a slight oiliness. It's a very clean vodka that's fantastic with blinis and black bread.

I've managed to wangle it as a present a couple of times, and if I had money to burn it's one drink I'd definitely spend my own money on. And do not mix it with anything!

[chadspad]

Im now pretty sure that bread is making me very bloated and starting my stomach off. Looking back I think pasta does too. I have managed to source some different flours without wheat or gluten, can anyone tell me how I would make bread please? Can I still use bread yeast or is that a no-go too? Doesnt the gluten stick the bread together? What do I use instead? Would I use the flour just the same for making cakes & yorkshire puddings etc?

[chadspad]

Well after a month of trying different foods to see if they help my stomach, I had to give in and go back to the doctors who insisted I go in for an endoscopy which is scheduled for this afternoon He said I have colitis and he wants to see the extent of it. I havent eaten anything since yesterday lunchtime and after this revolting flush-out stuff Im trying to drink now along with 1.5 litres of water, Im not allowed anything to eat or drink until I go in at 2pm! To say Im hungry is an understatement lol.
My main fear was not waking from the anaesthetic but ive been assured that there is no risk and Im glad to be getting it done and sorted as Ive started to feel quite ill and poorly from the illness. Im now in automatic pilot mode so as not to worry too much!

[Millymollymandy]

Oh poor you Chadspad. Don't worry about the anaesthetic - be glad about it - you won't know what is going on, which is much nicer. I hope you get sorted out soon so you don't have to suffer any more. Big hugs!

[Thomzo]

I hope it went well, Chadspad. Let us know how you got on.

Thinking of you.

Zoe

[the.fee.fairy]

I hope it was all successful Chadspad. At least you might be able to get to the bottom of things now (no pun intended!!).