Celiac Disease

Question: Whats' the difference between having celiac disease and a gluten sensitivity? If you are allergic to gluten, does that mean you have celiac disease? I'm confused. Thanks.

Answer: Celiacs disease can be diagnosed by a blood test however gluten sensitivity can't be. There is an indicator to see if you have celiacs in your genes, which can suggest you may have a heightened sensitivity to gluten. If you have celiacs and then eat gluten you're actually poisoning your body. However someone with a gluten allergy doesn't actually poison their body, it's just not good for you. Most people with gluten sensitivity don't have allergies similar to those with allergies to nuts for example. Someone with celiacs disease also increases the chances of developing bowel cancer by 3 times (however the chance of developing bowel cancer is only .1% in the normal population). This doesn't happen in people with gluten sensitivity. Basically, they have similar symptoms. I hope this helped. ...

Question: Could somebody have celiac disease and be allergic to wheat at the same time? Okay, if somebody gets and itchy rash, constipation, SEVERE joint pain (on all joints and knuckles), and gets muscle aches after consuming wheat products its this usually a symptom of celiac disease/gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy? Also, could somebody have both a true immune system wheat allergy as well as celiac disease? What about being lactose intolerant and allergic to milk at the same time?

Answer: The symptoms of celiac, gluten intolerance and wheat allergies can all be very similar. Sadly since each of them are different issues, you would have to undergo different testing procedures to know for sure which and how many you have. It is quite possible to have all at the same time too. You can also have both lactose intolerance and milk allergies. Some even say that the failure to treat one creates the other (found in the book "Milk is Not for Every Body").

Question: Are there any good restaurants for people who have the celiac disease? My little brother has the celiac disease which means he is allergic to gluten. When we are out he has to eat a lot of pure beef or chicken and I feel sorry for him so I am putting together a list of restaurants that have good food and maybe also gluten-free pizza and pasta. So it there any good restaurants with good gluten-free food in Ottawa, Ontario?

Answer: Many of the national restaurants in the US have gluten free options. Outback, Carrabbas, PF Chang all have gluten free menus. Magiannos even carries gluten free pasta. But I don't know if any of those are available in Ottawa. I have celiac disease and eat out a lot and my standby is a grilled chicken caesar salad after checking the dressing if possible. I tend to avoid Mexican and Chinese restaurants and have found that Italian restaurants seem to be the most accomodating toward finding something. My advise is to call ahead, talk to them and see what they are willing to do. Good luck

Question: What are the differences between celiac disease and autoimmune hepatitis? The high liver enzymes levels (3 folds of one of them) and high total bilirubin (2.8) is good indicators to say it is autoimmune, if we can not do the tests for the celiac disease

Answer: Hi Im Chris, Both diseases are autoimmune diseases. in autoimmune diseases the bodys own cells become overactive and start attacking either one part of the body (as is the case pretty much in these, with autoimmune hepatitis it is the liver, in Celiac it is an intolarance to foods that are strachy, sugared, etc). In other disease like Lupus, MS, and others they are more widespread and attack the entire body or more bodily functions or systems. I personally have Lupus, Sjgrens and Autoimmune Hepatitis. I Know a little about Celiac disease so I did some research, so I will let you know about how they diagnose that first. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines, and vitamins. to diagnose it they do several things. How is celiac disease diagnosed? Recognizing celiac disease can be difficult because some of its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. In fact, sometimes celiac disease is confused with irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia caused by menstrual blood loss, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, intestinal infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. As a result, celiac disease is commonly underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Recently, researchers discovered that people with celiac disease have higher than normal levels of certain autoantibodies in their blood. Antibodies are protective proteins produced by the immune system in response to substances that the body perceives to be threatening. Autoantibodies are proteins that react against the body’s own molecules or tissues. To diagnose celiac disease, physicians will usually test blood to measure levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA) Before being tested, one should continue to eat a regular diet that includes foods with gluten, such as breads and pastas. If a person stops eating foods with gluten before being tested, the results may be negative for celiac disease even if celiac disease is actually present. If the tests and symptoms suggest celiac disease, the doctor will perform a small bowel biopsy. During the biopsy, the doctor removes a tiny piece of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi. To obtain the tissue sample, the doctor eases a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth and stomach into the small intestine. Using instruments passed through the endoscope, the doctor then takes the sample. What is the treatment? The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet. When a person is first diagnosed with celiac disease, the doctor usually will ask the person to work with a dietitian on a gluten-free diet plan. A dietitian is a health care professional who specializes in food and nutrition. Someone with celiac disease can learn from a dietitian how to read ingredient lists and identify foods that contain gluten in order to make informed decisions at the grocery store and when eating out. For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within days of starting the diet. The small intestine is usually completely healed in 3 to 6 months in children and younger adults and within 2 years for older adults. Healed means a person now has villi that can absorb nutrients from food into the bloodstream. In order to stay well, people with celiac disease must avoid gluten for the rest of their lives. Eating any gluten, no matter how small an amount, can damage the small intestine. The damage will occur in anyone with the disease, including people without noticeable symptoms. Depending on a person’s age at diagnosis, some problems will not improve, such as delayed growth and tooth discoloration. OK That is the Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment after the diagnosis. Onto The autoimmune Hepatitis, I will use personal experience and some information from a website. Autoimmune Hepatitis has nothing to do with Hepatitis A, B, or C. It is not contagious in any way shape or form. It can stand alone as it's own autoimmune disease or can be triggered by another. Usually either Sjogren's or Lupus (SLE). Usually Sjogren's. It can also be called Lupoid Hepatitis. The symptoms most common are an extended painful upper abdomen, jaundice, Enlarged Liver, Itchiness, Fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, loss of appitite, dark urine, pale or grey stools. I remeber looking 5 months pregnant though I didnt eat. There are several steps of testing. First are abnormal basic Liver function tests AST, ALT, Billirubin, Sometimes a Positive ANA (Antinuclear Antibody, also found in other autoimmunes like Lupus, sjogrens, and others), a positive Anti-Smooth Muscle Test Or its inititls (sp) SMA. The pattern and level of these test help distinquish which disease may be going on. In addition you more than likely will have a liver biopsy. I had one. I had no problems. I had it, woke up was on side, and wanted to leave.. they wanted me to stay. I stayed for awhile. But not all people wake up as well as I do from surgery. I was a bit sore. Right now there are two mainstream treatments, I do not use either one, both do not work on me. Those treatments are Prednison (a class of medical steroids), and Imuran (an Immunosuppresent, used for transplant paitents, and other sutoimmune diseases). In the last several years, They have found that the medication first used for gallstones and galbladder disease called Actigall is very effective along with the natural herb Milk Thisle. Those are what my Rhuemotologists use on me. She swears by both. I was getting very close to a transplant list. I did need some IV chemo, but with that and those two other therapies I am in total remisson. In fact with proper care 7 out of 10 paitents will go into remisson. Many may still have mild attacks, mine come and go. Both disease are not desirable. No autoimmune disease is, but with proper care and following your doctors orders both can be controlled. I do co-own an autoimmune support group, we do a lot of Lupus, but we are a mixed bag of everything, mainly females but male and female. Good luck Any questions email me at christibro40@yahoo.com Im good for the autoimmune Hepatitis

Question: Tax deductions for gluten free food for people with celiac disease? My wife and 3 children have celiac disease. Can we claim a deduction for having to buy gluten free food? We have not kept receipts. Is there an estimated deduction for this?

Answer: No receipts, no deduction. From publication 502: You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs, The food alleviates or treats an illness, and The need for the food is substantiated by a physician. The amount you can include in medical expenses is limited to the amount by which the cost of the special food exceeds the cost of a normal diet.

Question: Can a Heart Murmur lead to Diabetes and the Celiac Disease? The Celiac Disease is when the body is sensitive to Gluten which is found in Rye, Wheat. When the Gluten molecule combines with antibodies in the small intestine. It then causes the lining of the intestine to flatten, which then means that its unable to digest and absorb foods. A Heart Murmur is when you have an irregular heart beat (like me) and it can be fatal.

Answer: Heart murmurs are fairly common and I wouldn't worry about it unless your doctor thinks there is a reason to be concerned. Diabetes could be more likely if you don't ever exercise because of the heart murmur, but the murmur will not directly cause it. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease and I don't think it is related to heart murmurs. Heart murmurs are actually not just irregular beating-it's hearing an extra or unusual sound during the heart beat. The irregular beating is an heart arrhythmia, which definitely can be a concern. Again, the risk is it is harder to exercise because you don't want your heart rate to get to high because of the risks and you are more likely to have diabetes if you don't exercise and eat right.

Question: How rigorous do I have to be in avoiding gluten for celiac disease? I have a provisional diagnosis of celiac disease, but have been symptom free - except for some absorption issues. So now I have to live gluten-free. But I'm the mom, chief clerk and bottle washer. How careful do I have to be when I make regular food for my family? Can I still bake their light, fluffy and tender birthday cakes using cake flour? Sandwiches on regular bread for them? Since I don't have symptoms, isn't it going to be impossible to tell how much is too much?

Answer: Symptoms or not, the damage is still being done to your body. You MUST be as careful as you can when you have a "mixed" household.(meaning gluten and non-gluten eaters) This means separate cooking pots, cooking utensils, separate toaster, dish washing sponges, etc. Set up a area in the kitchen that is gluten free.Do NOT allow anything to get into that area. You have to realize that the amount of gluten to trigger a reaction is just slightly more than 20 parts per MILLION, so we are talking less than a crumb to set off the reaction. If you use those flours in your 'normal' baking, then you need to set up the area ahead of time so you can contain the flour dust poof (it can travel up to 3 feet.) I have heard of people having reactions from inhaling the dust and then swallowing it, so be very careful to keep your face out of the way and wash your hands, face, arms, etc. well after using unsafe flours, just to be on the safe side. Most of my friends with celiac mix all of that stuff up outside and then bring it in the house to cook only. Most eating of gluten is outdoors where it can not cross contaminate the kitchen. I have a friend who had an oven installed in the garage for her husband to prepare and cook his artisan breads in.He does not bring those flours into the house as it simply isn't worth the risk. Personally, I just went 100% gluten free in my kitchen except for packaged breads that we keep in the dining room (on a server in there) and the crumbs are kept clean using disposable towels. That way no crumbs end up in drawers or on the wrong dish sponge, etc. On nicer days sandwiches with gluten bread are made and eaten outside. I find that it is best to have one safe haven in a world full of gluten out there! Remember, the more strict you are with your diet, the less likely you are to cause the autoimmune reaction, and the less chance of cancer you have at a later time. Go as gluten free as you can, you owe it to yourself and your family to be here as long as you can! Sorry, but gluten free is hard work, but well worth it! Also, once you get that diagnosis of celiac, your children, siblings and parents will need to get tested (and continue to get tested throughout life because it can trigger at any time) as this is a genetic based autoimmune disease. Please go to celiac.com to get more information on setting up a safe gluten free area for you and to download the unsafe ingredient list. The gluten free mall has some great gluten free shopping guides that are real lifelines. Good luck, hope you get your diagnosis soon, happy healing! p.s. really good gf sites are out there! Try Katrina's Kitchen, gluten free girl, gluten frieda, celiac.com lots of great everyday easy things to make so going gf for your whole family won't be that bad! Enjoy your new, healthy lifestyle!

Question: Can anyone tell me about celiac disease symptoms? My friend has been ill for a few days. At first we thought it was just a cold but someone mentioned that it could be celiac disease. Can anyone tell me about celiac disease symptoms?

Answer: Canadian Celiac Association advises that symptoms of celiac disease are as follows: Common symptoms are anemia, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, cramps and bloating, irritability. Although some or all of these symptoms occur in celiac disease, some can also occur in many other diseases more common than celiac disease. In other cases, sufferers from gluten-intolerance develop an intense burning and itching rash called dermatitis herpetiformis. The intestinal symptoms of celiac disease may or may not appear in dermatitis herpetiformis. Until recently physicians had to rely on clinical signs to suggest the diagnosis and to select which patients should have further investigation to prove the diagnosis. Since these signs may be vague or of varying severity this may be difficult. Now simple blood screening tests are becoming available to help this process. A definitive diagnosis can only be made by a small bowel biopsy. The biopsy is performed by a specialist in the gastrointestinal field. The biopsy must be done before treatment is started Celiac disease as yet has no known cure, but can usually be effectively treated and controlled. The treatment of celiac disease is strict adherence to a GLUTEN FREE DIET FOR LIFE. This requires knowledgeable dietetic counselling and frequent "up-dates" as commercial food contents change. Today's processed and packaged foods have many hidden sources of gluten which can be unintentionally ingested. Particular care should be taken in the selection of soups, luncheon meats and sausages. The person with celiac disease MUST READ THE LIST OF INGREDIENTS ON ALL LABELS, EVERY TIME. There is a great variation in sensitivity to gluten among those with celiac disease, and although one may have no obvious symptoms, damage to the intestinal lining may still occur.

Question: How can you tell the difference betweeb IBS and Celiac Disease? My stomach has been very weird since I was stationed in VA. I saw a show about Celiac Disease and swore up and down that I was going through the same things. I am always tired, I have constipation/diarrhea in alternation, sometimes I'm bloated, my allergies change (one minute I'm allergic to wheat and can eat dairy and then I am lactose intolerant and can eat wheat), my body really shuts down at times,... It's not so bad now but I begged my doctor to test me for Celiac and he told me I was overexaggerating and it's just lactose intolerance. I wanted to smack him because I don't even eat a lot of dairy products and I knew it was the wheat doing those things to me. Ironically, some months later, dairy products tore me up but the symptoms weren't the same. I had a colonoscopy, everything and all my test results came back negative. SO, how can you REALLY tell whether it's IBS or Celiac?

Answer: Celiac runs in my family, and most (if not all) of my family members that have it were misdiagnosed. My sister finally realized she had celiac simply by abstaining from wheat for a while. Try it for a few months and see if it helps. If you still feel this way, then you probably don't have Celiac. Another possibility is that you have an allergy to both gluten and dairy. If this is the case, then sometimes you might react more to one or the other depending on your diet for that week. For instance, if you are allergic to gluten or dairy (or both), you might be able to eat one or the other for weeks before it builds up in your system and then seemingly randomly affects you. This is one reason why it so hard to diagnose. Hope this helps.

Question: Would a colonoscopy let me know if I have celiac disease? I've had some problems with my stomach for a few years now and think that I might have celiac disease. I had a colonoscopy 3 years ago and my intestines looked fined, so does that mean I don't have celiac disease or would celiac disease not show up in a colonoscopy?

Answer: No, a colonoscopy checks the large intestine and the problems with celiac disease show up in the small intestine so the test used for that is an endoscopy down the throat which is not as bad as it sounds. First would come some blood tests. You need to ensure that you are eating glutenous foods til you get tested.

Question: celiac disease? I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease (a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food)and im also allergic to eggs and lactose intolerant and... i want to know if i continue a gluten free diet if i can grow anymore.... The doctor miss diagnosed me a few years ago (i was 9) and im 16 now. is it possible that i can still grow.. is it too late. im 5'5'' and im supposed to be around 5'8"

Answer: I have the Celiac curse too! I stopped eating gluten when I was around 14, and two years later, I'm about 5 inches taller. I think that you'll grow, but then again it all depends on your genetic disposition. When was the last time you grew? If you're only 16 and you're supposed to be 5'8", you're probably due for a growth spurt. Maybe the gluten was hindering your growth. My spurt didn't come until I quit gluten. Just a tip: you can convert virtually any gluten bakery recipe to gluten-free by taking out all of the gluten ingredients (like wheat flour) and replacing it with a corresponding amount of gluten-free ingredients (like tapioca starch, rice flour, sweet rice flour, etc.). And to converted recipes, you MUST add a tsp. or two of xanthan gum. It will help the recipe to rise and hold together. This should work for egg and lactose free recipes, but I'm not positive. I've never tried it. And Ener-G is awesome because a lot of their products are lactose free and egg free as well as gluten free. I hope your lactose-egg-gluten free diet goes well, my Celiac sister!

Question: What is the best age to test for Celiac Disease? My son has Down Syndrome and because people with DS have a higher risk of Celiac Disease, we have opted to avoid gluten until he can be accurately tested. I have gotten mixed answers as far as how early he can be ACCURATELY tested. Anyone any experience with this?

Answer: Hi! Some people say that a person needs to be eating bread/gluten for a least three weeks to test positive to celiac. Others say that no time is required. If you go to a doctor who has experience with celiac (preferably if they also have experience with Down Syndrome or Autism and the food connection with behavior), they will be able to note all of the symptoms and see the test results and make an accurate diagnosis. Many children never show the typical symptoms. Therefore it is really important that you find a doctor who has experience with celiac. Another thing to remember is that some children are only gluten intolerant. This means that their bodies still react negatively to gluten, just in less intensity than in those with celiac. I want to recommend to you a diet that has helped LOADS of children with autism, adhd, down syndrome, etc and adults with IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, IBD, etc. It is similar to gluten free / casein free (the diet that many with downs syndrome and autism follow)... but it is much more effective. It is called SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) and works by helping the body digest corrently again... based on 50 years of research into how the small intestine affects the brain. You can ask loads of mothers on the yahoo groups forum for this diet about celiac testing. They have loads of experience about how their children are affected by the food they eat. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pec…

Question: What kind of cookies can you home baked snack for someone with Celiac Disease? My child's preschool teacher refused to eat my Christmas cookies at the class party as she said she has Celiac Disease. For Valentines, I wanted to make a snack she could eat too. Any ideas?

Answer: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print…

Question: My daughter has celiac disease. Do you know of any stores that cater to people with gluten allergies? My newborn daughter has been diagnosed with severe celiac disease. Right now we are getting her special food from Baby Care. Do you know of any stores besides this that will provide top-notch food for Ella? Besides stores, do you have any other suggestions to help me take care of Ella and make sure all of her needs are met? Thank you so much for any help or suggestions you can provide. xXo

Answer: Hi. I find it amazing your newborn has been diagnosed. Mind if I ask how? Celiac usually takes a VERY long time to get diagnosed and if your doc was that good to think about checking for it, let me know bc the local Celiac groups would want to know!! First off, you dont mention her age, but most infants dont eat gluten anyway until at least 6-9 mos of age. As for baby jar food, just be sure to read the ingredients. This site will be very helpful for you, print out this list of forbidden foods, take it every time u shop and in no time youll be a pro at reading labels! http://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_cat… Once she starts eating 'solids' (other than baby food) u will find it harder bc she wont be able to eat things like teether biscuits, but it is doable. These are the best stores, sites, and brands Ive found: Whole Foods Market Wild Oats Trader Joes and you should have a local health food store in your area. U really dont need to buy special baby food, just read the labels on gerber, etc, brands. Watch stuff that's obvious like macaroni, etc, and watch the cereals. Only use plain rice cereal. U can also (when she's old enough) buy gluten free oatmeal from www.creamhillestates.com. Regular Quaker and other brands of oatmeal are not gf. You may want to just make your own baby food, veggies,a nd fruits. Again for more 'toddlery' foods try these sites and items: www.glutenfree.com www.glutensolutions.com www.amazon.com (great for buying in bulk when u find something u like) www.kinnikinnick.com Brands: Glutino breakfast bars--much like nutrigrain bars Envirokidz VANILLA animal crackers--they are gf cookies Glutino "ritz style" crackers (thats how they're described ont he website.) Most applesauces will be GF, as will canned fruits (stick to ones in fruit juice, not syrup). You will prob find this group helpful: Yahoo Health Groups "SillyYaks" I hope this helps, my child isnt Celiac (at least he's tested neg so far) but I am so Im not totally up to date on baby friendly GF stuff! Remember unless she has an actually ALLERGY to gluten or she suffers from DH (the rash associated with Celaic) she does not need special GF bath and body products. BUt if u just like to be careful, California Baby is a great line that's very allergen free friendly. U can find it at whole foods. remember if u nurse, some women find the baby does better if they also eat GF also. just a thought. Also remember Celiac is EXTREMELY hereditary, you and your spouse should be tested immediately for Celiac. For more info, seet hese sites and books or email me. www.csaceliacs.org www.celiac.com www.celiac.org "Celiac Disease a Hidden Epidemic" by Dr Peter Green "Living Gluten Free for Dummies" by Danna Korn

Question: Has anyone heard of or experienced elevated Vitamin A levels along with celiac disease? Friend has had string of higher and higher "A" levels along with other symptoms of celiac (Gluten sensitive) disease. Has anyone ever heard of these symptoms occurring simultaneously?

Answer: Your question raises more questions. The first question your question raises: is her diagnosis correct? The second question is: did she have a basline? The most important question is: high compared to what? And that question does have to go back to the person who gave her the test results. What was the first level? How does it relate to the last? Could it signify a recovery? Something else? What are the other levels in comparison - Vitamin D for example? The answer to your question is No, I haven't heard or read about the symptoms occuring simultaneously. It is unusual for someone with Celiac disease to have higher and higher Vitamin A counts because of the difficulty in digesting, absorbing or metabolizing vitamins with this disease. Vitamin A deficiency is not unusual. http://www.glutenfreeworks.com/article_d… In this article you will see that your friend should talk to her doctor about adding more Vitamin D - especially D3 to her diet to allow her to process calcium. (Although actually a hormone, Vitamin D functions as a vitamin.) She is actually more at risk for bone density loss and osteoporosis as it is. Whether or not she has gluten sensitivity, Celiac disease or not. Elevated levels of A can cause liver problems as well as osteoporosis. Except in the cases of retinitis pigmentosa, it is possible to develop Vitamin a toxicity. Has your friend's doctor discussed this with her? Or are her levels higher than they were because she is treating the gluten sensitivity successfully and the higher levels are simply a return to normalcy? If she has been on a gluten free diet, she may be getting better. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamin… "Vitamin A toxicity can occur with long-term consumption of 20 mg of retinol or more per day. The symptoms of vitamin A overdosing include accumulation of water in the brain (hydrocephalus), vomiting, tiredness, constipation, bone pain, and severe headaches. The skin may acquire a rough and dry appearance, with hair loss and brittle nails. Vitamin A toxicity is a special issue during pregnancy. Expectant mothers who take 10 mg vitamin A or more on a daily basis may have an infant with birth defects. These birth defects include abnormalities of the face, nervous system, heart, and thymus gland. It is possible to take in toxic levels of vitamin A by eating large quantities of certain foods. For example, about 30 grams of beef liver, 500 grams of eggs, or 2,500 grams of mackerel would supply 10 mg of retinol. The livers of polar bears and other arctic animals may contain especially high levels of vitamin A." http://www.answers.com/topic/vitamin-tox… note: apparently only one person has been known to die of this toxicity and that person lived (and died) on a diet of polar bear liver. Here is a link to a Celiac disease check list which you can send to your friend. http://www.celiaccentral.org/About-Celia… "Gluten intolerance can decrease if gluten is eliminated for long periods of time. The damaged intestine can heal and it may not be necessary to eliminate all gluten forever" http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Gluten…

Question: What are some effective methods to combat depression in a person who suffers from celiac disease? My byf (49) suffers from celiac disease (guten intolerance) - I have researched websites that reccomend vitamin B-26? But that's about it? He's on a strict gluten free diet, but that doesn't seem to be enough. Any & all helpful information is greatly appreciated.

Answer: Hi. Depression and mental issues are VERY common for Celiacs. It has A LOT to do with WHEN he ws diagnosed with Celiac. If it is int he last few years, you have to give it time. The body has been malnourished and in vitamin deficiency for a long time. By age 49, he has probably had years of damage done by gluten to his body and mind. (Yes gluten affects the mind by robbing it of valuable vitamins and nutrients such as the b vitamins--for those with Celiac.) He really needs to see his doc again and discuss other options, perhaps the B shots (Ive never heard of B 26 but I would not take any B vitamins without docs help.) He could also see a nutritionsit bc the GF diet is restrictive and he may be getting hidden forms of gluten and not know it, or his body is still adjusting. It can take months, even years for hte body to heal from Celiac (and every time gluten in eaten again, more damage is done) so the GF diet is for LIFE. The whole change to the GF life is very difficult and it is not uncommon for ppl to literally mourn the lost food. (Seriously!) Bc food is so often intertwined with life activities (beer and pizza with friends, wedding cake, superbowl parties, etc). But there are yummy GF versions of virtually everything. Feel free to email me if u need any furthe rhelp!