http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...522456636.html

Here's a new article in the Wall Street Journal about gluten intolerance (as opposed to celiac disease).

I don't have any digestive symptoms of gluten trouble, but it's been on my mind for a while that I ought to try a gluten-free diet. Sigh.

Abby

I think we are starting to realize the price we pay for our industrialized world.

I also find it interesting that people feel something is making them feel ill, don't bother anyone with it, and just cut it out of their diet, and are disbelieved and told it is all in their head, just because it has not been described (yet) in medical text-books.

My husband recently got a new hand soap. the moment I used it, I felt it was making my MG symptoms worse. My husband said that he can't believe this. I told him he doesn't have to believe just throw it away. He couldn't ignore that I was in fact feeling better. They then seemed to add the same cheap perfume (or some other one) to our laundry fluid. This time my husband just did what I asked, without any further discussions.

I now ask him to buy only detergents that are used for baby clothes. I assume and hope that they will keep those more gentle. I am also looking into getting some organic detergents instead the ones we are using.

some of this may be unavoidable if we want to have enough food for everyone, but I am sure that quite a lot of it is. We don't have to try and engineer everything and trying to improve thousands of years of evolution of nature (including us), without truly understanding what we are actually doing.

It's time we start to understand that we are only one species on this planet and not those that created it.

Alice, I buy only "free and clear" laundry detergent, because one of my kids breaks out in scary hives in reaction to some perfumes.

So: gluten-free. What's the healthiest mix I can buy for my bread machine? I don't care how it tastes. This is just for me and not the kids, so it doesn't matter. Bring it on! Lumpty, gritty, dry, crumbly, bitter after-taste from fava beans--whatever, as long as it's nutritious (in other words, can I do better than white rice and potato starch?).

I am going to try this because I'm an itchy, allergic person (nose, eyes, throat, ears) who's also prone to migraines, and because I know that MGers are prone to gluten intolerance. I also have Graves' disease. I'm just that type. Also, the Imuran, to my surprise, makes me not hungry, so it will be easier to resist stuff. Plus, it's Lent!

Abby

I think it is definitely worth trying. Although I think that people that have gluten sensitivity actually feel unwell after they eat bread, and this is why they suspect it to be the cause of their problems (just like I noticed that horrible perfume right away), but maybe I am wrong about that.

I have noticed long ago that some foods or combinations make me feel much less good, and have pretty much arranged my diet around that, without any scientific reasoning. I have made major changes in my diet and eating habits since I became ill, but maybe this can be further improved.

When I was in the hospital for six days, I lost my usual itchiness. Since I had brought my pillow with me, and was eating bread and dairy, my best guess is that it's my wet basement at home that's setting me off--I'm also worse when there are a lot of wet, rotting leaves on the ground during a rainy autumn. I think it's mold that really gets me, and maybe dust. Our wood stove certainly doesn't help, I'm sure--but there's no way we can afford oil, so I'm going to live with that.

That sounds really sensible to me, what you say about noticing that you feel worse after bread...I don't. Bread sits really well with me. So, maybe it's unnecessary to disrupt my life like this (I find it so hard to change daily habits!).

I once had the allergy test where they prick your arm, and I tested positive for everything. I'm basically allergic to anything organic: grass, trees, dust mites, mold, cats and dogs...But I was never tested for food allergies.

Abby

I am not sure how accurate those prick tests are. someone told me they lost favor because they were not very specific. (eg-people would appear to be allergic to everything when they aren't really). I think that people who are allergic or sensitive to something can easily recognize it. In fact even much less sophisticated animals then us learn to avoid noxious material.

It is just that people are made by those around them to doubt themselves and their natural instincts. I remember for instance that when my first son was born, I insisted on breast-feeding him. The pediatrician tried to convince me to give him baby formula because he was not gaining enough weight and I did not have enough milk. He said to me that I am starving my baby with my "crazy" ideas. I thought it was not reasonable that I would not have enough milk to feed my baby, and ignored what he said, just following my instincts like a cow would. within a short period we got adjusted. I ended up having so much milk that I could give some to another baby if needed. I breast fed him until he was 10 month old.

it is now well recognized by most pediatricians that breast feeding is the best possible option. (which makes perfect sense, as this is what babies were designed to feed on).

what you say about dust and mold sounds very reasonable to me. And it is true that there is a limit to how much we can control our environment. It is also possible that you had less itching when receiving IVIG because of the antihistamines that you probably got with it.

I personally try to be reasonable about it. I avoid what ever I feel is making me significantly worse, but tolerate more minor discomforts. After all I am not the only person around.

I am told that Bisquick just came out with a gluten-free mix for made-by-hand biscuits, pancakes, etc., that is very good. I thought i recalled a machine mix; will look (if I can read) when I go to the store.
Harriet