After several conversations with different people it became clear that there was a necessity to define three things:
Allergies
Autoimmune:
Immunodeficiency:
Coeliac Disease is the Second of these three. Lets start though with the definition of an Allergy.
When you have an allergy it is because your body overreacts to otherwsie harmless stimuli, causing uncomfortable and sometimes harmful symptoms.
When you have an autoimmune disease (as I do, Coeliac Disease) your body essentially attacks itself, causing damage to your digestive system, respiratory system, or muscles for example.
An immunodeficiency disorder is when your body stops protecting you from foreign stimuli like viruses, toxins, bacteria and tumors.
So the difference between gluten sensitivity (allergy) and Coeliac disease (autoimmune) is this:
With Coeliac Disease gluten triggers an autoimmune response that causes serious harm to the digestive system. People who have Coeliac Disease MUST cut all gluten products from their diet (hence 'strict' gluten free diet), if they don't it can cause irreparable damage to the digestive system. If you have problems when eating bread, cakes or crackers it doesn't mean you are Coeliac. You may have gluten sensitivity which means that your body produces histamines whenever it detects gluten in your system (allergy).
'A little bit won't hurt' statement as, you can see here, could not be more dangerous as it WILL cause damage, and make the Coeliac ill.
That is not to say that gluten sensitivity can cope, as they are more likely to be prone to anaphylactic shock. Which needs an Epipen and immediate medical attention i.e 999 emergency.
The current NICE guidelines (UK only) on the diagnosis of IBS, is before your Doctor confirms a diagnosis of IBS you should be screened for Coeliac Disease first. This consists of a blood test, if positive then you will need confirmation, if negative then IBS can be considered (www.coeliac.org.uk/health)
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Sunday, 1 December 2013
A very useful site if you are going away................
The link below will take you to a very useful site if you are going abroad or even if you are just staying at home, I have used the English restaurant card for my stay in hospital and it was worth it's weight in gold and I now always have one in my bag and because you can give them out to Staff in restaurants or anywhere that may need to feed you they are a good tool and save a lot of embarrassing awkward questions. They are free and all they ask is if you cannot donate please post their address on your blog, this is what I am doing now as I've just printed off another 3 to make sure I'm safe over the Festivities when going out with friends.
www.celiactravel.com and go to the Gluten Free Restaurant Cards section, then select the language you wish.
Have Fun.
www.celiactravel.com and go to the Gluten Free Restaurant Cards section, then select the language you wish.
Have Fun.
Monday, 25 November 2013
Choclate Tray Bake recipe
Here is a recipe for a chocolate tray bake, which is brilliant for Birthday Parties. Before you ask, no I haven't tried this with GF flour, but have confidence and see what happens, if you've got small ones they'll probably enjoy it no matter what it looks like!!
12oz SR Flour
3 tbsp Cocoa Powder
8oz Caster Sugar
8oz Soft Margarine
4 Eggs beaten
4 Tbsp Milk
1 3/4 oz Milk chocolate Chips
1 3/4 oz Dark Chocolate Chips
1 3/4 oz White Chocolate Chips
Grease a 13x9x2" cake tin. Place all the ingredients except the chocolate chips in a bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in the Chocolate Chips. Spoon the mix into prepared cake tin and level the top. Bake for 30-40 mins at 180c until risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin. Once cool cut into squares and serve. For a great dessert serve with whipped cream. This serves around 15.
Rather than buy the little packs of choc chips, by the cheapest safe bars of chocolate of each flavour break off the right amount from each bar and place in plastic bag, take out your frustration with a rolling pin to break into smaller pieces, it can be better than the chips because you end up with different sized chunks in the cake (and it's cheaper and goes further!)
If you test this out before I do please do let me know how it turns out.
12oz SR Flour
3 tbsp Cocoa Powder
8oz Caster Sugar
8oz Soft Margarine
4 Eggs beaten
4 Tbsp Milk
1 3/4 oz Milk chocolate Chips
1 3/4 oz Dark Chocolate Chips
1 3/4 oz White Chocolate Chips
Grease a 13x9x2" cake tin. Place all the ingredients except the chocolate chips in a bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in the Chocolate Chips. Spoon the mix into prepared cake tin and level the top. Bake for 30-40 mins at 180c until risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin. Once cool cut into squares and serve. For a great dessert serve with whipped cream. This serves around 15.
Rather than buy the little packs of choc chips, by the cheapest safe bars of chocolate of each flavour break off the right amount from each bar and place in plastic bag, take out your frustration with a rolling pin to break into smaller pieces, it can be better than the chips because you end up with different sized chunks in the cake (and it's cheaper and goes further!)
If you test this out before I do please do let me know how it turns out.
Have Confidence in yourself
Many People find that trying to cook Gluten Free is going to be really complicated, and this applies to Cakes more than anything else.
If you have baked regularly before, have confidence in your ability. Things can go wrong with a Gluten Free Cake just as much as they can with an ordinary cake. I discovered this last week!! I made a sponge cake with a script mix, which normally wouldn't have caused me any problem BUT I was in a hurry, and I rushed putting in the raising agent and didn't measure it out properly. Result a sponge that spilled all over the cooker took longer to cook and wasn't particularly nice to eat, but hey it was Cake and it was a waste to throw it away.....so I ate it!!
Yesterday I got baking again and I made sure I used the Juvela script mix, as my Christmas Cake trial only needed plain flour, so no raising agent at the last minute. I used an old recipe that I've used before and it came out fantastically well......moral, make sure you have time, and don't rush things. I also made another sponge cake and used the Gluten Free Doves Farm Self Raising Flour...this time no problems at all, partly I suggest because the flour altready had the raising agent in it.
All baking to a point is to do with confidence, just think how you thought about baking before, if you were confident when using ordinary flour, be the same with the GF flour. I hate the Gluten Free recipe books as many of them use this, that and the other flour mixed together, when really all you really want is the two bags of flour you used to have in the cupboard i.e. One SR and one Plain. Then use as you would ordinary flour with all the recipes you already have at home.
Scones is the one I have problems with. Juvela fixed my gingerbread for our gingerbread house as my recipe didn't work, due to the lack of gluten in the flour, but once you add an egg, no problem.
If you have a simple recipe that you have been using for years with no problem, I would just say substitute the flour and see what happens, but have the confidence that it will work, because 98% of the time it will.
Don't doubt yourself, we've all had sunk cakes (I've just made a ginger cake, and usually it sinks, this time with GF flour, it hasn't!!) and made mistakes, when I forgot to put any flour at all into Nigella's chocolate marmalade cake!!
Gluten Free flour (Doves Farm is the best) is not as difficult as everyone makes out. Trial and error is the order of the day, I have only had one thing not work quite as it should and that was the Gingerbread, but now I can make gingerbread men
I can understand why you are nervous, but who isn't the first time they take on something new, but have confidence and try things, is it really going to be that bad if your cake isn't quite what you expected?
If you have baked regularly before, have confidence in your ability. Things can go wrong with a Gluten Free Cake just as much as they can with an ordinary cake. I discovered this last week!! I made a sponge cake with a script mix, which normally wouldn't have caused me any problem BUT I was in a hurry, and I rushed putting in the raising agent and didn't measure it out properly. Result a sponge that spilled all over the cooker took longer to cook and wasn't particularly nice to eat, but hey it was Cake and it was a waste to throw it away.....so I ate it!!
Yesterday I got baking again and I made sure I used the Juvela script mix, as my Christmas Cake trial only needed plain flour, so no raising agent at the last minute. I used an old recipe that I've used before and it came out fantastically well......moral, make sure you have time, and don't rush things. I also made another sponge cake and used the Gluten Free Doves Farm Self Raising Flour...this time no problems at all, partly I suggest because the flour altready had the raising agent in it.
All baking to a point is to do with confidence, just think how you thought about baking before, if you were confident when using ordinary flour, be the same with the GF flour. I hate the Gluten Free recipe books as many of them use this, that and the other flour mixed together, when really all you really want is the two bags of flour you used to have in the cupboard i.e. One SR and one Plain. Then use as you would ordinary flour with all the recipes you already have at home.
Scones is the one I have problems with. Juvela fixed my gingerbread for our gingerbread house as my recipe didn't work, due to the lack of gluten in the flour, but once you add an egg, no problem.
If you have a simple recipe that you have been using for years with no problem, I would just say substitute the flour and see what happens, but have the confidence that it will work, because 98% of the time it will.
Don't doubt yourself, we've all had sunk cakes (I've just made a ginger cake, and usually it sinks, this time with GF flour, it hasn't!!) and made mistakes, when I forgot to put any flour at all into Nigella's chocolate marmalade cake!!
Gluten Free flour (Doves Farm is the best) is not as difficult as everyone makes out. Trial and error is the order of the day, I have only had one thing not work quite as it should and that was the Gingerbread, but now I can make gingerbread men
I can understand why you are nervous, but who isn't the first time they take on something new, but have confidence and try things, is it really going to be that bad if your cake isn't quite what you expected?
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
I hadn't realised...........
Wow I hadn't realised it had been nearly 2 months since the last time I posted. This post could just as easily be entitled my GP and me!!!
Firstly, between myself and my GP we seem to have sorted a lot of the things that the Coeliac Disease was responsible for: B12 under control, Diet under control, flu jab done, pneumo vaccine sorted, and my Folic Acid is also under control. We are now singing off the same hymn sheet which is making life a lot easier.
Secondly I had a very frightening end of September when my Diverticulitis flared up big time, resulting in another visit from Paramedics but I managed to keep myself out of the hospital. The stress of them not being able to deal with my diet would not have helped my recovery, and the emergency doctor who came out to see me that day agreed that I would be better off at home, so that's where I stayed, and because of the way my GP surgery deals with appointments etc I was able to talk to the same person every time I rang, at the end of that week...that was what I call fantastic care, and the least stressful way of dealing with a problem that was very debilitating.
Because of the above the question of emotional baggage has come to the fore, and after months of trying to get help from the normal routes, work came up with the goods!! I now have somewhere where I will be able to sort out all the emotional issues that come with Coeliac Disease. This has come with my GP's blessing as well, which is very helpful.
I think we both know that we listen and take action on what the other has said, and that is what has given me my complete care package. It's taken a little while to get there but it's now working in my favour.
Because of the Diverticulitis flare there are still a few bits that need sorting out and now I need to have some more blood tests, BUT overall feeling like a pincushion is certainly preferable to feeling like I did a few weeks ago.
I do feel fantastic, and that is thanks to the above, but I am struggling with the whole Coeliac Disease thing as far as the emotional impact is concerned, this is what I buried a year ago to deal with the practical, and it now needs dealing with because we believe that emotional stress is what causes my Diverticulitis attacks, and the extra worry of what happened a few weeks ago happening again is not very helpful, I need some strategies to help, and that is what work have come forward with.
Obviously I am now aware that this is going to take some time to sort out but we are moving forward and that can only be a good thing. Talking to CUK re my diet and fibre intake was reassuring too, since to aid with the Diverticulitis I need a high fibre diet but I have problems with wholewheat's and whole grains, to be told by the dietitian that I had my diet well and truly under control and I was eating the right things to keep on top of my deficiencies as well as eating enough fibre was very helpful, and negated the need for another appointment with a dietitian, so that was fantastic.
I've had a tough time over the last two years (this year in particular, with hospital visits etc.) but it does now all be appearing to be calming down and sorting itself out. OK I do still have phlebitis but that is being monitored as are all my other health problems, and it is becoming apparent that a few of them are connected to the CD. It's thanks to my GP really, who has gone out of his way to make sure that I am having the care that's needed and what is available, which is a step up from the GP who had not a lot of idea before, same person different perspective, and is working for his patient, he got up to speed very quickly. Yes we've had some hiccups, but those have all been ironed out, and I now feel confident that there is an understanding of the links between my condtions and how they affect me and my life which can only be good.
All I need to do now is change the attitudes of other people..................!!!!!!
Firstly, between myself and my GP we seem to have sorted a lot of the things that the Coeliac Disease was responsible for: B12 under control, Diet under control, flu jab done, pneumo vaccine sorted, and my Folic Acid is also under control. We are now singing off the same hymn sheet which is making life a lot easier.
Secondly I had a very frightening end of September when my Diverticulitis flared up big time, resulting in another visit from Paramedics but I managed to keep myself out of the hospital. The stress of them not being able to deal with my diet would not have helped my recovery, and the emergency doctor who came out to see me that day agreed that I would be better off at home, so that's where I stayed, and because of the way my GP surgery deals with appointments etc I was able to talk to the same person every time I rang, at the end of that week...that was what I call fantastic care, and the least stressful way of dealing with a problem that was very debilitating.
Because of the above the question of emotional baggage has come to the fore, and after months of trying to get help from the normal routes, work came up with the goods!! I now have somewhere where I will be able to sort out all the emotional issues that come with Coeliac Disease. This has come with my GP's blessing as well, which is very helpful.
I think we both know that we listen and take action on what the other has said, and that is what has given me my complete care package. It's taken a little while to get there but it's now working in my favour.
Because of the Diverticulitis flare there are still a few bits that need sorting out and now I need to have some more blood tests, BUT overall feeling like a pincushion is certainly preferable to feeling like I did a few weeks ago.
I do feel fantastic, and that is thanks to the above, but I am struggling with the whole Coeliac Disease thing as far as the emotional impact is concerned, this is what I buried a year ago to deal with the practical, and it now needs dealing with because we believe that emotional stress is what causes my Diverticulitis attacks, and the extra worry of what happened a few weeks ago happening again is not very helpful, I need some strategies to help, and that is what work have come forward with.
Obviously I am now aware that this is going to take some time to sort out but we are moving forward and that can only be a good thing. Talking to CUK re my diet and fibre intake was reassuring too, since to aid with the Diverticulitis I need a high fibre diet but I have problems with wholewheat's and whole grains, to be told by the dietitian that I had my diet well and truly under control and I was eating the right things to keep on top of my deficiencies as well as eating enough fibre was very helpful, and negated the need for another appointment with a dietitian, so that was fantastic.
I've had a tough time over the last two years (this year in particular, with hospital visits etc.) but it does now all be appearing to be calming down and sorting itself out. OK I do still have phlebitis but that is being monitored as are all my other health problems, and it is becoming apparent that a few of them are connected to the CD. It's thanks to my GP really, who has gone out of his way to make sure that I am having the care that's needed and what is available, which is a step up from the GP who had not a lot of idea before, same person different perspective, and is working for his patient, he got up to speed very quickly. Yes we've had some hiccups, but those have all been ironed out, and I now feel confident that there is an understanding of the links between my condtions and how they affect me and my life which can only be good.
All I need to do now is change the attitudes of other people..................!!!!!!
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Is it really the END of August?
It seems to have gone on forever!!! I guess it's because my family have been gallivanting about and enjoying things. DD2 went off to Kent International Jamboree with the Explorers for a week camping, and had a wonderful time. DD1 flew out to Germany to meet up with a friend for a week.
In between those two events they both had some time with Daddy DD1 went on an overnight canoe camp, and DD2 scared hiim witless at Thorpe Park (I didn't go on either of those, the first event not enough room in the boat!! and I HATE rollercoasters, so not much point in going to the Second event!!)
When DD2 and DH went to Thorpe Park, I took myself into Reading for the day as I needed to do some mobile phone research and it was an ideal excuse to go and look around the shops. I also managed to have lunch out that day in Cafe Rouge, who were a revelation to me, and I had a wonderful time.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that we fitted in our short break in Cardiff, as mentioned previously. DD1 has also attended Reading Festival and had a really good time. Her AS results came in whilst she was in Germany and she is very happy with them.
We have also in the last few days been up in the Peak District with my family as my Dad was 70 on Thursday. I impressed myself yesterday when I managed to scale Bradwell Edge without an awful lot of difficulty. Last time I tried to do anything like that was around 4 years ago, in Somerset when I hit the proverbial wall half way up, and I didn't know why, this time around I didn't struggle at all, I think that maybe the fact that the anaemia has been sorted out, and the thing that was causing it has also been sorted out maybe the logical answer, anyway I was well impressed that I kept up better than I hoped I would.
The evening before this said walk we had gone out to dinner at a wonderful place called 'The Poachers Arms' in Hope. Gluten Free choices and although there was a lot of bread the only things I was unable to have were the Fish and Chips and the Pie, so well worth a visit if you are ever in the area (Peak District National Park) I even had Bakewell tart!! Such a nice change from the 'oh I don't know what you can have'....scenario that is so often presented to me. Had a good time and I now have somewhere else I can eat with confidence (although probably won't be there that often, Mum and Dad still very active and quite often down here catching the ferry to France).
The summer holidays are nearly over and the grind of normality will soon sink in (certainly by Friday anyway!!)
The trip to Cardiff seems an absolute age away, and another 5 days seems like a long time too....which says to me that this summer break has been much better than the last one. Hardly surprising considering what was going on this time last year.....waiting for tests, procedures and eventually diagnosis and trying to enjoy the summer....was nearly impossible. This time around, apart from the odd hiccup, has been much better.
In between those two events they both had some time with Daddy DD1 went on an overnight canoe camp, and DD2 scared hiim witless at Thorpe Park (I didn't go on either of those, the first event not enough room in the boat!! and I HATE rollercoasters, so not much point in going to the Second event!!)
When DD2 and DH went to Thorpe Park, I took myself into Reading for the day as I needed to do some mobile phone research and it was an ideal excuse to go and look around the shops. I also managed to have lunch out that day in Cafe Rouge, who were a revelation to me, and I had a wonderful time.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that we fitted in our short break in Cardiff, as mentioned previously. DD1 has also attended Reading Festival and had a really good time. Her AS results came in whilst she was in Germany and she is very happy with them.
We have also in the last few days been up in the Peak District with my family as my Dad was 70 on Thursday. I impressed myself yesterday when I managed to scale Bradwell Edge without an awful lot of difficulty. Last time I tried to do anything like that was around 4 years ago, in Somerset when I hit the proverbial wall half way up, and I didn't know why, this time around I didn't struggle at all, I think that maybe the fact that the anaemia has been sorted out, and the thing that was causing it has also been sorted out maybe the logical answer, anyway I was well impressed that I kept up better than I hoped I would.
The evening before this said walk we had gone out to dinner at a wonderful place called 'The Poachers Arms' in Hope. Gluten Free choices and although there was a lot of bread the only things I was unable to have were the Fish and Chips and the Pie, so well worth a visit if you are ever in the area (Peak District National Park) I even had Bakewell tart!! Such a nice change from the 'oh I don't know what you can have'....scenario that is so often presented to me. Had a good time and I now have somewhere else I can eat with confidence (although probably won't be there that often, Mum and Dad still very active and quite often down here catching the ferry to France).
The summer holidays are nearly over and the grind of normality will soon sink in (certainly by Friday anyway!!)
The trip to Cardiff seems an absolute age away, and another 5 days seems like a long time too....which says to me that this summer break has been much better than the last one. Hardly surprising considering what was going on this time last year.....waiting for tests, procedures and eventually diagnosis and trying to enjoy the summer....was nearly impossible. This time around, apart from the odd hiccup, has been much better.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Tea Loaf recipe
Sulatana Tea Loaf.
8oz Sultanas (you can use any dried fruit)
1/4 pint Cold Tea
8oz SR Flour
Pinch of salt
6oz Demerara Sugar (I used Castor, but next time I shall use this)
1 Large Egg beaten
4 Fluid oz Cold Water
Soak Sultana's in tea overnight (I soaked the fruit for about 2 hours, as I was desparate for Cake and had run out of Margarine!!)
Grease 2lb loaf tin - Gas 4/160
Mix flour, salt and sugar.
Add sultana's, tea, egg and the Cold water
Mix well to make a sticky batter (be warned this is very wet!!)
Pour into tin
Bake for 1 hour and 20mins.
Cover with Greaseproof paper 15mins before the end if browning too much.
Makes 1 loaf, and freezes well.
8oz Sultanas (you can use any dried fruit)
1/4 pint Cold Tea
8oz SR Flour
Pinch of salt
6oz Demerara Sugar (I used Castor, but next time I shall use this)
1 Large Egg beaten
4 Fluid oz Cold Water
Soak Sultana's in tea overnight (I soaked the fruit for about 2 hours, as I was desparate for Cake and had run out of Margarine!!)
Grease 2lb loaf tin - Gas 4/160
Mix flour, salt and sugar.
Add sultana's, tea, egg and the Cold water
Mix well to make a sticky batter (be warned this is very wet!!)
Pour into tin
Bake for 1 hour and 20mins.
Cover with Greaseproof paper 15mins before the end if browning too much.
Makes 1 loaf, and freezes well.
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