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Newsletter Roundup
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compiled by Jim Lyles
This section contains excerpts from newsletters produced by other
celiac groups.
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: :
: Excerpts from _CSGC News_ :
: ------------------------- :
: Summer 1998 Tanis Collard, editor :
: Celiac Support Group for Children :
: 11 Level Acres Rd. :
: Attleboro, MA 02703 :
:..................................................:
Dairy Queen: Jennifer Fredenburg, Quality Assurance Manager of Dairy
Queen International, Inc., (PO Box 39286, Minneapolis, MN 55439-0286,
612-830-0200) indicates that the following products are gluten-free:
nonfat frozen yogurt
vanilla and chocolate soft-serve ice cream
misty slush
Dennis the Menace bar
Lemon Freez'r
Dairy Queen fudge bar
Dairy Queen vanilla orange bar
Starkiss bars
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: :
: Excerpts from _CSSG Newsletter_ :
: ------------------------------- :
: Nov. 1998 Barbara J. Wieland, editor :
: 5903 S. Tecumseh Rd. :
: Springfield, OH 45502 :
:..........................................:
Zatarain's Fish-Fri is a seasoned breading found at both Sam's and
Kroger's. It contains corn flour, salt, lemon juice, cayenne pepper,
MSG, black pepper, and garlic. According to several people on the
CELIAC e-mail list<5> who checked with the manufacturer, it is
gluten-free. I really like it for breading fish.
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: :
: Excerpts from _Gluten-Free News_ (Michigan) :
: ------------------------------------------- :
: Sep. 1998 Michigan Capitol Celiac/DH Support Group :
: Nov. 1998 PO Box 1482 :
: Dec. 1998 East Lansing, MI 48826 :
:.........................................................:
Comments From Kersti on Sweden: The Swedish Celiac Association had
15,859 members in 1997. During the year they send out 1,680
information packets to new members. There are 32 local chapters in
Sweden, a country about the size of Michigan (9 million people).
In Swedish grocery stores, you can buy gluten-free (GF) breads, often
in the frozen section. GF crackers are located in the same aisle as
the regular crackers, and GF cookies are often with regular cookies.
There is also a dietary product aisle with a number of mixes, flours,
etc.
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GF Questions on Nursing Exam: Several of the new nurses on our unit
reported having a question on their computerized national nursing exam
regarding the gluten-free (GF) diet. None of the nurses knew the
correct answer [sigh-ed.], but the fact that it was on the test means
some headway is being made in addressing celiac disease (CD) in
nursing studies. I never heard of CD when I was in nursing schol in
1994-1995. Progress is being made.
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Glutano makes a cracker that tastes fairly good, and is the closest
thing to saltines this editor has seen. They would go nicely with
tuna fish.
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Report on an Immunology Conference
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Greta de Wolf provides some highlights from a conference for health
professionals, sponsored by Lansing Community College on current
issues in immunology.
Dr. Beals spoke on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most distinct
difference between RA and other types of arthritis (not
autoimmune-related) is that RA is symmetrical, affecting joints or
organs on both sides of the body. Only about 80% of those diagnosed
will have the Rheumatoid Factor in their blood. If you have the DRW4
(an HLA marker) and the (-chain marker you have a greater than 50%
chance of developing RA.
There is no one factor that causes RA. There is some indication it is
caused by the body's reaction to a virus, in which it makes an
antibody, which in turn destroys collagen tissue. RA is a systemic
disease affecting various organs of the body including blood, eyes,
nerves, lungs, heart, intestines, and spleen.
Dr. Beals believes in an early, aggressive treatment of RA to control
it. She believes in giving low doses of various medicines, as a large
dose of one medicine can cause more side effects. She also believes
in alternatives such as glucosamine, coenzyme Q, and magnetic therapy.
She recommends physical therapy, rest, exercise, and good ergonomic
conditions in the workplace. She also believes in psychological
support as patients go through the steps of a chronic illness:
denial, grieving, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance.
Dr. Peter Gulick of Michigan State University spoke on the immune
system and its function. We've always known that the spleen, the
thymus gland, and bone marrow are very important to the immune system.
Studies of HIV patients have shown that the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract is also very important to the immune system. Many of the
antigens (proteins that cause a reaction) enter the body in the GI
tract. If the GI tract is not functioning well, the immune system
will not function well.
Dr. Justus Feichtner of Michigan State University spoke on
fibromyalgia, which has also been called Fibrocitis, myofacial pain,
muscular rheumatism, non-restorative sleep disorder, and pain
amplification syndrome. There is widespread pain with specific tender
points. Most patients have trouble sleeping. It is believed to be a
disorder of the involuntary nervous system. Many patients have
migraine headaches. Some have mood disturbances, or suffer from
irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bladder syndrome.
Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a team approach. Often a tricyclic
antidepressant is helpful as it helps the patient sleep and restores
some order to the involuntary nervous system. Relaxation exercises
and other methods of relaxation can help. Exercise is important to
help relax the muscles. The patient must be involved in treatment to
learn to control the body by relaxation and exercise.
There are many sources of information on the Internet on fibromyalgia.
The Arthritis Foundation has excellent material and locally has
exercise programs and heated pools. Another resource is the
Fibromyalgia Network; PO Box 31750, Tucson, AZ 85751-1750;
800-853-2929 (phone); 520-290-5550 (fax).
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