<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Medications Update
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Steve Plogsted (PharmD) discussed how to protect one's self by finding
a helpful pharmacist. An independent pharmacist will generally
provide more personal care. A pharmacy which also provides additional
services like flu shots or durable medical products will likely be
more attentive.
You can help yourself and your doctor by discussing your medical
condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, etc., and
getting a list of GF medicines applicable to your problems before
seeing your own doctor. Then the doctor has an acceptable choice of
medicines to prescribe.
To insure receiving the same medication each time, have the doctor
write "DAW" (Dispense As Written) or "No Substitutions" or "Do Not
Substitute" on the prescription. When getting refills, Steve
indicated that unless the size, shape, or color of the medicine was
changed, you don't generally need to be too concerned. Of course, if
the appearance has changed you should check and make sure it is still
gluten-free.
The Duke University study of a few years ago which found gluten in
Tylenol and many other of the top 50 medicines has NEVER been
replicated, duplicated, or substantiated but has caused a lot of
confusion. Steve calls the manufacturer to determine the gluten-free
status of a medication.
Cross contamination in medicines is practically nil because only one
product is produced on a line at one time and the cost to change any
specific material or process step is very, very high due to government
regulations.
In foods, the plain ingredient "starch" (but not modified food starch)
always comes from corn. In medicines the ingredient "starch" can come
from anything including wheat. However, starches are in general being
eliminated in favor of chemical derivatives. If the listing on a
medication says "starch", call the manufacturer. If the listing says
"dextrin" or "dextrate", it is a starch derivative, so you still need
to call and check. If the listing says, "dextran", it is a sugar
molecule only [and should therefore be GF].
Twin Labs has a large selection of GF and sugar-free products.
Dimetapp Tabs will probably NOT take gluten out of its product because
of the expense (Federal regulations).
It is more difficult to determine the gluten free status of OTC (Over
The Counter) medications.
For generic drugs it is sometimes harder to find out if they are GF.
However, they work just as well as the name brands if you can
determine their GF status.
Steve was asked if celiacs should get flu shots. He said that as long
as a celiac is healed the answer is "yes".
Steve has a brand new web page with pharmaceutical information. He
expects to be continually updating and adding to it. The URL is:
<http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/2679>. (Capitalize the
letters just as shown.) Also, you may call Steve about the GF status
of any drug at 614-722-2195.
Workshop for Newly-Diagnosed Celiacs
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Terry Bradley led the workshop discussion group for Newly Diagnosed
Celiacs. Terry is a celiac herself, and is the editor of the Gluten
Free Gang's newsletter. She offered a two word motto for all new
celiacs: DON'T PANIC. Take time. You don't need everything RIGHT
NOW. Get a good diagnosis. Get a good diet sheet. Educate yourself.
Find support. Reduce your stress. Take it one step at a time. Learn
over time.
To educate yourself, you need to be proactive. Learn to ask
questions, pursue knowledge, and get hands-on experience. The more
knowledge you have, the better your diet can be.
If you have a problem with a food, whatever the problem may be, don't
eat it. Use good judgement. When in doubt, don't.
Just because you're now a celiac, don't throw out all your old cook
books. They are still useful for information and many of the recipes
can be changed to be GF. Also, when baking for the first time, make
the recipe in small quantities. Cut the recipe in half or even a
quarter if possible. And if it's no good, throw it out.
Don't' pull back socially. Yes, it may be hard at first but there are
ways to cope. Bring your own food. Eat first. But always have an
emergency stash of food with you.
Leak-free plastic bottles in various sizes called Nalgene bottles are
available from camping and hiking equipment stores for carrying
liquids such as salad dressing, soup, or even GF soy sauce or GF
tamari sauce for Chinese food.
Shop the perimeter of your grocery store. Look for fresh fruits,
vegetables, meat, and poultry. You can also look for frozen
vegetables without sauces.
Keep separate sections of the pantry and kitchen for GF products.
Mark GF foods so they don't get mixed up with non-GF foods.
Don't use the family toaster. Get a new one for you only. Keep your
peanut butter, jelly, butter, mayonnaise, and other condiments
separately marked for your use only.
GF flours for bread making can be purchased at Oriental and health
food stores. Always check the ingredients in mixes. For instance,
buckwheat pancake mix generally contains both buckwheat flour and
wheat flour.
There are many mail-order vendors from which you can get gluten-free
products, though sometimes the cost is a little higher. [See the
Sept. 1998 issue of "The Sprue-nik Press" for a partial list.]
Get Bette Hagman's cookbooks (the _Gluten-Free Gourmet_ series).
Terry referred to them as her "celiac bible". Call Red Star Yeast
(800-423-5422) and ask them to send you gluten-free bread recipes.
They will also answer questions if you're having trouble with your
gluten free bread baking.
It was highly recommended that you join a support group in your area.
It keeps you in touch and well-informed.
Workshop: How to Help Your School-Aged Child
---------------------------------------------
The workshop concerning helping your celiac child was conducted by
Monica Hrabowy and Mindy Stoltz. Monica recommends using the
internet-based CELIAC e-mail list for information. She uses two
shopping guides, the one our group (TCCSSG) provides and the CSA
shopping guide.
They suggest working with the school but also pack a lunch. Send a
list of acceptable treats so that teachers and other parents have an
idea of what would suit everyone, but keep a box of special things at
school so your child can get something else when the need arises.
Adolescents who are newly-diagnosed seem to have more trouble. Some
do not want anyone to know, especially the boys.
Volunteer to help plan activities so that you can know what is being
served. Go first in line at potlucks to prevent cross-contamination.
Bring an alternative acceptable dish to pass, usually a meat or bean
dish.
Surfing Celiac Workshop
-----------------------
Jim Lyles led a workshop discussing how to get on the internet and
find good celiac information. Topics include how to get connected,
discerning between good and bad information, good sources of celiac
information, finding information for other medical conditions related
to celiac disease, and some general help in how to search the internet
for any type of information. This presentation is available online,
with links to all the relevant web pages, at either of these two
locations:
<http://www.tir.com/~lyles/slideshow.html>
<http://rdz.acor.org/lists/celiac/slideshow.html>
If you don't currently have internet access, try your local library or
ask a friend who is online to help you go through the presentation.
The online presentation will be periodically updated.
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