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Hi folks,

Anyone remember me, Patrick? I'm the one a while back talking about Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome / Exhaustion, achiness, sore throat and stuff, going on for
a couple years.

Anyway I also posted about the extensive testing I've had, the two lower g.i.
colonoscopy and the one endoscopy, multiple biopsies within the gut as well
as all kind of stool tests and tests for bacterias and such. Everything
NEGATIVE except for "mild gastritis."

My doctor has be trying Ultrase, a digestive enzyme medication, to help with
IBS. It might be helping a bit with gassiness.

And I'm also going through the ringer with other diagnostic tests unrelated
to gastrointestinal like tons of bloodwork and MRI's and stuff to rule out
other diesases.

My Chronic Fatigue Syndrome specialist has found a Carnitine Deficiency, a
decreased functioning of the Natural Killer Cells, and (I think) a low IgA
(immunoglobins). So far these three things point towards something wrong with
my immune system, but my doctor won't diagnose anything until all the tests
come back.

So Celiac/trying GF has been a little side project for me. I decided to try
GF for a while even though my biopsies and blood were negative. I am *easing*
into it on the advice of several people on this list, which I think is the
right way for me to do it. I get VERY VERY VERY stressed out about trying to
figure all this GF stuff out, and I often feel overwhelmed and just want to
give up, so easing in is smart. All breads are gone, all pastas are gone, all
pastries, bagels all that stuff. I'm eating rice bread instead and trying to
eat more produce.

My BIG PROBLEM right now is that with my CFS, my doctors are all very
insistent that I try to maintain some type of social life, and I KNOW they
are right because I get very easily depressed and isolated with my illness.
GF, in my opinion, is pretty easy when I'm at home eating alone, but when I
am out with friends or (god willing) actually energetic enough to go out on a
date, what the HECK am I supposed to do?!!

Any advice? I don't even care if it tastes good. I just want to be able to
order stuff in a restaurant that is GF and Lactose free but that doesnt make
me all anxious and doesnt cause a huge scene with my new date! Know what I
mean? It can taste like mud (my almost GF eating at home is tasty) - I just
dont want to make a big deal about it!

HELP! What can I order???

Patrick