<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi! I am a recently diagnosed celiac and new to the list. I just want to say how glad I am to find you all! I thank Mike, too, for all his help! I find it frightening wondering how badly things inside me may be screwed up after having had symptoms for about15 years and not knowing or doing anything about it. It amazes me that doctors sluff things off so easily just to give you an answer and get you out the door. It would seem to me more doctors would (should) know of this condition! IBS was a quick and easy diagnosis to my complaints and only after things became much worse and I finally insisted on more test, did I get the correct answer. As for my perpetual anemia, my current doctor sluffed that off as "That's because you're of Italian descent." Hmmmm? Well, no use looking back. I'm just glad I know now and can do something about it. Now, the GF diet certaily is another thing! Geez! I wonder if anyone else experienced the anger and frustration of not being able to eat probably 90% ofwhat "normal" people eat. I wallk around the shopping cart with my lonely bag of rice cakes and drool on everyone else's shopping carts piled with all my favorite goodies. Yesterday, the hot Italian bread came out while I was at the store and I wanted to cry (I used to break off the end of my hot Italian bread and nibble while in line). ...and restaurants... My husband and I have always enjoyed dining out. We'd probably done it at least twice a week. Now, that pleasure has become a frustrating chore. Oh well, no use dwelling on it. As I said, I'm just so glad to have found this group as a source of information and support. I live in Phoenix and would love to make contact with someone in the area. So, if you're in my area, please e-mail me privately. I very much would like to find some good local stores for products. (Lucky for me, we have a few Trader Joes.) I have a question for you regarding my blood test. My doctor's answers are "It's fine. Nothing to worry about." I've finally learned not to believe him (and - BTW - am looking for a new family doctor). These following test results were off, but I have no idea what they mean or if I should be concerned. If anyone of you know, please tell me: BUN/CRE High 26.0 CO2 Low 21 CALCIUM Low 8.1 ALK PHOS High 140 SGPT (ALT) High 41 Also, I wanted to share that I found a salad dressing in Safeway which must have been cooked up by a celiac. The ingedients all check out OK, right down to listing "wine Vinegar" and there's a great selection of flavors. They are also fat free and delicious. Make a great meat marinade, too. Just thought I'd share that with you if you don't already know. Sorry for babbling on here. But again - "Hello" and thanks for being there! Nina :) '89FX3/Coupe (SAM)