<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Hi All, I hadn't intended to post a summary to my monolog re: losing friendships and evaluating the quality of life when being gf, but I received over 75 responses and thought all of you who replied deserved my hearfelt gratitude and thanks. I read every message and some brought tears to my eyes - I'm truly sorry so many of you have struggled as I have. Some of you were kind enough, without being critical, to bring to my attention that perhaps I needed to readjust my attitude. To those people, I especially offer my thanks. Most of you agreed that it is very difficult to lose a part of one's life (eating a 'normal' diet) and that a mourning process must take place, and that you had gone through this or a similar experience when you were diagnosed (usually those who were diagnosed later in life than toddlers). A few people recognized that I am still relatively new to the gf diet and that the body continues to act strangely for quite some time - that was comforting to hear. I would specifically like to address two people who wrote to say they thought my post was dangerous and that if newly diagnosed people read it, it would scare them. I had hoped that my post to the list was worded in such a way as to emphasize to new celiacs that the experiences I had were not my encouragement to ignore the diet or their doctors' advice. I think that it is dangerous that newly diagnosed celiacs not be informed of the difficulties the gf diet can impose, not to scare them, but to alert them to ways their lives may change. People deal with change much more effectively if they are aware of potential pitfalls - not that everyone experiences the same issues. I think this list has a responsibility to each other to be honest about how the gf diet can affect one's life - good or bad. Finally, regarding the question from many of you who wanted to know why I lost friends, I think the answer to that is simply that I had no idea, myself, how drastically my life would change. I was unprepared to ask for support because I didn't realize I would need it. Also, being single (as are most of my friends), we ate out much of the time. Quite frankly, I find cooking for one not much worth the effort and time though I have been forced into doing more of it. As much as all of us would agree that eating good, healthy, nutritious foods are better than grabbing a quick meal on the run, the demands of many of our lives support unhealthy eating habits. I will regain my friendships because I now know what being gf means (and it's not just eating a gluten-free diet), but I would have preferred not to have risked losing them forever in the first place. I did go out on Wednesday night and ate a gluten-laden meal, mostly just to try to determine if I was intolerant or celiac, in spite of my negative biopsy. I'm sorry to report that I was in serious pain for two days. So, with that experience under my belt (no pun intended), can anyone tell me what they take for pain? All I had here at home was Darvocet (generic) and my GI is out of town - his associates wouldn't prescribe anything else without a positive celiac diagnosis. I searched the web two hours last night trying to find out if Darvocet is gf, but came up with nothing. I can call my PCP, but don't know what would be gf and effective. Thanks, again, to all of you who have been so supportive and to those who wrote to tell me of their own similar difficulties, I offer hugs and my support. Perhaps the list owners would consider adding something to the FAQ re: lifestyle changes dictated by a gf diet that affect interpersonal relationships? I'm sure many of us could offer suggestions to make the transition easier. Ayn.