<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I was told by my holistic physician that I was gluten intolerant. He did some celiac test that is 99% accurate but never did the other one as he highly doubts that I am a  full blown celiac. I forget which tests he did and did not do.

At any rate, my best friend in Richmond is married to a doctor and they are all gluten-savvy. Her whole family is Gluten-intolerant and eat strictly gluten-free. She tells me my whole life will change if I stick to the diet. My symptoms have been mood swings (for years) and depression and anxiety. I was always thin but now I've put on about 10 pounds in the last 8 months--all in my middle. I've been very food and weight conscious my whole life (was anorexic as a young woman) and can't stand feeling fat. I'm 47 and wondering if its gluten or peri-menapausal. My girlfriend swears the weight gain is gluten (but why all of a sudden?? I've eaten gluten my whole life although I was never much of a starch eater). I try to do gluten free but it is very hard as there are so many obscure ingredients in many of the things I like and I don't know what the heck they are classified as==as you all well know. I have  taken some drastic steps to cut out gluten (most of the time). She says it is not a situation that is affected by reduced gluten intake.

I would love to hear from the group about sympoms and changes/relief experienced from being gluten-free. I need to be convicted since I'm sort of clueless and not a full blown celiac. I haven't been this heavy except when I was pregnant. None of my clothes fit and I'm miserable.

Please help.
Melissa

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*