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Is There A Test Of Some Sort For This?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Health & Wellbeing
I have IBS, which can be made worse by eating anything made with wheat. In August, I went to see a stomach specialist and he did a blood test for Coeliac's Disease (which is something to do with gluten) but didn't do any sort of test for wheat intolerance.

Is there any test that can be done for this so that I can get my wheat free food on prescription?

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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Intolerance won't show up on a blood test. It's diagnosed by monitoring symptoms before and after an exclusion diet.

    The reason Coeliac Disease can be tested for is because it's more of an allergy than an intolerance - therefore it is actually damaging the body, and you can detect antibodies and whatnot in your blood.

    You can get wheat free food on prescription if your doctor thinks it's medically necessary, whether or not you have any blood tests to support it.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Not sure if you're aware or not, but one of the main things that means people have problems with wheat is the gluten in it, rather than the wheat itself.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    rachie004 wrote: »
    Unless you get your prescriptions for free then you're probably better off buying the wheat/gluten free stuff in the shops

    I have been told this by my parents. I do currently get prescriptions for free, which is why I asked.
    Not sure if you're aware or not, but one of the main things that means people have problems with wheat is the gluten in it, rather than the wheat itself.

    Never heard of this before. However, according to a box of oat biscuits, they contain gluten and I'm fne with them.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    One of my friends was told she had wheat intolerance and was basically told to cut it out of her diet. She didn't get prescriptions for food even though she's under 18 and in education. She eventually got fed up and started eating it again though.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You have to be tested for it before the doctors can give you any food on prescription.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    as far as i'm aware, unless you badger them like hell, they won't do it. I asked food on prescription before i went into have my endoscopy and was told i wasn't going to get it....i ended up spending a fortune on stuff without fibre, cos i eat hardly any meat and mainly fruit and veg...

    Also, if it's an intolerance, they completly disreguard it, because they see it as not having a marked effect on your life.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    twisted_trinity wrote: »
    Also, if it's an intolerance, they completly disreguard it, because they see it as not having a marked effect on your life.

    :eek2: Even though nearly everything contains wheat and it's impossible for me to not need to bring my own food when I go out, unless I want chips? (which isn't always an option)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Melian wrote: »
    ...it's impossible for me to not need to bring my own goof when I go out...

    haha sorry funny typo :D
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Wheat free, or at least very low wheat is surprisingly easy ( well for me anyway).

    I don't eat much processed food, so that's not a problem. I have cereal, jacket potatoes, rice, rice noodles, potatoe waffles in place of toast...
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have IBS and I still manage to avoid wheat. I never got tested for any intolerances I just looked at what foods made me feel ill and then stopped eating them, simple as. I'm veggie too and there are always loads of options to pick from when eating out!
    I've noticed too that alot of menus will say if it's wheat free. Can you not eat any wheat at all or can you eat small amounts? I can eat small amounts as like wholegrain bread, I just can't eat white bread at all.
    Try Holland & Barrates for some wheat free foods, Tesco are really good too and Sainsburys is getting better and there things are quite cheap too!
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