Just starting out..

Hi I suspect I am gluten intolerant. As a baby I had colic, as a kid I had stomach upsets, as a young women in her 20s I was always tired and going to the doctor about it.

In my 30s I found out I had Hypothyroidism, and PCOS and low iron. Now I am 42 and find I am exhausted, spacy, and have sore and bloated stomachs at times.

I am stiff and achy especially in the mornings. I first suspected it is gluten intolerance when I started playing around with making my own breads at home. I brought bread improver and found when I ate the bread I had made, I felt awfully sick.
Would appreciate info on where to go from here. The cost of buying gluten free worries me a lot.

I have a family and we don't have a lot of spare money to throw around. I am shocked at the differences in prices to buy gluten free, particularly the flours. Wheat flour is $1.50kg, where as gluten free flours are anywhere from $4 upwards.

Would appreciate knowing the essentials to buy, and where to get them cheap. I live in Ashburton.

Are there any really great priced places in Ashburton, Timaru or Christchurch.

My biggest struggle is bread. Bread is a cheap option for breakfasts and lunches and we have it all the time in our house. I have heard gluten free bread is disgusting. Can someone give advice on this.

Thanks Melanie