Sorting Glutening From Lingering Detox?

[GypsyGirl]

Okay, so I've now been gluten-free for about 6 or 7 weeks (sorry, don't have my calendar in front of me ).

The first three weeks, I went through lots of detox symptoms, but also felt amazingly BETTER underneath and was very hopeful. Lots of symptoms I have suffered my whole life went away (and even things I didn't realize were "symptoms" but thought were just unavoidable aspects of life!) Then at the 3 week mark I got full out glutened. Not sure how, but I think it was either CC on my napkin or my rice, OR getting hit in the face with a puff off my dog's gluten food when closing the container (we're now transitioning him to a very low-gluten formula). Anyhow, that attack one started with stomach gurgling and itching legs, then progressed to evil cramps and D and then many days of being almost too sore in my intestines to walk.

That FINALLY settled down for a few days, then I had a week of what I first thought was a cold, but wasn't. Sore achy muscles, really stiff, stomach slightly bloated, some itching. That lasted a few days, then finally seemed to settle down and I had a few what I would describe as "gluten-free" days. Now as of last night, stomach is messed up again and my legs are itching (the itching went away for the first time in decades on my first three weeks off of gluten, I have scars on my legs from the previously unexplainable itching/blisters).

So, my question here is how much is it possible the symptom flare-ups are still part of the detox process and how much of it means I'm getting CC'd despite my best efforts??

I am still in a mixed household, but we've divided counters, cooking utensils, pots, cabinets, food storage containers, etc. I wash my hands a zillion times a day and wear disposable gloves (and sometimes a dust mask) whenever prepared anything gluten. I don't bake gluten foods, so no flying flour, just breads and snacks for my husband and son. We've lowered their consumption a lot (using Udi bread for Kidlet's sandwiches, and Corn Chex for his cereal, etc.), but there is still gluten in the house. I don't kiss either of my boys until they've washed up and brushed their teeth.

I've checked all my lip balm and lotion, and I use a very pure natural soap and wash my hair with baking soda or salt and condition with vinegar. My supplements are gluten free and I don't take any medication save Tylenol (for migraines) and I checked that this form of it is gluten-free.

I haven't tried eating out yet, though I did have lunch AT Fuddrucker's one day with the family, but brought my own food and only drank water. I seemed to do fine with that, it was during my "healthier" days and I was fine for a couple of days afterward.

Is it possible I'm really still getting enough gluten to be flaring up symptoms so often??

We're set to take our first trip to DisneyWorld at the end of November, and although I've heard really good things about DW's restaurants being very accomodating and careful, I'm rather terrified that I seem to be turning out to be hypersensitive and this could go very badly.

Help?

[ravenwoodglass]

The symptoms you are describing don't sound like detox they sound like CC. Perhaps from the dog food, if you pet him or he licks you there is the possibility that you are getting CC'd that way. You feed him gluten he licks himself and transfers the gluten to his fur and then you pet him.

Hopefully your diet is pretty much whole foods with little processed. Do be aware that some stuff may be gluten free by ingredients but have a risk of heavy CC from the plants where they are made. Not all companies disclose shared lines. Frito Lay is one example.

It sounds like you have done a good job of dividing up the house. Have you gotten your own condiments, butter, nut butters etc? Double dipping by others can be a CC source.

[SGWhiskers]

I agree with Raven. It sounds like CC to me. You are probably more sensitive than you could imagine. You will be OK at Disney as long as you keep your senses about you. I've eaten there with food allergies and am planning on going back soon with the celiac diagnosis and they are excellent at talking with you and doing everything right. Just speak up. I don't trust the quick serve places as much, but with research, I had good allergy experiences last time at the selected quick serve locations.

Double check the soaps and makeup. Even Though they are natural, they could contain gluten. I find that the more natural the product, the more likely it is to have gluten. Tocepherol acetate/Vitamin E is a possible source of gluten, however can be made from soy and be safe.

Are you still using the old cutting boards? How about the can openers? Are hubby and the boys wiping crumby hands on the kitchen towels you use to dry your pots? Is the dishwasher working well enough? Is hubby allowed to cook with gluten flours? Those have to go for sure. did you replace your can opener? Bottle opener? plastic and wooden spoons. Ugh. There is so much.

I'm insanely careful and apparently insanely sensitive. My hidden sources of gluten: hand soap, wet wipes, a plume of bird food dust, split peas that must have been processed on a shared line, Tostido's that must have come off the line shortly after a gluten item (every other time they have been fine), a hay/stray ride, A rye cracker crumb flung into my eyeball, kissing my nieces 2x, not confirming the gluten status of a product that looked safe 2x, my old blush, Hubby's spagetti preparations next to my spagetti preparations on the stove at the same time, Restaraunts 50% of attempts to eat out, biting my nails even when I thought they were clean, the grocery store on Saturday and Sunday (it is the bakery), several pizzas opened at once while I was in the room. My friend thinks it is because the pizzas are coated with flour on the bottom and she thinks it gets airborne when everyone takes a slice. I don't know on that.

Keep comparing yourself to those good days and you will find the culprit. In the beginning, I had a running list of suspects that I narrowed down over time. It gets easier and you will feel better for longer and longer stretches. Be proud of the weeks you feel good and finding this disease.

[GypsyGirl]

Raven and SGWhiskers, thank you both for the support and advice. I think you're right, it must be CC. But I'm still having to really struggle to figure out HOW. I do have separate hand towelsk, condiments, etc.. My husband doesn't bake with flour and we clean any "glutened" area well and are careful about dishes, dishwasher, etc.

SGWhiskers - wow, that's a horrible list of your past glutenings. Sound like your ultra sensitive. I may end up with a similar list by the end of the year...

Still, no way but forward, right?

I'm trying very hard to assure all soaps, face soaps, hand soaps, etc., are gluten free, but it's sometimes difficult to tell from the labelling. Is there a good list of gluten free soaps and cosmetics somewhere?