Got Glutened-Need Help

[gluten-is-kryptonite]

Hi everyone

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease 4 months ago. This is my first post here. It took about a year to get an accurate diagnosis and it has been life changing to say the least. I have never felt better in my whole life. However a few days ago I decided since I had been doing so well (VERY strict gluten free and dairy free diet)- wnet a full month with no symptoms- that it would ok to have french fries at a local restaurant. I figured that that since they are only potatoes with no breading it should be fine. I didn't think I would react to the cross contamination of the oil in the deep fryer that is shared with all sorts of gluten laden items.

I knew immediately I was glutened when we got home- headed right to the toilet for the big D word. Then the next few days all my symptoms have returned. Leaky gut type symptoms after eating and just in general. Incredible flu like fatigue and sleepiness, whole body muscle fatigue, brain fog, bad mood, no energy to exercise etc, not to mention a constant low grade stomach ache. I have not been able to get any work done this week and have left work early to sleep. Been sleeping a ton.

What do people do to speed up the clearing of gluten? I can't take this fatigue. Is there a supplement you take? I am on glutamine, probiotics and pancreatic enzymes. Really feeling desperate and just want to feel good again.

[shadowicewolf]

Water, water, water, and water. There is no real way to speed it up.

[kittty]

A co-worker said that chia seeds can help clear up the GI issues after a glutening, but I haven't tried it out yet.

[GottaSki]

Welcome! Love your screen name - my kids have called gluten "mom's kryptonite" since I was newly diagnosed - about the time I had my first experience with CC at a restaurant.

Sorry you are feeling poorly - there really is no way to speed it along besides what you are doing already - ginger root can sooth the stomach issues and lots of water is always a good choice - I've never found anything to help with the flu like symptoms.

Oh - limit the gluten-free processed foods as they can be hard on an upset system. Homemade chicken/vegie soup is our favorite healing food around here.

[cyberprof]

Sorry about the glutening...happens to us all I think.

I drink lots of hot peppermint tea, which really helps. Water is important, because a lot of water is lost with Big D, so tea is a good way to get water. The tea is soothing and mint is an herbal remedy for bad stomachs from way back in medieval times. The only thing is that I've heard if you have heartburn, mint makes it worse.

Also, after the initial Big D, I take a couple doses of Pepto-bismal. It soothes my stomach and makes the episode last a shorter time, or at least that's my experience, and was originally recommended to me by long-time member Ravenwoodglass.

Some people like ginger tea (I don't like ginger) but that is another old fashioned remedy. If you're on the go, you could drink ginger ale.

[ravenwoodglass]

While there are things that can help the symptoms, as others have mentioned, I don't think there is any way to speed those antibodies away. I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad right now, it will pass but the time it takes to pass varies. I find Cream of Buckwheat cereal to be soothing to my tummy and the Pepto Bismal liquid helps my stomach pain. For me it doesn't help with the D but then I want everything out asap anyway. However if you do need to leave home and have D immodium can be quite effective at stopping it.

Rest as much as you can and hopefully you will be feeling better before too long. Don't beat yourself up over your mistake. We all have made them. Even some of us who have been gluten free for years sometimes slip up. I did myself a couple of weeks ago and am just now starting to feel like myself again.

[kristenloeh]

No matter what you do, the gluten will be in your system for a couple of weeks. All you can do is help ease the symptoms. A lot of rest and a lot of fluids. I take the vitamin supplement Celiact, so even when I do get glutened somehow, my symptoms aren't NEARLY as bad as they were before hand. Feel better and be careful!

[luvrdeo]

I got glutened a little over a week ago...I reacted instantly. I keep reading "rest and fluids"...my question is, I work typically a 10 hour day (which I hate), and the last few nights I've had things going on after work. By the time I get home I'm exhausted (been gluten-free for almost a month now). Today, I feel HORRIBLE...massive headache, extreme fatigue, just bad all around. Does this all go back to the glutening, or am I still adjusting to going gluten free? My family is worried because I've been in such horrible shape since going off gluten...