Question Re: Accidental Glutening

[lorka150]

Okay, here's my story:

This morning I did everything normal. Except, before I left the house, I thought I would prepare my dad some dinner (I was driving back up to school this morning, and thought it would be nice for him to open the fridge and have dinner there later this night).

I found some vegetarian pepperoni in the freezer, and decided to incorporate that into his meal - mostly because it is probably the last thing with gluten in our house.

So I was very careful, and took the baggies outta there and put them in the microwave. I did not touch the pepperoni, but did touch the bags (and obviously, there was stufff probably on the outside of them when I sealed them up months ago, it was definitely on my hands then).

Anyway, then I made breakfast, and my breakfast included some finger foods.

Could I have gotten glutened that way? (Because it was on my hands?) I hadn't washed my hands.

I felt brain foggy, got really tired and dizzy almost immediately after breakfast. My stomach became bloated, and I got really sad.

I wasn't in pain though, like I am most times I am glutened. Are there different levels? Could that have been a reaction that pepperoni?

Also, since then, I've pooed three times, which is definitely abnormal because for the last two weeks or so, I FINALLY became a once-a-dayer! (As opposed to many times a day).

I've only been gluten free for about 7 weeks, but anyway... Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks!

I love this forum - you're all so helpful.

PS: where can I find gluten free candy corn (in Canada)? It's my favourite Autumn candy!

[Merika]

Yes, it could well be from breakfast preparations. This is why I get sooo paranoid about cross-contamination eating out/at other houses.

Occasionally, I'll have a day at home where I'm in the kitchen a lot - cleaning kitchen, cooking, feeding cat, etc - and i feel nearly OCD about washing my hands, lol. Like, this is the 3rd time in 15 minutes that I am washing my hands!!! But if I'm stirring soup, stop to feed the cat (wheat in cat food), stir soup again, load dishwasher and wipe down counter (non-gluten-free kitchen), stir soup again....you can see where there might be cross-contam issues.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Merika

[bluelotus]

I am so OCD about things too, esp eating out and at other people's houses (or work)....so thanks for bringing that up, glad its not just me. I get worried about how well other's wash dishes (including my husband - I've gotten sick that way), how clean the inside of the microwave is at work (any little bits that will float/fall into my soup?), and I wash my hands a million times a day (my skin is so dry now!!) - making sure to use my own soap that I bring from home. Maybe I am going overboard, but if I wanted to be glutened, I'd eat chocolate cake, not from crumbs or trace amounts on hands/counters/dishes/etc.

[nettiebeads]

I found some vegetarian pepperoni in the freezer, and decided to incorporate that into his meal - mostly because it is probably the last thing with gluten in our house.

So I was very careful, and took the baggies outta there and put them in the microwave. I did not touch the pepperoni, but did touch the bags (and obviously, there was stufff probably on the outside of them when I sealed them up months ago, it was definitely on my hands then).

Anyway, then I made breakfast, and my breakfast included some finger foods.

Could I have gotten glutened that way? (Because it was on my hands?) I hadn't washed my hands.

I love this forum - you're all so helpful.

PS: where can I find gluten free candy corn (in Canada)? It's my favourite Autumn candy!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, classic cross-contamination. My kitchen is mostly gluten-free free, but since my hubby is normal (in dietary issues anyway ) I worry about cross-contamination alot. Constant handwashing, and drying them with papertowels in the kitchen, since he wipes down the counters with the dishtowel after he gets done preparing his non-gluten-free foods. And yes, there are different levels of reaction to being glutened. My husband accidentally glutened me last Friday, so I was tired Sat and a little irritable and soft stools, but no real D and not the overpowering fatigue like I've had in the past. And I'm glad this forum is here, too!

Hope you're better soon.

[SharonF]

obsessive hand washer here, too. Fix kids' breakfast, wash hands. Pack lunch, wash hands. Clean out crumb tray (you know, I hated the stupid crumb tray in the toaster BEFORE I was diagnosed), wash hands. I go through a lot of soap.