Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is This Far-Fetched? Breastfeeding Question

D-borealis

Recommended Posts

D-borealis Rookie
D-borealis
Posted

My daughter and I have been gluten-free for about a month now and overall we have seen gradual but significant improvement in her health and mood. However I have noticed something odd - perhaps it is just a strange coincidence of some kind - but it seems as though every Tuesday she has a really bad day (as in, very crabby, won't eat anything, clingy, rash behind knees flares up) It is happening again today (tuesday!). The only thing I can think of that could correspond to a specific day of the week is that on SUNDAYS I work all day in a bakery. There is alot of airborne flour there however I do not eat any of the food that is made there including so called "gluten free" baked goods. Obviously, I also do not bring any of the food home from the bakery for my daughter to eat. 

 

My question is (and this sounds crazy to me, but it's all I can think of): is it possible that just by BREATHING in airborne flour it is somehow entering my breastmilk? She does still nurse quite often, and it is the lone connection I can think of between the flour at the bakery and what she is consuming. Can tiny particles of flour entering the lungs affect the composition of breastmilk? Any other ideas on this are welcome. Until I figure it out, I guess I will plan on "terrible tuesdays".

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

The flour in your lungs shouldn't be an issue.  But, think about it.  How does the flour get to your lungs? It passes thru your throat.  Some probably gets swallowed.

Mayasmum Rookie
Mayasmum
Posted

A friend gave me this link - Open Original Shared Link

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

A friend gave me this link - Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Odd link but I think I found what you were linking to.  It mentions ingesting with the inhaling.  To me, it is just common sense that if it gets in your throat, some will get in your stomach and onwards.

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I think that it could happen.  Can you take the day off next Sunday and see what happens?

D-borealis Rookie
D-borealis
Posted
  • Author

I think that it could happen.  Can you take the day off next Sunday and see what happens?

I would love to but they are short staffed right now. This would really be the ultimate test though and I plan to arrange this as soon as possible.  If it turned out to be the culprit I would probably consider quitting my job or fully weaning my daughter. The terrible tuesdays are truly awful and probably not worth the basically minimum wage $$ I make on sundays.  :unsure:

Greebo115 Rookie
Greebo115
Posted

Could you try wearing a face mask - like the particle masks people wear when they are doing dusty DIY/jobs?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mmcc54 Contributor
mmcc54
Posted

Hi!! My little was diagnosed 2 months ago im still nursing too so im gluten free as well...Ive noticed if I even have a small bit of gluten it will pass to her as well and she has a flare up! Even the shampoo at the salon did it too her ( I had my hair washed)

smilla Newbie
smilla
Posted

I think that it definitely could be affecting her. I noticed my little one (13 months) got severe constipation (her sign of being glutened) when I ate 'gluten-free' food at a not totally reliable restaurant, so even small amounts of contamination can have an effect.

weluvgators Explorer
weluvgators
Posted

Are you decontaminating yourself when you get home from the bakery? We have had issues with carers that worked in flour environments, as it seemed they would introduce gluten into our home via their hair and clothes. I would strip out of work clothes and wash hair and body in a procedure to reduce the potential of exposure as much as possible.

I think the face mask is a good idea as well, but my first suspect would be your hair and clothes.

jepacar Newbie
jepacar
Posted

I would love to but they are short staffed right now. This would really be the ultimate test though and I plan to arrange this as soon as possible.  If it turned out to be the culprit I would probably consider quitting my job or fully weaning my daughter. The terrible tuesdays are truly awful and probably not worth the basically minimum wage $$ I make on sundays.  :unsure:

Breastmilk is a perfect food for a child, specially when we need to help them to heal their gut.

  • 2 weeks later...
D-borealis Rookie
D-borealis
Posted
  • Author

Just wanted to update on this situation: the last two weekends I have showered and changed clothing (leaving contaminated clothing outside of the house)  before coming near my daughter, unfortunately with no improvement. Both weeks we still had the same intense behavioral and physical symptoms from monday night through tuesday evening. Was really hoping this would make a difference! It really does seem as though my breastmilk is somehow becoming contaminated just by my being in such a glutinous environment.  A mask is not an option for me as I work customer service and much of my job entails making a favorable impression on customers and speaking on a phone. So now? Either 100% wean from breastfeeding or quit my job.  :(

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I would find a way to try to take one Sunday off (short staffed or no), so you have a little more information before quitting.

nicolebeth Apprentice
nicolebeth
Posted

Just wanted to update on this situation: the last two weekends I have showered and changed clothing (leaving contaminated clothing outside of the house)  before coming near my daughter, unfortunately with no improvement. Both weeks we still had the same intense behavioral and physical symptoms from monday night through tuesday evening. Was really hoping this would make a difference! It really does seem as though my breastmilk is somehow becoming contaminated just by my being in such a glutinous environment.  A mask is not an option for me as I work customer service and much of my job entails making a favorable impression on customers and speaking on a phone. So now? Either 100% wean from breastfeeding or quit my job.  :(

I recommend continuing with breastfeeding. This is going to help her gut more than anything. Plus, she'll be miserable with the weaning (as will you). Doing so abruptly is bad for her health (stress, less healthy gut, greater risk of illness, etc.) and yours (future health, your stress, and, more immediately, mastitis).  

 

I would recommend doing what the PP said about taking a day off to see. It might not be this at all. There could be something else bothering her--maybe you drink coffee there and there is gluten contamination? Maybe just eating on the tables there, using their refrigerators for your food, using the water? Maybe you touch your face without being aware of it? Doubtful in food prep, but still something that could happen accidentally. Perhaps it is from gluten, but perhaps it's from taking frozen breastmilk when you're not there? (Could it be contaminated with gluten--frozen before?) Can you give her probiotics, too?

 

With our DS1, we thought everything bothered him--but never could pin it down. Dairy can cause reactions. (Again, are you drinking coffee there with cream or milk?) Anyway, DS1 would projectile vomit (breastmilk only) about once a week, and had eczema--that was sometimes much worse than other times. We never really thought about gluten as being the overall cause until he was older. The GI feels that breastfeeding him for as long as I did was the best thing for him. (Even my mom, who was a naysayer at the time--it was a long time!--said that he really "needed" it as his stomach was is pain, and because he wasn't getting the nutrients elsewhere.) 

 

This sounds like it must be a very stressful time! As difficult as it is to see your daughter in pain, even with the pain and the fussing, she's still getting such a great thing from you in the breastmilk. Even if you keep your job and continue nursing, it's still better for her to be nursing, even with a day that is less comfortable than the other days. I am confident that you'll figure out what is bothering her--and, it still may be coincidence. Again, even if you remain on the job, I recommend to keep nursing. It sounds like she's doing great six days a week! 

 

Good luck!

weluvgators Explorer
weluvgators
Posted

Sorry to hear that you have not seen improvement yet. I do not doubt that airborne exposure could be the root cause. But have you also studied your daughters situation while you are at work? Where is she staying? What is she eating? Who is preparing her food? Is she doing anything different on that day that could be contributing?

D-borealis Rookie
D-borealis
Posted
  • Author

UPDATE:  we have now successfully had a tuesday that wasn't terrible!  :lol:  What did I do differently? Well, normally when I am working I drink loads of water and after scrutinizing every aspect of my job to find out where the gluten was coming from, realized I always:

1. drink water out of cups owned by the bakery, washed in the bakery's sinks, dried right next to the dough mixing area, and 

2. leave my cup of water uncovered all day in a bakery filled with airborne flour.

 

So this week, i took my own water bottle filled with water from home, kept the lid on at all times unless I was having a sip.

 

tuesday passed without a hitch. I think my water glass sitting out all day was just getting film after film of wheat flour on the top and I was nonchalantly slurping it up for 12 hours.  :rolleyes:

Mayasmum Rookie
Mayasmum
Posted

I would def stay with breastfeeding, she truly needs that especially as her gut is compromised by the celiacs.

Mayasmum Rookie
Mayasmum
Posted

oh good! Just saw your last update!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Have I got coeliac disease

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In...
    2. JudyLou
      - JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covere...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced. Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well. Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside...
    4. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Have I got coeliac disease

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins...
    5. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Gluten tester

      I saw the thing for testing for gluten when at public places.I absolutely love but I wonder if they would come up with a bracelet or necklace that can detect gluten in the air.I would LOVE that, i know i get debilitating migraine from smelling gluten wheat what have you, all I know is when I go into places like Chevron- gluten Subway, migraine, Costco that...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,152
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    SinnamonToasty
    Newest Member
    SinnamonToasty
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test.  In addition to IGA tests there are IGG tests which are particularly useful in the case of IGA deficiency.  
    • JudyLou
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By JudyLou · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine).  So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts! 
    • knitty kitty
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced.  Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well.  Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside of Celiac, too.  Symptoms can wax and wane depending on dietary intake.  I knew an alcoholic who had the "boots" of Pellagra, which would get worse when he was drinking more heavily, and improve when he was drinking less.   Niacin deficiency is called Pellagra.  Symptoms consist of dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death (the four D's).  A scaly rash on the feet and hands and arms are called the "boots" and "gloves" of Pellagra.  Darkened skin around the neck exposed to the sun is Casal's necklace.  Poor farmers with niacin deficient diets were called "red necks" because of this.    Does your rash get worse if you're in the sun?  Mine did.  Any skin exposed to the sun got blistered and scaly.  Arms, legs, neck, head.  Do you have dry, ashy skin on your feet?  The itchiness was not only from the rash, but neuropathy.   My doctors were clueless.  They didn't put all my symptoms together into the three D's.  But I did.  I'd learned about Pellagra at university.  But there weren't supposed to be deficiency diseases anymore in the developed world.  Doubtful it could be that simple, I started supplementing with Niacin and other essential nutrients.  I got better.   One of Niacinamide functions is to help stop mast cells from releasing histamine.  Your allergist gave you doxepin, an antihistamine which stops mast cells from releasing histamine.   Since you do have a Celiac gene, staying on the gluten free diet can prevent Celiac disease from being triggered again.   Interesting Reading: These case studies have pictures... Pellgra revisited.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228662/ Steroid-Resistant Rash With Neuropsychiatric Deterioration and Weight Loss: A Modern-Day Case of Pellagra https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12532421/#:~:text=Figure 2.,(right panel) upper limbs.&text=The distribution of the rash,patient's substantial response to treatment.   Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721081/#:~:text=Additional causes of yellow skin,the clinical features of Kwashiorkor.   Hello, @Staticgypsy, I would not recommend cutting so many nutritious foods out of ones diet.  Oxalates can cause problems like kidney stones, but our bodies can process oxalates out of our systems with certain vitamins like Vitamins A and D and Pyridoxine B 6.   People with Celiac disease are often low in fat soluble vitamins A and D, as well as the water soluble B vitamins like Pyridoxine B 6.  Focus on serving your granddaughter nutrient dense meals to ensure she gets essential vitamins and minerals that will help her grow. Micronutrient inadequacy and urinary stone disease: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976348/ Multivitamins co-intake can reduce the prevalence of kidney stones: a large-scale cross-sectional study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564076/
    • Wheatwacked
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins and minerals.  Low or deficient  Vitamin D is almost always found in undiagnosed Celiac Disease. "Over 900 genes have been reported as regulated by vitamin D"  Possible Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease Onset  "The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 41.6%, with the highest rate seen in blacks (82.1%), followed by Hispanics (69.2%)."    Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults
    • Jmartes71
      Gluten tester

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      I saw the thing for testing for gluten when at public places.I absolutely love but I wonder if they would come up with a bracelet or necklace that can detect gluten in the air.I would LOVE that, i know i get debilitating migraine from smelling gluten wheat what have you, all I know is when I go into places like Chevron- gluten Subway, migraine, Costco that food smell of nasty gluten- migraine and same with Walmart subway.I absolutely HATE im that sensitive, my body reacts.Sadly medical hasn't taken core issue of celiac being an issue considering glutenfree ever since 1994 and in their eyes not because they didn't diagnose me. I am and wish I wasn't. If there was a detector of gluten in the air it would make a world of difference. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.