Got Accidentally Glutened On Vacation - What Should I Have Done?

[AngieJoy]

I have gluten intolerance, and was away at Disney World - they're usually amazing with gluten free dining. I've been going for years and have never had a problem. This time I got glutened by a chef who told me that a salad dressing was gluten free, but when I went back a few days later another chef told me it wasn't. The day after eating it, I had stomach problems, but wasn't too bad for a day or two after that. Then I got what I've had in the past with getting glutened - excruciating headaches, neck and facial pain, joint pain, stomach problems including cramps, weakness and I could't focus.

 

I've read that if you catch it right away and do laxatives, it could help, but I didn't catch it for a couple days. I even bought some supplement that can stunt the digestion of gluten containing foods so it supposedly reduces the reaction. But I was too late. 

 

This reaction lasted for almost a week, and I'm just starting to feel more normal today. It's been awful. Does anyone else get this intensity and type of reaction?  

 

Is there anything I could have done to reduce this reaction once I realized what was going on?   

[nvsmom]

I have never heard that laxatives help reduce the symptoms of being glutened.  I highly doubt it would help as it's not like food poisoning where you want to get the offending food out as fast as possible (wouldn't do it for food poisoning either). It's an autoimmune reaction that's triggered by gluten - once it's started, it's started.

 

I don't think your symptoms are all that unusual. Most of us just try to get some extra rest, take some L-glutamine and your probiotics, drink plenty of water and hope it passes quickly.  

 

I hope you feel well soon.

[kareng]

I don't see how laxatives would help.  Probably just make you feel worse.

 

The current pills that are supposed to digest gluten, don't really work.  I saw a presentation by Celiac researchers who are working on one that really works.  They tested all the ones on the market and they don't work.

[AngieJoy]

Thanks - How does the l-glutamine help? 

[moosemalibu]

Thanks - How does the l-glutamine help? 

 

'Glutamine helps to protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract known as the mucosa."

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University of Maryland Medical Center

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'Glutamine, or L-glutamine, is an amino acid derived from another amino acid, glutamic acid. Glutamine plays a role in the health of the immune system, digestive tract, and muscle cells, as well as other bodily functions. It appears to serve as a fuel for the cells that line the intestines.

 

Typical therapeutic dosages of glutamine used in studies ranges from 3 to 30 g daily, divided into several separate doses."

 

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[nvsmom]

Thanks Jamie.  

[cap6]

Lots of water and ride it out.

[Pegleg84]

Once it's done, it's done and you just have to tough it out, unfortunately.

 

In the future, if you're going on vacation and going to be staying in one place the whole time, it might be worth looking into accommodations with access to a kitchen, either a suite with a kitchen/ette or somewhere you can do your own cooking. That way you're not relying on other people to feed you safely the entire trip.

If you are eating out, while those "gluten digest" things will NOT prevent getting glutened, digestive enzymes can help sightly lessen the effects. I take them with meals every day, but when eating out I double my dose, just in case.

You can also research what restaurants cater to gluten-free ahead of time and contact them to find out if they can accommodate you. Better than showing up at a place you think should be safe, only to find yourself out of luck or ending up getting sick.

 

Sorry to hear your vacation got hijacked by a glutening. That is no fun.

Feel better soon!

[AngieJoy]

Thanks Pegleg and others. Moose thanks for the info. I'll look into it.

 

One of the reasons I love Disney is they have extensive training for their chefs and protocols in place to handle allergies and gluten issues in most of their restaurants - over 200 of them. I've been going for many years and have never had a problem before. It's been awesome to get to eat in so many types of restaurants.

 

I did try several new places this time, plus that chef that told me I could have the ranch dressing was in the hotel restaurant I'd eaten in hundreds of times. I guess it just takes one person who makes a mistake!

[BelleVie]

Lot's of water, and I have found that saline enemas help to clean out my system. They don't fix the reaction of course, but they seem to make it a little easier. 

[Berlin1]

Oh no! Hope you feel better quickly! I have yet to hear about taking laxatives to help the gluten work its way out. I know for myself, I get immediate symptom relief from brain fog and nausea once I poop it all out  , not sure if this is what you mean by taking laxatives? I would suggest that when travelling stick to foods you know are gluten-free. With the salad, I would have skipped the salad dressing and stuck with something like olive oil and salt. There's always a 50/50 chance that waiters and chefs will either give you the wrong answer or just won't care. Like many said above, it's kind of difficult to reduce the reaction. Once it has started, it's already too late. I would suggest drinking lots of water, sticking to a very bland diet, sleeping it off and try drinking some teas, preferably something with ginger and lemon to help clean out your system.