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I Am A Miserable Mess After Eating Out Last Night

Wakingup

By Wakingup
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Wakingup Apprentice
Wakingup
Posted

We rarely eat out anymore because I always get sick when we do. But last night we made an exception because it was church pot luck and I brought my own gluten free dish. Also served was gluten free white crab chowder so i had some of that Today I am a weepy, anxious depressed, miserable mess. Also terrible brain fog so don't know if this is making sense. I had gas all through the night, and rumbling stomach. In addition to gluten I can not eat anything cooked with alcohol...since there was no gluten in the soup, Im thinking maybe alcohol was added. Any ideas what could have caused this?

I am thinking I am sensitive to a lot more than gluten and alcohol since even when I avoid both, I still get sick when I eat out. We have a limited social life due to this issue. How do you deal with this in your life? My depression today is making this seem unmanageable and horrible. Im hoping to feel better tomorrow.

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bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Unless the chowder was made in a gluten-free home, it was probably cross-contaminated. OR maybe it, or even your dish, got CC'd at the event. Someone may have used the wrong spoon, or maybe someone dropped some crumbs from their plate into one of them.

 

Sorry you're feeling so sick. Drink lots of water, take lots of naps, and here's hoping it passes soon.

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted

I hope you feel better soon... but I can't help thinking that gluten just must have got in there somewhere.  How about stock they might used for the chowder? Was it prepared in a dedicated gluten free area?  I am British, so I don't know the recipe too well, but can beer be in chowder?  Beer contains gluten I think.

 

I was out with my sister and mother a couple of weeks ago and explained that I would just be having a coffee as unless food is prepared in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen I don't eat out.  The waitress replied, "You're right not to take any chances, I have worked in two pizza restaurants in this town that both claim they prepare gluten free food but they just use the same old cloths to wipe down the surfaces, etc, etc."  I thought as much!  

 

In the UK some places buy in great gluten free prepackaged cakes, prepared in gluten free kitchens, such as the Honeybun range, so I choose the outlets that sell these cakes and try to suggest to family and friends that we go out for tea or coffee and cake there rather meet somewhere for a main meal.   Or I take my own food if it has to be a main meal.  That's how we tend to socialise these days...  at least I am saving some money.

CaliSparrow Collaborator
CaliSparrow
Posted

I'm sorry you feel poorly after what was probably an evening of "normalcy". I do not eat what others prepare. Most people do not have a grasp on what contains gluten unless they've gone through this themselves. Those who have become proficient in handling social situations recommend taking the first serving from the dish you bring so as to avoid cross-contamination issues (like someone sticking their gluten fork in it while serving themselves.).

Because of the long course of illness before going gluten-free, I developed 55+ intolerances to other foods. None of them equal my body's response to gluten but a few have some pretty big reactions (like dairy). It's not uncommon to have an intolerance to dairy products. Some people can reintroduce it after sufficient time has been given for healing the gut.

When I fall ill, I remind myself that it's only temporary and I rest a lot. Give yourself the kind of nurturing, loving care you would want for a loved one and go very easy on yourself. The following article has helped me:

Open Original Shared Link

I hope you feel better soon.

Cali

Wakingup Apprentice
Wakingup
Posted
  • Author

Thanks very much everyone.....and Cali, for the link. Reading your responses has helped. It's 1am here and I'm up again with terrible gas and stomach discomfort, body aches, anxiety, depression and feelings of hopelessness. I could cry at the drop of a hat.

Can't sleep but at the same time feeling extremely weak and exhausted. Brain fog and confusion through the roof.

Makes me never want to eat again.

No one in my life except for my husband understands what I am going through so it helps a lot to be able to write it here.

Wakingup Apprentice
Wakingup
Posted
  • Author

Because of the long course of illness before going gluten-free, I developed 55+ intolerances to other foods.

Cali

Cali

How did you know? Were you tested? I think this may be true for me too......I ask bc I just need to know if there is anything else that I need to be avoiding.

CaliSparrow Collaborator
CaliSparrow
Posted

Cali

How did you know? Were you tested? I think this may be true for me too......I ask bc I just need to know if there is anything else that I need to be avoiding.

I did the ALCAT test. It helped (obviously, there was no way I could have sorted it out myself). My inflammation went away immediately after I stopped eating those foods.

Good luck!

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CaliSparrow Collaborator
CaliSparrow
Posted

I did the (Company Name Removed - They Spammed This Forum and are Banned) test.

That's a shame. Ask your doctor about testing for food intolerances. I go to a doctor in Functional Medicine.

NoGlutenCooties Contributor
NoGlutenCooties
Posted

I have only eaten out a couple of times since my diagnosis and it scares me to death.  I don't eat anything fixed by someone who thinks they can fix gluten-free in a non-gluten-free kitchen.  Even my aunt, whose brother (my uncle) was diagnosed with Celiac 15 years ago swears she can cook gluten-free meals for us.  Then she happened to make the comment, "why would an oreo have gluten in it?" - OMG!  It's just too easy for people to make a mistake.  Heck... even us Celiacs make an occasional mistake.

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