When Do You React/how Soon?

[CMCM]

I'm just wondering...when you eat something with gluten, how soon do you get an identifiable reaction? Same day? Hours later? Next day? And what kind of things do you feel first? And then, when you do react , how long does it typically last?

[RiceGuy]

I'm just wondering...when you eat something with gluten, how soon do you get an identifiable reaction?  Same day?  Hours later?  Next day?  And what kind of things do you feel first? And then, when you do react , how long does it typically last?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That seems to vary widely from person to person. For me, some things would cause a reaction in like minutes. Other things very slowly and more subtle, such that detection isn't so easy. It can take days for certain foods if you already have a crippled digestive system. So if you are catching it early, before much damage has been done, then the reaction would be different I think. Therefore, over time, the reactions could change.

The things I'd get first depended on the food too. For the rye bread I was eating, I'd get a dry mouth in less than an hour, even just minutes. That would last over 24-36 hours, even with one slice. No matter how much water I'd drink, there was a thirst that could not be quenched. Sometimes 8 to 12 full glasses of water, and still thirsty as if I'd been dehydrated for a day or more. Pasta was more subtle. Mostly digestive issues, which would last a few days or more. It seemed to also depend on what I ate along with the gluten-containing food.

Now, for how long it lasts, again it depends on the food, but for me typically a few days or so.

The important thing is that you know to avoid certain foods, so reactions hopefully won't normally be a problem. That is unless you actually plan to ignore the gluten intolorence because you think you can put up with the symptoms. I hope nobody resorts to that, because this is not like an allergy. It's a serious problem that requires a life-long commitment. You only get one body. Any gluten will cause damage if you are gluten intolorent. It won't matter if you don't notice the reaction. Over time, that damage is what causes Celiac Disease.

[pixiegirl]

I react quickly, in 20 minutes or so and if I got a big does of gluten it lasts for a long time... a good 2 weeks.

Susan

[tammy]

I react quickly, in 20 minutes or so and if I got a big does of gluten it lasts for a long time... a good 2 weeks.

Susan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For me, it seems to be relatively consistent. If I accidently ingest gluten, even a tiny amount, I will have a subtle wheeze within about 20 minutes. Then my stool will be pencil thin for about a week. I don't remeber what I was like when I ate a whole slice of bread. I react to casein as well. I find that a little butter daily causes no reaction however a glass of milk or a serving of ice cream does. I feel sluggish the next day and my stool is weird the second day.

[elisabet]

My son reacts between 1-4 hour,he will have very itchy skin and a tight nose during the night.It will reduce during 1-2 weeks.

[darlindeb25]

Each person is different and sometimes reactions are different---I get flu like symptoms and I generally will not feel well again for weeks. Now barley doesnt cause a reaction at all with me, but it still is doing the same damage. Most gluten incident will cause diarrhea for me--I havent been glutened too many times. Soy/corn on the other hand cause constipation. Everyone is different. Deb

[jerseyangel]

I'm gluten-free almost 6 months now and up until recently, I'd begin to get symptoms within 1-2 hours. Mostly D, cramping, fatigue and anxiety. It would go on for 5 days or so. Last week, I think I had a reaction--I don't know how it got into me--but I felt anxious and depressed and had mild cramping but no D. Maybe it wasn't from gluten--I'm super careful--but I think it probably was. As you can see from the replys, we're all different and even our own reactions can vary.

[KaitiUSA]

I usually feel it instantly and the reactions usually last a good 2 weeks. Everyone is different though.

[Carriefaith]

My typical reaction is:

Brain fog within a few hours, this lasts for days

Skin outbreaks within 12-24 hours

Bm problems within 24-48 hours

Upper abdominal stomach pain within 3-4 days

[CMCM]

I'm finding your replies MOST interesting. I've also noticed that many people on these forums are also lactose intolerant. I thought for YEARS that the lactose was my only problem....and in fact, I've never been much of a dairy person, perhaps instinctively. But because I could eat wheat without the sort of reaction my seriously celiac mom did, I thought I had escaped the wheat thing and I just never thought I could have some degree of celiac disease for most of my life until recently. The two must be connected, though....because when I don't eat wheat I seem to be able to tolerate dairy fairly well. I went on the Atkins diet several years ago (didn't eat much "fat" stuff because I don't like/can't handle it), but basically ate chicken, fish, small amount of cheese, and salads. I felt GREAT, and I could hardly believe it. I attributed it all to the lack of sugar in my diet, although I did wonder if the lack of grains had anything to do with it. Now I know it must have been the fact that I had zero grain of any kind for the 6 weeks I did the diet.

[cookiedog]

I have only recently started a gluten free diet, and boy it's nice to feel better. Not 100% but any bit is better. I have been lactose intolerant for years. I know within a minute if i have eaten gluten. Major headache between my eyes, brain fog (I just learned that's what I've been having), and then within an hour or so bm/cramping for days and days.

[Carriefaith]

I've also noticed that many people on these forums are also lactose intolerant. I thought for YEARS that the lactose was my only problem....and in fact, I've never been much of a dairy person, perhaps instinctively. But because I could eat wheat without the sort of reaction my seriously celiac mom did, I thought I had escaped the wheat thing and I just never thought I could have some degree of celiac disease for most of my life until recently. The two must be connected

Most people with celiac disease are temporarily lactose intolerant until they are on the gluten-free diet. Gluten antibodies destory the tips of the villi in the small intestine which contain the enzyme to break down lactose. So whenever lactose is ingested, the person gets really sick because they can't digest the lactose. Within time on a gluten free diet, however, the villi heal and are able to digest lactose again. Other people with celiac disease, like myself, seem to be intolerant to the milk protein casein. I don't know a whole lot about the connection between celiac disease and casein, but I have recently found out on these forms that the milk protein casein is quite similar to gluten, which would explain a few things

[RiceGuy]

I went on the Atkins diet several years ago (didn't eat much "fat" stuff because I don't like/can't handle it), but basically ate chicken, fish, small amount of cheese, and salads.  I felt GREAT, and I could hardly believe it. I attributed it all to the lack of sugar in my diet, although I did wonder if the lack of grains had anything to do with it.  Now I know it must have been the fact that I had zero grain of any kind for the 6 weeks I did the diet.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm curious then, what made you stop after 6 weeks if you felt GREAT?

[RiceGuy]

Most people with celiac disease are temporarily lactose intolerant until they are on the gluten-free diet. Gluten antibodies destory the tips of the villi in the small intestine which contain the enzyme to break down lactose. So whenever lactose is ingested, the person gets really sick because they can't digest the lactose. Within time on a gluten free diet, however, the villi heal and are able to digest lactose again. Other people with celiac disease, like myself, seem to be intolerant to the milk protein casein. I don't know a whole lot about the connection between celiac disease and casein, but I have recently found out on these forms that the milk protein casein is quite similar to gluten, which would explain a few things 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for that excellent explanation! I know some people who need to have this info.

[Carriefaith]

Thanks for that excellent explanation! I know some people who need to have this info.

Thanks I'm glad I could help.

[CMCM]

I'm curious then, what made you stop after 6 weeks if you felt GREAT?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I was doing Atkins to lose a few lbs, and I just burned out on the restrictive nature of the diet....not a lot of veggies....just one salad a day etc. I really missed fruit, stuff like that. So I went off the diet and the bad grain stuff crept back in.

[RiceGuy]

Well, I was doing Atkins to lose a few lbs, and I just burned out on the restrictive nature of the diet....not a lot of veggies....just one salad a day etc.  I really missed fruit, stuff like that.  So I went off the diet and the bad grain stuff crept back in.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, ok.

I need my veggies for sure. I eat literally pounds of them per day. Like at least three or four, unlike most people I know who barely touch any in an entire week. No wonder they all have chronic issues...

I couldn't get any more restrictive without seriously crippling my overall mood. So many things off limits already. If I have to strike anything more off my list I'll go bananas.

I gotta have rice and potatoes too, because those and veggies constitute like 99.9% of my diet! My daily decisions for a meal is like "hmmm...do I have rice and veggies, or potatoes and veggies?" As an "extra special treat", I'll have rice pasta. Oh Boy!

OK, that's nearly all off topic...oh well...

[Rusla]

It depends on what I have eaten. Yesterday it took no more than 20 min for me to get so tired and have my face break out with just one cookie. If I eat bread it can be very drastic and fairly quick with crackers it can take an hour or so, and some times less. So times it takes longer with more extreme longer lasting effects and some times it happens fast with either minor or nasty effects that can last longer than two weeks or last two days. It also depends on what I eat the next day on how bad the breakouts get. I also get the brain fog and get very nauseous and sometimes dizzy.

I have noticed extreme fatigue very quickly and instant relapse with washroom issues.