Blew It On Thanksgiving

[StClair]

I was wondering how long it takes others to recover after being hit by gluten.  I have been gluten free, to my knowledge, since I was diagnosed last April, but on Thanksgiving, for some inexplicable reason, I spaced out and had gravy on my turkey and mashed potatoes.  The flour kind of gravy.  About 30 min after ingesting it I felt a band of pain across my lower abdomen that lasted a few hours before subsiding.  The next day I had the kind of lower digestive tract problems you might expect (d), and ever since I have had the same crushing fatigue that I remember from when I was first diagnosed.  Once again the the sick aching in my arms and legs.  Sorry for the whine!  I know that others do have far worse symptoms.  Any advice or encouragement about how long this will continue much appreciated.

[bread or alive]

Hi St. Clair,

I am only recently diagnosed (approx 5 weeks ago) and was very careful over Thanksgiving.  I made several dishes for Thanksgiving with my friends (and they were the first things to be eaten! - that's not intended to be boastful but meant to be encouraging for all the newly diagnosed people who feel they are missing out, especially during the holidays).  The next day was Thanksgiving at my relatives' home.  I was burned-out from cooking the day before (and I honestly thought I'd be bringing back pans of gluten-free leftovers that I could take with me to the relatives' dinner) so I just took wine and gluten-free rolls.  My cousin heated the rolls with the gluten rolls and dumped them all in one bread basket.  I didn't say anything because it was too late and I already wasn't going to be eating anything except roast turkey and mashed potatoes.  So, I dusted off a roll (I really thought that would do the trick) and ate.  About five hours later, I reacted.  My first symptom is intense itching (feels like it's coming from the bone) and abdominal pain. And it wasn't until Monday, two days ago, that I felt my system normalize.  My joints feel crippled, my skin hurts, the bones in my right leg constantly ache, I get migraines that don't respond to migraine medication and fatigue.  Lots of fatigue.  I empathize with you but the only advice I know of is to drink lots of water to try to help your system flush out the gluten and that may not even be accurate...maybe someone who has had more experience can help advise us!

[icelandgirl]

The last time I was glutened  it took 3 weeks to feel back to normal with the 1st week being the worst...like having the worst flu ever and constant bathroom trips, etc.  That was about 6 months ago.  

I just got hit again...this time I've no idea how or why?  The only thing I can think of is my 4 year old and preschool.  They do play doh and eat gluten...maybe I forgot to wash her hands right after class?  I don't know.  But I feel awful.  The D is back, the horrendous fatigue,  the headache, the full autoimmune nastiness...all are there.

I hope you feel better soon and hope I do too.

[lmj623]

I got hit on thanksgiving too and it has been a little over a year since my last glutening. I think mostly I made it this long because I was less sensitive while pregnant, I had no stomach issues the whole time- it was amazing. 

I think what got me was some French onion dip oddly enough, I didn't confirm how it was made and assuming a packet with barley or something stupid in it, but damn it was good. 

Reading your post was comforting, glad I'm not the only one. I puked that night had the shakes and chills and felt hungover for 2 days. What's annoying is that I am still crazy bloated after about 10 am onward(feel like I am struggling to digest everything) and my muscle issues. All the awful knots I had a year ago are back in my neck and shoulders. I'm talking rock hard huge knots that even an intense deep tissue massage hasn't phased. Does anyone else have that???? I'm afraid I'm back into the vicious inflammation cycle. 

[StClair]

Thanks for the comraderie.  I still can't believe I made such an obvious mistake, but at least now I know what happens when I eat significant gluten.  I was curious.  By this time I'm still having the digestive issues, and I took a hit on the throat and stomach pain progress, but other symptoms are improving.  Next Thanksgiving, live and learn, no gluten for me.