1st glutening! Is this normal?

[Mnoosh]

I'm a newly diagnosed celiac, just about two months into recovering. I was feeling soooo much better and my bowels were almost back to normal. Well...then my husband and I went out to eat this weekend to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. They seemed very knowledgable and concerned with cross contamination. About 15 hours later I got incredibly sick (cramping, bloating, and really, really bad diarhea). After about 12 hours of the worst diarhea I've ever experienced, I realized that our Imodium was gluten free! This stopped me from going anymore that night or the next day-I was so excited thinking I had turned a corner. However, once the medicine wore off the diarhea came back. So I guess what I'm wondering is-does anyone else experience extremely bad diarhea for days after a glutening? It's alarming! 

P.S. I'm eating really a gentle diet to hopefully heal ?

[Irene Joanne]

For me it was better after a week. It's not fun! Get lots of rest. I don't have a lot of advice- I was diagnosed almost a year ago. For me, I'm vomiting also for the first day. I'm getting to a point where I rarely eat out- it's too stressful even if I don't get sick.  It took me almost 3 months before I really felt better. 

[icelandgirl]

Hi Mnoosh...yes, that's what happens to me.  The first time I was glutened I had eaten out and they seemed knowledgeable too...but alas I was so sick.  For me, it took 3 weeks to get back to normal BMs the first time.  It stinks, but it's true.  I was glutened in June and this time the D only lasted about a week, but other symptoms lasted longer.

It can be very hard and discouraging getting glutened, but you will feel better.  Keep eating soft, gentle foods that are easy on your system.  My go to is chicken breasts cooked in the crockpot, rice, boiled potatoes, we'll steamed carrots, etc.  These are easy on my system and give me some nutrition.

I hope you get to feeling better soon!  Try some peppermint or ginger tea...they are very soothing as well.

Hugs!

[dustinhxc]

First time I was glutened I had horrible diarrhea. I've been fine for awhile. Then 3 weeks ago I was glutened and vomited and had diarrhea. Now 1 week ago I was glutened and vomited again. Had diarrhea the first night and then have been constipated and nautious for a week. Took fiber and it helped. Hopefully the nausia ends soon. I think I'm getting very sensitive. 

[Ennis-TX]

Last major straight gluten exposure for me was in June, went out with a friend to celebrate and they said the chicken was gluten-free. Seemed to have a sauce on it but I ignored it and had a tiny bit in my salad. Within minutes I had a feeling in my mouth, sores, and my lymph nodes started hurting. I knew then but it was going to be bad later, few hours later I am on my floor at home in the door way, I was puking, dry heaving and heavy cramps, and so dazed I just laying there in the door way complete out of it dazed. Spent the next 6-8 hours like that, heart rate dropped to 32-38bpm at one point and turned completely white according to my friend who was watching over me. Spent the next week just out of it, numbness was back to its worse, (finger tips lack surface feeling and tend to fumble stuff and burn my hands cooking and not notice it). Following next couple of days where odd bloody stools. .....I normally end up binge eating almond butter, protein powders, and coconut afterwords to get my weight back up and keep it on. BCAAs also seem to help with recovery and soreness

[Mnoosh]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's good to know that this is somewhat to be expected. Do you all take anti-diarrhea meds or just let things run their course after glutening?