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Building works, feeling alone with symptoms

NightSky

By NightSky
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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NightSky Explorer
NightSky
Posted

Hi,

I posted a while back and my symptoms have been so much better since I started on the Dr Fasano Gluten Cross Contamination Elimination Diet. Although the dermatologist said he wouldn't recommend I reintroduce gluten after five years of being gluten free because of the severity of my reactions and so couldn't diagnose whether or not I have DH, I wasn't reacting so strongly to trace amounts of gluten in my environment, so I was happy and well, getting stronger by the day.

Then... my reactions started to increase. I was getting sick, but weirdly only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It started off mild and I thought I just needed to take a break, open the window or sit outside for a while but that made me SO much worse. I started to realise that 2 hours 45 minutes after sitting outside I would get sick (this is how long it takes for gluten to hit me EVERY time). There is a building site for a huge building just feet away from my window and their work with cement and plaster had started six weeks ago, just when my reactions started coming back. In the last couple of weeks the head fog and feelings of unease and dread come and go, along with stomach symptoms. My skin problems are fairly mild at the moment which is a shame because they would be a good, visible way to get verification.

I feel very alone with the symptoms. Whenever the dread and head fog came on in the past, I would enquire about whatever food I had eaten 2 hours and 45 minutes previously and someone would confirm they made a mistake and included gluten, so I learned what my symptoms are - but telling that to my doctor? I think he'll think I'm a nut, and what about disclosing that I think my reactions at work are gluten related? Talking about airborne gluten? I can't work in that environment - it knocks me out for 3 - 4 days at a time and I don't really feel right now, a week after my last exposure but I'm not sure whether to keep quiet about the reactions to the building site being really similar to my gluten reactions. 

I was doing so well :( I have agreed with work that I will go back and test my reaction on Thursday - dreading it! And to top it off, I am starting in a new job next week. I will turn up stuck in a total head fog, unable to function! Based on previous experience, it will take one to two months to get back to normality.

Any sympathy or related experiences welcome.

 

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cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I am glared the Fasano diet worked for you!  I have read that building materials can make you sick (those containing gluten, like plaster).   Is your new job at the same place?  If not, why go back to your old job?  Ask to do your exit interview from home.  

 

NightSky Explorer
NightSky
Posted
  • Author

Thank you. I'm at work now so should know in the next few hours whether or not I will get a reaction. I have been doing this job for several years and I am very fond of it but do need to think about my health too. Fingers crossed it will be ok. Also I have a doctors appointment so will see what they say.

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted

Never really thought about plaster too much, but I can see it happening. I have issues when I walk through the bakery section of a grocery store sometimes. Bit of the fogginess hits later and fatigue. Sorta always walk around them if I can and avoid the bread isle. Also has a issue at one grocery store, where I can not get the fresh veggies on one side. They have one refrigerated section of the fresh vegetables right next to the dough prep area for the bakery -_- I think they got me at least twice before I caught on to the CC issues with airborne flour.

  • 2 weeks later...
NightSky Explorer
NightSky
Posted
  • Author
On Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 0:29 PM, Ennis_TX said:

Never really thought about plaster too much, but I can see it happening. I have issues when I walk through the bakery section of a grocery store sometimes. Bit of the fogginess hits later and fatigue. Sorta always walk around them if I can and avoid the bread isle. Also has a issue at one grocery store, where I can not get the fresh veggies on one side. They have one refrigerated section of the fresh vegetables right next to the dough prep area for the bakery -_- I think they got me at least twice before I caught on to the CC issues with airborne flour.

It's good to be aware isn't it. Medical research has verified airborne particles can be problematic and hopefully there will be greater refinement in the research to establish greater understanding over time. 

The site manager at the construction site informed me that my symptoms starting coincided with when the work with cement started. As I got sick from plaster in my house I am thinking this could be related.

I was honest with my doctor about my symptoms and said I thought it had something to do with working next to a construction site. He said it sounds like an allergice response and said that it could be related to gluten symptoms but that these things are poorly understood. 

The cement work nearest my window is finishing this week and I'm due to return to my job. Relief! X 

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