What are the symptoms of being "Glutened"?

[SteveB]

Since last October 2016, my stomach has been feeling like it's full all the time (or constant pressure may be a better word here), and it seems like it's constantly rumbling and I have more gas coming out of both ends. I was diagnosed with Celiac a couple of weeks ago and since I've changed my eating habits, the constant rumbling in my stomach has subsided. The pressure hasn't let up at all yet but I'm hoping that will.

My question: When folks who are in this situation and have been eating good and feeling better, what exactly happens when you do eat something with gluten in it?

What can I expect if I eat something with gluten in it, by mistake, now that I'm starting to feel better? Will the rumbling come back, and if the pressure ever eases up in my stomach, will that pressure come back?

Or will my symptoms be much worse?

I realize it's probably different for everyone but can some of you tell me what to expect if I eat Gluten by mistake? And once the gluten has been ingested, how long will it take for those symptoms to appear?

 

Thanks and much appreciated,

Steve in Central Vermont

[Mrsjinx]

I totally know how you feel. I went gluten-free 4 months ago and just started getting the same symptoms you describe. I recently developed an egg allergy as well as lactose intolerance, and once I cut those out the symptoms definitely improved. I also get those same symptoms if I've eaten rice or quinoa a couple days in a row. My symptoms start within 1/2 hour of eating. It may be different culprits for you, Steve, but those are mine. For now, anyway

 

[SteveB]

21 minutes ago, Mrsjinx said:

I totally know how you feel. I went gluten-free 4 months ago and just started getting the same symptoms you describe. I recently developed an egg allergy as well as lactose intolerance, and once I cut those out the symptoms definitely improved. I also get those same symptoms if I've eaten rice or quinoa a couple days in a row. My symptoms start within 1/2 hour of eating. It may be different culprits for you, Steve, but those are mine. For now, anyway

 

I hope I don't get other food allergies because of Celiac disease!!!!

Egg allergy?!?.......Sigh

Just from the short time I've been connected to this Web site, it seems that there are many symptoms people have that can "show their ugly face", and those symptoms vary.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Mrsjinx. Good luck with your progress.

[Ennis-TX]

This differs from person to person, note you will have huge up and downs til your system regulates and your antibodies decrease on a gluten-free diet. Should regulate in 1-2 months and improvements in 4-6 in overall health should be noticeable. NOTE keep a food journal of everything you eat to help nail down any other culprits that might crop up causing you issues.

As for symptoms, I have a gluten ataxia on top of just plain celiacs, for me it depends on the kind, amount, of exposure. Straight bread/gluten.....swollen lymph nodes, extreme gut wrenching pain, violent vomiting, loss of motor control, and later rotating D&C along with brain fog and numbness for a week or two. Slight exposure is normally just brain fog, a twitch, numbness, lymph nodes, and and can vary from just vomiting mildly to the D&C rotation. I also have a response to inhaling flour where it causes the numbness, and brain fog.   The brain fog leads to confusion and random outburst of extreme anger I refer to as Hyde. Check the about me in profile for my other issues I had crop up.

Since your new we normally suggest a whole foods diet only of greens, fresh meats, potatoes, etc. for the first month or so. And dropping oats, dairy, and limiting grain intake, this will boost the healing process. Now if your having gas issues limiting the grains/carbs/sugars will really help out til you regulate to the new diet.

Few helpful links to get you started .

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/117090-gluten-free-food-alternatives-list/

^very nice list of where to get alternatives, ingredients, foods, etc. and how to get them.

OH and many of us find that damage caused malabsorbtion issues, you need to check about seeing getting tested for different deficiencies you might have, common ones are magnesium, iron, b-vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E and a few others. I will give you a example page of foods and supplements I take to manage stuff.

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/116482-supplement-and-foods-you-take/

 

[SteveB]

Ennis, thanks for the reply and info.

I've done a lot of reading and I must have missed the info on eating no oats. I purchased Bob's Red Mill gluten-free Quick Cooking Rolled Oats (Whole Grain) and some Udi's gluten-free Original Multi Grain Hot Cereal. I mix about 1/4 cup of each with hot water and add about a tablespoon of pure Vermont maple syrup to it.

I've been eating whole foods since my diagnosis except for breakfast when I eat the oats/oatmeal.

And from the sounds of what you've been going through, your Celiac disease is much worse than mine. I wish you the best of luck in your journey through this problem....

Thanks for your input.

 

[Ennis-TX]

1 hour ago, SteveB said:

Ennis, thanks for the reply and info.

I've done a lot of reading and I must have missed the info on eating no oats. I purchased Bob's Red Mill gluten-free Quick Cooking Rolled Oats (Whole Grain) and some Udi's gluten-free Original Multi Grain Hot Cereal. I mix about 1/4 cup of each with hot water and add about a tablespoon of pure Vermont maple syrup to it.

I've been eating whole foods since my diagnosis except for breakfast when I eat the oats/oatmeal.

And from the sounds of what you've been going through, your Celiac disease is much worse than mine. I wish you the best of luck in your journey through this problem....

Thanks for your input.

 

You might be alright to reintroduce them later. But some celiacs react to oats just as bad as gluten containing grains. There is also the huge industry issues with oat purity issues and being gluten free.  I personally have a minor reactions to oats, and quite minor. It took someone else harking on me to point it out actually. Luckily I do not have to worry about oat CC making me sick in my gluten-free bakery lol. So just avoid them for now til you stabilize your diet and system in a month or two then try them for a few days and record how they make you feel both mental and body wise.

[Rhotitar]

I am not sure if it's new symptoms or I may just be more aware of it but I now know when I accidentally eat gluten I get migraines, insomnia, irritability, and fatigue in addition to my hallmark symptom of intense right uppper abdominal pain. Also someone I know who also has had celiac since she was a child developed herpetiformis dermatitis after being an adult that's scary. 

[plumbago]

This is in many ways a key question in understanding celiac disease, and one I have never really been able to satisfactorily answer in myself or understand the pathophysiology of in general, especially neurological symptoms (I mean, really understand).

First of all, it's always hard for me to make a definitive connection of possible symptoms to something I've eaten. One or two times after eating out in a restaurant, I suspect I was "glutened," but again do not know for sure. The reaction I had was a flushed feeling, warmth all over (I may have spiked a little fever) and then, once, D. But it's that flushed inflammatory reaction I've felt a couple of times.

On the other time, there've been occasions when I ate something that I later learned actually had gluten in it, but had no reaction at all.

Great question.

Plumbago