First time EVER accidentally eating gluten

[MrsPeterson17]

Hello!

This is only my second post on this forum. My first post was introducing myself as I am a "newbie" because I was just diagnosed celiac a few weeks ago.

Last night was the very first time since transitioning into a gluten-free diet that I chose to eat out at a restaurant with my family. I had major anxiety about getting sick, but ordered a salad off of a gluten-free menu and a gluten-free dressing to go with it. I thoroughly enjoyed having something different for the first time in a couple months!

But later last night  I could NOT sleep because I was itching terribly all over my legs and arms. I have eczema outbreaks that occur as a result of eating gluten, which was what lead my doctor into testing me for it in the first place. This morning I woke up with eczema all over, and I was nauseated with vomiting and very intense stomach pain. I am absolutely exhausted. I feel like i'm hungover. That's the only way I can think of to describe this. I have only eaten a couple grapes and a few sips of water because I am too nauseated. Should I be contacting my doctor at this point? Or is this normal, and it will pass?

I have read about cross contamination being a possibility. But I have never experienced that yet since this is so new for me. I'm thinking maybe that's what happened?? If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know. 

I was finally feeling so good! This setback has me worried. Hopefully this is all normal, and I can get back to feeling great again soon. For those of you that are more experienced, how long does this usually last? Are there any vitamins, foods, or other resources that will help ease the discomfort?

Thanks for your help!

-Makenzee

[cyclinglady]

So sorry to hear that you were most likely glutened.  Unfortunately, there is not much you can do, but ride it out.  Rest, stay hydrated,  and consider comfort foods that are easy to digest.   Remember celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder.  An exposure to gluten can cause an AI flare-up that can last a few days, weeks, or months!  Yikes!  

I recommend reading our Newbie 101 thread pinned at the top of the Coping section of the forum.   Next, do not eat out until you have mastered  the diet.   There is a huge learning curve and you are going to make mistakes.  Best for you to make them and not a restaurant.  Each time you eat out it is like playing Russia  Roulette.  When you are feeling better, find sites like "Find Me Gluten Free" and read reviews written by celiacs.  Just because the restaurant offers gluten free does not mean you will be safe.  The only restaurants that I can let my guard down completely are 100% gluten free.  Want to hang with family?   Eat before you go, stash snacks in your purse and just order a drink.  You stay safe and the family gets to eat out.  

I hope you recover fast!  Everyone heals differently.  Many celiacs actually have symptoms that become more severe after a glutening while others do not get sick at all.    This is a crazy disease!

 

 

[MrsPeterson17]

1 hour ago, cyclinglady said:

So sorry to hear that you were most likely glutened.  Unfortunately, there is not much you can do, but ride it out.  Rest, stay hydrated,  and consider comfort foods that are easy to digest.   Remember celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder.  An exposure to gluten can cause an AI flare-up that can last a few days, weeks, or months!  Yikes!  

I recommend reading our Newbie 101 thread pinned at the top of the Coping section of the forum.   Next, do not eat out until you have mastered  the diet.   There is a huge learning curve and you are going to make mistakes.  Best for you to make them and not a restaurant.  Each time you eat out it is like playing Russia  Roulette.  When you are feeling better, find sites like "Find Me Gluten Free" and read reviews written by celiacs.  Just because the restaurant offers gluten free does not mean you will be safe.  The only restaurants that I can let my guard down completely are 100% gluten free.  Want to hang with family?   Eat before you go, stash snacks in your purse and just order a drink.  You stay safe and the family gets to eat out.  

I hope you recover fast!  Everyone heals differently.  Many celiacs actually have symptoms that become more severe after a glutening while others do not get sick at all.    This is a crazy disease!

 

 

Thank you for the advice! I am so shocked at how awful this feels... definitely almost worse than before I was diagnosed. Hopefully this only lasts a few days... not months!

I'll read through the Newbie 101 thread for sure. I learned a huge lesson that I cannot be eating out until this diet is completely mastered. I don't think I'll feel comfortable eating out for a while after this experience. It will definitely be worth eating before social situations, and not having these awful side effects afterwards. That's an adjustment I will have to be making and getting used to.

Thanks again for taking the time to offer some advice. This disease is crazier and crazier the more I am learning! 

[Jmg]

I'm sorry this has happened the first time you've gone out  It is a shock once you've been off gluten for awhile and find yourself reacting much more to what was probably a tiny amount than you ever seemed to before you went on the diet... Hopefully you can take some consolation in that at least now you know the cause and what to do and because of that you should soon be feeling better. 

1 hour ago, MrsPeterson17 said:

This disease is crazier and crazier the more I am learning! 

The first few weeks are difficult but it will get better! Both in your own knowledge and your confidence in speaking to restaurant staff, knowing the right questions to ask, finding places that understand the requirements of the diet. 

When I order a salad nowadays I ask for something very simple and instead of trusting their dressing I ask for it to be served plain with a small jar of olive oil alongside to pour over myself, if they have cider vinegar so much the better.

That way I can physically see the salad and as its very simple, usually just a green salad, also reduce the chances of them finding an existing one and picking croutons off it.  I make sure I speak to the waiter and also the maitre d if there is one and if I feel uncertain I'll ask again for reassurance. On my first trip abroad after the diet change I've actually had a chef pop out into the restaurant and assure me that it was safe! He was very nice about it!

Hope you're soon feeling better