Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Stickers, stamps, envelopes you lick?

LilyR

Recommended Posts

LilyR Rising Star
LilyR
Posted

Hi everyone.  I have been looking online to try and get an answer about this.  Is it possible that anything you lick such as stamps, stickers, or envelopes could possibly contain gluten or any other ingredient that might cause a bad reaction to you?  I saw some sites say no, there is no gluten in them. Then I saw one blog that said yes, there could be.  So I am not sure at all.  I have had a bad few weeks and today I was making out my Publisher ClearingHouse mail (lol, hey, it only costs a stamp and you never know), and as I licked a stamp that came in the envelope that I had to adhere to the entry form it suddenly hit me if there could be anything in it that could bother me?  Because I filled out another Publisher House thing a week ago, and they often have stamps that come in them that you need to rip off and lick and stick to the entry form, and also I licked the envelope to seal it. Plus I just mailed out Valentine cards last week and licked all those envelopes.  So, it could just be coincidence that I am not having a bad few weeks and just lost a few pounds this week (which tends to happen whenever I accidentally have gluten).  I have not had the bad stomach pain I tend to get with gluten, but I have had the bad bloat and stomach distention, and also the weight loss.  So, just trying to find out any culprits.  Has anyone here had bad reactions to licking envelopes, or little stickers, or stamps and such?  Maybe it's not even gluten in it, but some other ingredient that could bother people with allergies or gluten issues?  

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
5 minutes ago, LilyR said:

Hi everyone.  I have been looking online to try and get an answer about this.  Is it possible that anything you lick such as stamps, stickers, or envelopes could possibly contain gluten or any other ingredient that might cause a bad reaction to you?  I saw some sites say no, there is no gluten in them. Then I saw one blog that said yes, there could be.  So I am not sure at all.  I have had a bad few weeks and today I was making out my Publisher ClearingHouse mail (lol, hey, it only costs a stamp and you never know), and as I licked a stamp that came in the envelope that I had to adhere to the entry form it suddenly hit me if there could be anything in it that could bother me?  Because I filled out another Publisher House thing a week ago, and they often have stamps that come in them that you need to rip off and lick and stick to the entry form, and also I licked the envelope to seal it. Plus I just mailed out Valentine cards last week and licked all those envelopes.  So, it could just be coincidence that I am not having a bad few weeks and just lost a few pounds this week (which tends to happen whenever I accidentally have gluten).  I have not had the bad stomach pain I tend to get with gluten, but I have had the bad bloat and stomach distention, and also the weight loss.  So, just trying to find out any culprits.  Has anyone here had bad reactions to licking envelopes, or little stickers, or stamps and such?  Maybe it's not even gluten in it, but some other ingredient that could bother people with allergies or gluten issues?  

The science of glue in the last 40 years or more, , has made better and cheaper glues without using gluten.  

BUT  licking envelopes is just gross.  You put your germs on the envelope, and while most germs and viruses do not survive long once dry, some do.  Also, why put something unclean in your mouth?  Would you pick up anything else that has been handled by random people and put it in your mouth without washing?  I saw something years ago about roaches and other bugs that lick the glue on boxes and envelopes - yuck!  

I just wet a little crumpled piece of paper towel and wet the envelope.  Gets it wetter than licking.

LilyR Rising Star
LilyR
Posted
  • Author
48 minutes ago, kareng said:

The science of glue in the last 40 years or more, , has made better and cheaper glues without using gluten.  

BUT  licking envelopes is just gross.  You put your germs on the envelope, and while most germs and viruses do not survive long once dry, some do.  Also, why put something unclean in your mouth?  Would you pick up anything else that has been handled by random people and put it in your mouth without washing?  I saw something years ago about roaches and other bugs that lick the glue on boxes and envelopes - yuck!  

I just wet a little crumpled piece of paper towel and wet the envelope.  Gets it wetter than licking.

It did dawn on me as I was licking, lol! Like, what am I putting in my mouth? So I sealed an envelope today just dabbing a little water on it.  It's funny the things you grow up doing as normal, everyday, no big deal, but when you really think about it, it's gross. Even if it was clean, it's glue.  Bleh.  And it always tastes awful too.  I was hoping it was a hidden source of gluten just to make sense of what has been going on the past two weeks, but oh well.  More investigating, I guess.  I am wondering about things like breathing in hair spray, etc. things like that.  Or maybe I just have another food sensitivity.  I am also seeing a dr in immunology, but they have such a weight list, I can't get in until April. 

Elisabeth Gerritsen Explorer
Elisabeth Gerritsen
Posted
1 hour ago, LilyR said:

Hi everyone.  I have been looking online to try and get an answer about this.  Is it possible that anything you lick such as stamps, stickers, or envelopes could possibly contain gluten or any other ingredient that might cause a bad reaction to you?  I saw some sites say no, there is no gluten in them. Then I saw one blog that said yes, there could be.  So I am not sure at all.  I have had a bad few weeks and today I was making out my Publisher ClearingHouse mail (lol, hey, it only costs a stamp and you never know), and as I licked a stamp that came in the envelope that I had to adhere to the entry form it suddenly hit me if there could be anything in it that could bother me?  Because I filled out another Publisher House thing a week ago, and they often have stamps that come in them that you need to rip off and lick and stick to the entry form, and also I licked the envelope to seal it. Plus I just mailed out Valentine cards last week and licked all those envelopes.  So, it could just be coincidence that I am not having a bad few weeks and just lost a few pounds this week (which tends to happen whenever I accidentally have gluten).  I have not had the bad stomach pain I tend to get with gluten, but I have had the bad bloat and stomach distention, and also the weight loss.  So, just trying to find out any culprits.  Has anyone here had bad reactions to licking envelopes, or little stickers, or stamps and such?  Maybe it's not even gluten in it, but some other ingredient that could bother people with allergies or gluten issues?  

Hello, I think it depends to the factory that makes the envelopes and stamps. I get an itchy tongue the moment I lick an envelope or stamp, but I am really gluten sensitive.  So after the first lick I am reminded of my Celiac. Maybe that is also different for everyone else?

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
3 minutes ago, Elisabeth Gerritsen said:

Hello, I think it depends to the factory that makes the envelopes and stamps. I get an itchy tongue the moment I lick an envelope or stamp, but I am really gluten sensitive.  So after the first lick I am reminded of my Celiac. Maybe that is also different for everyone else?

You must be outside the US because we have not had stamps that you need to lick for  years.  Welcome!  ?.

If you are getting a reaction, it is most likely an allergic reaction.  It takes a while for antibodies to ramp up for celiac disease.  It is not an fast IgE allergic reaction (type 1 hypersensitivity).  You can be allergic to wheat and have celiac disease at the same time.  I am not sure what they use on stamps in other countries, so it would be good to avoid licking stamps and envelopes.  You are reacting to something!  

I use a sponge to seal my envelopes.  

LilyR Rising Star
LilyR
Posted
  • Author

I definitely am learning, little by little, about gluten issues and possibly other allergies.  From now on just in case I will no longer lick envelopes or stamps.  The stamps I licked were not from the post office.  You know how sometimes you find sticker type stamps?  Or also those stamps when you are filling out Publisher Clearing House entry forms (lol).  Those types of stamps.  But from now on I am using a little water on my finger or damp paper towel to seal all things.  It tastes gross anyway. 

Maybe it wasn't the stamps and envelopes though that bothered me.  I also realized I had started using Smart Balance again a week or so ago.  There is no gluten, but I think there is soy and who knows what other ingredients might be in there that are not agreeing with me.  I feel like since eating gluten-free, I am eating too much cholesterol, and then at the same time I am eating less fruits, veggies, and beans because too much fiber seems to bother me, and can't eat oatmeal anymore, so I have been worrying about cholesterol. But I think I might just go back to butter.  I try to use olive oil on most things, but do use butter sometimes and was trying to find a healthier replacement, but maybe more natural products like butter are better right now.  Who knows.  It all feels like a puzzle to figure out sometimes. 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,116
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Mary Pack
    Newest Member
    Mary Pack
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Colleen H
      Gluten related ??

      By Colleen H · Posted

      I did ... But aren't we going to be vitamin deficienct if we are not eating due to being sick ?? If the food we eat is gluten free and we have other sensitivities , how do we get out of the cycle??  Thank you 
    • Colleen H
      Heat intolerant... Yikes

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Anyone else get pins and needles. ??? Burning feeling ? Heat makes it so much worse 😔  Winter is here.  I had to lower my thermostat because I couldn't take that hot air feeling 😔  Hopefully it goes away soon     
    • trents
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By trents · Posted

      I assume that you already know that genetic testing for celiac disease cannot be used to confirm a celiac diagnosis. About 40% of the general population has the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% actually develop celiac disease. It can be used to rule out celiac disease with a high degree of confidence, however, in the case where the genetic testing is negative for the genes. Until and unless you are actually diagnosed with celiac disease I would not raise this as an issue with family. However, if you are diagnosed with celiac disease through blood antibody testing and/or endoscopy with positive biopsy I would suggest you encourage first degree relatives to also purse testing because there is a significant chance (somewhere betwee 10% and almost 50%, depending on which studies you reference) that they will also have or will develop active celiac disease. Often, there are symptoms are absent or very minor until damage to the small bowel lining or other body systems becomes significant so be prepared that they may blow you off. We call this "silent celiac disease". 
    • trents
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      If you were off gluten for two months that would have been long enough to invalidate the celiac blood antibody testing. Many people make the same mistake. They experiment with the gluten free diet before seeking formal testing. Once you remove gluten from the diet the antibodies stop being produced and those that are already in circulation begin to be removed and often drop below detectable levels. To pursue valid testing for celiac disease you would need to resume gluten consumption equivalent to the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread daily for at least two weeks, preferably longer. These are the most recent guidelines for the "gluten challenge". Without formal testing there is no way to distinguish between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity since their symptoms overlap. However, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small bowel lining, not true of gluten sensitivity. There is no test available for gluten sensitivity so celiac disease must first be ruled out. By the way, elevated liver enzymes was what led to my celiac diagnosis almost 25 years ago.
    • trents
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By trents · Posted

      Then it does not seem to me that a gluten-related disorder is at the heart of your problems, unless that is, you have refractory celiac disease. But you did not answer my question about how long you had been eating gluten free before you had the blood antibody test for celiac disease done.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.