I'm So Stupid

[lorka150]

Well, I kept getting sicker and sicker and hit a really low weight of 88lbs. (I am 5'7'').

Turns out, I've been consuming gluten this whole time - Bob's Red Mill carob powder is not gluten free. I'm a little irritated at my stupidity.

Could this have been why I am having so much trouble getting better? Because of one thing?!!!

I looked back at my food journals and 90% of my really bad days I had eaten that the same day or the day before.

[burdee]

I was soooo sorry to read that you unintentionally continued to consume gluten in the Bob's Red Mill Carob Powder and kept getting symptoms and losing weight. But please don't be too hard on yourself. Your physical symptoms are enough punishment. Many of us have accidentally ingested gluten whether by cross contamination or not reading labels carefully or trusting restaurants or family 'cooks'. 8 months after I went gluten free (6 months after my diagnosis) I discovered that I had been consuming a 'gluten' pill 3 times a day when I took digestive enzymes with malt diastase (BARLEY )!! A year before I suspected celiac, a naturopath recommended those to help with my 'malabsorption' symptoms. He even suggested celiac, but I said I didn't have diarrhea. He wasn't knowledgable enough to tell me celiacs get constipation too. Anyway I continued ingesting that barley for 8 months causing continuing symptoms. Even after eliminating that, I still had some gluten, dairy and soy (all my intolerances) slips regularly enough to feel crappy until I figured this all out. Now at 20 months after I first TRIED to go gluten-free (and then DF/SF) I'm FINALLY learning what 'normal' feels like. Keep gluten sleuthing ... You'll get healthy soon.

BURDEE

[jerseyangel]

Sorry that you have felt unwell for so long. It is so frusterating when we are trying so hard and being so careful and still something gets past us. You are so not alone. We all go through that. It really just takes some time to figure out what is safe. Yes--that one thing could be the thing that has made you sick this whole time, providing there was no other gluten getting in. A tiny amount can cause a reaction--it really dosen't matter what the actual food was. Hopefully now you'll be feeling much better