How strict are you?

[KD720]

Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with celiac disease on February of this year - had the blood test done and biopsies confirmed it. I recently had my follow up visit, and my numbers are now in the normal range. Yay!

I still have symptoms, though. Do I need to be more strict about what I eat? 

I do eat things that show no gluten ingredients on the label, but are not labeled "gluten free". I also wondered if I should be more strict about cross contamination. I have a husband and 2 boys that don't eat gluten free, so there is still plenty of gluten in our house. Is it okay for me touch a slice of bread, then pick up a grape and eat it?

I'm so new to this and am trying to learn as much as I can. My husband is a great supporter, but he obviously doesn't fully understand. Any advice would be great!

[Ennis-TX]

This varies from different people, how you have the place set up, etc. But yes touching bread/flour/gluten then your food can make you sick. Gluten is a protein smaller than a germ, it can not be killed or sanitized with bleach or chemicals. Think blood and a crime scene CSI, it can get stick in scratched cutting boards, scratched pots and pans, colanders etc. Flour should be avoided period in a shared house, that poof from opening a bag or tossing something in it can go airborne for hours and settles everywhere as dust that can make you sick. If you inhale it will get stuck in the mucus in your throat/nose and eventually go down your throat and make you sick. 

In a shared house you need to have dedicated toasters, condiment jars (crumbs here can make you sick and sticking that knife back in after touching bread), and I would say some dedicated cookware and tubberware. Keep your Gluten-Free stuff on top shelves in the fridge and the pantry to prevent crumbs from falling on them.
Few life hacks I learned, Butcher Paper/Freezer Paper, put it down on the counter when you fix your food for a safe prep surface, Mark your dedicated cooking utensils/pots with color like red and store/wash separate, I used my own set of Nordicware microwave cookware and splatter covers when I did have a shared house, and food service gloves are a lifesaver   Honestly I kept getting sick and moved to a dedicated Gluten-Free house.

Double check the newbie 101 section and this other post, another thing your family needs to consider is this is genetic, your kids need to be tested every year as they might develop it.

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

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/123965-gluten-free-food-alternative-list-2019-q2/

 

[squirmingitch]

Ennis has given you great advice.

[RMJ]

It is great that your blood test numbers are already normal. Did they test for both TTG and DGP antibodies?  My TTG came into a normal range long before the DGP did.

[cyclinglady]

Here is some bad news.  The celiac blood tests were designed to help diagnosis celiac disease, but not to monitor dietary compliance.  Still, they are the “only non-evasive tool in the tool box”, so many doctors use them after diagnosis.  

Take the advice you have been given, and see if your symptoms improve.  If not, you might need to see your doctor.  You could have a concurrent illness, but it sounds like gluten is still getting into your diet.  Try to be very strict for a while to see if it helps. Do not eat out or eat food prepared by others unless you are watching.  Stick with no -processed foods as much as possible.  No oats.  No kissing hubby unless he brushes his teeth.  Same for your children.  

One member, is a preemie doctor with tiny four kids, had the entire house go gluten free.  Her kids were making her sick with their toddler kisses and trail of gluten crumbs.  

You will find your way.  ?