How Can You Tell If You Haven't Been Glutened?

[CeliaCruz]

Due to this nasty case of Rosacea/acne/eczema that cropped up on my face this past month, my dermatologist put me on a powerful antibiotic called Dynacin. The Dynacin is clearing up my face much to my satisfaction, but, like most antibiotics, it has the side-effect of causing me some pretty major diarrhea.

Now honestly? I'm vain. As long as my face looks good, I don't really care how many times I have to run to the bathroom on any given day. However, I'm worried about what would happen to me if I glutened myself.

You see, my gauge for "glutening" is the condition of my BMs. If my BMs are normal looking and well formed, I know that I am on the right track, dietwise. If my stools are loose or a funny color, I check the day's foodlog for any foods that might have glutened me and keep an eye out for other symptoms -- canker sores, irritability, joint pain etc. So now that everything is diarrhea -- and there's a plausible non-glutenous excuse for that diarrhea -- I feel like I don't have my trusty "compass." The other day I felt unusually grouchy and irritable and I wasn't sure if I'd glutened myself accidentally or if I was just in one of those inexplicably bad moods that has nothing to do with my diet.

What do you all do to determine your gluten-free status besides look at your poop?

[jerseyangel]

When glutened, I feel very anxious and even get heart palpitations. Brain fog also sets in and my head feels somewhat detached from the rest of me. I also get nausea along with the D., fatigue and thirst.

[LLCoolJD]

• Weak general malaise, like a mild case of the flu
  
• Less-well-formed stool, and often more BMs, although still one big one per day
  
• Anus/lower rectum feels dry and irritated (no joke!... this usually onsets later on, perhaps from the gluten leaving my system?)
  
• More gas (still not as much as before going on the diet, but the smell is worse)
  
• Problems concentrating
  
• Weakness in the gym
  

There you have it, my symptoms. I got a small dose of gluten this week so they're here with me right now to some extent.