Ken's Dressings

[averyevansmom]

I read their website last nigh that states none of their dressings are gluten-free so I called and the girl said they cannot say that they are all gluten free because they are all processed on the same lines. The lines are washed and sterilized either between, or processed at the end of the day, but there is still a risk of cross contamination so they cannot state that they are gluten-free. My son has had a reaction this week to something and I'm trying to figure it out. The only new things are 365 brand rice milk which is processed in a facility that processes milk, or the Ken's. I'm still racking my brain to figure out if it could be something else. I hate this. How about Centrum childrens chewable?

[jerseyangel]

According to gluten-free drugs.com, Centrum chewables are gluten-free. However, they state that Centrum Jr. may not be. As far as the dressings, some people have reactions from products made on the same lines--I can use some, like Kraft, but have had reactions to others. He could very well get a reaction from the Ken's. If the only cross contamination warning on the rice milk was milk, is he sensitive to casein?

[averyevansmom]

Jerseyangel,

At this time my little guy (3yo) cannot have milk, ice cream or yogurt but can tolerate most other dairy such as cheeses. He's been gluten-free approximately 6-8 weeks. I'm assuming after you are gluten-free for a period of time you become more sensitive to gluten, even small amounts, am I wrong? I'm on hold with Centrum right now to find out about the children's chewables. Okay, I just got off the phone and they cannot guarantee that they are not gluten-free. Geez, I've been giving these to him for the past 6 weeks. I feel so bad. Thankfully only half a tab. It was his chaser after that nasty liquid iron because he was so anemic. The past 10 days or so I've been more forgetful with the iron and he didn't seem to have as many unknown reactions, but this week I've given it to him more often and he's had 3 yucky poops. Maybe it's a combination of things. This is so confusing sometimes. I feel like I'm hurting him by not keeping all gluten out of his system. Boy it's hard.

[jerseyangel]

Jerseyangel,

At this time my little guy (3yo) cannot have milk, ice cream or yogurt but can tolerate most other dairy such as cheeses. He's been gluten-free approximately 6-8 weeks. I'm assuming after you are gluten-free for a period of time you become more sensitive to gluten, even small amounts, am I wrong? I'm on hold with Centrum right now to find out about the children's chewables. Okay, I just got off the phone and they cannot guarantee that they are not gluten-free. Geez, I've been giving these to him for the past 6 weeks. I feel so bad. Thankfully only half a tab. It was his chaser after that nasty liquid iron because he was so anemic. The past 10 days or so I've been more forgetful with the iron and he didn't seem to have as many unknown reactions, but this week I've given it to him more often and he's had 3 yucky poops. Maybe it's a combination of things. This is so confusing sometimes. I feel like I'm hurting him by not keeping all gluten out of his system. Boy it's hard.

I guess I won't use the gluten-free drug list anymore--obviously, their info is outdated. I'm so glad you called and found out for sure about the Centrum. You are right, in that it is very common to become more sensitive to smaller amounts of gluten the longer you are off of it. It is confusing, and don't berate yourself--you are doing the best you can to keep your son gluten-free. It is a huge learning curve, and it's hard at the beginning. It seems like for the first few months, we are calling companies constantly! It will get easier, really. Those iron suppliments can be hard on a system, too. I had a rough time with them. The good news is that after only 6 months on the gluten-free diet, my red blood count went from 8.5 to 14.5--an all time high for me! I so hope that the diet will do the same for your little guy--he's lucky to have a mom like you!

[averyevansmom]

Thanks Jerseyangel for making me feel better. His iron level was 8 back in December and will hopefully be retested when we bring him back to Boston Children's on the 16th of this month. I have another question for you regarding myself. I'm the only family member who has followed the diet since it's inception. I took my daughter to Starbucks last week for a treat because no one is allowed to eat gluten in the house, and I ate a scone. That night I developed a nickel sized welt on my hip that itches like crazy. The next day I started with these pencil eraser sized bumps randomly spaced all over, mainly on my stomach, thighs, couple on lower legs, few on my chest (armpit, bra area) low low back and a couple on my inner forearms. All in all about 20-25. This week I shared a Mr. Goodbar with my daughter and I've just found out today they contain gluten. These things will not go away and they are itch as all heck. They were round with red inside and now they are very dry in the middle. No one else has any as I thought maybe they were bug bites, but I'm the only lucky one. Any ideas. I think it's rather odd. Thanks for all your input.

[jerseyangel]

From your description, they sound like they might be hives--do they look like they might be? In Dangerous Grains, Appendix D--Comprehensive List of Gluten Associated Medical Conditions, the authors list urticaria (hives). Perhaps these are part of a gluten reaction?

[averyevansmom]

I've never had hives so that could be a possibility. Do you know how long they last? I've had these suckers for 8 days and counting and they show no signs of fading. They are so itchy and the big one kinda hurts.

[jerseyangel]

Gosh--8 days...I've only had them twice, from allergic reactions to antibiotics. I don't remember them lasting that long. I think at this point, I'd check with my doctor.

Before I went gluten-free, I used to get red, itchy spots on my inner left forearm. They were different than the hives--these were tiny, red dots.

[Becky6]

Gosh! I am sorry! The gummy vites that look like bears are gluten-free and df! And they are good!!!

[averyevansmom]

Yeah, I guess I do need to call my doctor. If by Monday they are still hanging around, then I'll call. I have to reschedule my yearly anyway. Thanks guys. What a pain in the you know what. I'll have to pick up some of those gummi vites. I'm sure the kids will love them.

[Guest Robbin]

The hives you have sound like the ones my youngest had with an allergic reaction once. The dr. called them "bold hives" and they kinda bruised around the edges the swelling was so severe in each hive. He looked so pitiful. I know they are miserable. Take care and keep us posted. (Bugs Bunny are supposed to ok vitamins too)

[Guest nini]

If you get the Gummy Vites, get the Lil Critters brand, my daughter has taste tested most of the brands and that is the only one that she likes, make that LOVES!

I know how you feel about accidentally continuing to give gluten... it's all a learning curve, especially in the beginning. we've all made our fair share of mistakes and if I get careless or forget to be vigilant, mistakes happen. Rarely, but they do. Don't beat yourself up over it, just pick up and move on.

As far as your red dots go, it sounds like it could be systemic candida manifesting in a skin rash... I had it real bad for a while on the tops of my feet, my hands, my back and hips... when I went to the Dr. he flat out told me it was systemic candida from all the antibiotics I'd been on over the years and it was just being fed by a high carb high sugar diet... I had to do a candida cleanse which wasn't fun, and they gave me a corticosteroid cream to put on for the itching. Man did they itch...

[averyevansmom]

Very interesting, I'll have to look into that. I'll be calling the doc on Monday if they aren't gone. In the meantime I'm gonna have to pick up new vitamins for him since he takes one immediately after he takes his nasty liquid iron. I'll probably head up to Walmart after he gets out of his Jumping Beans class today. Lil Critters Gummi Vites? Okay, got it. Thank you.

[Becky6]

Thanks Nini! I forgot the brand of the vites! But we do like those! I hope you feel better fast! Oh and I was giving my daughter pain reliever that had gluten in it for her leg aches which were caused by gluten ingestion! I felt soooo bad!!!

[Guest nini]

Very interesting, I'll have to look into that. I'll be calling the doc on Monday if they aren't gone. In the meantime I'm gonna have to pick up new vitamins for him since he takes one immediately after he takes his nasty liquid iron. I'll probably head up to Walmart after he gets out of his Jumping Beans class today. Lil Critters Gummi Vites? Okay, got it. Thank you.

WalMart has the best price on the Lil Critters Gummy Vites, I think they have sour ones too... We haven't tried the sour ones, but we LOVE the regular ones. There are other kinds of gluten-free gummy vites, but they aren't as tasty!