No symptoms? Ate gluten

[Aaron 10113]

So, usually if I eat gluten, I can't walk because of the abdominal pain and that gross heavy feeling for weeks.

Anyway, a six weeks ago, I somehow ate gluten and had those exact symptoms as expected.

Move to yesterday. It was my nephew's bday party and my mother and sister made these awesome gluten free cupcakes. But as I ate them, I asked about the sprinkles. Turns out that they hadn't checked and they used wheat as a thickener.

Today however I don't really have any symptoms other than a headache? I'm pretty early in my diagnosis (9 months) and this is the first time I know when I've eaten something with gluten.

My question is, is it possible to have varying experiences of symptoms? Or am I still in that phase where I'm waiting for the inevitable torture?

 

[cristiana]

Hello Aaron, and welcome to the forum!

People's responses can vary enormously.  Depending on the gluten "hit", my own experience is my symptoms can vary from slight queasiness and a slightly sore stomach to extreme chills and being unable to stand up.  I experienced the latter a few months ago when I ate a slice of cake that turned out to contain normal flour.

However, I have a friend who did have terrible diarrhea at the time of her diagnosis back in 2013 (we were diagnosed around the same time) who now, when glutened, is absolutely none the wiser.  

You may find yourself in my position longer term, or in the position of my friend, or somewhere in between.  

The key thing is to carry on complying with the diet.  There are people who stop getting symptoms who will then take it that they are fully cured, and return to consuming gluten, which may cause nasty complications further down the line.  

If one is diagnosed with celiac disease it is a chronic condition and the gluten free diet is for life.  But the health benefits are well worth it!

Incidentally, I am in Britain where they manufacture a sweet called Smarties which contain gluten here.  I ate two or three at the weekend on a birthday cake - I just wasn't thinking, I don't know what came over me as I normally would have taken them off the frosting.   That evening  I had a sore stomach and felt a little flushed and then realised a bit later what had happened.  I've been a coeliac for eight years and I'm still making mistakes!

So the take away from all of this for you and for me - beware of cake decorations!  🎂☺️🎉

I hope you feel better soon.

Cristiana

 

Edited August 17, 2021 by cristiana

[Scott Adams]

I agree with @cristiana, and your reactions to eating gluten can vary greatly depending on what's going on with your gut (perhaps it's fully healed and doing well now), and how often you get accidental gluten (less is best!).