Bloating Help

[Ginger38]

I've really been trying to watch my diet but today my stomach looks and feels glutened. My stomach is massive and bloated. I'm miserable!e.  What can I do to help with this massive boating??? How long does it take for everything to heal and be so!what normal or does it ever completely

[SammieH]

On 11/9/2021 at 10:12 PM, Ginger38 said:

I've really been trying to watch my diet but today my stomach looks and feels glutened. My stomach is massive and bloated. I'm miserable!e.  What can I do to help with this massive boating??? How long does it take for everything to heal and be so!what normal or does it ever completely

Good morning Ginger38,

My 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with celiac last month.  She has been gluten free for 4 weeks now and she could tell a huge difference in her stomach, especially bloating.  However yesterday we believe she was glutened at her dining hall at school. She was complaining of bloating, stomach pain and cramping. We would love to hear what other people have found helpful when they accidentally consumed gluten. Best of luck in this journey.

[trents]

3 hours ago, SammieH said:

Good morning Ginger38,

My 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with celiac last month.  She has been gluten free for 4 weeks now and she could tell a huge difference in her stomach, especially bloating.  However yesterday we believe she was glutened at her dining hall at school. She was complaining of bloating, stomach pain and cramping. We would love to hear what other people have found helpful when they accidentally consumed gluten. Best of luck in this journey.

SammieH, I would certainly suggest your daughter not eat the food served in the school cafeteria. She can have no control over cross contamination as kitchen staff will likely use the same utensils to stir, serve and cut non gluten items as they do gluten things. She needs to take her own food from home. Same applies for eating out at fast food places or restaurants. Believe me, I realize how socially confining and awkward this will be but it needs to happen for the sake of your daughter's health.

[Ginger38]

23 hours ago, SammieH said:

Good morning Ginger38,

My 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with celiac last month.  She has been gluten free for 4 weeks now and she could tell a huge difference in her stomach, especially bloating.  However yesterday we believe she was glutened at her dining hall at school. She was complaining of bloating, stomach pain and cramping. We would love to hear what other people have found helpful when they accidentally consumed gluten. Best of luck in this journey.

Thank you, best of luck to your daughter as well 

[SammieH]

On 11/11/2021 at 12:34 PM, trents said:

SammieH, I would certainly suggest your daughter not eat the food served in the school cafeteria. She can have no control over cross contamination as kitchen staff will likely use the same utensils to stir, serve and cut non gluten items as they do gluten things. She needs to take her own food from home. Same applies for eating out at fast food places or restaurants. Believe me, I realize how socially confining and awkward this will be but it needs to happen for the sake of your daughter's health.

Trent’s, 

I appreciate your input.  My daughter is a freshman in college.  I recently reached out to the university and she has an appoint with the dining hall and dietitian this coming week.  I try to buy her things she can make in her dorm room, but it is difficult especially since this is all new to us.  Do you have any suggestions about foods she can make for a meal option in her dorm.  We both are feeling a little overwhelmed right now.  Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[trents]

28 minutes ago, SammieH said:

Trent’s, 

I appreciate your input.  My daughter is a freshman in college.  I recently reached out to the university and she has an appoint with the dining hall and dietitian this coming week.  I try to buy her things she can make in her dorm room, but it is difficult especially since this is all new to us.  Do you have any suggestions about foods she can make for a meal option in her dorm.  We both are feeling a little overwhelmed right now.  Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Believe me, Sammie. I remember how overwhelming it was in the beginning. 

Okay, so she is in college and not high school and living in a dorm and not at home. Thanks for the clarification. Does she have a frig in her dorm room or is there one in the dorm? What about a microwave?

I feel strongly she should not be eating dining hall food unless it would be self-contained things like hard boiled eggs, baked potatoes and fresh fruit that can be peeled. No matter how much liaison happens between you and chow hall staff there are likely to be mistakes made and cross contamination. One incidence of "glutening" can create inflammation that takes a couple of weeks to heal.

Will she be eligible to live off campus next year? Sharing a house or an apartment might provide more control over cross contamination and accidents. Or, depending on how cooperative her housemates were it might not.

A helpful strategy is to stick to fresh, simple and basic foods. Fresh meat, veggies and fruits rather than processed stuff. When sauces and seasonings get involved there is more risk. I also wonder if your daughter has a good grasp on where and how gluten is hidden in the food chain. In the beginning of the gluten-free journey most people realize they need to eliminate pasta and bread but don't realize the mirid of places gluten is found. Like most canned soups. Like soy sauce. Like some chocolate syrup products. Like some deli prepared potato salad. Some snack chips. Some meds and supplements. On and on and on. Dry cereals that have "malt flavoring" as an ingredient. Wheat starch is a cheap filler and thickening agent and that is one reason it is found in so many things.

It must be frustrating for you to try to manage all this from a distance. And young people want to be with other young people and that frequently involves eating out.

This might help: 

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by trents

[Linda Hannibal]

On 11/11/2021 at 12:34 PM, trents said:

SammieH, I would certainly suggest your daughter not eat the food served in the school cafeteria. She can have no control over cross contamination as kitchen staff will likely use the same utensils to stir, serve and cut non gluten items as they do gluten things. She needs to take her own food from home. Same applies for eating out at fast food places or restaurants. Believe me, I realize how socially confining and awkward this will be but it needs to happen for the sake of your daughter's health.

 

[Linda Hannibal]

Just now, Linda Hannibal said:

 

Hi, unfortunately your daughter can't trust food that she doesn't make. Cross contamination is a real concern everywhere, even home. It would help to have gluten free snacks available. When i travel i always have something to eat so I don't worry about eating out. Since, she is 18 she would also have to be concerned about cross contamination from kissing someone who has eaten gluten. She should wash her hands before she eats. Good luck