Symptoms when being glutened

[Aya77]

Hello to all!!

I am new here! After 6 years of arguing with doctors that something isn’t OK with me I finally got positive antibodies for celiac…

I am now one month on gluten-free diet. When I stopped eating gluten I almost immediately noticed that my stool didn’t float anymore and that I didn’t have smelly farts and bloating.

I ate twice in McDonalds in the meantime - al gluten-free food of course. And both times I got farts and bloating. Since my family suffered some gastrointestinal symptoms as well (we assume some stomach flu or intestinal virus) I am not sure if this could be sign of being poisoned or flu or just normal way of getting better with some worsening days…

 

I woul really appreciate if someone has similar symptoms to share this with me.

Or if you can tell me how do you know when you are getting poisoned. Are symptoms the same as were when you were on gluten diet or you get different symptoms.

Wish you all the best!

[trents]

Welcome to the forum community, @Aya77!

First, be aware that just because you order a burger wrapped in lettuce at McDonalds doesn't mean you got no gluten because you avoided the wheat bun. You see, they cooked it on the same grill that they cooked breaded patty things and handled it with the same utensils such that it got cross contaminated. And the fries? They may not have contained gluten as an intentional ingredient but they were fried in the same oil as things that did. You need to become aware of cross contamination when you eat out. Same with eating in sit down restaurants who have gluten free menu items. You don't know how things are cooked and handled back in the kitchen to guard against cross contamination. Many celiacs don't seem to react to a small amount of cross contamination but those on the more sensitive end of the spectrum will react to even minute amounts. As you gain more experience you will get a better handle on this for yourself. Studies show that eating out is the number one way celiacs sabotage their efforts to eat gluten free. It can take two years or more for substantial healing of the small bowel villous lining in your gut once going gluten free and every instance of "glutening" is a small setback.

In the meantime, here is a primer for getting off to a good start on the gluten free lifestyle. 

 

[Scott Adams]

I agree, and eating out is the number one source of gluten contamination, even in restaurants that offer gluten-free menus. Unfortunately the turnover at restaurants is high, and not everyone working in them is trained properly...or care enough.