Cross contamination

[Michael McDonald]

How long should it take to recover after a significant cross contamination situation?

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, @Michael McDonald!

That's going to be a hard question to answer because of individual differences. I would think in most cases a few days to a couple of weeks to completely return to normal. How long are you into it now?

Edited March 21, 2025 by trents

[Michael McDonald]

It’s been 3 days so far. I think I might be on the mend, but every time I think that, I go on rewind. 

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it.
 

 

[trents]

How'd it happen?

[cristiana]

Hi @Michael McDonald and welcome to the forum.

Everyone's experience varies, and I think what you are experiencing is normal, having read a lot of different accounts over the years.  Of course, there is always just a slight chance that gluten might still be getting in somewhere, or that your symptoms might also be down to a gastric virus or food poisoning too, it sometimes is difficult to be sure which is which!

But from my own experience, my own reactions have changed over time.

Now I react differently to a significant glutening (vomiting, chills, palpitations) and the effects are about 2-3 hours after the glutening.  Sorry for TMI but I think the gluten doesn't hang around in my system as long because I throw up.

Before found it took me maybe over a week to feel a lot better.  Although I felt nauseous I wasn't actually sick, so I guess more time for the gluten to hang around in my system.  I would experience chills, dizziness and diarrhea immediately.  Then, bouts of feeling unwell again for perhaps the initial week.  As well as oten feeling just plain weird and out of things.  The thing other thing would be developing a gastritis like sore stomach which could go on for two weeks or more, in the ensuing days.  I would never recommend popping a PPI long-term (unless medically advised, of course,), but time has taught me that a short dose of omeprazole 20mg for maybe 2 -3 days post glutening  helps nip this gastritis pain in the bud.  I take it first thing in the morning, with a glass of water.

Cristiana

 

Edited March 22, 2025 by cristiana

[trents]

I'm like Cristiana. After getting glutened, in about two hours I start develop emesis that lasts for two or three hours with intense abdominal cramping. This is followed by several hours of diarrhea. It's like my body is doing everything it can to expel the gluten as it begins to leave my stomach and enter the small bowel. So, I'm not sure how much of it actually gets into my bloodstream to create a systemic effect. But once I get past those initial intense reactions and get rehydrated I feel a lot better. Just a day or two for me. And I should add that I am not a particularly sensitive celiac who reacts strongly to a tiny amount of cross contamination. It takes a decent amount of gluten to produce a discernable reaction in me. The last reaction I can remember having was precipitated by consuming a small appetizer-size cup of soup at a Chinese restaurant that had soy sauce in it. I was careful to choose things for the main meal that didn't have soy sauce in them but overlooked the appetizer. 

Edited March 22, 2025 by trents

[Scott Adams]

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