Mistakenly eating gluten

[filippa]

I just have a question. On saturday I was out eating on a restaurant. The day after i woke up with a little tummy ache and diarrhea but that went away in the evening. The day after i woke up the same way but diarreha gotten worse. On monday everything was almost fine just had a tummy ache. Same on tuesday but on tuesday night I woke up with the worst stomach cramp and diarrhea. I went in to ER where they just told me to visit doctor next day if i still had pain. I did but not any diarrhea the doctor said nothing looked weird and maybe just irritatated my stomach because of fat food and alcohol. Since then i’ve had very much gas in my stomach and stomach ache because of this. I also burp a lot and my stool is floating as when it did before my celiac diagnosis. It hasn’t went away and i reached out to the restaurant where i ate and they told me that they did not have a dedicated fryer to the fries i ate. This has never happened to me before and that i’ve gotten a reaction. I’m just wondering if someone else has experienced something like this? I’m really worried and don’t know if this can be because of the fries or something else 

[Scott Adams]

It sounds like you’ve had a really rough week with persistent stomach issues after eating at that restaurant. Given your celiac diagnosis, it’s very possible that cross-contamination from the fries (since they weren’t cooked in a dedicated fryer) triggered a reaction, especially if they were fried in the same oil as gluten-containing foods. Your symptoms—diarrhea, cramping, gas, floating stools, and excessive burping—are consistent with a gluten exposure, even if they seem more severe or prolonged than usual. That said, since your doctor didn’t find anything alarming, it might also be worth considering other factors, like a mild stomach bug or food intolerance (e.g., high-fat foods or alcohol irritating your gut). Some people with celiac also react to other ingredients, like dairy, during a flare-up. If symptoms don’t improve soon, you may want to follow up with your doctor or a gastroenterologist to rule out other issues. In the meantime, sticking to safe, bland foods and hydrating well might help. You’re not alone—many celiac folks have had similar experiences with cross-contamination, and it can take time for the gut to settle.

This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:

 

 

[filippa]

11 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

It sounds like you’ve had a really rough week with persistent stomach issues after eating at that restaurant. Given your celiac diagnosis, it’s very possible that cross-contamination from the fries (since they weren’t cooked in a dedicated fryer) triggered a reaction, especially if they were fried in the same oil as gluten-containing foods. Your symptoms—diarrhea, cramping, gas, floating stools, and excessive burping—are consistent with a gluten exposure, even if they seem more severe or prolonged than usual. That said, since your doctor didn’t find anything alarming, it might also be worth considering other factors, like a mild stomach bug or food intolerance (e.g., high-fat foods or alcohol irritating your gut). Some people with celiac also react to other ingredients, like dairy, during a flare-up. If symptoms don’t improve soon, you may want to follow up with your doctor or a gastroenterologist to rule out other issues. In the meantime, sticking to safe, bland foods and hydrating well might help. You’re not alone—many celiac folks have had similar experiences with cross-contamination, and it can take time for the gut to settle.

This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:

Thank you for your answer! I’m just really worried that this won’t get better. 2 years ago i got food poisoning for over a week and even after that i wasn’t feeling well. Later I got diagnosed with celiac disease and seems like the food poisoning triggered that. Because of this i really struggle to see that my stomach would get better now since i’ve had these symptoms since last week. Is it normal when having a reaction to gluten that the symptoms comes and goes like i described? And that it was as worst some days after i ate the gluten and not right away? When i ate the fries i hadn’t eaten anything in the whole day and also ate creamy soup and aioli. The day after that i also ate pretty bad like pancakes and chips. But then it got better but then worse again after tuesday. I just know that day i drank an energy drink and protein bar aswell which maybe irritateted my stomach more 

[trents]

Had you eaten fries at this restaurant before without issue? Sounds to me like it could be glutening plus something else like a stomach bug, a little food poisoning or gallbladder problem. Make we ask your age?

Edited April 11, 2025 by trents

[filippa]

12 minutes ago, trents said:

Had you eaten fries at this restaurant before without issue? Sounds to me like it could be glutening plus something else like a stomach bug, a little food poisoning or gallbladder problem. Make we ask your age?

I have eaten fries there before but now i reached out to the restaurant and they told me that it’s been a mistake and that they fried things with gluten in the same fryer. Before they always told me that nothing else has been fried with them. Although i have eaten fries before that was fryed with gluten products and haven’t got a reaction. My mom ate the same thing as me and didn’t get food poisoning. I’m 21 years old. Could it just be that i got glutened and irritated my stomach since i hadn’t eaten anything and then drank alcohol and ate fat food? I’m just scared because i still have symptoms and this happened last week. I feel bloated and like there’s much gas 

[trents]

It is also possible that since eating the fries you have been glutened again during the week. I would double check the food in your cupboard and reread the ingredient lists. Food companies can and do change their formulations from time to time such that something that used to be gluten free is no more. What I am saying is, don't assume the distress you are experiencing comes from one incident of glutening. There could, coincidentally, be another one on it's heels.