Sick Of Being Sick!

[wozzy]

I don't know if it's gluten or lactose or some other allergy that I don't know about (probably soy), but I have been sick like..all the time lately.

Yesterday, we went to PF Changs, but I definitely got glutened, probably from cross contamination. As we were leaving, I got really bad brain fog. Then I got more symptoms as the day went on...Dizziness, nauseous, GI not-funness.

Today, I got sick again. I don't know if it was from these gluten-free cookies I got, from lunch, or from these gluten-free donuts I got (how could I not resist?) but I've also been feeling sick today.

Now it's hard to tell if I have another allergy, or if I really need to lay off the lactose again, or if my intestines are being destroyed again from all the gluten I've been accidentally eating (which isn't even that much), but it's getting to the point where I don't even want to eat anymore because I keep getting sick, and I definitely don't want to ride my bike because I'm so tired and feel so sick.

Oh I also couldn't sleep well last night, which is probably from the glutening, but maybe from my potential sleep disorder as well.

It's even more frustrating because my dad has Celiac disease, but he's one of those who claims it's ok to have a little now and then (he cheats all the time, doesn't care if there's gluten after the first couple ingredients, even eats pizza sometimes! And he gets REALLY sick). And his doctor says its ok! So when I say I'm feeling sick, he acts like it's not that bad and like diarrhea is the only symptom I could possibly have. My symptoms aren't *that* bad, but it's bad enough that I don't want to feel like this all the time.

I've been trying so hard lately. I was diagnosed a year ago, and like for everyone, it's been a steep learning curve. At my house at school in Michigan, I got new pots, pans, toaster, etc...because my housemates contaminated everything. At home, even though my house is pretty much gluten-free (3 of the 4 in my house have it), my parents still haven't gotten new pots and pans or colanders. Also, my mom doesn't quite understand and she often feeds me stuff I can't eat without telling me what's in it (like corn flakes). I probably go out to eat too much.

I don't know if I should a really bland, completely safe diet for awhile or go back to the allergist to test for more allergies again (last year it came up with gluten, oats, pecans, lactose).

[CarlaB]

I am casein intolerant and thought I kept getting glutened, but it was the casein. I've read that 50% of celiacs are casein intolerant. You can be tested by Enterolab for $99 if you want to know for sure. Once I removed the casein, I discovered I was not getting all the cc I thought I was getting. It's actually a lot easier to avoid gluten than I had thought!

It might not be your trouble, but that's what happened with me. I would definately suspect something else is also a problem. A food diary is not a bad idea.

[lorka150]

i second the casein sensitivity. i am also casein sensitive, and when i cut it out, it helped so much.

however, i would also like to suggest that if you are sick of being sick, then perhaps not eating out or buying pre-made products would help. i kept getting contaminated left and right, and finally, once i stopped taking risks, felt better, and realized the "convenience" of pre-made items and eating out was just more of an inconvenience when i was dead to the world for two weeks.

[GlutenWrangler]

I would say the casein test and a strict diet are your best bet. Convenience isn't worth being sick. Plus you can have really good meals while sticking to a strict diet.

[wozzy]

Thanks guys.

I know I need to start cooking for myself more. It's been hard lately because I've been traveling around Ohio and Michigan a lot, and I haven't stayed in one place long enough to buy fresh food and actually use it all before I leave again.

I've been really careful for the past 24 hours, I haven't had any gluten or lactose and I'm feeling better.

[charmaine broxton]

Hi there

Does anyone else swell up like a balloon as soon as they eat anything with wheat in it or gluten.

[wozzy]

  charmaine broxton said:

Hi there

Does anyone else swell up like a balloon as soon as they eat anything with wheat in it or gluten.

You'd think I was pregnant if you didn't know better.

[Matilda]

..