Can't Trace Symptoms Back To Anything

[Becky A.]

I have been celiac and gluten-free since Jan. 2006. I was pregnant from Feb - 3 weeks ago when we lost our baby due to Trisomy 18. My question is I am having all kinds of what I call "celiac attacks" and can't trace them back to anything. I start to feel quesy, my stomach starts grumbling really loud and I get this horrible grumble/cramps that start in my upper left side and slowly go down until I get horrible diarrhea. I cannot shake it. It's happening several times a week. I cook for myself and have been home and am 99% positive I haven't ingested gluten---has anyone had this? Any thoughts? Any tests I should have my GI run??

Please help!

[Ursa Major]

I am very sorry you lost your baby, you must be heartbroken. I've lost a few, and know what you are going through.

Are you dairy free? You may be reacting to something other than gluten. Many foods, if you have an intolerance to them, can produce pretty much the same symptoms as gluten, including dairy, soy, rice, eggs, potatoes, just to name a few. Many people here couldn't figure out how they got 'glutened' without gluten, until they figured out that other intolerances were the culprit.

[ravenwoodglass]

I have been celiac and gluten-free since Jan. 2006. I was pregnant from Feb - 3 weeks ago when we lost our baby due to Trisomy 18. My question is I am having all kinds of what I call "celiac attacks" and can't trace them back to anything. I start to feel quesy, my stomach starts grumbling really loud and I get this horrible grumble/cramps that start in my upper left side and slowly go down until I get horrible diarrhea. I cannot shake it. It's happening several times a week. I cook for myself and have been home and am 99% positive I haven't ingested gluten---has anyone had this? Any thoughts? Any tests I should have my GI run??

Please help!

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Like many Celiacs I have been there also and I know how hard it is. Your system has been through a lot, you may be seeing an excaberation of your sensitivity. Is your home gluten free? You need to be real, real careful of cross contamination. Also make sure you have checked all your toiletries and all your meds including over the counter and scripts. IF you showed up positive on blood work you may want to ask for another celiac panel to check your ttg and see if you are still getting gluten, also have them run B12, folate and iron levels to check for continued absorption problems. I hope you feel better soon (((((((hugs))))))

[Becky A.]

My home is not 100% gluten-free because my husband and 5 year old still eat gluten. I do have a dedicated cabinet for my food, my own pots /pans, utensils, etc. I don't know why I'm having these. It's so hard for me to think about giving up more than just gluten (like milk, etc). I've not tried that stuff yet--but when I really react--I can't trace it to milk or anything. I use Colgate toothpaste, Garnier Fructise shampoo---I don't really know the medical ingredients well enought to know if they are the culprets or not. Any thoughts???

[happygirl]

Becky-I'm so sorry about your loss.

Your symptoms sound like either a glutening, another food intolerance (either temporary or permanent), or just the fact that you aren't fully healed.

What are some of the foods/brands you are eating? Maybe we can help.

Best of luck.

[KaitiUSA]

Have you changed your products such as makeup and shampoo?

[kbtoyssni]

I know Colgate toothpaste is ok. Not sure about garnier fructise shampoo.

[par18]

I have been celiac and gluten-free since Jan. 2006. I was pregnant from Feb - 3 weeks ago when we lost our baby due to Trisomy 18. My question is I am having all kinds of what I call "celiac attacks" and can't trace them back to anything. I start to feel quesy, my stomach starts grumbling really loud and I get this horrible grumble/cramps that start in my upper left side and slowly go down until I get horrible diarrhea. I cannot shake it. It's happening several times a week. I cook for myself and have been home and am 99% positive I haven't ingested gluten---has anyone had this? Any thoughts? Any tests I should have my GI run??

Please help!

Becky,

I went to a seminar two months ago and this situation was mentioned. The person was sure they had not eaten any gluten. The doctor asked if this person paid the bills. The response was yes. He asked if the envelopes were licked and the answer was yes. That was the source of this person's problem. The only time I accidentally ingested gluten was this way. I started spitting immediately and did not have a reaction. I think the point the doctor was making was sometimes things happen and we can't make the connection because we were not eating or drinking at the time. Do you handle the gluten items your husband or son eat?

Tom

Tom

[chick2ba]

I'm beginning to think that cooking in a 90% gluten free kitchen will NOT do the trick. I was soo sick last semester and most of the summer, even after totally giving up gluten and dairy. My roommates continued to eat gluten and would leave crumbs everywhere. I was SUPER strict with cleaning to protect myself, but I would still get glutened at least twice a week, even when eating everything fresh. I thought I would just have to live with the pain and misery, since I could never figure out where the gluten was coming from.

But then I moved into another apartment. I gutted the whole kitchen (like, cleaned every drawer, cabinet, range, knobs, etc..) and put down new contact paper. I also rewashed my own pots and pans and wiped down all of my own belongings.

Now I get sick like once every two weeks, and the reactions are much milder!! It's like night and day what a TOTALLY 100% gluten free kitchen will do. I was surprised what a difference it made and how sick I could get from just touching contaminated doorknobs!

I hope you get to feeling better.