Extreme Reaction To Gluten

[BarbaraC]

My 6 year old son has been gluten-free for 3 years. Whenever he has the smallest amount of Gluten he has an extreme reaction that involves horrific vomitting, diarrhea and basically passes out and almost chokes on his own vomit. It is horrible and goes on for 3-4 hours. He becomes completely dehydrated and his lips turn blue. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? The last time this happened it was from one bite of a normal pancake!

[chrissy]

i wonder if he might have an allergy to gluten, besides the celiac disease.

[taweavmo3]

Emmie's reactions are bad, but not quite that extreme. Emmie's reactions start about an hour after she's had gluten....last time it was an animal cracker at church. She turns completely white, and then the vomiting starts. This lasts for a few hours, and she'll sleep in between. She doesn't get diarrhea anymore though, thank goodness. After the vomiting is finished, she'll usually run a high fever and just be completely wiped out for a few days. Then the mood swings hit, this is usually the tail end of the reaction. It seems to take two weeks before she's back to normal.

My dd has been gluten free for a year and half now, and I have noticed that the longer it is between accidents, the more severe the reaction is. But if your son's lips are turning blue, I would take him to the ER to be checked out. It may be nothing, but if he is possibly aspirating his vomit, it could cause oxygenation problems. Not to scare you or anything, but blue lips would worry me.

[jerseyangel]

I was thinking allergy was a possibility, too.

Have you seen an allergist?

[BarbaraC]

I was thinking allergy was a possibility, too.

Have you seen an allergist?

I think we all have the same idea. I really got worried this time because it was even more severe than the last "mistake". I just made an appointment with an allergist to find out if there is a wheat allergy here as well. If that is the case maybe i can use an epipen to avoid this type of severe reaction. The blue lips scare me as well and i will be taking him to the hospital if we have another mishap. Thanks for the advice!

[Generic]

I used to get that way from being glutened as well (no blue lips though). I would have to go to the ER to get a IV from severe dehydration. It kept getting worse as time went by. I would be delerious within an hour. Getting an IV was the only thing that would stop the vomitting, oddly enough. It was like my body didn't know when to stop.

I was able to get it under control from going to an accupuncturist. Obviously a 6 year old isn't going to be too keen on that, so I'm not suggesting that. Just saying that yes, it does happen. Every one reacts differently. I had to go the ER for the first time when I was 9 and wasn't diagnosed yet.

[Carriefaith]

He may have a wheat allergy. Those symptoms sound severe. I suggest seeing an allergist. Allergies can get worse overtime.

I have both celiac disease and a wheat allergy, plus many more allergies. I carry an epi-pen and I also carry benedryl. Most of my allergies can be almost 95% controlled with 3-4 teaspoons of liquid bendryl (an adult serving) and I have to keep taking it every 4-6 hours or the symptoms will come back. These allergy symptoms usually include explosive gas, mild to intense stomach pain, heart burn, and mild nausea. However, I have had a severe allergic reaction and those symptoms included, breathing difficulty and/or irregularity, a feeling like the throat will close over, nausea, hives, feeling like I would pass out, and heart palpitations. These symptoms were controlled by a shot of benedryl at the hospital, regular benedryl when needed, and prednisone (a prescription drug) once a day for 10 days.

[FeedIndy]

I agree with everyone else, but I wanted to chime in to say that with this sort of history you should go straight to the ER in any case of accidental gluten. Even if he doesn't react, you can hang out in the waiting room for awhile. You'll feel safer and be in the right place if a severe reaction occurs.