Becoming Gluten-free Increases Sensitivity?

[Shawn]

Hi -

I've been off of gluten for 1 and 1/2 months now, and it seems the longer I'm off, the more sensitive I am. The slightest hint of anything makes me itch! And I'm allergic to sulpha drugs (like Dapsone). Any ideas as to what to do? It's so frustrating.

I am trying to be very vigilant (I think). Today I had popcorn at the movies, and made sure that the butter topping was just butter, but I started itching afterwards! From popcorn that must have had a speck of something on it!! That would not have made me itch a couple of weeks ago.

What are your ideas?

Thanks,

Shawn

[ladybugpumpkin]

You may want to contact the company that makes the popcorn. I know that Kerasote theaters in Indiana do not have Gluten Free Popcorn. I contacted the company, and strangely enough...it was the SALT that has the gluten in it...not the butter. He suggested that I call the manager in advance and they could clean the popcorn maker and make some without the salt. However, I don't do that because it seems like a lot of trouble and I'm not sure they'd REALLY clean it anyway. Just a little insight. Hope you figure out what's doing it!

[CarlaB]

You may want to contact the company that makes the popcorn. I know that Kerasote theaters in Indiana do not have Gluten Free Popcorn. I contacted the company, and strangely enough...it was the SALT that has the gluten in it...not the butter. He suggested that I call the manager in advance and they could clean the popcorn maker and make some without the salt. However, I don't do that because it seems like a lot of trouble and I'm not sure they'd REALLY clean it anyway. Just a little insight. Hope you figure out what's doing it!

Really? I never reacted to Kerasotes popcorn ... I read the popcorn and the butter, but you're right, never looked at the salt they use. It is the salt they use or the salt you can put on it yourself? I THOUGHT I had checked it out there ... I'd read the salt ingredients myself if I still lived there ... I find that one hard to believe ... not that I don't believe YOU, I just am having trouble believing that the person you spoke with knew what they were looking for.

Shawn, your theater has REAL butter??? I know a small, local theater around here that does, but I thought that was pretty rare ... lucky you!!!

I did become hypersensitive to gluten once I got off it. I have had to go to a very simple diet of meat and veggies, with a little fruit for some time. A lot of people need to do this to heal. It might help you for a while .... then you can add things in one at a time and see how you react. Lots of time other sensitivities show up once you eliminate gluten.

[Rusla]

Theater's have not used real butter for decades. Maybe the staff says that is what it is but it isn't. Their buttered popcorn always made me sick. They refer to it as a butter topping meaning it is not butter. If by some fluke of fate it is real butter you could be reacting to the casein in the butter which, for many Celiacs causes the same reaction as gluten.

[Shawn]

Hi - thanks for your replies. It was indeed real butter (it was an indy theatre and they let me read the ingredients). It had just been popped and smelled irresistible. However, I didn't think of the salt. I definitely reacted to SOMETHING. I'm out in Seattle. You can always come out here for real buttered popcorn. As I said, it was an indy theatre, and they always seem to have "real" ingredients.

Milk products, eh? Never reacted to them before. I feel like miss high maintenance. And I was high maintanance before this whole thing started!

I'll have to pop my own Newman's popcorn next time I go to a movie. Then I'll be safe!

Thanks again,

Shawn

[CarlaB]

Most theaters don't use real butter, but we have one here in Cincy that does, too. They even charge extra for it. It's worth it, too!!

[ladybugpumpkin]

Yeah, the salt thing was a little weird. The person who responded was indeed talking about the salt that is already on the corn...not the kind you add after you get it. He sent me the list of ingredients and while I can't remember exactly what the ingredient was, it was a "no-no" for sure! So, I don't eat the popcorn anymore.

[CarlaB]

Do you happen to still have the email they sent you?

[ladybugpumpkin]

Unfortunately, I don't. Sorry.

[CarlaB]

Unfortunately, I don't. Sorry.

I was just curious what the questionable ingredient was.