Changes In Glutening

[Corkdarrr]

So I've been gluten-free for almost six months now. And when I started gluten-free, and I accidentally (or once or twice on purpose ) ate gluten, I KNEW it. I knew it like the stomach flu for three days. It was intense. It was nasty. And it was immediate.

I went out to dinner last nite and about 30 minutes in, I was pretty sure I'd been glutened. Not severely since it was Thai food, but I had some serious stomach discomfort. I made it through the rest of the meal and got home.

I most definately didn't feel good - no D, but urgent and loose stools; stomach cramps; the urge to throw up...but the worst signs I noticed weren't stomach related. I was SO tired. Like someone had drugged me. But when I went to bed I couldnt' fall asleep - mostly becuase I was having some sort of crazy, heart-racing panic attack. I felt SO hot it was uncomfortable. And a little bit dizzy. And thirsty.

So I know all the things I've mentioned are typical glutening symptoms for someone, somewhere. But I guess I'm wondering if it's normal that they've evolved for me. It was so drastically stomach related when this all began that I've just been lying in wait...

Any thoughts?

Courtney

[flagbabyds]

it's very normal for your symptoms to evolve over your life. mine have changed frmo when i was a baby and now every glutening they are different but i can always tell in someway taht i have gotten gluten in some form. i dunno why it is like that but it is just your body's response and it c an change over hte years, months, or even days.

[Corkdarrr]

Thanks, Molly.

Don't get me wrong - I prefer the whole *not* being violently ill thing to that the obviously there yet underlying discomfort. It's just weird.

I'm sad, too. That used to be my one safe restaurant to eat at. Now two times in a row I've gotten sick so they've obviously changed something in the kitchen from the previous 8 times I'd eaten there. Boo.

[flagbabyds]

my reactions have changed as i grew up. when i was a baby it was always D 24 hours after the exposure. Then i didn't get gluten all through elementary school but in 7th grade it caused mood swings and my thyroid levels to go dangerously low and create a whole mess of autoimmune disorders. now it causes nausea and that is stopped by taking fennergen casue i don't like to throw up... and gives me more food allergies (corn and soy now) and casues temp. lactose intolerance.

it's weird but it changes almost every time i get gluten.

[marciab]

I've noticed this in myself too. I used to get horrible cramps (911), "D" and at one point I had myoclonus and ataxia. But now when I am glutened I don't do this. But, I would never eat it intentionally.

The last time I was glutened (or I believe I was) I was awake until 6am. I wasn't hyper, I just did not feel sleepy. I even thought about going Christmas shopping at 3 am. By then I was bored ...

I have not had any severe myoclonus since August. And absolutely no ataxia since September. I am guessing that our bodies are healing and that is why our symptoms have changed.

Just my thoughts (on clearance today for 1/2 a penny) ... Marcia

[Nancym]

I intentionally glutened myself after a year and a half gluten free, just to see what would happen. Nothing really obvious. Except a kind of lingering malaise, no energy, kind of depressed for over a week now. I didn't link it to the gluten at first but now I think it was.

[marciab]

OMG Nancy, you just explained why I felt sad this week. This is just so unlike me. Thanks .. marcia

[Corkdarrr]

When I first went gluten-free I went through all the denial and just *had* to see what would happen.

Yuck! I learned my lesson. Plus the more I learn about all the different ways it affects my body and mind, I have no desire to cheat and test the fates anymore.

I definately seem to get more depressed when I've been glutened. I'm really sleepy. And clutzy and uncoordinated. I'm sure it's quite hilarious to the people around me! I don't feel well at all, but there's no D or vomiting. Just awful cramps, bloating and indigestion as far as digestive stuff goes. But, silver lining - At least I'm not holed up in the bathroom, curled in a ball next to the toilet!

Courtney

[CMCM]

Courtney, I had to laugh at your comments on the dairy. Honestly, think I can mostly handle avoiding gluten, but the DAIRY....now that's a challenge. It's just in everything I like. It's really almost impossible to avoid.

Carole

When I first went gluten-free I went through all the denial and just *had* to see what would happen.

Yuck! I learned my lesson. Plus the more I learn about all the different ways it affects my body and mind, I have no desire to cheat and test the fates anymore.

I definately seem to get more depressed when I've been glutened. I'm really sleepy. And clutzy and uncoordinated. I'm sure it's quite hilarious to the people around me! I don't feel well at all, but there's no D or vomiting. Just awful cramps, bloating and indigestion as far as digestive stuff goes. But, silver lining - At least I'm not holed up in the bathroom, curled in a ball next to the toilet!

Courtney

[emcmaster]

I've been gluten-free for 8-1/2 months and it definitely changed for me. When I first went gluten-free, my symptoms (severe bloating, nausea, lots of stomach pain) lasted about a week in duration and didn't get better until the last day. As I've healed, I still have the same symptoms, but sometimes one is missing (like I'll have nausea and pain but no bloating or vice versa). Also, they don't usually last a week anymore. (Except for right now - today marks the 6th day that I've been experiencing symptoms from a glutening and it doesn't seem to be getting better yet.) I think healing seems to make the symptoms different - at least it did for me.

E.

[FeedIndy]

When DD was first diagnosed, she was tired all the time (she took 4 naps a day at 9 months!) and had mild constipation. After a month gluten free she would get D 24 hours after an accidental exposure. Now, it goes back and forth from D to C. It's very weird to me. Now that I'm not nursing, the accidental exposures are fewer and far between. I'm sure next time it will be a completely different reaction.

Now my other 2 daughters started the gluten free diet "by accident." They wanted to eat the cereal DD was eating and announced they were gluten free too. So I told them if they were going to eat her expensive cereal, they would do the diet all week. It was the most peaceful 5 days of my life! For the first time ever, the behavior issues we'd dealt with and seen psychologists for were just gone! Then we let them go back over Christmas. An hour after their first breakfast, they complained of stomach aches. DD1 had D all day. DD2 was constipated for 2 days. The behavior issues weren't as obvious because it was Christmas and we were around family so they were too wired for it all.

We went back to gluten free and the same thing happened after an accidental glutening last week. DD1 has stomach troubles, but DD2 is just plain mean when she gets a hold of wheat. I'm not planning to have them tested, but we'll allow another challenge or two just to prove to DD1 that it wasn't a coincidence. At 9, she wants the proof dh and I don't need, but hates needles and has agreed to find her proof in dietary response.