How Do You Tell The Difference?

[hannahsue01]

How do you tell the difference between having the flu or being glutened. Both my daughter and myself may have been glutened at two different times. Both of us had a chance for cross contamination. I am more convinced that my daughters was from being glutened because she ended up with mouth sores and a couple of itchy blisters on her face. Myself I am unsure as I didn't get either of those symptoms. Niether one of us ran a temp of any kind. Niether one of us would throw up from consuming gluten before going gluten free and have been gluten free for a couple of months now.

[Lisa]

I would think that a presence of a fever would indicate the flu.

But you have to remember, that often after being gluten free for some time, you react totally different to a gluten exposure.

The blisters would certainly indicate a gluten exposure.

I don't know if this was a help and I know that everyone reacts differently. I have been gluten free for almost a year and a half and my gluten reactions vary quite a bit.

Lisa

[ravenwoodglass]

I have to agree with the other poster. If you have a virus or an infection of some kind it usually will cause a fever. Glutening symptoms can change after you have been gluten-free for a while. Many of us will be able to identify ways that are obviously only gluten related, like you daughters blisters. For me I also get skin problems and gluten will cause a distinct and short lived but intense depression and irritability. Eventually you will get to know the 'signs' that are specific for you.

[Nancym]

Do a google search on norovirus or stomach flu and see if the symptoms match. I just had it a few months ago myself, I didn't have a fever but had headache, vomiting, and a general feeling of malaise. I was around someone that had just had it too, and it is frightfully contagious, so I was sure that was it. Plus, my symptoms of gluten aren't that bad.

[lovegrov]

The "stomach flu," which isn't actually influenza, sometimes includes a slight fever but often doesn't. I know some people throw up after ingesting gluten, but I'd say the percentage is very tiny. It is not a common symptom of gluten ingestion.

The "real" flu always includes a fever, body aches, and respiratory symptoms but not vomiting.

richard

[GlutenWrangler]

While the symptoms may be similar, it is true that if you had the flu you would most likely have a fever. Reactions to gluten change after going gluten-free. Before going gluten-free, your body is used to taking in a toxin every day. It knows that it will keep coming. When you go gluten-free, your body adapts to a toxin free diet, and vigorously reacts when gluten is re-introduced. This could account for the vomiting. The flu entails: high fever, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting (especially in children) chills, sweating, headache and muscle aches. Generally, when you have the flu, you know it. I hope you feel better.

-Brian

[hannahsue01]

Thanks for your replys. Makes sense about the toxin thing. My grandma throws up now when getting glutened. We didn't have a fever, chills, sweating, or muscle aches. Just a headache, knee ache, vomiting, then I got direah a few days later along with itchy bumbs under my chin and my daughter had slept for an entire day a few days after (wich if it was the flu I would have thought she would have slept more while she was vomiting rather than a few days after) and had mouth sores and the same itchy bumbs on her face.

[Carriefaith]

Some of the symptoms are similar between stomach flu and getting glutened. I can tell when I am glutened because I usually get a rash. I also get depressed and irritable.

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

Just to add, I also do not vomit when I am glutened.

I do vomit when I have the stomach flu...

When I am glutened, I usually know it because I have eaten soemthing "questionable", I get a rash (dH), and the stomach cramping is more "pronounced". Not sure how to explain it, but the cramping usually lasts for 3- 12 hours with frequeent trips to the Lou.

Stomach flu is way different. I throw up constantly for a day or two. Then it comes out the other end for a day or two.

It feels much different.