Masking Effect?

[JerryK]

I'm curious if others believe there is a masking effect related to eating gluten. I've seldom felt so badly as when I went back on gluten, after a two week hiatus.

I wonder why this is. I felt crummy a lot on Gluten, but not as badly as I did after two weeks gluten-free.

Had my body gotten used to how badly I felt? Is there a masking effect...where the symptoms aren't quite as apparent?

Opinions? Thanks!

[tarnalberry]

Had my body gotten used to how badly I felt?

Ding!

[jerseyangel]

Yes, I think that our systems get used to the constent influx of gluten--resulting in chronic symptoms that we just kind of get used to. After years of this, we don't even realize sometimes that this really isn't normal.

After identifying the culprit, and removing it, it's not unusual at all to be super sensitive to smaller amounts.

[aikiducky]

I think after a while, your immune system just plain starts to get overtired and doesn't react quite that strongly anymore... hence the symptoms aren't that dramatic. After a period gluten free, the immune system has had a chance to rest, and when you then have gluten again, it has the strength to react properly again. It's not the gluten itself that causes the symptoms after all, it's our bodies reaction to it that we feel.

Pauliina