Question

[Lindsey]

Hello all, my tests for celiac came back negative. I told my doctor that my symptoms had disappeared since Id been gluten free - i had not had one stomach pain in 4 weeks (usually was an almost daily occurance) so anyway, he advised me to carry on for another month then eat something with gluten.

On Sunday just gone (today is thursday) i had a piece of my sons birthday cake. A day later i ate half a sausage roll - no symptoms....until last night when I had the beginnings of the low down pain i feel with constipation and trapped wind.

My question is - would it take this long for the symptoms to show? Since i went gluten free ive been going to the toilet normally, every day, yet this week, since i ate the cake - i havent.

Thankyou.

[Guest cassidy]

Many people's symptoms change once they go gluten-free. It is completely reasonable that you had a delayed reaction to the gluten. As you heal you may find that you will react in a few minutes to a crumb, or you may be able to tolerate a few crumbs without a reaction, or you may start having delayed reactions like you had with this. You will find out how your body reacts to gluten, because everyone is different. You may even have different reactions to different types of gluten.

Many of us had negative blood tests but if the diet is working for you, you have your proof right there. Once you really heal and start to feel great you probably won't feel the need to test things because you know it will make you sick.

[Jestgar]

I also find that what I eat it with changes my initial reaction. If I get some gluten in a dish with a lot of oil I just get the headache reaction. If it's with no or little fat I get bloating. It makes sense that having eating yours with fat you would delay the reaction since you probably delayed the absorption.