Help Me Anyone? Sick And Mystified

[oceangirl]

Hi.

I'm at the end of my rope with a over a week's worth of glutening and apparent re-glutening and cannot place a culprit. I am 10 months gluten-free, a year gluten-lite and had been doing much better with more good days than bad. This siege began with introducing Perdue whole chicken (I cook ALL my food- do not eat out or even at friend's and family's homes- andeat just a few prepared products.) Our home is almost entirely gluten-free) I was having Amy's tomato/basil tomato sauce without apparent upset, I reintroduced Lara bars (banana) and had some Green Mountain Gringo salsa.

Last night we ate salmon, zucchini and summer squash with garlic and shallots and fresh basil (from a store) and French wine. I did have some Cabot cheddar cheese which I'd reintroduced as well to no apparent ill-effect and a Pamela's shortbread cookie for lunch. I had a HORRIBLE night- feel like I'm back when I didn't know what was wrong with me! Is it possible the little styrofoam trays they put salmon in or the white absorbant pad that's in there could be a problem? I know, this is nuts but if anyone has any thoughts, I TRULY appreciate it! I had blocked out how awful it is to be this sick!

Thank you for any help!

lisa

[CarlaB]

Nothing looks out of the ordinary to me. Do you think you might have a stomach virus? My non-gluten intolerant son had a lot of stomach trouble last week ... sometimes it's easy to forget that we might just be "normal" sick.

[DebbieInCanada]

Hi.

I'm at the end of my rope with a over a week's worth of glutening and apparent re-glutening and cannot place a culprit. I am 10 months gluten-free...

Lisa,

Here is what I experienced - once I was gluten free for a period of time, I started getting those symptoms again. I did some more elimination from my diet, and found that corn was causing very similar symptoms to the gluten. Once I removed the corn products from my diet, I started feeling great again. So maybe something else is causing you to get sick again.

From the food you listed, it's hard to identify any obvious culprits. I would suggest looking at the most common allergens (corn, soy, eggs, dairy, etc), and try removing those for a period of time. If that makes a difference, try re-introducing one at a time to see if it causes a reaction.

Also, look at your other products - personal care, etc. for other sources of contamination.

Hope you can find a solution.

Debbie

[chick2ba]

I've reacted many many times to Pamela's gluten-free cookies (several varieties; definite gluten reaction). It took me forever to suspect that they were gluten-ing me since it's a 'trusted' brand. I know other people don't react to those cookies, but my health has improved dramatically since removing them from my diet. Hope you feel better soon.

[oceangirl]

I've reacted many many times to Pamela's gluten-free cookies (several varieties; definite gluten reaction). It took me forever to suspect that they were gluten-ing me since it's a 'trusted' brand. I know other people don't react to those cookies, but my health has improved dramatically since removing them from my diet. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you all so much for replying. Carla, I'm fairly certain it's not a "bug", although you're right that we need remind ourselves to sometimes when hearing hoofsteps to think "horses". Debbie- very sound advice and I will continue to "weed", although I am also corn, soy and mostly dairy-free. I think someone wrote on here once that they use corn in those styrofoam trays, I'm not sure. And, Chick, thank you for the advice about Pamela's. They are a treat thing every now and then for me and I don't THINK I've reacted before but I won't have any for awhile as I try to sort this out.

I very much appreciate all of your advice and I will weigh all of it. Sometimes on this end of the tunnel it's hard to believe you'll ever get back to the other side again, so your encouragement is great. I just went skating to pretend I'm not feeling nauseous and in pain. (It didn't work brilliantly, but, what the heck...)

Thank you!

lisa

[miles2go]

Lisa, just wanted to say hi from Orono. It sounds like you're going through similar issues as mine since gluten-free for 14 months. Some days are just terrific and then others are not and when we feel used to feeling well, it feels like absolute crapaliciousness. My cat eats gluteny cat food at times and that doesn't seem to bother me, even though I have to hold my breath around the bread aisle at the grocery store. I'm currently battling a sinus infection that didn't go away after the first course of antibiotics...second time in three years. Yeesh.

Hope you're feeling better soon, bake your own cookies, remember that multiple allergies can cause this and your hubby is a sweetie and maybe someday we'll have the gluten-free beer up here, too.

[Lisa]

lisa:

Perhaps a change in ingredient in your cosmetics. Also, someone mentioned an electric can opener with gluten goo on the blade. Have you introduced any new lotions, dish soaps... Some fruit juices contain gluten, where you would think that they would not.

I hope you feel better soon, or better yet, find what it is so that you can prevent getting sick.

Lisa

[happygirl]

Lisa,

I am sorry you are having a tough time. The main thing that stuck out for me is the Pamela's cookies. I don't know what it is with them....I do well with her other products, and used to do well with her cookies....but I realized that I just cannot tolerate her cookies. I honestly don't know if its gluten or not....but they bother me consistently now.

You mentioned, "Last night we ate salmon, zucchini and summer squash with garlic and shallots and fresh basil (from a store) " .... are you saying the salmon etc was from like, the fresh prepared food section at the grocery store? I used to eat stuff from the nice places, and I would always get sick, even after talking to the people about ingredients, etc. I think they don't think about cross contamination, and it could be a source of problems for you if you are super sensitive.

Best of luck in finding out what the problem is....I hope you feel better soon!

Laura

[miles2go]

I'm mostly vegetarian and this could be the sinus infection talking, but is it possible to ingest gluten from animals that are fed primarily on gluten? Like farmed salmon?

Margaret

[Mango04]

I'm mostly vegetarian and this could be the sinus infection talking, but is it possible to ingest gluten from animals that are fed primarily on gluten? Like farmed salmon?

Margaret

No but...farmed salmon is usually injected with coloring to make it pink (farmed fish eat unnatural diets that cause unnatural coloring). Some people are bothered by farmed salmon for that reason (whether or not that's gluten-related..I don't know ) .

[happygirl]

I'm mostly vegetarian and this could be the sinus infection talking, but is it possible to ingest gluten from animals that are fed primarily on gluten? Like farmed salmon?

Margaret

It is not possible to ingest gluten from an animal that is fed gluten.

[darlindeb25]

One thing that was not mentioned--the wine. Wine makes me just as ill as being glutened. I now realize I can not drink any alcohol. You may want to try not drinking or if you need--drink it again to see if it is the culprit.

[oceangirl]

I'm mostly vegetarian and this could be the sinus infection talking, but is it possible to ingest gluten from animals that are fed primarily on gluten? Like farmed salmon?

Margaret

Thank you, Laura, Lisa and Margaret for your thoughtful responses! (Margaret, UMO is my alma mater sp? I love Orono) After reviewing my food log I am suspicious of Pamela's perhaps along with the cheddar cheese. (bummers about the cheese) No, the salmon is just freshly caught salmon BUT this time it WAS farm-raised and I have wondered about what animals eat as well. There's so many potential factors. Thanks, Lisa and Laura- my cosmetics are gluten-free last I checked, (Lancome lipstick, Fructis shampoo and I rinse with cider vinegar-great shine, great conditioner), Michael reviewed my food log and he suspects the Larabars, but I just don't see it- I think they might be rough and give IBS symptoms, but I don't think they are a gluten culprit. The issues I have with gluten are pretty unmistakable. I so appreciate all your kind words. Today I feel a LITTLE better, but it's the nights, after supper and after midnight that kill me. That's always been the case with this and I don't know why. Tra la, tra la... I'll keep trying to unearth the problem although many times I find I never really know for sure.

Take good care. Oh, and Margaret, I sure hope your sinus infection clears SOON! No fun!!!

lisa

[oceangirl]

Thank you, Laura, Lisa and Margaret for your thoughtful responses! (Margaret, UMO is my alma mater sp? I love Orono) After reviewing my food log I am suspicious of Pamela's perhaps along with the cheddar cheese. (bummers about the cheese) No, the salmon is just freshly caught salmon BUT this time it WAS farm-raised and I have wondered about what animals eat as well. There's so many potential factors. Thanks, Lisa and Laura- my cosmetics are gluten-free last I checked, (Lancome lipstick, Fructis shampoo and I rinse with cider vinegar-great shine, great conditioner), Michael reviewed my food log and he suspects the Larabars, but I just don't see it- I think they might be rough and give IBS symptoms, but I don't think they are a gluten culprit. The issues I have with gluten are pretty unmistakable. I so appreciate all your kind words. Today I feel a LITTLE better, but it's the nights, after supper and after midnight that kill me. That's always been the case with this and I don't know why. Tra la, tra la... I'll keep trying to unearth the problem although many times I find I never really know for sure.

Take good care. Oh, and Margaret, I sure hope your sinus infection clears SOON! No fun!!!

lisa

Thank you Deb and everyone else, too! I will check out the wine; I will check on everything!

lisa