Dramatic Reaction To Toast

[nama shivaya]

I ate 3 pieces of whole grain toast yesterday as a self-test, and man were the results not fun! I've been gluten free for a few weeks (probably a little here & there -- do Reeses Peanut Butter Cups count?)

Anyway, my throat felt itchy after I ate the toast. A couple of hours later, my voice got weak and my jaw felt like it was being squeezed. I almost reached for a benedryl! I got kinda itchy as well. I really felt out of sorts. This morning when I got up I had a HUGE anxiety attack. I almost went to the ER, but my hubby talked me down and I took 1/2 a sedative instead and went back to bed. I feel like I've got heart palpatations, but my pulse seems OK -- slow & steady.

A couple of hours later I had D with bile colored bits floating on the top (sorry.) Now I feel somewhat better.

So why did I do it? I had wanted to begin eating a little of everything in preparation for my gastro appt. next month. I do NOT want to face a specialist who thinks this is all in my head! But now I know why so many of you say you will trade being undx'd for not ever doing gluten again. I think I'll go another route and just do an allergy panel and see the integrative doc. I will ask the gastro to do a scope anyway, just to rule anything else out.

Wow, what a crazy 24 hours this has been! I hope you're all doing better than I seem to be at the moment!

[CarlaB]

Sorry you're not feeling well.

Allergy tests can tell you if you are allergic to gluten, but not whether you are intolerant to it. It's a different immune reaction. Judging by the immediate itching in your throat, you may be both allergic and intolerant.

[nama shivaya]

Allergic vs. intolerant. Hmmm So if a person's allergic to soy, shellfish, peanuts, etc., they can expect an allergic reaction (systemic), but not an intestinal reaction? (unless one is both allergic and intolerant).

As I understand it, food allergies can be tested by a blood test.

So how does a person test for food intolerances? Is there an accurate blood test? Or must a person eliminate foods and add them one at a time, gauging the reaction?

Thanks for helping me get this sorted out!

[CarlaB]

I'm not sure about the testing ... I'm sure someone else can tell you as many have been tested here for many things!

Intolerances are also systemic. You have an immune system reaction and can have varying symptoms ranging from diarrhea and bloating, to joint pain and seasonal allergies. It's just a different immune reaction. Allergies can kill you, intolerances just give you pain!

I was tested for gluten intolerance by Enterolab, but they didn't tell me anything I didn't already figure out from dietary reponse.

[chatycady]

I ate 3 pieces of whole grain toast yesterday as a self-test, and man were the results not fun! I've been gluten free for a few weeks (probably a little here & there -- do Reeses Peanut Butter Cups count?)

Anyway, my throat felt itchy after I ate the toast. A couple of hours later, my voice got weak and my jaw felt like it was being squeezed. I almost reached for a benedryl! I got kinda itchy as well. I really felt out of sorts. This morning when I got up I had a HUGE anxiety attack. I almost went to the ER, but my hubby talked me down and I took 1/2 a sedative instead and went back to bed. I feel like I've got heart palpatations, but my pulse seems OK -- slow & steady.

A couple of hours later I had D with bile colored bits floating on the top (sorry.) Now I feel somewhat better.

So why did I do it? I had wanted to begin eating a little of everything in preparation for my gastro appt. next month. I do NOT want to face a specialist who thinks this is all in my head! But now I know why so many of you say you will trade being undx'd for not ever doing gluten again. I think I'll go another route and just do an allergy panel and see the integrative doc. I will ask the gastro to do a scope anyway, just to rule anything else out.

Wow, what a crazy 24 hours this has been! I hope you're all doing better than I seem to be at the moment!

I believe you had an acute allergic reaction. I too have similar reactions and then my blood pressure drops real low 75/45. I believe you should have gone to the ER. This is somewhat dangerous. Next time you may be headed for a true anaphylactic shock!

A food allergy can affect one or more of the major body functions such as respiritory, digestive or circulatory. Sound like it hit all three for you. Be careful!

[ravenwoodglass]

So how does a person test for food intolerances? Is there an accurate blood test? Or must a person eliminate foods and add them one at a time, gauging the reaction?

Thanks for helping me get this sorted out!

You just did and your test was positive. You test for intolerances by eliminating the suspect food until symptoms are relieved and then adding it back in and seeing if you react. This is exactly what my allergist, an MD, did when I was diagnosed. When I went to the GI I was sent to after I reacted to the challenge he had me challenge again and it almost killed me. He was then kind enough to give me an 'official' diagnosis. Your body has really given you the answer.

[Guest cassidy]

Toast? I can't believe you cheated with toast? If I was going to do something like that it would be pizza or a donut or something else that tastes amazing, but not boring toast! Sorry, but I had to give you a hard time about that.

Sorry you got so sick. At least you now know that gluten causes problems for you, but don't be surprised if a gi doc still doesn't believe you. I had 3 of them tell me that I had reflux, not celiac, even though I was able to cancel my surgery for reflux by going gluten-free.

Good luck figuring all of it out, an integrative doctor is a great choice. I didn't feel 100% after going gluten-free and through a stool test my doctor found out I had almost no good bacteria, an amoeba and candida overgrowth. She fixed me up and I'm doing great. She just recommended an elimination diet and food diary to figure out my other intolerances because she said testing isn't accurate, but I realize there are many view on this subject.

[nama shivaya]

Beginning about 7 years ago, I could not eat any latex foods: bananas, kiwi, split peas, almonds, etc. If I did, my throat would immediately begin developing gas bubbles -- it felt like I was trying to swallow a soft ball! The only thing that would help was to chew peppermint gum real quickly. Peppermint deals with gas production in a great way.

Anyway, this was my first experience with food allergies that I was acutely aware of. Now this. I think staying away from gluten-containing foods will be a bit of an adjustment, but oh, well. I think it explains a year of extreme anxiety I've had, and I do NOT want to go back to that!

My only hope is that my body will heal and I'll be able to add dairy/eggs & other proteins. This meat and veggies diet's getting old!

And yeah, cassidy, I should've done it right with some gooey donuts or something!!

[PeggyV]

At least you can have Reese Peanut butter cups! I am pretty sure they are gluten free.