I Feel Horrible!

[Eriella]

Hello all,

I am returning back to college after the summer break and since last week I had to go back to eating at the dining hall (my school won't let me opt out of the meal plan), and for the past 36 hours I have felt horrible! I went from feeling normal last week to not digesting my food, feeling like a pit in my stomach, body aches, attention problems, charlie horses, exhaustion, runny nose, depression, and constipation.

These are most of my typical symptoms, but I can't figure out where the gluten is coming from. Yesterday I had bananas, coffee, a chicken salad with no dressing (made with clean gloves in a clean bowl), a soup that clearly labeled "no gluten", and Stoneyfield farms yogurt. Today I had an omelet (with raw eggs cooked in a clean pan with cheese as the only filling), Gorilla Munch (straight from the bag), re-hydrated coffee (disgusting, but gluten free), chicken salad (with clean gloves and bowl), and beef burgundy (made by my ex-bf and I know it is safe).

I am trying to figure out where it could have come from. The only idea I have is that there is broth in the chicken in my salad or cross contamination in manufacturing the nuts; however, as of last year I know the chicken was safe and because of the way the cafeteria now works, I am 99% positive it is safe (and will be checking tomorrow).

The head of the food service thinks that it could have been the whole eggs in the omelet, but I have never had a problem with eggs. Also, although I had dairy problems in the past, they have cleared up and the only real dairy I have had is low-lactose cheese.

The other possibility is that I am simply sick, but I don't feel that way. Do you guys see something that might contain gluten or have any ideas on what it could be?

Thanks in advance.

[CarlaB]

Could it be stress related rather than gluten related? Stress can wreak havoc on your body, too.

Did you feel fine before you got back to school?

[Sweetfudge]

maybe the meat seasoning? or was any of the food made near glutenous foods? crumbs happen

definitely could be stress. i know i feel pretty crappy right now, and i haven't had any gluten. does feel different than gluten-sick, but lots of the same symptoms. or female-related sick. lots of times i can't tell the difference between that and glutening until *certain* symptoms make themselves known

hope you get to feeling better!!

[melmak5]

I wonder if the chicken was "chicken in natural juices" or possibly marinated?

Sorry you aren't feeling well. I hope it passes quickly.

[Eriella]

Thanks for all of the advice-- stress does make my symptoms much worse and it has been a very stressful week. I can't believe I didn't think of that!

I have been healthy for most of the summer when I was cooking for myself, despite working a high stress job. I ate very basic and unprocessed foods with very few gluten-replacement products. For the past 2 weeks I was in a 14-hour-a-day training which was high stress and I ate in the cafeteria with no problems. They use whole foods and cook everything from scratch, so I have been able to eat a lot. It is only now that school has started and that I am eating at the food court for lunch and dinner that symptoms come back. I am not sure if it is the food there which is different (it comes from the same supplier to the same kitchen and same cooks, but it could be different) or if it is just my body attempting to get me to slow down.

I also believe that I am getting a large deal of cross-contamination. Thinking about it, the popcorn chicken is right next to my chicken, so that could be the problem. I am not sure about the natural juices, but I plan on looking into it tomorrow or Friday.

I think I am going to try to sleep it off and start eating my meals in the cafeteria where I know it is safe. I hope that it is simply stress and exhaustion, which can be dealt with relatively easily, instead me being allergic to everything!

Again, thanks for all of the advice!!