Let's Talk About Severity Of Symptoms

[emcmaster]

Is there such a thing? Do we get as sick if from CC or a crumb then actually consuming a piece of bread? Or is there a threshold - like a crumb and a piece of bread cause the same severity of symptoms, but a whole cake causes 10x more, and 10 cakes causes 100x more?

I never, ever eat gluten when I'm feeling fine, but I occasionally succumb to the temptation to eat it when I've been glutened accidentally... kind of like 'I'm going to feel like crap anyway, so I might as well eat something I enjoy while I feel bad'.

I think if I could tell a definite difference in severity/length of symptoms if I didn't go ahead and eat something else gluteny after I've been glutened, I wouldn't do it. But since I can't, and since wanting to avoid symptoms is 99% of why I am gluten-free, I have a hard time resisting.

I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but I'm sitting here, absolutely miserable because we're on vacation and have had to eat out a lot and apparently one of the many restaurants we went to made me sick.

[Luisa2552]

I think you'll find that everyone is different. I've been gluten-free for a little over a month. My symptoms before were pretty mild compared to what some have been through, still , I feel so much better. Now when I get glutened my symptoms are worse! I got glutened this past weekend and I have had incredible abdominal pain. Today is the first day it's a little better. I've backed off everything processed and have been living on chicken, egg whites, fruits and veggies. I'll slowly add my favorites back (Glutino pretzels are the best ). I'm not even the slightest tempted to eat gluten during this period of pain. Pain and other symptoms people may get is your bodys' way of saying somethings wrong. To ignore that on purpose doesn't make any sense .

[emcmaster]

I'm not even the slightest tempted to eat gluten during this period of pain. Pain and other symptoms people may get is your bodys' way of saying somethings wrong. To ignore that on purpose doesn't make any sense .

Well, you're absolutely right. My body hates gluten. But I think it's a psychological "I shouldn't be feeling this bad - I didn't even get to enjoy what I ate that made me sick!" thing that makes me want to eat something good if I'm going to feel so bad. Of course, it depends on how bad my symptoms are at the time. If it's bad enough that I'm throwing up, I'm obviously not going to eat anything else.

It's just hard to stick to such a ridiculously restrictive diet all the time and then get sick because someone was careless while making my food. If I wanted to get sick, I would have eaten a piece of chocolate cake, not a grilled chicken salad, hold the dressing and croutons!

[gfpaperdoll]

re that grilled chicken salad, most all restaurants put a grill baste on chicken & other meats. You have to ask them to cook your chicken without the grill baste. & you know why they put the grill baste on it don't you? because it has the addictive gluten in it & makes it taste better...

[aikiducky]

You know, if you have been glutened and feel like you should have something good to eat, do have something good to eat. Just make it something gluten free! I'm sure there are some things that you enjoy that are gluten free naturally.

Whenever I've been glutened I give myself permission to eat anything I like, as long as it's safe, I don't count calories or worry about sugar or salt or fats or anything. Quite often though nowadays I actually crave fruits and veggies...

Pauliina

[crittermom]

You know, if you have been glutened and feel like you should have something good to eat, do have something good to eat. Just make it something gluten free! I'm sure there are some things that you enjoy that are gluten free naturally.

Whenever I've been glutened I give myself permission to eat anything I like, as long as it's safe, I don't count calories or worry about sugar or salt or fats or anything. Quite often though nowadays I actually crave fruits and veggies...

Pauliina

Oh I think this is the best answer! I don't have celiacs but do have fibromyalgia and there are things that I eat the make me feel worse than others. Sometimes it is hard to resist but I always regret the choice after I made it. For the gluten-free diet.... for a treat try Pamela's fudge brownie mix with chocolate chunks. Use some chocolate fudge icing and eat them while they are warm. Oh it is like heaven on earth!!! If you overbake them they will be dry and gritty but it you catch them at the lower end of the baking time they stay nice and moist and chewy! Once I baked them for my daughter and ended up eating half the pan. However I would not suggest that since it made ME sick!

Take care!

[dally099]

hi there, i have noticed that everyone on this site is different but i find for myself if i eat gluten that i have the brain fog and headache within 20 min, but i have about a 1.5 day turnaround for the gastrol stuff. D, and pain, and it depends on how much i get, if i get lots then i get more D and if a little thing like the cracker my kid shoved in my mouth last week, its just some discomfort and bloating the next day. i get this strange rash thing on my back though, on my left side, rib cage area and that will flare up and last for over a week sometimes and it drives me crazy!!! everyone is different though!!