Glutened... But No Idea How And When?

[shimo]

Hi there,

I guess I've been glutened because my symptoms have somewhat restarted lightly (D, few cramps and big time irritability).

I haven't had anything new, really. I have been extra careful with everything I eat.

The only things I have added to my diet are cookies from Schar, and also a few other things from them such as pasta (I used Glutano only until now and was feeling fine).

Any idea? I did not have anything not gluten free, seriously. Actually I do not have anything at home that is not gluten free. I got rid of everything. Plus I do not eat out at all. I only drink coffee outside.

My doctor also prescribed me a few vitamins and as he believes I might also have bacterial overgrowth, I'm taking pills to oxygenate the whole digestive system, digestive enzymes and a few others that I really do not know what they are for (i take 8 pills per meal total). Now I presume he knew what he was doing, most of those pills say they are fine for celiacs and those that have no information on that whatsoever say that they are free of allergens...

Can one of those pills be doing this?

What has been the most stupid anti-gluten reaction you have had? I heard we can get a reaction without even eating it, is this true? I just want to know what to avoid...

Thanks a lot!

[wowzer]

It wouldn't hurt to check the medication and make sure that it is gluten free. The pharmisist can do it for you or you can check www.glutenfreedrugs.com

[loco-ladi]

I would check the pills yes, but also concider even if you only are drinking coffee outside home that still poses some risk, those little doughnut crumbs that everyone else left go everywhere. Also check shampoo, hand cream, lotions, toothpaste........ you may have done this before however someone may have changed their "recipe" I would concintrate on any "new" bottles you have opened recently.

[FootballFanatic]

I'm going to have to half-disagree with what wowzer said. Don't call your pharamacist, sure, some may go out of their way to call the manufacturer, but I called my pharmacist who said everything I was taking was gluten free, I have found out in the past week that 2 of those drugs are for sure not gluten free but only from calling the manufacturer.

I am about to make a posting about this in the "Post-Diagnosis" section....Since it's the weekend the pharmacutical companies and the doctor's offices are closed (so I have to wait for tomorrow to find an alternative for mine) I'm feeling crappy due to not taking it, but I know it's not safe so I'm calling first thing in the morning.

[darlindeb25]

I had a pharmicist tell me he had no idea what gluten free was and that he didn't have the time to bother finding out. His boss reprimanded him for that attitude and told me from now on I would never have trouble with him again, yet now, I do not trust him. I will never use that pharmacy again. I would never trust him to actually find out if the product was safe for me. I have a different pharmacy now and he is very good with me, always very helpful, yet I do always research the medicine myself first. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and if we truly want to be safe, then we need to check with the maker of the drug. It's sad, but sometimes people will tell you anything, just to get you to pay and leave, they just do not understand the seriousness of the situation. Even your doctor probably has no idea if the medicine he is giving you is safe, unless he is a celiac doctor.

[wowzer]

I have had great luck with my pharmacist checking. I had her check 2 different ones. They told her they couldn't guarantee they weren't gluten free on one which I quit taking. The other was a cream that I was using for the itching and they said it wouldn't matter being a cream. The pharmacist checked further and did find out that it was safe to use.