Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Accidental Glutening

newceliac

By newceliac
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

newceliac Enthusiast
newceliac
Posted

I have been gluten free for about 6-7 weeks now. I had an accidental glutening about 5 days ago. I have a Wendy's gluten free list and I noticed that their salads were listed on there. Well, I got the Mandarin Chicken Salad with the Asian Sesame dressing that goes with it. About 2-3 hours after I ate it, I started cramping and feeling nauseous. I looked on the list again and realized it said "except the sesame dressing". I fetched the empty wrapper and of course, it listed wheat as an ingredient. I felt so STUPID!!!!!!!!!

How long does it take to get over an accidental gluten? I am so constipated (which was a large symptom prior to diagnosis), anxious and depressed feeling and joint and bone pain. Can that small amount cause all this and for that many days?

Also, even before the glutening, I was still having days where I felt like I had reverted back to pre-diagnosis. Does it take a while to feel better? I have days where I feel good, then all of a sudden I have several days in a row where I feel bad again. This is so depressing and frustrating. Also, for a few days following diagnosis and the start of gluten free, I was regular for once in forever. Then, all of a sudden the constipation returned. I don't know what to do. I took fiber (that was gluten free) and it doesn't do anything. I have been eating gluten free and really trying to be careful. It is discouraging because I just want to feel good all the time. How long will it take?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Kiki Explorer
Kiki
Posted

Yea.. I accually have recently gotten hooked on the Southwest Taco Salad from Wendy's... It depends on your body how fast you recover. You havnt been gluten-free for very long, my best recomdation is drink alot fo water, it usually helps me to flush quicker... It also took me about a year to feel like myself again. So having those days were you feel like its not helping in the long run it is. It can take 2 month or 2 years, Just stay positive (i know its hard) Were here for you!

dhd2000 Newbie
dhd2000
Posted

The further you get into your healing the more quickly you can rebound from accidental glutening. I was diagnosed in May and for a few months I had issues with the gluten-free baked products, anything with maltodextrin in it and a few other things. I got accidental gluten through popcorn at a movie theater and felt awful for a few days! Now, more than 5 months into the gluten-free diet, I can tolerate some gluten-free baked goods, like some bread or cookies and I know I got something with gluten yesterday, which made me miserable last night, but today, I'm mostly back to normal (except for the dark circles under my eyes!) So hang in there, eat very simply like chicken, rice, fruits and veggies for a couple of months and then try adding other things back in. It does get better.

Denise

StevenD Newbie
StevenD
Posted
The further you get into your healing the more quickly you can rebound from accidental glutening. I was diagnosed in May and for a few months I had issues with the gluten-free baked products, anything with maltodextrin in it and a few other things. I got accidental gluten through popcorn at a movie theater and felt awful for a few days! Now, more than 5 months into the gluten-free diet, I can tolerate some gluten-free baked goods, like some bread or cookies and I know I got something with gluten yesterday, which made me miserable last night, but today, I'm mostly back to normal (except for the dark circles under my eyes!) So hang in there, eat very simply like chicken, rice, fruits and veggies for a couple of months and then try adding other things back in. It does get better.

Denise

StevenD Newbie
StevenD
Posted
The further you get into your healing the more quickly you can rebound from accidental glutening. I was diagnosed in May and for a few months I had issues with the gluten-free baked products, anything with maltodextrin in it and a few other things. I got accidental gluten through popcorn at a movie theater and felt awful for a few days! Now, more than 5 months into the gluten-free diet, I can tolerate some gluten-free baked goods, like some bread or cookies and I know I got something with gluten yesterday, which made me miserable last night, but today, I'm mostly back to normal (except for the dark circles under my eyes!) So hang in there, eat very simply like chicken, rice, fruits and veggies for a couple of months and then try adding other things back in. It does get better.

Denise

This is my first post. I am new to all of this and while I don't like the answers I saw above (because I want things to be eaiser than what was stated), I am relieved to see I am "normal." I have had to travel a lot and started shortly after finding out about all of this. It was so depressing on the road that I almost just quit eating. When I did eat, I made errors too often. I started out the first few weeks feeling incredible and have felt horrible the past few weeks. Denise's recommendation about hanging in there and keeping things simple at first while slowly adding food items makes sense. I think I got too fancy too soon (like driving without a license). Thanks. I hope it does get better.

Steve

Glutenfreefamily Enthusiast
Glutenfreefamily
Posted

Are you dairy free also? That can make a difference. Its very common to have a problem with dairy while your villi are healing since you are no longer making lactase to break down lactose since its at the top of your villi. Bonus is most people can go back to dairy products after awhile, some like me cannot. I hope your part of the former.

At first I felt wonderful going gluten free. Diarrhea stopped within a couple of days after having it for years all day long. Then Dairy caused problems. Now if I eat dairy it is very similar to gluten.

StevenD Newbie
StevenD
Posted
Are you dairy free also? That can make a difference. Its very common to have a problem with dairy while your villi are healing since you are no longer making lactase to break down lactose since its at the top of your villi. Bonus is most people can go back to dairy products after awhile, some like me cannot. I hope your part of the former.

At first I felt wonderful going gluten free. Diarrhea stopped within a couple of days after having it for years all day long. Then Dairy caused problems. Now if I eat dairy it is very similar to gluten.

I am not dairy free. Reading your comment and that of others over the last few days (plus taking into account the Wendy's Frosty I had last night and the price I seem to have paid), it appears I need to reaccess. I think I took it for granted that dairy products were okay for me. The whole matter of having already given up so much gave me an incorrect sense of entitlement (so to speak). I bought some gluten free slim fast and noticed the last time I drank some (a few days back), I paid about a half an hour later. I appreciate your help. I am thinking out loud a bit here and realizing I need to tighen up.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


loco-ladi Contributor
loco-ladi
Posted

Well, dont feel bad, you aren't suffering alone, seems sometime late yesterday afternoon I got myself..... somehow......

Just coming out of the bathroom today and am looking for the culprit..... my best guess at this point is the ice cream sandwich hubby ate the night before, maybe picked up that elusive crumb somewhere?

Made myself some chicken soup and will be miserable for the next few days, just happy this time the brain fog isn't so bad as it has been

StevenD Newbie
StevenD
Posted

Please don't think I am getting personal, but you intimate that a you were likely affected by a loved one's ice cream sandwich. I had not thought of that and recognize that my not be what you aaying here at all, but does kissing present a threat. For instance, does my wife's lipstick likely have gluten?

Are you aware of any tricks of the trade to deal with the feeling lousy stage--food, exercise, medicine, herbal teas, etc. How about Dramamine?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.