Diet Experiment

[em-nyc-1234]

Hi,

I have a question about sensitivity to gluten. First some background...

I've been on a strict gluten-free (and mostly dairy free) diet for about 10 months. I have never been officially diagnosed with anything but I've had numerous symptoms (such as fatigue, skin sensitivity, paleness, brain fog) go away after going on the diet. I used to get diarrhea occasionally but it was quite rare. So anyway, I recently tried eating 1/4 of a bagel to see what would happen. I felt the brain fog for the next several hours, but I did not have any other symptoms! The next day I ate out and had a delicious Kobe beef dinner which I believed was gluten and dairy free (according to the waiter it was). That night I had a regular defecation, and the following night I had horrible diarrhea.

I've heard that people with Celiac disease get very sensitive after maintaining a gluten-free diet. I expected the 1/4 bagel to make me sick the next day but I was fine the next day! I believe that the diarrhea was from the next day's dinner. Any thoughts on what could explain my symptoms or lack thereof?

[dbmamaz]

Several people have responded to similar posts saying that it sometimes takes them 3 days to see symptoms from a glutening, and that some symptoms can last for weeks. Everyone reacts differently and yes, many people find their reactions seem more severe after they've been clean for a while. Also, there could have been a cumulative affect if the second meal also had gluten in it.

I'd say stay off the gluten . . .

[aloberg1]

You could be having a delayed reaction. Maybe it took your body some time to react to the bagel.

I too am in a similar boat as you: having been gluten-free for some time and trying to add it back. I have had a variety of symptoms since testing gluten lately. When I was gluten free I would have days that seemed as though I had eaten something I would react to, but I thought it was all safe. Perhaps the dinner you had eaten had some contamination or perhaps another food you may react to.

Good luck with your search for answers.

[Ursa Major]

If I would eat a bagel today, I would have horrible diarrhea, bloating and feeling 'out of it' the day after tomorrow. The D would likely go away after a day, but the other symptoms would linger for a while.

I used to react immediately, but by now I get a delayed reaction.

Everybody is different, and reacts differently. You appear to get a delayed reaction now, just like me (and many others here). Your restaurant meal may have nothing to do with it.