How Gluten Free Do You Have To Be?

[Alisa Marie]

About 7 months ago I was diagnosed with Celiac's. Of course it took 4 yrs, but once I went gluten free, a lot of the pain and bathroom issues were gone. But now, 7 months later I've developed DH. My house for the most part is gluten free, and I'm exrememly vigilant in what I eat. Is it possible that mere contact with wheat/gluten products can cause my outbreak? THere are somedays I just wish I could be normal like everybody else. I'm so tired of being sick, and just when I think its getting better, something like this comes along. Has anyone else had the same problem?

[Ridgewalker]

Yup. We have some gluten in our house, too. Hubby eats it. I've found that every once in awhile, I have to do a complete scrub-down of every surface in our kitchen. Gluten seems to sprout legs and walk where it isn't wanted. Pain in the butt, but the scrub-down usually does the trick.

At some point this weekend, I'm going to shampoo hubby's recliner as well... same reason.

[ShayFL]

Did you change shampoos? Facial cream? Lipstick? Body lotion? Sunscreen? Anything you apply to your body that has gluten could cause this......

[home-based-mom]

Gluten free is one of those what my dad used to call "unique and pregnant" situations. Something is unique or it isn't. There is no "sort of." You are either pregnant or you are not.

You are either gluten free or you are not.

If there is gluten in your house then you are not because as Ridgewalker says, "Gluten seems to sprout legs and walk where it isn't wanted." I would follow her suggestion and scrub everything down. Think especially about what gets touched by gluten-eating people after they have eaten and before they wash their hands. Furniture, door knobs and handles, computer mouse and keyboard, remote control, refrigerator and microwave door, etc. Think bathroom surfaces also.

[Janessa]

I had something similar happen to me, after about 8 months gluten free and feeling great I started to feeling horrible again similar to getting glutened but a little different. I was not diagnosed with DH but get very itchy when I get glutened and I was itchy, had achy muscles and joints, fatigue, extreme thirst, dizziness, numbness in my arms and other things but no stomach issues.

My doctor thought I might have fibromyalsia or diabetes, but after doing an elimination diet I found out corn was causing all of that, so I would definitely check for gluten getting through then you may want to see if something else is doing this to you.

[LuvMoosic4life]

Gluten free is one of those what my dad used to call "unique and pregnant" situations. Something is unique or it isn't. There is no "sort of." You are either pregnant or you are not.

You are either gluten free or you are not.

If there is gluten in your house then you are not because as Ridgewalker says, "Gluten seems to sprout legs and walk where it isn't wanted." I would follow her suggestion and scrub everything down. Think especially about what gets touched by gluten-eating people after they have eaten and before they wash their hands. Furniture, door knobs and handles, computer mouse and keyboard, remote control, refrigerator and microwave door, etc. Think bathroom surfaces also.

I think about this all the time. and it also makes me mad b/c I have no choice but to live with people since I'm a college student. I know i am not feeling completely 100% because of the cc issue, but I am 90% better than I was when eating gluten. I wash and scrub as much as I can. but there becomes a point where I start getting "OCD" about it. It is impossible to go an entire day without contact with gluten, just like it is impossible to go w/o contact with germs. I have to go about my daily life and cant walk around in a big bubble that wll protect me from the gluten world around us. Even if your house is completely gluten-free, you are still beinging in outside obejects such as groceries that were more than likely in contact with gluten either at check out or on the shelves.....I mean....there is a point where you have to draw the line....at least for me. as long as my cookingware is clean/gluten-free, hands are washed and food that enters my mouth is f, I know I will not suffer the problems I had anywhere near what I experienced before...

[Gluten-Free Guy]

I don't see that anyone mentioned two other sources of gluten. As you probably already know, eating out is the most risky thing a celiac can do, whether at a restaurant, the home of family or friends, school, church potlucks, treat days at work, etc. Some restaurants are learning to handle gluten-free. At www.triumphdining.com, you can order "The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide." It lists gluten-free restaurants by city and state. Often, by talking to the chef, you can find a local restaurant that has or can prepare a gluten-free food for you, but one always worries about how well they understand cross-contamination back in the kitchen With regard to other people's homes, etc., I just take my own food, heat it in the microwave, and enjoy the socializing.

The other source of hidden gluten is prescription and over-the-counter medications. Even when you find one that is gluten-free, manufacturers occasionally change their formulations, so an item that is gluten-free today may not be gluten-free tomorrow. Always check each time you purchase. Call the manufacturer or visit www.glutenfreedrugs.com.

You will find the "CSA Gluten-Free Product Listing" one of the most useful references available. It lists gluten-free foods and other products and it has a glossary of terms to watch for on product labels. You can purchase the book at www.csaceliacs.org for $30. It's published by the Celiac Sprue Association which has several support group chapters across the U.S. While this book is one of the best resources available, it is not fool proof. For example, it may list a product as gluten-free, but after publication, the manufacturer may have changed the formulation to one that contains gluten (this does not happen often, but it does happen). The book is updated periodically.

Good luck. I wish you well. Once you get this figured out, your life will be much better. The important thing is to always be 100% gluten-free.

[Rook's Mommy]

My son was doing awesome for about 7 months then started getting rashes again. Turned out the shampoo I was using changed there formula. He was getting glutened in the tub. So I would check your products.