Gluten Reactions

[Beth in NC]

Do you get an immediate response or a delayed reaction? How delayed? I ate something today that should have sent me to Celiac hell and practically nothing happened. I've had a couple friends say that it can take them days to have a reaction and sometimes it is quicker.

What are your reaction variables?

[Live2BWell]

Do you get an immediate response or a delayed reaction? How delayed? I ate something today that should have sent me to Celiac hell and practically nothing happened. I've had a couple friends say that it can take them days to have a reaction and sometimes it is quicker.

What are your reaction variables?

I am new to being gluten free, and I've certainly had bouts of eating gluten accidentally. Although I haven't been able to pin-point where the accidental glutening happened, I have been able to tell due to the reaction. If I have a reaction it has occured within the same day - and the rash on my arm gets significantly worse (and it is just starting to clear up); or if I have a GI response, I'm in the bathroom anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours after eating (that varies) and my acid reflux is always worse when I eat glutenous foods (even if they are non-acidic!) wereas that doesn't happen nearly as bad with gluten-free foods (even if they are acidic)

I'd be interested to hear others' responses

[annie76]

I'm perfectly fine for about two weeks, my first reaction is acid reflux, and feeling ill. I don't react at all to crumbs or kisses, ever.

[CeliacMom2008]

My son has been glutened (that we know for sure about) 2 times since going gluten-free in Dec. (Disregarding everything in January, because I'm sure we made mistakes and didn't even know it!) The first time was from a small amount of cheddar flavored popcorn salt that he ate before I checked online and saw that they clearly stated it contained gluten. He was sick for a about a week - diarrhea started on day 3, was really bad day 4 and 5. During that week he was very tired, stomach pains, extremely moody, gassy.

The second time he accidently ate a few bites of a sandwich that was made on regular bread before I realized what happened. He had one night of gas a few days after it happened and the day after that had stomach cramps for about a half hour. That was it.

So our limited experience is that there can be huge differences between reactions.

[MissyH]

My symptoms can vary in the time they appear anywhere between a dau or two to three weeks.

I have been off gluten now for 5 and a half years so I can pretty much pin point when I get ill to what I have eaten.

My reaction time is much quicker if the gluten is in liquid form..like a reaction to the malt in vinegar for instance..but then also subsides quicker as well.

[jayhawkmom]

Mine is always the same... first it's the extreme fatigue. Then it's the reflux... followed by the stomach ache from he...l...l...

The fatigue is almost immediate, and it's debilitating.

[Beth in NC]

Those of you who have delayed reactions, how on earth do you know it was the foods from DAYS before vs within the last 24 hours?

[MissyH]

Beth, for me it's because I've been gluten free for 5 and a half years now and I know the symptoms so well.

I cheat sometimes if I have a craving really bad..then just wait..for the reaction to happen..usually 7-8 days later.

Otherwise it will be if I have gone out to eat..thought I was safe and it turns out I wasn't

[Beth in NC]

Beth, for me it's because I've been gluten free for 5 and a half years now and I know the symptoms so well.

I cheat sometimes if I have a craving really bad..then just wait..for the reaction to happen..usually 7-8 days later.

Otherwise it will be if I have gone out to eat..thought I was safe and it turns out I wasn't

I guess being so far into this makes a difference too. You probably feel much better overall, so when it hits you, you KNOW. I'm only 6 - 7 weeks into this and still have SO far to go. It's hard to tell the difference on some things.

[MissyH]

^^^that's it exactly!

At the stage you are you body is still recovering..and..yes..you're right I am loads better in many ways than I was..I do get ill when I cheat - but it's really important to say I'm wheat intolerant and not coeliac - ..but if I do cheat I p ay with pain..but there isn't the build up like there has been with all teh other symptoms when you come to the quitting gluten point.

If I do 'cheat' it is only ever something small..last weekend I had one slice (small) of garlic bread..I've been getting ill since Thursday and been really quite bad yesterday and today..but it was my own fault.

It'll be another few months before I woudl consider even eating that amount of wheat/gluten again or the symptoms will start building up again..if you nderstand that?

I know it through trial and error and cravings that I have given in to...and I don't recommend cheating..but I do know that in a few days I will be all better again..pretty long haul though for just one bit of garlic bread!

[Tsagamer]

I have been gluten-free for 2 months now, and my reactions always follow the same path. About an hour after I'm "glutened" I start belching and having extreme stomach cramps, then I need to run to the bathroom and empty my stomach. After I am fatigued and have bad gas that just won't go away for several hours. But the plus side is after all that I feel better and get very very hungry!

[Mrs. N]

I have been gluten-free for a little over 2 months. My reactions are gastrointestinally mild initially, but become more uncomfortable as the stuff passes, but the fatigue is awful. I get nausea, mild abdominal discomfort, bloating and gas that lasts a few hours or days. I also feel like my head is in a thick fog and that I can't pick myself up off the couch. The mental and physical drain lasts for a few days.

Since I have gone gluten-free, I have dragged my almost 15yo son along for the ride. He is doing about 100% better, energy wise, and he doesn't act so depressed.

It's nice to meet people who know what I'm dealing with.