Having A Tough Time

[Varjak]

Hi guys, I'm new, and known I was celiac for about a year now. Things have been okay for the most part aside from the occasional gluten mishap, but in the past 5 or 6 days I have been feeling sick more. It seems I feel sick whenever I eat, even "gluten free" items, and so I have restricted my diet to the things that are specifically labeled Gluten Free. Still I'm feeling sick. It's very frustrating, I want to feel better but I keep getting stomach aches, D, nauseousness, etc... I just want to hang out with my friends but always worry I will get sick, as the sick feelings tend to come out of nowhere and flare up very fast. I find myself looking at other people and envying their ability to do what they want when they want, I don't want to fly, or have super strength, I just want to feel better and be able to live normally. Also besides the regular celiac symptoms I have been dizzy, cold, and not able to think straight very well. However this may be because a flu is going around and that is whats causing the increase in my feeling sick. The bottom line is I just want to feel better, be able to socialize with my friends, and work at my job without constant worry about getting sick. Thanks for letting me vent!

<Varjak>

[ravenwoodglass]

I am sorry you are feeling so iccky. There are a couple of things to look into. Has anything changed in the last week or so? Have you started using a new shampoo or lotion? Have you done any home improvement projects? Started any crafts? Did you get a refill on a script that has been gluten free and the pharmacist didn't check it? This is a bigger risk with generics as they can change formulas at will. Do you routinely consume high risk products like items off the Lay's gluten-free list (hint most are not really gluten free)? You could of course simply have a virus but there are a lot of ways that gluten can sneak in and there are things that some celiacs tolerate, like gluten grain vinegars and alcohols that others of us react strongly to. I hope you feel better soon.

[flourgirl]

Hey Varjak. It is very frustrating. It's hard to know what to attribute to Celiac, and what is not. I guess time will tell if it's flu or some virus. In the meantime it a good idea to check every label of everything you're using. Even things that were safe before doesn't mean that they are still safe. More frustration! At any rate, I hope you feel better soon.

[ang1e0251]

I had a bug this fall that I was sure was a new food sensitivity. No, just the flu. It did linger and act like a glutening though. I just had to eat simply until it passed, about two weeks.

I would also think about whether you've started any supplements or meds that are a new package or new to you. I believe someone else found most of their meds had a lactose coating and they were sensitive to dairy. My friend's DS is having an allergic reaction and she brought me his acne medicine and body wash. Acne had lactose and the body wash had oats. This stuff can be sneaky and we really have to be detectives sometimes.

I hope everything heals for you very soon. Let us know how you do.

[dilettantesteph]

A lot of "gluten free" foods make me sick. I need to stick to ones made in a dedicated facility. I think others get tiny, or not so tiny amounts of gluten in them from cross contamination. See the posts about Wellshire farms gluten free foods. That could explain your problems. Each new food I look up here first to see if anyone else has complained about it. Then I try to make sure that I only try one new thing each few days, so that if I do get sick, I know what caused it. Be really careful about foods whose label states that they are processed in a facility that also processes wheat. Those are a sure thing to make me sick. Then if I get sick I need to wait a week or two before trying anything new again.