My Worst Glutening Yet...

[mamaesq]

Last night I went to dinner with my family to a restaurant where they are very familiar with our dietary needs. Oh, and my sister, who is also gluten-free works there. So, I got my usual, a cheeseburger with no bun and french fries (because they have a dedicated fryer!!!!), but when I heard my sister order chili, I decided that I had to have some too. I didn't ask about it, I figured it had to be ok since she works there and is gluten-free too...

Oh how wrong I was...

We got home, put the kids to bed and I fell asleep on the couch. My husband woke me up around 11:00 to go to bed. I noticed that I had a very acidy taste in my mouth and couldn't figure out why my acid reflux was acting up...I drank a little soda and went to bed. I was in bed for a while when my stomach started to hurt so badly. I went to the bathroom and had a relatively normal BM, but then immediately threw up. It was so violent-I just had a stomach bug last month and that was no where near as violent as last night was... I then had one episode of diarrhea. After awhile I was finally able to leave the bathroom...I came downstairs, grabbed some water, noticed that my computer was still on, and checked the website for the restaurant. Sure enough, the chili had wheat in it.

I don't think I have a stomach bug because normally I can't even sit upright the next day, and right now I am feeling ok. I am really craving some white rice right now...Plus I don't know anyone who has recently had a stomach bug, so nothing is going around (for once).

I've been gluten-free for 3 months, I've had a couple of accidental glutenings, where I had D afterwards. My grandfather died a couple of weeks ago and when we flew home to bury him, I had to have some St. Louis style pizza, because it really is the most amazing food on earth. I didn't get D or vomit, but I felt so awful the whole next day and I couldn't eat anything. I resolved right then that I would never intentionally do that to myself again. The taste wasn't worth it.

Anyway, just wanted to vent. I tried to be careful and got sick in the end...From now on I am going to stick with what I know. And to think we almost didn't meet them out for dinner last night...

[ang1e0251]

I'm glad you are feeling better. I resolved this year to be a rabid dog concerning my food. Those reactions are no fun, no way, no how.

[JRock]

Stacy,

Wow - that stinks. I always figured chili and french fries were probably the safest things on any menu.

They get some sneaky stuff in food and that can be so irritating.

Just FYI - I recently (after getting glutened a few times over the past week or so) discovered that, even with a dedicated fryer, fries can be full of gluten! They used to be on the Wendy's gluten-free page on their website (I got used to eating them thinking they were safe) - they aren't on there anymore! Also, I had eated McD's hash browns twice and their fries once (after confirming they had a dedicated fryer) and went on their website trying to figure out what glutened me - yeah, it turns out they use "natural beef flavors" in their fries and hash browns - this flavoring contains hydrolyzed wheat and milk!

So I've been taking Vicodin for the abdominal pain - why are docs so reluctant to give people pain meds if they work? Anyways, just wanted to add my two cents on fries.

Jen