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The Rain Barrel Effect

Mike M

By Mike M
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Mike M Rookie
Mike M
Posted

Our local celiac expert in a meeting, made mention that gluten builds up like rain water in a barrel and when the body has had enough, it "reacts" (she was talking about long AFTER a celiac diagnosis had been made). I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about this or thinks this is the way it happens to them? Thanks and all the best, Mike

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msmini14 Enthusiast
msmini14
Posted

I ate wheat for years and never had a problem, then one day my body must have had enough and I started to get very sick.

My aunt didnt have issues until she was 16.

Not sure how long my dad had problems since I was diagnosed after his death

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Our local celiac expert in a meeting, made mention that gluten builds up like rain water in a barrel and when the body has had enough, it "reacts" (she was talking about long AFTER a celiac diagnosis had been made). I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about this or thinks this is the way it happens to them? Thanks and all the best, Mike

It could be, it is thought that sometimes after we heal completly some of us may stop reacting to small amounts. Well I should say obviously reacting cause it is still doing damage. A small amount may not be enough once to cause a reaction but if the item is continued to be consumed, like with CC issues eventually the antibodies will build up enough to cause symptoms. This antibody reaction is also why it sometimes take up to three or four days for us to react to a glutening. This delay is because it takes that long for the antibodies to build up in our system. That is also why when we challenge gluten on an elimination diet we are told to eat it for a week before we assume we have no issues.

I have seen this with my DH. When first diagnosed and for another 2 years even a small amount of gluten would cause a flare within hours. Now after 6 years the antibodies have pretty much left my skin and it takes a few days of consumption before I break out.

Mike M Rookie
Mike M
Posted
  • Author
Sometimes after we heal completly some of us may stop reacting to small amounts. Well I should say obviously reacting cause it is still doing damage. A small amount may not be enough once to cause a reaction but if the item is continued to be consumed, like with CC issues eventually the antibodies will build up enough to cause symptoms. This antibody reaction is also why it sometimes take up to three or four days for us to react to a glutening. This delay is because it takes that long for the antibodies to build up in our system. That is also why when we challenge gluten on an elimination diet we are told to eat it for a week before we assume we have no issues.

I have seen this with my DH. When first diagnosed and for another 2 years even a small amount of gluten would cause a flare within hours. Now after 6 years the antibodies have pretty much left my skin and it takes a few days of consumption before I break out.

Thanks for the responses, Ravenwoodglass, this totally makes sense to me. I have been kind of stumped lately. I used to react literally within the hour and now it seems to be at least a couple of days and yes, same deal for me with the DH. I get the stomach and bowel issues and then the next day, the elbows flare up and itch. Always learn from your posts, Thanks again, Mike

Amyleigh0007 Enthusiast
Amyleigh0007
Posted
Sometimes after we heal completly some of us may stop reacting to small amounts. Well I should say obviously reacting cause it is still doing damage. A small amount may not be enough once to cause a reaction but if the item is continued to be consumed, like with CC issues eventually the antibodies will build up enough to cause symptoms. This antibody reaction is also why it sometimes take up to three or four days for us to react to a glutening. This delay is because it takes that long for the antibodies to build up in our system. That is also why when we challenge gluten on an elimination diet we are told to eat it for a week before we assume we have no issues.

I have seen this with my DH. When first diagnosed and for another 2 years even a small amount of gluten would cause a flare within hours. Now after 6 years the antibodies have pretty much left my skin and it takes a few days of consumption before I break out.

Could this be why I don't have stomach aches and diarrhea anymore? Before I went gluten free I would get terrible stomach pains and almost immediate D. I don't get that anymore. I can't remember the last time I had D in fact. Now when I have been glutenated it's more like aches and pains, headache, muscle ache, fatigue.

GFqueen17 Contributor
GFqueen17
Posted

I hope this is true because it would explain alottt!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Could this be why I don't have stomach aches and diarrhea anymore? Before I went gluten free I would get terrible stomach pains and almost immediate D. I don't get that anymore. I can't remember the last time I had D in fact. Now when I have been glutenated it's more like aches and pains, headache, muscle ache, fatigue.

Yes it could be why. Your intestines have fully healed and it can take a lot of gluten to damage them as bad as they were before you were diagnosed. But that does not mean the antibody effect has stopped and as we know the antibodies can effect other organs even before the villi are totally gone. This is also why doctors for so long considered that celiac was a disease of childhood and that we would outgrow it. Something we now know is not the case.

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chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted
Our local celiac expert in a meeting, made mention that gluten builds up like rain water in a barrel and when the body has had enough, it "reacts" (she was talking about long AFTER a celiac diagnosis had been made). I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about this or thinks this is the way it happens to them? Thanks and all the best, Mike

This is my first post here as I am newly diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy.

Personally this analogy makes a lot of sense to me. I had GI issues clear back in high school and concommitant joint pains from early childhood as well. Things would come and go. Almost twenty years ago I had an ear nose and throat doctor who put me on a restricted diet because of my inability to stay healthy enough to sing. It inadvertently removed most glutens from my diet and as long as I stuck with it I remained relatively healthy. I drifted away from it and 5 years ago was finally diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome. Those numbers were extremely high at the time and didn't seem to square with the symptoms in relations to friends who had much lower numbers and much more severe joint damage. To the present day, three months ago I could barely make it through teaching a half hour lesson without the need to nap all the time and found myself unable to move as I felt like I was trapped in a body that was shutting down. My wife ran across an item on celiac. We both had nutrition courses in colleges and the bells went off instantly. I could now make sense of what was happening in total. I went to the doctor after some information gathering and he was very helpful in beginning the tests necessary for diagnosis. My RA factor numbers were off the charts but I was negative for the antibodies as I had already started gluten free, otherwise I was going to die by this point. All this time I would only eat out of obligation. I realized I was never hungry but always felt like my body was starving. I would have heart palpitations and vision problems after meals and so I was avoiding food. Turns out the inflammation in my small intestine and villus atrophy were easily apparent when scoped. As the damage progresses it is like the gut, like the rainbarrel, has less and less effectively open surface area to absorb nutrients. I guess mine finally filled up and that's when I reached the tipping point. I wasn't able to function day to day any longer. Gluten free started to help but I kept noticing lots of problems with supposedly safe foods. I checked out "The Paleo Diet" and decided to go cold turkey on it. I am now entering my fourth week on it and cannot believe how different I feel. My morning RA symtoms are almost non-existant whereas I was experiencing 2 or more hours of gelling upon waking a month ago. My hands have improved significantly and I now have grip strength that has been gone for a long time. I can close my hands to make a fist which has not been possible this last year. My eyesight is not effected by meals anymore... no post meal blurriness. My kidneys are re-regulating. I hesitate to use the "M" word but the change has been nothing short of miraculous. I know I have a long way to go as to the healing or emptying out of the proverbial rainbarrel and also know that the setbacks are sudden and obvious. I have been glutened a few times in the last several weeks as we learn how to share the kitchen and I have discovered that soy is almost worse than getting glutened for me at this point. Live and learn. The operative word here being live. I have benefitted greatly frm lurking around and reading much on this forum and am very grateful that so many of you are willing to share.

Chuck

Mike M Rookie
Mike M
Posted
  • Author
This is my first post here as I am newly diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy.

Hey, good deal Chuck!! Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery! I know I am very thankful for this site and those that post on here, as they are helping to save lives everyday in my opinion. All the best, Mike

mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted
:huh: What's the "M" word? :huh:
shayesmom Rookie
shayesmom
Posted
Our local celiac expert in a meeting, made mention that gluten builds up like rain water in a barrel and when the body has had enough, it "reacts" (she was talking about long AFTER a celiac diagnosis had been made). I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about this or thinks this is the way it happens to them? Thanks and all the best, Mike

Yes, I have also seen this analogy used for food allergies and other intolerances. It's often referred to as "the bucket theory". Open Original Shared Link

It would easily apply to celiac as well.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
:huh: What's the "M" word? :huh:

I'm willing to bet it's 'miracle'. I know I still feel my diagnosis and recovery was.

chasbari Apprentice
chasbari
Posted
:huh: What's the "M" word? :huh:

Sorry. Yes, I meant "M" as in miracle. Since going on the Paleo diet several weeks ago I am not only feeling much better than the gluten free only diet but my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and my Sjogren's syndrome symptoms have improved greatly. 3 months ago I was barely walking and if I sat down it was as good as starting the day over. I wasn't sleeping and it was a challenge just making it through the day. I couldn't tolerate cold. I was outside today in my old work boots knocking around the outside of the house and it didn't bother me one bit. I could tell a differnce within the first 48 hours of the diet and I haven't looked back since....except that I still walk through the kitchen and want to casually go grab a chocolate chip cookie (My wife's specialty.) I am having a hard time adjusting to my diet being so radically different than the rest of the family though. That's going to take some time.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Sorry. Yes, I meant "M" as in miracle. Since going on the Paleo diet several weeks ago I am not only feeling much better than the gluten free only diet but my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and my Sjogren's syndrome symptoms have improved greatly. 3 months ago I was barely walking and if I sat down it was as good as starting the day over. I wasn't sleeping and it was a challenge just making it through the day. I couldn't tolerate cold. I was outside today in my old work boots knocking around the outside of the house and it didn't bother me one bit. I could tell a differnce within the first 48 hours of the diet and I haven't looked back since....except that I still walk through the kitchen and want to casually go grab a chocolate chip cookie (My wife's specialty.) I am having a hard time adjusting to my diet being so radically different than the rest of the family though. That's going to take some time.

I am glad this has helped you as dramatically as it helped me. One thing I have learned in the last 6 years is that there are some amazingly good mixes and recipes available for us. We have a recipe section here that you should show her. I'll bet before long she'll making yummy chocolate chip cookies that you won't have to just walk by. The only problem will be that they will disappear just as quick as the gluten ones once the rest of the family gives them a try.

Chelskers Newbie
Chelskers
Posted

He guys i am a newly diagnosed Celica and i am only 19 but i have been dealing with the problems for a very long time i just didn't know it. Because of the Celiac i have arthritas, very dry eye, and lactose intolerance. I am just glad i know what is wrong now. So not knowing anything about Celiac I have been reading my eyes out on websites but every one has a different opinoin on just about everything. So I am just wondering what simple or major thing you have found that will be of some help for me to find my way. I did go gluten free right after being diagnost.

Thanks, Chelsea

Mike M Rookie
Mike M
Posted
  • Author
He guys i am a newly diagnosed Celica and i am only 19 but i have been dealing with the problems for a very long time i just didn't know it. Because of the Celiac i have arthritas, very dry eye, and lactose intolerance. I am just glad i know what is wrong now. So not knowing anything about Celiac I have been reading my eyes out on websites but every one has a different opinoin on just about everything. So I am just wondering what simple or major thing you have found that will be of some help for me to find my way. I did go gluten free right after being diagnost.

Thanks, Chelsea

Hello Chelskers, I have a couple of things that come immediately to my mind and they really help me a great deal to this day. Think of yourself living in the olden days, maybe not back to the caveman days, but lets say the pioneer days. Think about what they would have eaten (things that are gluten free of course) on a daily basis (hint) it would not have been processed foods at all. Maybe some fermented items but not much else that I can think of. Fresh meats, vegetables, fruits,nuts ect.

Now bring your thoughts more up to this day and age and the second thing to remember is, just because it says it is gluten free, doesn't mean it is. Be very cautious of the so called gluten free food/health items that are out there until you get better. Stick with the pioneer approach and you will be very surprised at how you will start to do in my opinion. You are doing the right thing by reading and asking questions. Hang in there, this deal is a lot of work at first, but you can do it! It does get to be second nature (most of the time) All the best, Mike M

P.S. Was someone referring to the "M" on my log on name? While it could stand for a "miracle" for being diagnosed (and it for sure was and is) someone already had "Mike" on here, so I added the letter of my last name ......M

mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

Yes "M" for miracle. :rolleyes: I really do have blonde hair! :D I could use a miracle right now! B)

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