Gluten Challenge In Progress

[Cardiff Coeliac]

Until I started developing physical symptoms of celiacs about 4 months ago I would consider myself to have a healthy digetive system.

5 weeks ago I stopped eating gluten for a fortnight after I had some blood tests for it taken. These got lost, so I now have been on gluten again for 3 weeks, so that I can have a biopsy.

When I was off the gluten my symptoms went away, but came back when I started the challenge (dihorrea, depression, severe fatigue etc).

But now when I eat other foods, such as pistachio nuts, my throat / glands swell for the next 24 hours.

Could I be developing allergies from my gluten challenge & what other damage could I be doing to myself? I have to continue with the challenge - my sister is going to wean her baby soon & I want her to know if it could be at risk from developing celiacs.

[Mother of Jibril]

I started having problems with allergies about two months after I went on the gluten-free diet... and I'm really, REALLY strict about keeping gluten out of my food. I have read that people with celiac disease can develop allergies due to intestinal damage, but it's possible that your problem is not connected to the gluten challenge. You might want to see an allergist! The swelling from pistachio nuts definitely sounds like a true allergy.

[Cardiff Coeliac]

Cheers. I'm hardly having anything ATM because I'm worried that I could develop allergies as I continue the challenge.

Does anyone know of a food which would be safe to eat which I would not develop an allergy to? I know that may sound stupid, but I don't want to become gluten free in a month or so, & then have my diet restricted even further.

[Mother of Jibril]

In the US there are eight foods considered to be "major allergens." The EU recognizes twelve: gluten, fish, crustaceans, eggs, peanuts, soy, milk and dairy products, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seed, and sulphites. I guess you could avoid all of those... but I'll warn you that it's a MAJOR challenge. You could also get tested for pollen and other environmental allergies... if you're allergic to birch pollen, for example, you might have problems with fruits like bananas, cherries, peaches, etc... IMO, here's the bottom line...

1) Anything can be an allergen (not just the "major allergens")

2) Is the swelling interfering with your breathing? In that case, you need to see an allergist ASAP... having an epi pen on hand could save your life. If it's not a major problem, maybe you don't need to worry so much. Only 1-2% of adults have anaphylactic reactions... even fewer have life-threatening allergies to multiple foods.

Eating a diet of lean meat, fruits, and vegetables is a pretty safe strategy As long as you don't have allergies to any of those things. You might want to stick with grains that have as little processing as possible for your gluten challenge.

[Cardiff Coeliac]

Thankyou. It hasn't interfered with my breathing, just been hard to swallow.

I've never been allergic to anything except amoxycillin before, but have had to avoid milk for 6 months before my major celiac symptoms started - my tummy was feeling foamy whenever I had even a small amount. I've also been avoiding bananas too.

You mention pollen - I've not had hayfever before - is it something I could develop?

[Mother of Jibril]

Unfortunately, it's possible to develop new allergies at any age!

Two years ago, I just had one drug allergy (tetracycline). Then, during a routine eye exam the doctor noticed little bumps on the inside of my lower eyelids... a sign of environmental allergies. I was surprised, because I hadn't noticed any problems!

In January I went back to work after a three month leave of absence and I came home with hives on my face (the building is really musty and had some flooding last summer)... and in February I had my first anaphylactic reaction. All of these escalations where a total surprise, both to me and my doctors. I'm 33 years old. The first allergy turned up when I was 16.

Incidentally... my grandpa had a similar experience. He grew up on a farm and worked as a farmer until his late 30s. Suddenly, his asthma (another sign of allergies) got so bad that the doctor told him he needed to quit farming if he wanted to live (which he did... and he lived to the ripe old age of 90 ).

[Cardiff Coeliac]

Those are interesting examples.

I've been thinking more about my family history & there are allergies but none of them are to any foods. My older sister has a nickel allergy, my brother can't drink tap water as it gives him bladder infections, & with my younger sisters one has asthma & the other has hayfever.

Both the nickel & water problems developed at about the age of 15. The hayfever & asthma started at about the age of 5.