Cooking With 'whine'

[mimommy]

Hi all. Not feeling good, need to unload. My little one was officially diagnosed in January, but we've been at this for a lot longer than that. I started her on gluten free in August '08 and never looked back--results miraculous. But recently (about 2 months ago), I made the decision to make our entire household gluten free. I had made too many cc mistakes with dd and also wanted to see if the diet would help my own symptoms of inflammation, D, C, skin irritations, neuro, and so on (too many to list ).

We've been doing great with it. I cook a lot, learn new recipes every week, buy many organic items--a regular gluten-free gourmet. I have to say, my 'itis' has been far, far less painful, frequent, and of shorter duration, but can't exclusively contribute it to the diet--just not sure. BUT, today I feel like I went on a bender last night (and I assure you, I didn't.) I had a small glass of red wine on Saturday, the first drink I've had in months. I also accidentally ate some gluten on Easter, and again last night--didn't realize there was wheat starch in the Honey Baked ham glaze. I looked into HB Ham this am and their website says it's in the glaze, even though I've read that it was removed from the ingredients.

The weird thing is, my daughter--the actual celiac in the family--did not react to it. However, she only ate a few bites? I am having the same old D, with some lovely stomach pain, and I feel like rats are gnawing at my connective tissues and joints and muscles. My knees HURT, darn-it!! My eyes are bothering me (the blurred vision and vertigo is getting worse and worse), my face is hot, and I have zero energy. But, I don't feel sick, not like a cold or flu.

Anyway, I was tested for celiac last month and the TtG was .6 on a reference range of >3.4 or something. And, my RA test was negative. Soy is definitely a culprit for me, but I've been sooo careful. I did indulge in a "fun-sized" Mounds Bar last night which has soy lecithin in it, but by the way I'm feeling it might as well have had a fifth of whiskey in it.

So (whoa is me, wowsy-wowsy-boo-hoo) I don't want to feel bad anymore and really don't want to discourage anyone, but for G's sake I work 2 jobs to pay for my groceries and I STILL feel this bad?

I'm going to drag myself off to do some laundry and try to give my little girl a decent birthday (she's 9 years old today ). As always, thanks for listening. You are my "Village".

[ranger]

Sorry you feel so bad. It is frustrating to put so much effort into the diet and still feel bad. But, it does work and you'll feel better. Happy B-day to your little one!

[mommida]

Happy birthday to your 9 year-old!

Have you been keeping a food journal?

Look back over the labels to see if it is a different food allergy.

Since we live so close, I know a lot of bugs are going around too.

Hang in there! I know how frustrating some days can be.

With the weather today, I feel chilled to the bone. I actually can't wait to fold the warm laundry!

[DingoGirl]

Mimms,

Sorry you're feeling so rotten.

the symptoms you're describing sound like things from which sooooooo many people suffer here, that are sometimes beyond the reach of a gluten-free diet. I had no idea you had this joint pain, vision problems, etc.

First, I'm concerned that your post will not be read by many due to its (admittedly quite funny) title, which sounds like it would be a thread about cooking only.....you might want to write another post with a title that FULLY captures your misery! (you could copy and paste the same post, just re-name it)

Was your blood work done after you'd been on the gluten-free diet? for - about a month, I'm guessing? That WILL change your results....body has a chance to heal, antibodies subside, and readings change once gluten is removed.

It's hard to say why your daughter didn't react to the ham....people all have different reactions to things. I once, in a very angry and fed-up period of time (had been gluten-free for about eight months) intentionally cheated two days in a row. (let me back up by saying that at that time, if I ingested a SPECK of gluten, I became quite ill about 12 hours later and for nearly half the day.) So - I ate three donuts one day.....absolutely NOTHING happened the next day. I waited. So taht day I ate an entire (small) loaf of banana bread. Still nothing. But - the pain began building.....and building......to the point that four days later on a Saturday night, I was jack-knifed in pain adn weeping. I won't even bother going into details about the poop

and the misery and fog in my brain.

All of my joint pain subsided after a few months on the gluten-free diet.......but sometimes there are other causes.....one must look into removing oxalates (sp?) or salicylates (I can't spell either of those), or dairy, you've already mentioned a problem with soy.

I'm sorry I can't offer more help....but many of your friends on the silly thread have been through this, and I think they will have more to say.

Keep reading here, hang tight, and happy b-day to your daughter.

[SalmonNationWoman]

Red wine could be a culprit; alcohol effects intestinal permeability which could make you more sensitive to other things. As others mentioned, you could be sensitive to sulfates, salicylates, oxylates and have a different gluten threshold than your daughter.

Did you know that what most people call "stomach flu" is usually mild food posioning?

Take care of yourself and stay well hydrated.

[Jestgar]

Did you know that what most people call "stomach flu" is usually mild food posioning?

Based on what?

[tarnalberry]

Based on what?

My docs have told me the same thing, IF the "stomach flu" lasts approximately 24-72 hours and tends to be fairly intense, and is confined to *just* the intestinal symptoms and fever. (The symptoms of the actual flu are fairly different.)

What gets tricky is that viral gastroenteritis and bacterial infections with similar symptoms are - well, similar. But both of them, and even parasites, can be considered types of food poisoning (norwalk - virus, e.coli - bacteria, giardia - parasite), but you can get them other ways too.

Some references found quickly online:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[Jestgar]

Thanks for posting those, Tiffany. It wasn't something I'd ever wondered about and it was nice to get some education.

[mimommy]

Thanks for your advice and well wishes, everybody.

Definitely NOT the flu (happens way too often). Not food poisoning either, unless I've been eating the same rotten food every few weeks for years. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the wine I had 3 days ago; I only had about 3 or 4 ounces--half a normal sized wine glass.

I know I ate one bite of some scalloped potatos my mil made on Easter, then thought better of it. Had a Coke the same day--the first glass of pop I've had in months. I really have no idea if there was soy in any of the food my mil prepared, but I avoided most of it anyway.

I think that to keep a food diary is the next step for me. That, and some reading glasses. Maybe some celebrex (ugh!).

By the way--Thanks for the b-day wishes for my daughter. I did what any self-respecting, joint aching, head spinning parent should do, I took her and her friend stomping through the mall and watched them spin around on the carousel

Mommida, pm me some time. I'd love to know where in Michigan ("The 12% Unemployment Rate State!") you are. Take care--R