How Do You Tell If You've Been Glutened?

[Pegleg84]

Hi everyone

Over 1 month in and I've been doing pretty well. However, I'm starting to have more problems again, mild bloating and the occasional tummyache. Tonight I'm having really bad D - worse than its been in a loong time, since mostly i've been constipated.

I've been extremely careful about gluten and (aside from misreading the label on a pringles box and eating suspicious pistachios) i'm quite confident i've been keeping gluten out of my diet.

So, how can you tell if GI problems are triggered by gluten, another food intolerance, or just plain run-of-the-mill stuff like eating too many onions of beans (like i likely did tonight)?

I know everyone has different reactions. Some are clear indicators and other symptoms are more subtle

If you could tell me (and others I hope) how you can tell if you've accidentally glutened, that would be great.

Also, do people find they have similar reactions with foods they might be intolerant to (lactose, soy, etc).

Thanks a bunch. I'm going to go take some ginger for my achy tummy now

Peggy

[Gfresh404]

Hi everyone

Over 1 month in and I've been doing pretty well. However, I'm starting to have more problems again, mild bloating and the occasional tummyache. Tonight I'm having really bad D - worse than its been in a loong time, since mostly i've been constipated.

I've been extremely careful about gluten and (aside from misreading the label on a pringles box and eating suspicious pistachios) i'm quite confident i've been keeping gluten out of my diet.

So, how can you tell if GI problems are triggered by gluten, another food intolerance, or just plain run-of-the-mill stuff like eating too many onions of beans (like i likely did tonight)?

I know everyone has different reactions. Some are clear indicators and other symptoms are more subtle

If you could tell me (and others I hope) how you can tell if you've accidentally glutened, that would be great.

Also, do people find they have similar reactions with foods they might be intolerant to (lactose, soy, etc).

Thanks a bunch. I'm going to go take some ginger for my achy tummy now

Peggy

What is your diet like? Are you consuming dairy or any other of the common allergens (ie soy, corn, egg, etc.)? I used to get bad D whenever I would consume too much fat and not enough (soluble) fiber. Insoluble fiber used to tear up my gut and almost seemed to reverse the healing process. Even though you say you're quite confident you're not consuming any "hidden" sources of gluten it never hurts to recheck, especially since companies are changing the ingredients of their products all the time. And even though there might not be any gluten containing ingredients, have you checked to make sure there is no risk for cross contamination?

Like you said, everyone is different, so there's no one answer. Gluten affects everyone differently. But me personally, I get gurgles in my intestines in a certain spot that only happens when I accidentally eat gluten. I also have a bowel movement within the next 10 minutes of consuming gluten. No other foods affect me this way. The only real way to tell is to listen to your body.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

After you are gluten-free for awhile you just learn to know what your body says. If you can't link a change to a specific food, you can do an elimination diet. You stay gluten-free and remove something from your diet, soy, casein, etc. Keep a journal with what you ate and how you felt. Like you said though, eating too many onions can cause tummy aches but it's not an intolerance maybe but just a normal reaction. Also, we are all different. My brother and I can not digest things in shells: corn, pees, etc. Good luck!

[mattathayde]

you will get to a point where you know its gluten as apposed to something else, at least most of us do. for me i get a little depressed along with my D.

some times you just have issues that you cannot trace and that make no sense, i had that today, it sucks but o well

-matt

[Pegleg84]

Thanks guys

an update from last night. I don't think the D was related to the beans, as I had more for lunch and am doing fine so far. Might have been my cold meds, or i'm developing an intolerance to soy... ack. so much to figure out.

I'd still like to know more about food intolerances, how you can tell what it is that's bothering you, and also whether you will readjust to them in time?

Oh, and an interresting point about the fat and fibre thing. I've been a more-or-less vegetarian for over a year, so now have a lot of trouble digesting meat and animal proteins, like eggs, and maybe higher fat-content nuts? Are there any good digestive enzymes for this problem? or is it good to just gradually re-introduce it to your diet?

sorry, lots more questions, but every little bit helps

Thanks again

Peggy

[mattathayde]

the only way i have found to be able to figure out sensitivities with much certainty is to go to an alternative medicine person that uses muscle testing to determine allergies/sensitivities but they are not the easiest people to find

-matt

[GFinDC]

....I'd still like to know more about food intolerances, how you can tell what it is that's bothering you, and also whether you will readjust to them in time?

....Peggy

Hi Peggy,

An elimination diet should help you figure out your intolerances, as long as they result in symptoms you recognize.