Being Around Gluten Foods Still Sets It Off?

[Jonbo]

The past 3 times since diagnosis in April, work has had food days. One was during some additional training which had alot of us in a 'medium' sized room. They brought in things that just by breathing, I knew I couldn't touch. Well, my stomach went berserk and became rock hard and bloated/distended very visibly (the worst it gets if I accidentally take in Gluten). I shrugged it off because it was only a few days after diagnosis so I thought it was just adjusting.

Month or so ago, on a Saturday some of us had to work, they brought in doughnuts and other breakfast items I couldn't even touch but they were directly across from me one cubicle wall separating me. My stomach again went pretty berserk so I started to see a pattern.

Now yesterday, they had a food day again but thankfully it was 2 rows down so I wasn't concerned. On my break I talked with work friend who was one cubicle away from the food day items. While talking, stomach faintly starts mild convulsions (not painful but enough that it causes me to lightly lurch forward and looks awkward but can't help it) and then starts to slowly harden up and haven't had it this bad in a bit beyond the usual still daily mild distentions with no pain. I joked to her that my stomach was warning me to get the hell away from the area

Does anyone else have reactions just being around foods that contain Gluten that may be getting in the air? Only seems to occur if it is things that I can clearly smell. Possibly enough that when they enter my nostrils/mouth it sets off a chain reaction. Now...I haven't set foot in a bakery/bread store to confirm this of course (not that I want to but will if I need to make it certain that it does) but was just wanting to make sure it's just odd coincidences.

[chasbari]

My wife was out of town for 8 days... no gluten kisses and no chocolate chip cookies and other baked goods filling the air here at home. She returned and started baking and I have been in pain ever since. She started to prepare macaroni at my parents' house while I was there and I could barely keep my eyes open because it burned so bad. It made me start thinking of all the times before my diagnosis where very similar reactions would happen. Baked gluten goods are really beginning to nauseate me. At first, when I was newly gluten-free I would actually enjoy the smell but now... no way. I really think I was glutened this week that way as I have been weak and tired since she came back.. It is not an easy situation as a result.

[lovegrov]

I simply don't see how smelling a doughnut or food separated by a cubicle wall could set of a gluten reaction. Food that's already cooked doesn't sit there throwing off gluten molecules. I do think that it's possible for someone in an environment with lots of loose flour to breathe some in and ingest it that way, but not with cooked food.

Your final example of talking to a friend who was one cubicle away from the food suggests to me that you might be having a psychological reaction to some smells. I'm not saying you aren't really in pain, but IMO it's not a real guten reaction.

richard

[Gemini]

The past 3 times since diagnosis in April, work has had food days. One was during some additional training which had alot of us in a 'medium' sized room. They brought in things that just by breathing, I knew I couldn't touch. Well, my stomach went berserk and became rock hard and bloated/distended very visibly (the worst it gets if I accidentally take in Gluten). I shrugged it off because it was only a few days after diagnosis so I thought it was just adjusting.

Month or so ago, on a Saturday some of us had to work, they brought in doughnuts and other breakfast items I couldn't even touch but they were directly across from me one cubicle wall separating me. My stomach again went pretty berserk so I started to see a pattern.

Now yesterday, they had a food day again but thankfully it was 2 rows down so I wasn't concerned. On my break I talked with work friend who was one cubicle away from the food day items. While talking, stomach faintly starts mild convulsions (not painful but enough that it causes me to lightly lurch forward and looks awkward but can't help it) and then starts to slowly harden up and haven't had it this bad in a bit beyond the usual still daily mild distentions with no pain. I joked to her that my stomach was warning me to get the hell away from the area

Does anyone else have reactions just being around foods that contain Gluten that may be getting in the air? Only seems to occur if it is things that I can clearly smell. Possibly enough that when they enter my nostrils/mouth it sets off a chain reaction. Now...I haven't set foot in a bakery/bread store to confirm this of course (not that I want to but will if I need to make it certain that it does) but was just wanting to make sure it's just odd coincidences.

I have the same problem and it is definitely NOT a true glutening. I think it is just a psychosomatic occurrence.....your body is reacting to the smell of food

that will make you sick if you eat it. Nothing wrong with that.......I view it as a protective mechanism.

Any time I smell fast food, donuts, pizza, etc. or any gluteny type food, it smells disgusting to me and I get nauseous. I have to leave wherever the offending smell is. My husband went to Burger King this past week-end and I was in the car with him. When he jumped back into the car with his bag of crap , I nearly gacked! I forgot how bad it smelled and he ate quickly and we drove with the windows down. I honestly do not know how people can eat that stuff, Celiac or not.

The only time you would have to be worried about a true reaction is if you walked into a cloud of flour dust. You could spark a reaction from inhaled flour, if enough of it hit your gut. As far as just smelling food, unless you eat it, you don't have to worry about a reaction that will hurt your gut. It can be annoying but

it's one of those funny things that happen to some people. I can smell gluten a mile away!

[Jonbo]

Thanks all for the responses. It would make sense to be more of a "mental thing" when I think about it. Granted, it still at times likes to just randomly do its thing when I'm not thinking about it. Though "gentle" reminders shouldn't kill me...yet. Overall though, it makes sense to be a mental thing. Being new to it all still, it'll happen more often around the improper things but I've already become accustomed to not what to eat and what I can just tell I shouldn't be anyways.

[cmom]

This may be TMI, but several yrs ago, I was going with my parents to a play my brother was directiing out of town, and they stopped at a steakhouse to eat on the way. As soon as we got inside the restaurant and I smelled the food, I had an immediate urge to go to the restroom. It was so powerful that I did not make it in time. I had to call my DH to come and pick me up so my parents could go ahead. Not only was it embarrassing, but disturbing.

[Jonbo]

Not really TMI unless you went into even more graphic detail.

On a semi-related note, I must have had a gluten filled dream because I woke up and my stomach region was EXTREMELY bloated (looked like a mountain was growing in me). Never seen it that bad and I had nothing last night to bring that on but something must have done it...Had to take a few pictures for when I have my followup with GI in a few months so I can try and figure it out more.

[Ariauna]

I agree that it's probably a mental memory thing too which literally has to suck! I know when I see food that is not gluten-free my first thought is "ewww no way am I gonna touch that stuff" I hate that pain and sickness so bad that the inexperienced people I deal with will put fresh fruits right next to gluten filled items and I refuse to eat them in fear of cc!

[kdonov2]

YES! this has happened to me and it now makes me very paranoid about being even remotely in the vicinity of glutenous foods. i am not celiac but have a rather intense gluten intolerance with autoimmunological reactions. before i realized i was so severe, i worked at panera bread and dismissed this as harmless as long as i did not consume any of the unsafe goods. well, just being inside caused my stomach to swell horribly and harden as well as cause me to feel like id been punched right between my ribs. additionally i was always so exhausted and fatigued even if i had only been there a few minutes. i think i may be as sensitive as you because there are rarely times when i have a normal, unglutened looking stomach (my roomates are constantly cooking pasta, possible culprit?). its strange too because this "faux" glutening seems to last almost as long as the real thing.

[Jonbo]

Thank god I'm not the only one that has this as my only symptom. Most of the ones I read on here have major D issues if glutened whereas all I get is a stomach/abdomen that looks like something is growing inside and in it's worst form, ready to explode. Thankfully since going gluten-free, I don't get the really brick hard stomach anymore unless I gluten myself. Just daily fits where it's not normal looking.

Considering I've been working the weight off for over a year (101+ lbs later), I have a "mildly" flabby stomach right now at about 170 so I can't imagine if I keep up my routine, what it will look like if I ever achieve my goal of a flat enough stomach without it "pouching".

[Jonbo]

Well, if there was ANY doubt I had that smelling it sets it off (Psychological or not) I just proved it tonight. Was out of town visiting friends back in my "old" hometown, stayed at Grandma's and while they have bread and whatnot, it's not in the open so I didn't have much of a reaction there except it's "usual" fussiness sometimes daily.

Work today without anything major. Come home, open the front door, and WHAM! The smell of breaded meat (smelled like fish sticks upon entry) and other things just intoxicate my nose. Within seconds I know I can't even get near it but within a minute or 2, my stomach/insides starts shooting bouts of pain like when I accidentally ingest gluten but no bloating oddly enough. Not severe enough to want to crawl into bed and not do anything but extremely annoying and can't take deep breaths right now without it hurting even worse.

I really wish I could just move out on my own but with me starting college in 6-12 months and needing to save money (don't want alot of student loan debt), I have little choice

[grainfree]

Well, if there was ANY doubt I had that smelling it sets it off (Psychological or not) I just proved it tonight. Was out of town visiting friends back in my "old" hometown, stayed at Grandma's and while they have bread and whatnot, it's not in the open so I didn't have much of a reaction there except it's "usual" fussiness sometimes daily.

Work today without anything major. Come home, open the front door, and WHAM! The smell of breaded meat (smelled like fish sticks upon entry) and other things just intoxicate my nose. Within seconds I know I can't even get near it but within a minute or 2, my stomach/insides starts shooting bouts of pain like when I accidentally ingest gluten but no bloating oddly enough. Not severe enough to want to crawl into bed and not do anything but extremely annoying and can't take deep breaths right now without it hurting even worse.

I really wish I could just move out on my own but with me starting college in 6-12 months and needing to save money (don't want alot of student loan debt), I have little choice

Hi Jonbo,

I've just made an appointment with my doctor because I passed out one too many times after eating pasta and am sick of it. So, this is all very new to me as well, but what I can comment about is a runny nose when eating certain foods. I happened to have french fries for dinner tonight and had a runny nose. Perhaps it's nothing at all, but it occurs at some times but not other times. I'm paying more attention to it now. Perhaps it is indeed psychological but your body is telling you something different. I'm finding the more I listen, pay attention, the better things are.

Grainfree

[Gemini]

Thank god I'm not the only one that has this as my only symptom. Most of the ones I read on here have major D issues if glutened whereas all I get is a stomach/abdomen that looks like something is growing inside and in it's worst form, ready to explode. Thankfully since going gluten-free, I don't get the really brick hard stomach anymore unless I gluten myself. Just daily fits where it's not normal looking.

Considering I've been working the weight off for over a year (101+ lbs later), I have a "mildly" flabby stomach right now at about 170 so I can't imagine if I keep up my routine, what it will look like if I ever achieve my goal of a flat enough stomach without it "pouching".

That's what a tummy tuck is for, Jonbo! Congratulations on the weight loss.....good job!

You may want to try a probiotic for the gassiness and distention as you could have an imbalance going on. Most recovering Celiacs do and will greatly benefit from populating their gut with good bacteria. It helps with the healing process.

[Jonbo]

That's what a tummy tuck is for, Jonbo! Congratulations on the weight loss.....good job!

You may want to try a probiotic for the gassiness and distention as you could have an imbalance going on. Most recovering Celiacs do and will greatly benefit from populating their gut with good bacteria. It helps with the healing process.

Thanks! Definitely wasn't easy losing it (had a few bumps along the way but persevered in the end). I'm actually considering a tummy tuck after saving up so that I can cover most/all of it (and only rely on a small part with a personal loan). For now, just re-formulating my workout routine in hopes that by focusing on the abdominal region more, it can tighten up...hopefully. Don't need a 6 pack, just get rid of the excess still around.

I picked up a probiotic and I'll try it for a month and see what comes of it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[JNBunnie1]

Thanks! Definitely wasn't easy losing it (had a few bumps along the way but persevered in the end). I'm actually considering a tummy tuck after saving up so that I can cover most/all of it (and only rely on a small part with a personal loan). For now, just re-formulating my workout routine in hopes that by focusing on the abdominal region more, it can tighten up...hopefully. Don't need a 6 pack, just get rid of the excess still around.

I picked up a probiotic and I'll try it for a month and see what comes of it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Keep in mind that the first few days/week of a new probiotic regimen can be a bit unpleasant for your belly. Th good bugs start killing the bad bugs, and the bad bugs release toxins as they die, making you feel crappy. Try to stick with it, it doesn't happen to everyone and it's rarely truly a problem. I take PB8, it's gluten-free and recomended by our naturopath and cheaper than most of the other ones.

[Gemini]

Thanks! Definitely wasn't easy losing it (had a few bumps along the way but persevered in the end). I'm actually considering a tummy tuck after saving up so that I can cover most/all of it (and only rely on a small part with a personal loan). For now, just re-formulating my workout routine in hopes that by focusing on the abdominal region more, it can tighten up...hopefully. Don't need a 6 pack, just get rid of the excess still around.

I picked up a probiotic and I'll try it for a month and see what comes of it. Thanks for the suggestion.

You certainly are going about it the right way! Most doctors would give that advice.....to tighten up as much as you can and then have any excess tissue removed.

I think anyone who loses that much weight and puts so much effort into it deserves a little nip and tuck if needed. You are very inspiring!

[Jonbo]

I'm definitely sticking with the Probiotic for awhile to see what happens. I've put up with enough so it won't discourage me. I bought PB8 also, unfortunately after buying it, I found out how cheap Amazon has it (2 month supply is cheaper then the 1 month I bought!) but doesn't bother me.

The cost of the "nip tuck" isn't cheap from estimates I read online but with it being a major cause of how I am today mentally, the benefit will outweigh the cost over time. Though I'm hoping by the time I have enough money to do the tummy tuck (or enough to finance it without a burden), that my stomach's near daily mild cases of bloating have calmed down because that would be my only barricade to getting it done. Looks bad enough as it is with my excess skin and when it goes "nuts" as it is.

[LBethanyC]

The smell of most gluten-filled foods (if they're obvious) turns my stomach now. I don't get a reaction, but I just feel a bit nauseous. It's just my mind reminding me of how sick I get when I eat it, haha.