Celiac And Eggs

[wilkjo1]

I was diagnosed with celiac in March. I am not new however to the casein gluten free diet, my boys have been Gluten-free Casein-free and soy free for years. I like having eggs for breakfast, but the last two mornings have developed a horrible stomach ache, irritation in the esophagus, and fatigue. I was wondering if any other celiacs have had problems with eggs? Or if other celiacs have noticed problems with foods they normally have, all of a sudden becoming a problem? One of my classic reactions to gluten is irritation in the esophagus and esophageal spasms and sometimes severe abdominal pain. That is why I am thinking allergy.

[lovegrov]

Doesn't seem common to me.

richard

[Jestgar]

I eat tons of eggs (and cheese).

It may be that people that are intolerant to something are more vocal than those that have no problem.

[KristyUK]

I have found that since going gluten-free and DF that I can't eat eggs if they're hard-boiled and bananas are now a problem also... it's very strange...

[wilkjo1]

I have found that since going gluten-free and DF that I can't eat eggs if they're hard-boiled and bananas are now a problem also... it's very strange...

I am glad I am not the only one. I ate the eggs at seven and am still in pain.

[jerseyangel]

While I wouldn't call it "common", it's certainly not unusual for Celiacs to have additional food intolerances. I was very intolerant to eggs when I became gluten-free 4 years ago. After staying away from them for a while, I can now use them in recipes with absolutely no problem--I still can't eat them plain, as in scrambled eggs--although my reaction to them that way is much less than it was.

[KristyUK]

I am glad I am not the only one. I ate the eggs at seven and am still in pain.

Ugh, wishing you better! I felt as if I had eaten a rock and it was just sitting there, weighing me down and causing me pain... no more for me!

[wilkjo1]

While I wouldn't call it "common", it's certainly not unusual for Celiacs to have additional food intolerances. I was very intolerant to eggs when I became gluten-free 4 years ago. After staying away from them for a while, I can now use them in recipes with absolutely no problem--I still can't eat them plain, as in scrambled eggs--although my reaction to them that way is much less than it was.

It is so good to get some feedback on this. My reaction today is more severe than yesterdays, so the eggs are going out for quite awhile. I have my husband and children's food allergies down, but it is going to take more than I thought to get a handle on this celiac thing.

[wilkjo1]

Ugh, wishing you better! I felt as if I had eaten a rock and it was just sitting there, weighing me down and causing me pain... no more for me!

I have always been curious about how other people react. I have read a lot and it seems most have real obvious symptoms. I haven't read of too many like me. I have the obvious bloating thing, but I get esophogeal burning and spasms that get so severe I have to be hospitalized. I have also had abdominal pain so bad that I have passed out. One minute fine, the next doubled over and then out. Since being diagnosed this is the fifth or sixth time I have reacted to something that should have been safe. I guess I don't have this celiac thing figured out yet. Does it get easier?

[KristyUK]

Well, given that I've only been gluten-free & DF for not quite two weeks, I'm not sure I can answer that! All I know is that I have had no sign of the awful bloating, headaches, fatigue and horrendous curl up and die stomach cramps that I had so often before. As for other food intolerances, well, some people are going to experience this more than others and also react more or less badly than others. I am DF as well, so that cuts out things I loved so much (cheese!) but won't eat any more. It's not worth the pain.

I think it will get easier.... but it really is trial and error.

[jerseyangel]

It is so good to get some feedback on this. My reaction today is more severe than yesterdays, so the eggs are going out for quite awhile. I have my husband and children's food allergies down, but it is going to take more than I thought to get a handle on this celiac thing.

My personal reaction to eggs was terrible nausea. It would hit like clockwork about 4 hours after I would eat them (delayed allergy). I think the best way to handle it would be to cut them out completely for say, 6 months, and then try a little if you want.

It does take a while to figure all of this out--getting the gluten-free diet firstoff and then deciphering any additional sensitivities. You'll get there--let me know if you need anything else

[Celiac-lou]

It is so strange to find so many people (on this forum page and other discussion boards) that cannot have eggs AFTER going gluten free. I was diagnosed in 2009 after the birth of my son. I immediatly started a gluten free diet and felt better BUT noticed that I still felt sick some days...often to the point of throwing up. Then I would feel much better. I quickly determined that, no...I didn't accidently contaminate my butter with gluten...it was the eggs! After eating at least one to two eggs at least 4 times a week for 32 years, my body had become intolerant to them. My allergist said that it is not an "allergy" per se and that it is possible for an intolerance to go away. I am not betting on it though because my reaction is still pretty unpleasant and severe (stomach pains, feeling faint, throwing up).

I would be VERY interested to know if ANYONE has actually spoken to a doctor that could explain this?

Thanks much!

[eatmeat4good]

I don't know the answer but have been wondering some things about eggs too.

I absolutely cannot handle them. I love them and ate them almost every day, but now that I remember my sickest days with this disease it was defintely the days I was eating bread and eggs every day because I was sick and not working and it was cheap. Now, I cannot handle them at all.

I was reading about egg allergy and it says some people can tolerate them baked and some tolerate the whites. I want to use eggs in baking but am afraid to. Do you avoid all form of eggs even in baking?

My nephew has an egg allergy and the Dr. told my sister he could have them in baked goods. That doesn't really make sense to me but that is what she said.

This is a shocker to me too. I thought gluten was bad enough, but the eggs are almost worse. I bet that is why my recovery was slow in the beginning. I ate eggs and corn tortillas thinking they would be easier on my stomach! Wow...this is certainly a puzzle. I will be interested to see what responses you get. Thank you for posing the egg question.

[IrishHeart]

Eggs bother me too. I cannot eat them without feeling nausea and they sit right in my chest. Like a rock.

They are not my favorite food, but I need protein.

If they are baked in something, I do not seem to notice this....it is peculiar.

They did not show up in allergy testing or in food antibody testing. I am thinking, maybe it's just something that is difficult for me to digest at this point?? I don't know..

This celiac thing is a bugger

[ladymiss]

Yes- thanks for posting about eggs. I have been thinking about the egg dilemma a lot. I used to love eggs and appreciated the less expensive/easy protein. A few months ago, my IgG testing came back with very high antibodies to all dairy, all wheat/gluten, soy and eggs. I had no idea about any of it except the dairy- to which I am severely intolerant.

So I've gone gluten free and ditched soy and eggs too. My naturopath suggested to try eggs again....but I haven't. I'm a little scared to. Immediately before gluten free, I was sick and having all sorts of food sensitivities and even a sudden onset allergy to peanuts. I just don't want to have an 'episode' again. It is frightening to have a heavy response to food. Not to mention the inconvenience for the rest of the day.....

I can't bring myself around yet to eating foods with eggs in them. I miss mayonnaise and the possibility of gluten free bread (many I've seen contain eggs). It's interesting to note that some of you can have baked goods with eggs but not plain eggs.

Has anyone had their allergist or other explain why some high IgG causing foods would be ok to reintroduce but others that are high probably not (like the gluten and dairy)? hmmmmm. i haven't had a chance to ask my naturopath after thinking about it, but will next time.

[crimbles]

oh wow, I hope I do not develop an egg intolerance, that would really make my life difficult! I am already lactose and gluten intolerant!

[Looking for answers]

Blood tests last June revealed a high egg allergy. I never would have made the connection, but since I stopped eating them, lots of small lingering issues cleared up.

[jackay]

I haven't eaten eggs in a very long time but did have two hard boiled ones this morning. I have delayed reactions so will find out tonight or tomorrow morning if they are a problem. I was tested for eggs a long time ago and found out I was intolerant to egg yolks. I believe most people react to egg whites.

I hope I tolerate the eggs. I'm not super crazy about eggs but they are so convenient.

[*Daniella*]

I wasn't allergic to eggs until about 5 months after I went gluten free. Anytime I had eggs I would have symptoms of a heart attack. I almost called an ambulance a couple of times before I figured out what was causing my issue.

[eatmeat4good]

That is so strange! I am right at 5 months and the egg intolerance is really obvious right now. Maybe I was just so sick I couldn't make the connection before, or maybe it is showing up now. Either way I'm egg free for now. And scared to try them in baked goods too. There goes brownies.

[IrishHeart]

That is so strange! I am right at 5 months and the egg intolerance is really obvious right now. Maybe I was just so sick I couldn't make the connection before, or maybe it is showing up now. Either way I'm egg free for now. And scared to try them in baked goods too. There goes brownies.

Sweetie, Keep the brownies. WE used the EnerG Egg replacer in a recipe (when I thought I had an egg issue) and it worked well!! You could try it?

[IrishHeart]

and gee, for something not very common and not necessarily showing up on testing, how come we are all telling the same story??...seems pretty weird to me....

then again, what part of this isn't weird??

[hazeleyez682]

I was diagnosed with celiac in March. I am not new however to the casein gluten free diet, my boys have been Gluten-free Casein-free and soy free for years. I like having eggs for breakfast, but the last two mornings have developed a horrible stomach ache, irritation in the esophagus, and fatigue. I was wondering if any other celiacs have had problems with eggs? Or if other celiacs have noticed problems with foods they normally have, all of a sudden becoming a problem? One of my classic reactions to gluten is irritation in the esophagus and esophageal spasms and sometimes severe abdominal pain. That is why I am thinking allergy.

I to had issues with eggs when I was first diagnosed. For about a year I could not eat eggs or dairy. Eggs would have me doubled over in stomach pain. It to was sudden one day I could eat them the next I couldn't. I discussed it with my GI and he recommended not eating them. After almost a year my boyfriend found a brand of all natural eggs that said gluten-free on the lable. I figured perhaps it could have been something the chickens were fed to cause my pain, in any event I tried these gluten-free eggs and no reaction. Whether I just got over the sensitivity or it's just these eggs I dont know but I gave it time and it worked out. Perhaps you just need more time to heal?

Good Luck!

[psawyer]

It is not uncommon for additional issues to surface after going going gluten-free. They may have been there all along, but the gluten reaction was so strong that the other issues got lost in the gluten issue.

Others have seen the opposite. They have found that after being strictly gluten-free for some time, they are now able to tolerate foods that they previously could not.

Before going gluten-free, I believed for years that I had a sensitivity to eggs. If I ate more than a couple in a week, I seemed to react. Since going gluten-free, I no longer have any issues with eggs. I typically have two eggs as part of my breakfast--no problem.

[Marilyn R]

Even though my gastro said that I shouldn't put myself through skin prick testing about 8 months after going gluten-free, something was still bugging me. Egg yolks were a 3. Whites were neutral. I'd suspected that eggs were causing a problem, had read that most people who are allergic to eggs are allergic to the whites, so I'd bed eating only egg yoks!

My theory, and I'm not saying I'm right, is that our autoimmune system is whacked. Our cells are attacking proteins that resemble gluten since we've eliminated gluten. Some people develop other food intolerances and some don't. It may (or may not) have something to do with the length of time undiagnosed.

I wonder, too, if I hadn't loaded up on dairy products after going gluten-free (or soy products or corn or egg...) if these other intolerances wouldn't have developed.

If I knew then what I know now, I would encourage a diet where you rotate your protein sources and vegetables. Fruits should be safe, but I even wait a day to repeat fruits.

I'm ok with egg whites, but I don't reapeat them for a few days. And I can make gluten-free pancakes from a mix (with 2 eggs). I'm going to be fine tomorrow, but I'll wait until next week to have the frozen left overs.

I've felt so much better since not eating leftovers the next day for lunch or dinner. You can refrigerate leftovers for 2-3 days, or freeze them. I mix up my protein sources over the course of a week and it really seems to help. I'm trying new foods I never had before, which many books on food allergies have suggested.

As far as having medical advice from doctors about all of this, only the allergist recognized that there is a difference between food allergies and intolerances. The other docs seem to roll their eyes when you tell them you cannot tolerate certain foods. I've learned more from checking out books from the library and reading this forum than I've learned from all of the specialists I've been to.