Support For Newbie....

[laker]

Hi All -

I've been reading posts for a few months now and am finally contributing with a question. I haven't fully been diagnosed with Celiac yet, b/c I think my doctor is completely incompetent regarding the disease (she had me get blood tests after I had been gluten-free for months - of course, they came back negative and she was not interested in taking any other steps). I'm in the process of changing my doctor - even if I'm eating a gluten free diet, I would like to know if I have Celiac for many other reasons. The diet alone isn't going to be the answer to ensuring I'm healthy if a test comes back positive. I've maintained a gluten free diet for about 1 year now, and on average, feel great. I know I may have some contamination incidents, which I'm learning more how to avoid.

I slipped up this weekend and had a small, tiny sliver (1" wide) of a sandwich and 1/2 a beer. I have felt horrible ever since! This was on Saturday and I'm still insanely bloated - my husband asks what I feel like, and all I can say is really boated and full around my abdomen (I look very pregnant), but also "squishy" and bloated around my upper back area, which is the most uncomfortable of it all. I don't know how else to describe that, other than maybe spongey.

Has anyone else had the upper back squishyness/spongeyness, and is there anything to help with this and the other bloat feelings? It seems to be my first symptom, followed by a lot of abdominal bloating, gas (which doesn't make the bloat go away) and constipation.

I'm really miserable right now, and would love any advice on how to alleviate symptoms. I'm aware that I did this to myself, so I have only myself to blame, but I get this way when I've accidentally had gluten as well.

Thanks everyone!

[GFinDC]

Hi Laker,

Maybe some milk of magnesia would help get things moving again. Getting the gluten out would be a good thing.

[eastvangal]

Hi Laker,

I'm sorry you feel so ill. I think your system is probably extra sensitive now that you've been gluten free for a year, so it will take at least a week, probably more for this to clear from your system no matter what you do, but I would try to take some kind of healing action everyday, such as digestive enzymes, magnesium/calcium supplements, water.

My system seizes up too when I get glutened, and I can't go (to the bathroom), which is what I most need to do, and it takes a few days or more for things to get on track again and for me to feel better. The Cal/Mg helps this a lot.

Also, make yourself comfortable in whatever way that makes you feel better. Most importantly, don't do this again.