How Do I Know If I've Been Glutened Or It's Something Else?

[BethM55]

I am gluten intolerant, self diagnosed, and have fibromyalgia as well, have been gluten free for almost 2 years. So how do I know if a reaction is from getting glutened, or if the fibro is reacting? Or does it matter?

This confusion is a problem in general, but specifically, last Sunday through part of Monday I had an emotional meltdown. We had breakfast out on Saturday, at a place we've eaten several times, with no problems for me. I suppose there's always a first time... To be fair, 'tis the season, and we have some big stressors being discussed right now in our family (financial, not marriage or kids, but still big).

Symptoms were fibro-like, with joint and muscle pain, but that could be gluten as well. The worst of it was a crushing, deep depression that hit suddenly on Sunday morning, and was mostly gone by Monday evening. This is an unusual response for me, to have that happen to that level. There were no GI reactions, but that isn't always part of my gluten response, either, although the pain can be.

So how do I differentiate? It's so darn hard to track down what the trigger was. I'd like to know, so I can avoid it. I do NOT want to repeat this experience.

Thank you for your help with this!

[txplowgirl]

It's almost impossible to figure out, but it may have nothing to do with gluten. Now, this is just my opinion, but that sounds like possibly a fibro flare caused by stress or:

Did you drink any diet drinks with aspartame in them because that will cause that kind of pain. Did you eat any potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers or eggplant?

All these will cause severe pain in some fibro sufferers.

Hope some of these ideas will help.

[mushroom]

I think in order to hazard an answer to this question we would need to know a little more about your fibro and reactions to gluten previously. Doctors would probably tell you that you were reacting somatically to stress So tell us how you used to react to gluten before gluten free. And whether your fibro seemed related to gluten.

[BethM55]

It's almost impossible to figure out, but it may have nothing to do with gluten. Now, this is just my opinion, but that sounds like possibly a fibro flare caused by stress or:

Did you drink any diet drinks with aspartame in them because that will cause that kind of pain. Did you eat any potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers or eggplant?

All these will cause severe pain in some fibro sufferers.

Hope some of these ideas will help.

Well, it could have been a stress induced fibro flare, to be sure, although severe sudden onset depression has never been a symptom before. Gluten does exacerbate the fibro, so it's hard to separate the two variables. I don't ingest aspartame, ever, so that is not a factor. I did have hash browns, but don't generally have a problem with nightshades. I did ask that my meal be prepared in a clean pan. I don't know that that was done, but I've not had reactions before at this restaurant, with similar meals. Thank you for your ideas.

[BethM55]

I think in order to hazard an answer to this question we would need to know a little more about your fibro and reactions to gluten previously. Doctors would probably tell you that you were reacting somatically to stress So tell us how you used to react to gluten before gluten free. And whether your fibro seemed related to gluten.

Mushroom, I think that for me, fibro is exacerbated by eating gluten. I don't have severe GI reactions to gluten, more joint and muscle and nerve pain, and that awful flu-like ache at the cellular level that is so specifically fibro. I feel much better being gluten free, but not cured of the fibro, so there are other factors I haven't figured out yet. Stress definitely worsens all of it. However, it's been so long since I deliberately ate gluten, that I don't remember if there are any specific symptoms from it. When I went gluten free, I felt better gradually, there was not a dramatic "aha" moment. I guess that's why I find it so difficult to differentiate between the two issues.

My reaction last weekend may well have been a combination of variables. My frustration lies in not being able to figure out what to avoid so it doesn't happen again.

[ravenwoodglass]

I could be wrong but since you ate out on Sat and this hit on next day if it was me that would mean I had gotten glutened. You might want to keep a diary of your symptoms, where and what you have eaten and what else is going on in your life. That might help you figure out if there is a pattern that points to gluten.

[BethM55]

I could be wrong but since you ate out on Sat and this hit on next day if it was me that would mean I had gotten glutened. You might want to keep a diary of your symptoms, where and what you have eaten and what else is going on in your life. That might help you figure out if there is a pattern that points to gluten.

ravenwoodglass, my thoughts, as well. Good idea about the diary, thank you. I suspect stress may increase susceptibility to reactions. Perhaps I created a 'perfect storm' for myself. We had breakfast out because we both had to do fasting blood tests, and had just done that. Not normally a problem, but the doc wanted lots of data, about 8 tubes' worth. I stopped donating blood because I began to get very sick afterward, after the fibro reared up. Sigh. Life used to be much simpler.