This Seems Weird

[Marlie]

Okay I know a lot about Celiac Disease since my daughter has been diagnosed. I'm familiar with all the symptoms and I know all family members should be tested. So leaving that aside I'm wondering if there is anybody on these forums who started having trouble with Gluten only after going Gluten Free for a family member. I have never had any symptoms of Celiac Disease or anything else. However, for the last three weeks I have virtually cut Gluten out of my diet for the sake of my child. In the midst of this I admit to cheating here or there. Now I'm finding I have a bout diarrhea the next day with no other symptoms. Would this only happen because I can't tolerate Gluten or can it be because I have changed my diet so radically and my digestive system is changing. I definitely do not feel ill. I'm just curious if anyone else has had this happen to them quite by accident.

[shopgirl]

A Celiac's responses to gluten get stronger once they cut it out. It isn't necessary to "feel ill" all the time to have Celiac Disease. Many Celiacs have no obvious symptoms and some never have any GI symptoms at all. It sounds like you actually did have a problem with gluten and you just didn't realize it until you cut it out. Once you reintroduced the gluten, your body started cranking out antibodies again. If you plan on getting tested, you'll need to be on a full gluten diet for the testing to be valid but your days of cheating on gluten may be numbered.

For what it's worth, my mother (I'm adopted), cut out gluten for several weeks when I was first diagnosed but has no problems when she eats a slice of bread here or there. People who don't have gluten issues can go back and forth without problems.

[Marlie]

A Celiac's responses to gluten get stronger once they cut it out. It isn't necessary to "feel ill" all the time to have Celiac Disease. Many Celiacs have no obvious symptoms and some never have any GI symptoms at all. It sounds like you actually did have a problem with gluten and you just didn't realize it until you cut it out. Once you reintroduced the gluten, your body started cranking out antibodies again. If you plan on getting tested, you'll need to be on a full gluten diet for the testing to be valid but your days of cheating on gluten may be numbered.

For what it's worth, my mother (I'm adopted), cut out gluten for several weeks when I was first diagnosed but has no problems when she eats a slice of bread here or there. People who don't have gluten issues can go back and forth without problems.

Thanks for sharing that information with me. I suspected I was having a reaction but was hoping otherwise. However, I must say if this continues it is really a very scary thought that I would never had known if it wasn't for my daughter. I will continue testing this off and on over the next few months and monitor my reactions. I know the whole deal that I should be properly tested but for other reasons I rather not and just self diagnose.