Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

How Do You Know If Someone Is "super Sensitive"?


teresasupermom

Recommended Posts

teresasupermom Rookie

I am beginning to think my dd is super sensitive. She definitely can't handle living in a gluten house. We have gone gluten free for everyone, but I really am suspecting she is super sensitive. How do you define super sensitive and how do you go about figuring out someone's threshold? (Obviously not exposing her to gluten, but I mean restaurants, processed foods, etc.)


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ravenwoodglass Mentor

In my own case it was finally figured out when I kept getting 'glutened' by products that had ingredients that were gluten-free but prepared on shared lines and having obvious gluten reactions to gluten grain derived ingredients that are supposed to be gluten free by processing like distilled alcohols and vitamin E derived from wheat as examples.

GFinDC Veteran

That' pretty much my story too. I kept getting siock from things that were supposedly gluten-free but were made on shared lines. So I avoid those products now. But I also found that I have multiple other fod intolerances that were causing symptoms and keeping me in a constant state of irritation and making me more sensitive always. Now that I have identified those other food intolerances and got them out of my diet, I have much less trouble generally. But I still avoid shared lines food products and most processed food also.

Hey, did anyone notice they made a new sub-forum for super sensitive psillys here? :D

psawyer Proficient

Hey, did anyone notice they made a new sub-forum for super sensitive psillys here? :D

It is new and was created on Wednesday. :)

kenlove Rising Star

I can echo what the others said about getting sick from supposedly gluten-free items. In addition i would get sick from just walking by the door of working bakery or something like a breadcrumb on the counter-- Because of the we just don't have any gluten items in the kitchen. My wife may keep a bag of cookies in her junk room but she never brings them out in the open.

cross contamination is a big issue for me

I am beginning to think my dd is super sensitive. She definitely can't handle living in a gluten house. We have gone gluten free for everyone, but I really am suspecting she is super sensitive. How do you define super sensitive and how do you go about figuring out someone's threshold? (Obviously not exposing her to gluten, but I mean restaurants, processed foods, etc.)

dilettantesteph Collaborator

I'm glad to see a sub section for super sensitives!

I found out by trial and error too. I kept reacting to things that others didn't react to. It was extremely frustrating to read about how safe and delicious something was and then react to it. I reacted to something that was tested by the company to below 5 ppm even. Then I knew I was super sensitive. Even a little bite of a tested to below 20 ppm item got me. The best way to find out is to get healthy with a whole foods diet and then try adding various processed foods. But not more than one per week.

In my case, the only other food intolerance I've found is kumquat skin. Also lactose, but only if I get glutened. Other things like tomatoes and potatoes, I have found sources which I can tolerate and sources which I can't. There seems to be an issue with some pesticides, sprout inhibitors, fumigants and edible coatings used on produce. Sometimes it seems like it is wheat straw mulch which get me. I'm still figuring it out and it's been over 3 years now.

teresasupermom Rookie

I'm glad to see a sub section for super sensitives!

I found out by trial and error too. I kept reacting to things that others didn't react to. It was extremely frustrating to read about how safe and delicious something was and then react to it. I reacted to something that was tested by the company to below 5 ppm even. Then I knew I was super sensitive. Even a little bite of a tested to below 20 ppm item got me. The best way to find out is to get healthy with a whole foods diet and then try adding various processed foods. But not more than one per week.

Right now I am trying to eliminate everything because my dd's celiac antibodies are still highly positive and I really think she is not directly eating anything with gluten in it. It's so hard for me to explain to people and even my dh is frustrating. He thinks the problem is just that my other kids are messy and getting our house gluten-free will fix all problems. I do think that our whole house being gluten-free will help of course, but I still think there are other places besides our house she is reacting to. It's hard to figure out what she is reacting to of course with her antibodies still high. She still is complaining about her stomach hurting often. Anyhow, glad this subforum is here because I have a feeling we are going to belong here.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



lolipopins Newbie

I'm guessing I'm very sensitive...got negative blood test, but have had great improvement with all areas of my life since going gluten-free. However I've realised I can not touch gluten foods nor eat most foods deemed gluten-free without reaction. I'm in bed again today with sever gut pain and am coming to the conclusion I will not be eating anything but fruits veggies and meat nor use any skin care product that is affordable. I'm feeling lost in the Pandora's box of the gluten-free world.

Muffy Rookie

I am super sensitive, although I struggle with accepting this strange reality. I react to processed foods, products, distilled alcohol, flour particles in the air, and I suspect VOC's from cooking wheat products as well. And those are just my wheat issues. dry.gif I am still figuring it out and get CC'd everywhere I go so it has been hard for me to process everything. And sounding like a crazy person doesn't help. Well, I suppose I AM a crazy person when CC'd and in my funky foggy moods. Oh, did I mention I think I am in one now? :angry:

dilettantesteph Collaborator

Well, I suppose I AM a crazy person when CC'd and in my funky foggy moods.

You aren't alone there. It makes it so much harder to figure things out.

padma Newbie

Wow, you all said it so clearly. I am new and posted a question elsewhere on this subtopic a question related to this thread.

Our bodies are complex and celiac is just one part of the big picture. For example, I am MCS and have a list of 22 food allergies that I avoid also. It was so overwhelming to find out all this stuff after I was tested. And even harder to actually get my gut well. The literature says just stop eating gluten, but that wasn't enough for me. I have tried so many things to get well. Plus, I kept getting into gluten unknowingly. Argh! Fortunately, I have had about 6 years with rare exposure, until this past year.

For those of us who are zero tolerance people it is easy to see and feel what makes us sick. As soon as I am totally gluten free my gut quits hurting. Even putting my fingers in my mouth with a few wheat bread crumbs on them makes me very ill.

I am at a new phase of needing help again. That is why I looked for a forum.

I don't want to know how to substitute Twinkies or other junk. I just want to figure out how to eat healthy food and stay pain free.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      15

      My only proof

    2. - Rejoicephd commented on Jefferson Adams's article in Gluten-Free Cooking
      1

      Your Complete Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Plan: Recipes, Tips & Holiday Favorites

    3. - marion wheaton replied to marion wheaton's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?

    4. - trents replied to marion wheaton's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Are Lindt chocolate balls gluten free?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,416
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Heather8280
    Newest Member
    Heather8280
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Mari
      Years  ago a friend and I drove north into Canada hoping to find a ski resort open in late spring,We were in my VW and found a small ski area near a small town and started up this gravelled road up a mountain. We  got about halfway up and got stuck in the mud. We tried everything we could think of but an hour later we were still stuck. Finally a pickup came down the road, laughed at our situation, then pulled the VW free of the mud. We followed him back to the ski area where where he started up the rope ski lift and we had an enjoyable hour of skiing and gave us a shot of aquavit  before we left.It was a great rescue.  In some ways this reminds me of your situation. You are waiting for a rescue and you have chosen medical practitioners to do it now or as soon as possible. As you have found out the med. experts have not learned how to help you. You face years of continuing to feel horrible, frustrated searching for your rescuer to save you. You can break away from from this pattern of thinking and you have begun breaking  away by using some herbs and supplements from doTerra. Now you can start trying some of the suggestions thatother Celiacs have written to your original posts.  You live with other people who eat gluten foods. Cross contamination is very possible. Are you sure that their food is completely separate from their food. It  is not only the gluten grains you need to avoid (wheat, barley, rye) but possibly oats, cows milk also. Whenever you fall back into that angry and frustrated way of thinking get up and walk around for a whild. You will learn ways to break that way of thinking about your problems.  Best wishes for your future. May you enjpy a better life.  
    • marion wheaton
      Thanks for responding. I researched further and Lindt Lindor chocolate balls do contain barely malt powder which contains gluten. I was surprised at all of the conflicting information I found when I checked online.
    • trents
      @BlessedinBoston, it is possible that in Canada the product in question is formulated differently than in the USA or at least processed in in a facility that precludes cross contamination. I assume from your user name that you are in the USA. And it is also possible that the product meets the FDA requirement of not more than 20ppm of gluten but you are a super sensitive celiac for whom that standard is insufficient. 
    • BlessedinBoston
      No,Lindt is not gluten free no matter what they say on their website. I found out the hard way when I was newly diagnosed in 2000. At that time the Lindt truffles were just becoming popular and were only sold in small specialty shops at the mall. You couldn't buy them in any stores like today and I was obsessed with them 😁. Took me a while to get around to checking them and was heartbroken when I saw they were absolutely not gluten free 😔. Felt the same when I realized Twizzlers weren't either. Took me a while to get my diet on order after being diagnosed. I was diagnosed with small bowel non Hodgkins lymphoma at the same time. So it was a very stressful time to say the least. Hope this helps 😁.
    • knitty kitty
      @Jmartes71, I understand your frustration and anger.  I've been in a similar situation where no doctor took me seriously, accused me of making things up, and eventually sent me home to suffer alone.   My doctors did not recognize nutritional deficiencies.  Doctors are trained in medical learning institutions that are funded by pharmaceutical companies.  They are taught which medications cover up which symptoms.  Doctors are required to take twenty  hours of nutritional education in seven years of medical training.  (They can earn nine hours in Nutrition by taking a three day weekend seminar.)  They are taught nutritional deficiencies are passe' and don't happen in our well fed Western society any more.  In Celiac Disease, the autoimmune response and inflammation affects the absorption of ALL the essential vitamins and minerals.  Correcting nutritional deficiencies caused by malabsorption is essential!  I begged my doctor to check my Vitamin D level, which he did only after making sure my insurance would cover it.  When my Vitamin D came back extremely low, my doctor was very surprised, but refused to test for further nutritional deficiencies because he "couldn't make money prescribing vitamins.". I believe it was beyond his knowledge, so he blamed me for making stuff up, and stormed out of the exam room.  I had studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I switched because I was curious what vitamins from our food were doing in our bodies.  Vitamins are substances that our bodies cannot manufacture, so we must ingest them every day.  Without them, our bodies cannot manufacture life sustaining enzymes and we sicken and die.   At home alone, I could feel myself dying.  It's an unnerving feeling, to say the least, and, so, with nothing left to lose, I relied in my education in nutrition.  My symptoms of Thiamine deficiency were the worst, so I began taking high dose Thiamine.  I had health improvement within an hour.  It was magical.  I continued taking high dose thiamine with a B Complex, magnesium. and other essential nutrients.  The health improvements continued for months.  High doses of thiamine are required to correct a thiamine deficiency because thiamine affects every cell and mitochondria in our bodies.    A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function.  The cerebellum of the brain is most affected.  The cerebellum controls things we don't have to consciously have to think about, like digestion, balance, breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, hormone regulation, and many more.  Thiamine is absorbed from the digestive tract and sent to the most important organs like the brain and the heart.  This leaves the digestive tract depleted of Thiamine and symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi, a thiamine deficiency localized in the digestive system, begin to appear.  Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Beriberi include anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches, Gerd, acid reflux, gas, slow stomach emptying, gastroparesis, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation, incontinence, abdominal pain, IBS,  SIBO, POTS, high blood pressure, heart rate changes like tachycardia, difficulty swallowing, Barrett's Esophagus, peripheral neuropathy, and more. Doctors are only taught about thiamine deficiency in alcoholism and look for the classic triad of symptoms (changes in gait, mental function, and nystagmus) but fail to realize that gastrointestinal symptoms can precede these symptoms by months.  All three classic triad of symptoms only appear in fifteen percent of patients, with most patients being diagnosed with thiamine deficiency post mortem.  I had all three but swore I didn't drink, so I was dismissed as "crazy" and sent home to die basically.   Yes, I understand how frustrating no answers from doctors can be.  I took OTC Thiamine Hydrochloride, and later thiamine in the forms TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) and Benfotiamine to correct my thiamine deficiency.  I also took magnesium, needed by thiamine to make those life sustaining enzymes.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins, so the other B vitamins must be supplemented as well.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   A doctor can administer high dose thiamine by IV along with the other B vitamins.  Again, Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine should be given if only to rule Gastrointestinal Beriberi out as a cause of your symptoms.  If no improvement, no harm is done. Share the following link with your doctors.  Section Three is especially informative.  They need to be expand their knowledge about Thiamine and nutrition in Celiac Disease.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for thiamine deficiency.  This test is more reliable than a blood test. Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12014454/ Best wishes!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.