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

Do Most People Challenge The gluten-free Diet?

zus888

Recommended Posts

zus888 Contributor
zus888
Posted

I'm wondering if I should do this, and if I do, how do I go about doing it? I mean, should I just take a little bite of wheat bread and continue on with my gluten-free diet to challenge it? It would give me some idea as to my sensitivity if I only have a little bit. Or should I go whole hog and eat gads of gluten-filled foods? I don't want to choose foods high in fat or sugar because I don't want to confuse what might be causing any GI issues, should I have any. I want to be sure I know that it's gluten I'm reacting to, and not an overdose of fats and sugars. My gluten-free diet will likely consist of more natural foods, as opposed to processed ones.

And, how long should I wait to do the challenge? 3 months? 6 months?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

If you have been gluten free long enough to heal a bit and see some resolution in your symptoms the best way to challenge is with a single ingredient item. My doctor had me challenge by eating the food 3 times a day for a week or until symptoms reappear whichever comes sooner. I used cream of wheat, plain.

T.H. Community Regular
T.H.
Posted

We challenged my son. Did it after 1 year gluten free, for a little under 2 weeks only, because he started having symptoms pretty quickly.

Yeah, I'd say go with a single food if you do challenge - a single food that has nothing you haven't been eating before the challenge.

But my son was the only one we had diagnosed by symptoms, too. The rest of us had tests that were positive, and we didn't challenge.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I didn't have to challenge gluten because gluten "challenged" me. I knew I got sick from cross contamination and every time I accidentally ate something with gluten (think of newbie mistakes) I got very ill.

If you are like me one bite of anything with wheat will do it.

Let us know how it goes.

Emilushka Contributor
Emilushka
Posted

I have no desire to challenge with gluten because I had a positive antibody test and a great response to the gluten-free diet. Plus, I had an unofficial challenge by accidentally eating wheat pasta at a restaurant, so I can verify that symptoms come back if I eat gluten. I don't think everyone challenges with gluten.

sa1937 Community Regular
sa1937
Posted

I went gluten-free the day of my biopsy. You couldn't pay me enough to challenge it!

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

I confess to being thrilled with the challenge! ;) I have had no symptoms that I have noticed (which may change, of course, as I am off gluten longer) so I was pleased to eat tons of gluten for three months although I knew at the same time that internal damage was being done, whether I could feel it or not. I had lots of gluten and did not feel any worse whatsoever so I was saddened to find post biopsy that celiac disease was indeed confirmed. (I had been gluten-free for five months prior to this and was incredibly stringent, avoiding going out to eat for the most part, calling and emailing companies, changing toothpaste and lipstick, and so on. Our house was gluten-free to avoid CC as well.) What a shock it was feeling so good on gluten, pigging out on lovely breads and such, to go off gluten and feeling no different. Yet. But I still know that I am preventing future problems. It still could be saving my life! :D

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


zus888 Contributor
zus888
Posted
  • Author

I confess to being thrilled with the challenge! ;) I have had no symptoms that I have noticed (which may change, of course, as I am off gluten longer) so I was pleased to eat tons of gluten for three months although I knew at the same time that internal damage was being done, whether I could feel it or not. I had lots of gluten and did not feel any worse whatsoever so I was saddened to find post biopsy that celiac disease was indeed confirmed. (I had been gluten-free for five months prior to this and was incredibly stringent, avoiding going out to eat for the most part, calling and emailing companies, changing toothpaste and lipstick, and so on. Our house was gluten-free to avoid CC as well.) What a shock it was feeling so good on gluten, pigging out on lovely breads and such, to go off gluten and feeling no different. Yet. But I still know that I am preventing future problems. It still could be saving my life! :D

I actually fear not being able to tell the difference. I want to notice a huge difference in energy at the very least. On the other hand, it is nice to not have such harsh reactions if cross-contaminated or otherwise glutened. I am not so sure I would be able to be so stringent without some physical reason for doing so. If I don't notice a difference, I can't imagine not just having one little sweet roll. Unfortunately, it's a VERY slippery slope. If I give in to one little sweet roll, it'll turn into a gluten-filled diet in no time.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

I actually fear not being able to tell the difference. I want to notice a huge difference in energy at the very least. On the other hand, it is nice to not have such harsh reactions if cross-contaminated or otherwise glutened. I am not so sure I would be able to be so stringent without some physical reason for doing so. If I don't notice a difference, I can't imagine not just having one little sweet roll. Unfortunately, it's a VERY slippery slope. If I give in to one little sweet roll, it'll turn into a gluten-filled diet in no time.

I can totally relate. I fear it, too, especially when eating out. It is one reason I avoid eating out much (thankfully I LOVE cooking!) because I just do not know. Because I generally feel so well it almost seems silly to avoid gluten in one tiny corner of my brain but of course I imagine my scope pictures the surgeon showed to me with all the flat villi. It is difficult psychologically for me. :(

shopgirl Contributor
shopgirl
Posted

No. Symptoms or no. I have a disease that requires me to not eat gluten for the rest of my life. In my eyes, it's really just that simple. Cheating isn't an option.

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

The doctor that we saw for a second opinion when my daughter was first diagnosed wanted us to challenge her after she had been gluten free for 6 months. He wanted us to challenge her for two months (with a repeat blood test) or until symptoms came back, which ever was shortest. I was planning on challenging because I was in major denial about the whole diagnosis. I was going to wait longer than the 6 months though.

Like some of the others above, we had an accidental challenge. At school she use to be able to get their (corn) tortilla chips but the vendor changed and they were no longer just corn. Both wheat and oat flour were in the ingredient list which I found out by visiting the school after she got off the bus looking like something the cat dragged in. Challenge over. It took one item at one meal.

love2travel Mentor
love2travel
Posted

No. Symptoms or no. I have a disease that requires me to not eat gluten for the rest of my life. In my eyes, it's really just that simple. Cheating isn't an option.

Although as I mentioned above I have no symptoms I will never, ever cheat. Ever. Even though I like what I see out and about. I am absolutely adamant on that point. :D

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • 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. Scott Adams
      0

      When Gluten-Free Food Is Unavailable: A Child's Struggle Highlights the Hidden Risks for People with Celiac Disease

    2. Churley
      - Churley replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      10

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    3. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions...
    4. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know. I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past...
    5. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      20

      Insomnia help

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,347
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Carla Mort
    Newest Member
    Carla Mort
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Churley
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Churley · Posted

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions to it, so different for everyone.  
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know.  I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past, but going to try it at 5k units a day. having a pth test on friday, which is suspect will be high. my homocysteine has come down to around 9 with 3 weeks of these supplements and expect it to go down further. i also started on estrogen/progesterone. I have osteoporosis too, so that is why the hormones.  anyway, i think all celiacs should have homocysteine checked and treated if needed (easy enough with b vit, tmg). homocysteine very bad thing to be high for a whole host of reasons. all the bad ones, heart attack , stroke, alzi, cancer..... one of the most annoying things about celiacs (and there are so many!) is the weight gain. i guess i stayed thin all those years being undiagnosed because i was under absorbing everything including calories. going gluten-free and the weight gain has been terrible, 30#, but i'm sure a lot more went into that (hip replacement - and years of hip pain leading to inactivity when i was previously very active, probably all related to celiacs, menopause) yada yada. i seemed to lose appetite control, like there was low glp, or leptin or whatever all those hormones are that tell you that you are full and to stop eating. my appetite is immense and i'm never full. i guess decades or more ( i think i have had celiacs since at least my teens - was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea for which spastic colon was eventually diagnosed and had many episodes of diarrhea/abdominal pain through my 20's. but that symptom seemed to go away and i related it to dairy much more so than gluten. Also my growth was stunted, i'm the only shorty in my family. anyway, decades of malabsorption and maldigestion led to constant hunger, at least thats my theory. then when i started absorbing normally, wham!! FAT!!!    
    • nanny marley
      Insomnia help

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I don't always sleep well at the best of times , racing mind catches up I have decorated my whole house in one night in my mind before 🤣 diet changes mindset really help , although I have to say it never just disappears, I find once I came to terms with who I am I managed a lot better  , a misconception is for many to change , that means to heal but that's not always the case , understanding and finding your coping mechanisms are vital tools , it's more productive to find that because there is no failure then no pressure to become something else , it's ok to be sad it's ok to not sleep , it's ok to worry , just try to see it has a journey not a task 🤗
    • nanny marley
      nothing has changed

      By nanny marley · Posted

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again 
×
×
  • 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.