Glutened Recovery Time

[Jacky]

I THINK I got glutened last Thursday, February 17th. How long does it take to recover? I STILL have rumbly tender gut, terrible diarrhea, in bouts of 3 or 4 episodes, every day. I am now eating dairy free and whole foods only. Cooking everything from scratch and only salt and pepper. I've been gluten-free for 11 months. Why is this taking so long to recover?

I'm a dork! It was the Thursday BEFORE, February 10th! It will be 2 weeks this coming Thursday! Sorry about that!

[Emilushka]

Are you sure you're not being continuously glutened or repeatedly glutened? For me, recovery from a single glutening takes 1-7 days (depending on how much gluten I ingest, and only including up to 2 bites of wheat pasta). Everybody's different, though. Have you had previous glutening episodes that were different from this?

[Jacky]

Are you sure you're not being continuously glutened or repeatedly glutened? For me, recovery from a single glutening takes 1-7 days (depending on how much gluten I ingest, and only including up to 2 bites of wheat pasta). Everybody's different, though. Have you had previous glutening episodes that were different from this?

This seems no different than previous episodes, except that the amount of gluten this time had to be tiny.

I might be a super sensitive celiac. I'm 53 and I've been gluten-free since end of March, 2010. (TRYING) Seems like I've had to make every mistake OR I'm super sensitive. I can't consume any distilled alcohol, except, say potato or grape vodka, for example. I had a prescription with gluten in it that really got me good. Now I am also lactose intolerant and Lactaid tablets and lactose free products reduce my lactose reaction but don't eliminate it. On that last Thursday I had 2 bags (yes, pigged out) Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop microwave popcorn and that seemed to have started it. It went on for a couple days so I started the whole foods thing, but I cooked my rice in Swanson Chicken Broth the following week, just last Thursday (to jazz it up). I don't know if yeast extract in it comes from a gluten source, but starting last Thursday night, it's gone into full swing.

So, it seems like I've reacted strongly to not much gluten.

[Emilushka]

What about cutting out all dairy? Maybe you're casein intolerant, not just lactose. That would explain why the lactaid supplements weren't doing it for you and the popcorn caused problems.

[Welda Johnson]

I remember standing in the grocery aisle reading the Orville Redenbacher packages and determining that I couldn't have them, though now I don't remember what was in it. Instead, I buy bulk popcorn at the Health Food Store. It's much cheaper and I do fine with it every time. I also never eat anything with casein, whey, or any kind of milk product. Hope this helps.

[Emilushka]

We bought an air popper and now we just use that with our bulk-purchased unpopped kernels. It's easier when you know EXACTLY what goes into your popcorn.

[bobbdvm]

Be careful with chicken broth, even if it does not list gluten or wheat it can cause a problem, it does with me. I use only chicken broth that is labeled gluten free.

[psawyer]

Be careful with chicken broth, even if it does not list gluten or wheat it can cause a problem, it does with me. I use only chicken broth that is labeled gluten free.

What do you think you are reacting to in the broth?

Wheat must be disclosed by law. Barley can hide, but must be listed as something, possibly "natural flavor." Neither oats nor rye are going to find their way into a broth.

You might have an issue with MSG. MSG is gluten-free, but some individuals, including some celiacs, have a problem with it.

[Jacky]

What do you think you are reacting to in the broth?

Wheat must be disclosed by law. Barley can hide, but must be listed as something, possibly "natural flavor." Neither oats nor rye are going to find their way into a broth.

You might have an issue with MSG. MSG is gluten-free, but some individuals, including some celiacs, have a problem with it.

Okay, I might not have been specific enough. I am consuming NO DAIRY PRODUCTS OF ANY KIND. I have a popcorn popper and have made it that way in the past. That's all I'll do now! (I gave away the rest of the microwave popcorn) I read SOMEWHERE that there could be cross contamination issues with O.R. micro popcorn, during production of various flavors. I googled gluten and chicken broth and read yeast in the extract might be from a barley source. I don't know if EITHER of these statements is true. (i.e. if you read it on the internet doesn't necessarily make it true)

But, now I'm only eating whole foods seasoned with salt and pepper.

Again, I don't know if this is a recovery thing or if I'm super sensitive to gluten. Or, if it's because I'm pretty gluten free and maybe I got some kind of trace gluten and reacted strongly. I dunno...

[lucky97]

Yes, broth must say gluten free, anything processed with additives (like popcorn with flavoring) is basically off my list now.

I was going to drink a diet Sunkist today...until I read the ingredients and "modified food starch" was listed.

Reading, reading, reading...every time I pick something up I gotta read the ingredients!

[cahill]

I THINK I got glutened last Thursday, February 17th. How long does it take to recover? I STILL have rumbly tender gut, terrible diarrhea, in bouts of 3 or 4 episodes, every day. I am now eating dairy free and whole foods only. Cooking everything from scratch and only salt and pepper. I've been gluten-free for 11 months. Why is this taking so long to recover?

I'm a dork! It was the Thursday BEFORE, February 10th! It will be 2 weeks this coming Thursday! Sorry about that!

Have you considered the possibility of additional intolerances?

[Jacky]

Yes, broth must say gluten free, anything processed with additives (like popcorn with flavoring) is basically off my list now.

I was going to drink a diet Sunkist today...until I read the ingredients and "modified food starch" was listed.

Reading, reading, reading...every time I pick something up I gotta read the ingredients!

I feel like I'm playing some game and no one will tell me the rules. I only find out I've violated a rule when I get sick, but then I still don't know which rule I've violated...

I think I'm trusting food manufacturers way too much and at least for now, this whole foods thing is the way I'm going...

Well, at least since Sunday, NOW my gut seems to have calmed down. I actually woke up around 4 am this morning because I was STARVING and my stomach was growling. I haven't felt that in a while and it was WONDERFUL.

[eyeaspire]

I feel like I'm playing some game and no one will tell me the rules. I only find out I've violated a rule when I get sick, but then I still don't know which rule I've violated...

I think I'm trusting food manufacturers way too much and at least for now, this whole foods thing is the way I'm going...

Well, at least since Sunday, NOW my gut seems to have calmed down. I actually woke up around 4 am this morning because I was STARVING and my stomach was growling. I haven't felt that in a while and it was WONDERFUL.

To answer your question, it takes me 3-4 weeks to feel better (I have brain symptoms aka 'gluten ataxia', not much gut stuff).

I felt the *exact* same way when I was diagnosed. I don't have gut issues. Instead, I have gluten ataxia and become bi-polar for two weeks. I now stay on a low dose of an antidepressant/mood stabilizer in the event that I ingest gluten so I'm not freaking out about getting back on meds. It is miserable living with the symptoms while racking one's brain trying to figure out where you went wrong. Here are some other ways I got glutened:

* Floradix (liquid iron supplement - didn't buy the gluten-free variety

* Lipstick (wheat germ!)

* Blue Cheese (some manufacturers use the mold from bread to make the mold in the cheese).

* French fries (sometimes they are lightly coated with breadcrumbs)

* Dijon mustard (sometimes has wheat)

* Licking envelopes (some use wheat paste)

It is such a racket. I have gone from heavily relying on packaged foods to making every single thing. I got glutened once from chicken broth because it had gluten it. (And my reaction was, "Why the frack do they need to add this to the stock?!") Chicken stock is super easy to make - buy a rotisserie chicken (eat the meat, save the carcass), put carcass in a pot filled to the top with water. Throw in an onion, some carrots, some celery, a little salt & vinegar. Boil for a couple of hours. It freezes great in glass jars and you know what's in it! Now I just keep a freezer bag in the freezer to save vegetables and chicken parts until I'm ready to make stock.

During the past two years, I've reached the conclusion that I just need to make all of my food. I'm sick of cooking, but it is the only way I know that I won't get sick. I dine out so infrequently anymore that I can justify spending a little more money at a really nice restaurant where I can get the level of service I need to make sure I don't get sick. The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook is chock full of dairy, egg, and gluten free recipes that are satisfying and simple to make. Definitely worth checking out.

Last, the longer I have gone without gluten, the more other sensitivities have surfaced. It happened in this order: gluten, casein, soy (my gut hates soy!), sulfites, eggs, corn, cane sugar, and xanthan gum. It is a wonder I still eat! But, there re so many awesome foods in the world and lots of great cookbooks. The worst part was changing my habits and dealing with the learning curve. I've just resigned myself to the fact that the learning curve won't end for awhile. It sucks.

[Wolicki]

I had a bad glutening 2 weeks ago. It was a solid 9 days until I felt human again I did not intentionally eat gluten, it was likely CC, but MAN was it bad. Whew! For future reference, LGlutamine seems to work to eliminate issues. My little boy sometimes cannot resist tempatation. We were at a party and he wolfed down 5 gluteny cupcakes when I wasn't watching. Fortunately, several of my gluten free girls were there, too and saw him. I gave him 5 capsules and he had no issues. He usually barfs, then spends the next 3 days in the bathroom. Haven't tried it on myself yet, but definitely will next time!