Glutened, I Think

[color-me-confused]

The rest of my family made homemade bread yesterday, a good activity for 2 sick kids on a rainy day. This was the first real episode of baking that's happened since I went on a gluten-free diet a few months ago. When I got home late there was still flour around the stove and on the counter. I made myself a quick gluten-free dinner, and went to work on getting the kids to bed, then cleaned up the kitchen. After being home for a few hours I was hit with a staggering wave of fatigue along with a headache and some brain fog. My wife had to drag me out of bed this morning, and even after coffee and my usual morning dose of Ritalin (for ADD) I'm still thickheaded and tired. I was being really careful to avoid the flour last night too, but this certainly sounds like a case of glutening to me after doing some reading. I know I had been exposed to gluten a few weeks ago and that episode resulted in a lot of stomach pain, a migraine, fatigue, and digestive upset.

I have some questions: are gluten exposures symptoms consistent? Do they vary by the amount ingested? I must have managed to get flour onto my hands or utensils even though I was being careful, or maybe some got kicked into the air. Next time I'll make sure the kitchen is sparkling before preparing any food. This cross-contamination problem sucks...I'm thinking that the degree of gluten paranoia I've been functioning under isn't adequate and that I need to be much more careful!

[Cara in Boston]

Flour particles can stay airborn for hours and eventually settle all around your kitchen. I know we have big crocks of spoons and spatulas on our counters - these would all be potentially contaminated. Just avoiding the flour spills you see may not be enough.

We don't have a gluten free kitchen since only two of us require it but I no longer bake anything in the house with wheat flour. I'm just too lazy to re-clean EVERYTHING in the kitchen each time.

Other than sandwich bread and pasta, we don't really prepare any gluten-y food at home.

Good luck -

Cara

[rgarton]

Oh yeah definatly cross contaminated! I get that with airbounre flour if it is around, even cleaning it up gives me an attack! Maybe ask them to try making gluten-free bread, there are some great mixes out there and means you wont get zombified! They taste great too! x

[JenHarris]

Yep. Sounds like glutening to me. Just like my 'glutened' symptoms too. Fatigue, headache, brain fog followed by not wanting to get off the couch the next day. Cross contamination has got me from the peanut butter jar just a couple days ago (presumably from stray bread crumbs transferred), so I feel for you. Now we have his and hers peanut butter jars.

[jenngolightly]

My family still eats gluten, but we got rid of wheat flour the moment I was diagnosed. They can buy fresh bread or make a batch of gluten-free bread if they get the urge, but I don't want gluten floating around the house. It will get on your counters, floor, walls, mixer, dishes that were left out, sink, faucet, table, anything in the kitchen. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

[sandsurfgirl]

Your family has got to get rid of the flour for all the reasons stated. Try Gluten Free Pantry Basic White Bread Mix. it's super easy to make and tastes like a regular white bread. Kids will love it. Crumbs and flour are just poison to us and we can't deal with that in the home. I had to make my 3 year old gluten free because she was getting my son and me with her crumbs all the time.