Had Some Gluten, But Feel Fine?

[Jennifer2]

Hi everyone

I was diagnosed 2 years ago, and have been gluten-free since.

I went out with a friend yesterday and we went to get dessert. I ordered a Hot fudge sundae and told the waitress I have celiac, she checked the gluten-free menu and yes the hot fudge sundae is on the menu.

When she brought it out, it had a brownie on the bottom of it. I said "I can't eat this", she said "it's on the gluten free menu", I said "this is a gluten free brownie", she said "its on the gluten free menu", I asked again, "this is a gluten free brownie" she said "yes, it's on the gluten free menu".

Then the waitress walked away and I had 2 bites of sundae with brownie, when the manager came rushing over. Yep, not gluten free. (The waitress had checked on the hot fudge sundae, which is gluten free, but accidentally pushed the button for brownie sunday, not gluten free). They brought me the real hot fudge sundae (gluten free) and comped us both the desserts, plus my friend's little boy got to have the brownie one.

So, I expected to feel sick or something but felt fine the rest of the day, and feel fine today. In one way I'm glad. It makes accidental glutenings easier if I don't get sick (especially when we were 2 hours away from home!) On the other hand, I've always counted on getting sick if I was accidentally glutened-sort of a warning signal. I've always been proud that I'm really carefull and never got sick, but now I'm concerned that maybe I have had glutenings and just didn't know it.

Do most of you have symptoms, or are there folks that don't feel anything?

I know I still need to be very careful, I won't use not getting sick as an excuse to cheat.

Jennifer

[kareng]

That sounds lucky for you!

Maybe for you it will be more a cumulative effect. If you have a bit today and a bit tommorow, then maybe it will be enough to get you. Maybe you just got lucky and it slid thru when your immune system was busy with something else. Who knows?

[ravenwoodglass]

You may be lucky and have limited effects. There was a time when doctors thought celiac was outgrown but we now realize it isn't. It can take a while for symptoms to show up once someone goes back to eating gluten, not that I think that is what you are going to do.

It is also possible that you will have a delayed reaction. It takes about 3 days for gut symptoms to show up in me.

Do be just as careful as you have been previously and I will cross my fingers for you that you either will not have a reaction or that it will be mild.

[love2travel]

I was gluten-free for several months before going back on it for my gluten challenge. During my challenge I pigged out on all kinds of delicious gluten-filled things and never got sick in the three months I was on it. Following my positive diagnosis for celiac disease I was accidentally glutened by hidden gluten a couple of months ago and nothing. No symptoms at all. Many people say that once off gluten for a longer period of time, when glutened they feel it more acutely. I have been off gluten almost exactly three months now again and feel exactly the same. No differences at all.

Believe me, I am thrilled I do not get sick from it BUT it can be tricky as I do not know whether I get glutened or not. I am extremely cautious with every single morsel that goes into my mouth and with everything that I touch.

So, I am technically a silent celiac which means I do not exhibit symptoms of getting sick. I do, however, have other worrisome issues such as three miscarriages and chronic insomnia that I attribute to celiac.

It is amazing how gluten affects us all in such different ways!

[IrishHeart]

I'd say you dodged a major bullet (hooray!) (boo! on the careless waitress )

If I get accidentally glutened now (I'm over 5 months gluten-free) I have a reaction about an hour later--like I have narcolepsy --absolutely pass out exhausted and cannot keep my eyes open. Like I have been drugged.

This is strange, considering one of my major celiac symptoms (before going gluten-free) was raging INSOMNIA!

[Lisa]

That sounds lucky for you!

Maybe for you it will be more a cumulative effect. If you have a bit today and a bit tommorow, then maybe it will be enough to get you. Maybe you just got lucky and it slid thru when your immune system was busy with something else. Who knows?

I react cumulatively. But have been gluten free for six years. Everyone is different.

[Skylark]

I have REALLY variable reactions. My doctor says people's level of gluten sensitivity can really change, either with more or less sensitivity.

I got the wrong crackers at Trader Joes, ate one, and thought "waitaminute... that tastes like wheat". I checked the label, and sure enough I had just eaten an entire whole wheat cracker. I had no reaction at all. Not even anxiety. I was shocked.

In contrast, I've gotten totally sick with D for six hours from potato skins CC'd in a shared fryer they didn't tell me about until I had eaten two pieces. I've also gotten sick eating grapes and cheese on a buffet, even though the cheese was separate from the dish of crackers and I checked my piece for crumbs.

[Niebr]

That is very lucky indeed. I still get symptoms, which are not bad, (nausea, aches, eye twitching, and overall malaise) but i get knocked down for a week I just don't feel like doing anything, and I'm extremely moody when glutened).

im only about 5 months in, so i have clue if anything could have changed, but im not willing to attempt,