What's My Sensitivity?

[HelenaHandbasket]

Over a year ago, I had an extreme flareup of joint pain. My knees were the worst. I was wearing braces and using a cane. I thought I had lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. I had every possible fix there could be, cortisone shots, antiinflammatories, etc. No tests came back positive, so nobody really knew what I had, and nothing helped the pain go away. In my desperation, I tried every possible fix I could find on the internet and when I hit on gluten free and tried it, ALL THE PAIN WENT AWAY! It was insane, I couldn't believe it. Thankful, but still, I couldn't believe it. I've been good since and been staying gluten free for the most part. While being gluten free, I also noticed that I don't have the excessive flatulence I always used to have. I just thought I was a gassy person and never attributed it to eating gluten.

So here's my question. I have found that I can eat a little bit of gluten with no repercussions. Bread still gives me mega gas, so I stay away from that completely. Oatmeal doesn't bother me at all and pasta doesn't seem to give me any gas. If I really go off the wagon, I notice my fingers toes start getting a little stiff and sore again, so I know there's some kind of problem. Have I been strict gluten free for a year for nothing, or have I healed something or do I have a particular allergy to something specific and not all glutens, possibly? I don't like restricting my diet for nothing, but I'll die if the joint pain ever comes back. Just wondering what kind of approach I should take.

[Bubba's Mom]

Gluten can cause many different symptoms. It's one of the reasons it's hard to get a diagnosis.

Since your reaction is joint pain, you may not see an immediate and severe response after eating small amounts of it.

Those of us with digestive reactions get instant symptoms.

If you are Celiac or gluten intollerant, it's best to keep every trace of it out of your diet. Eating it will cause inflamotory reactions in your body, causing damage. Over time, the effects of inflamation can kick off other diseases, all pretty severe.

In my own personal case I had a laundry list of symptoms, none severe enough for a Dr. to think to test me. It was only when my intestinal damage became so severe that I couldn't eat and was in constant pain that it was obvious something was very wrong.

I hate to say it, but Dr.'s are trained to treat symptoms rather than look for causes of them. They are most likely to write a prescription to alleviate the pain, or similar. By going gluten free you can get rid of the CAUSE. Isn't that a lot better than having your bones degenerate until you're crippled and on heavy pain meds?

[HelenaHandbasket]

So even though it appears that I can tolerate it in small amounts, you are saying I'd be better off keeping it out completely? I guess that was what I was getting at. I really hate being a hundred percent gluten free, but if that's what it takes to feel good, then I'll keep to it. I'm still not completely sure what I'm sensitive to. Could it be just wheat and not all gluten? What might be the differences in symptoms if it were merely an allergy vs a gluten intolerance?

For instance, pasta, for some crazy reason, doesn't appear to bother me, not sure why. Different kind of wheat? Bread does me in. This is very difficult to sort out.

[Bubba's Mom]

Unfortunately, "gluten light" doesn't work. You must be completely gluten free in order to prevent the inflamation that causes your symptoms. Even things like pasta, that don't seem to give you a strong reaction should be avoided. Damage is happening, but you just aren't seeing it. It will be cumlutive though.

Switch to a rice or quinoa based pasta so you can still have your favorite recipes. Smash up Rice Chex cereal to make meatloaf..there are ways to go without gluten and still eat well..in fact if you stick with eating more fruits and veggies, lean meats, and dairy the diet is very healthy.

If you have doubts, write down a list of all symptoms you may have, go completely gluten free for 6 months and see if any of symptoms are gone? if they are...you have your gluten answer.