How Long For A Reaction?

concernedmamma · August 4, 2011

Okay. So tonite, we made a HUGE mistake and grabbed a bag of pizza crust from the freezer, made the boys their pizzas and watched them chow down........ then looked more closely and they were eating WHOLE WHEAT pizza crusts!!!!!!!! They were over half way done, we figured the damage was done and let them finish their pizzas.......... Now we are waiting for the blow outs...... literally.

Gotta say I am surprised, though- they ate around 6pm, went to bed around 830. It is now 10pm and no complaints of tummy pain, no trips to the bathroom. How long does a reaction take? I am confused because there are many times that we think Jacob is reacting to something- due to diarrhea, complaints of tummy pain, etc. However, it must be traces as we are very careful about his food, cross contamination, etc. SO, if he hasn't had ANY reaction to speak of so far after eating whole wheat pizza, are these episodes of diarrhea and tummy pain really related to gluten? Or could it be some other food reaction.

Please don't get me wrong- i KNOW they can't have gluten. I KNOW reactions can vary. I am not using this as an excuse to feed him gluten or become lax on his/their diet. Just wondering if what we thought were gluten reactions may be something els. Also wondering what is a 'typical' length of time between eating gluten and symptoms.

Thanks!

Kim, Momma to 4 wonderful kids-Rebecca (age 7, two negative blood tests, no symptoms), Jacob- (age 6, celiac blood work positive, confirmed by biopsy March 2010), Gabe (age 6, Down Syndrome, celiac blood work positive July 2011, mommy refused the biopsy), and Susanna, (age 2, no testing, no symptoms)

Mizzo · August 4, 2011

We had a simlar situation happen with spaghetti. Our DD had a reaction 6 hours later which was severe tummy pain for 2 hours then bed with no other side effects and nothing the next day.

Usually when I suspect cc it's followed within an hour or so with moderate tummy pain and diarhhea for a day or two, but not with the spaghetti. ????

I am confused as well.

Can't wait to hear responses.

BTW has anyone noticed a similarity between side effects and what specific food the gluten was consumed from??

concernedmamma · August 6, 2011

Well, just a quick update........ no GI reaction AT ALL. We didn't tell them that we had made a mistake. Didn't want to cause undue anxiety. Bathroom events have been 'normal', no complaints of headache or tummy ache. Yesterday Jacob was super tired and emotionally sensitive, but that was several days after the glutening episode, so hard to say if it is related or not.

Very weird. I am confused now.

nmlove · August 6, 2011

Everyone's different. I have a really hard time sensing if my kids are cross-contaminated. Now, they haven't eaten whole wheat pizza so I can't compare with that but on occasion I notice some behavior change or a poop change and wonder, is this from gluten? But that can really drive me crazy so I try not to worry about it much - unless the symptoms were to continue. The only time I've noticed a problem was after continued, daily exposure of small amounts of gluten in something that was supposed to be gluten-free (Trader Joe's rice milk). Even then, the boys went months drinking that before they started acting like they did prior to diagnosis and by then their ttg levels were way up again. So if they're not reacting, don't sweat it. It was a mistake and it happens. Just get back on track. Be thankful they didn't get too sick!

Notso · August 8, 2011

I had a similar experience last month. A relative had brought us muffins and gluten-free muffins and I gave our daughter the wrong one. She had no reaction for a day and a half. Then, we had four solid days of GI issues. I know it was the only gluten she had consumed. celiac disease is so odd.

RideAllWays · August 8, 2011

This is happening to me right now. I usually know right away when I've been glutened, because I bloat and feel sharp pains in my stomach about half an hour after eating the food, and the GI symptoms come a few hours later. But I just started a gluten challenge yesterday and have eaten large amounts, and while I still got the bloating and cramping nothing else has happened.. I was expecting a hugely violent reaction. Maybe the reactions are delayed? Did you notice anything a few days later with your kids?