Accidental Glutening?

[Rachel--24]

Hi,

I don't have a diagnosis yet...Enterolab results are at least 2 weeks away and in the meantime I'm suddenly having lots of problems. All I know is that when I was eating normally I lost alot of weight and was extremely ill. For the past 3 months I've been only eating meat, veggies, and fish and my health has improved so much. Unfortunately I keep having setbacks and I'm not sure whats causing them. All of a sudden my weight will drop again and my stools will start floating. I dont have alot of stomach pain though. I do get irritable, lethargic, depressed, muscle aches, fluid retention, burning eyes and I'll cry for no reason. I'll eat more than normal but still not be able to gain. This generally lasts for a couple weeks and then I'll start improving only to have it happen again. I've only been thinking about Celiac for a little over a week now. I'm trying to determine if I'm getting some gluten accidentally and if I am can it be causing my progress to decline so quickly? The only possibilities that come to mind are my skin/hair products (most contained wheat) or some ground turkey that I had bought which contained added spices. Would this turkey have been questionable for a Celiac? Also when I'm going through these symptoms my sensitivities to other foods seem to increase dramatically...but then calm down once I start to feel better. Does this sound like Celiac? I'm trying real hard to not contaminate myself but only recently found out about cosmetics and hair products causing problems. I've replaced alot of things already but dont want to replace everything until I get my test results. What do you guys think? Could it have been the turkey? I'm tired of going back and forth between my normal happy self to this person who just starts crying for no apparant reason.

Thanks,

-Rachel

[jenvan]

unfortunately, even meats can have gluten in them. you need to ck if there are added spices, or if the meat is frozen or cooked in broth etc. i have cked a couple of times on tyson's fresh/frozen ck and it is okay. ie: i had to ck b/c the package said the ckn was frozen in broth. they verified the broth was gluten-free. to answer your question, call the manufacturer of that turkey and ask them if it is gluten-free.

products, even things we don't intentionally eat can "gluten" us and need to be eliminated if they contain wheat, barley, oats or rye. ck your shampoos, body washes, lipstick, face soaps, facial and body lotions, foundation, lip gloss, chapstick, lipliners...

i see you have replaced some of your products, but want to wait on your results... i understand, replacing was expensive and annoying for me! your results sound like they could be from being glutened as a celiac. i would suggest 2 things--eliminate all the non gluten-free products, even just till you get the results if you can. just keep it simple on what you're using. and 2nd, start a journal--right down what you eat and what questionable products you are using. that has helped me track accidents and reactions. you will hopefully notice a pattern or some causes.

hope your results come back soon!! --good luck!

[Rachel--24]

Jenvan,

Thanks for your response. I've been calling companies and checking labels...its all still new so I'm still finding things that contain gluten. Yesterday I found out my blush had oat flour in it. I was thinking..what are the chances of this blush getting into my mouth? I've been very symptomatic the past few days and I remembered that I had shed some tears a couple days ago which rolled down my cheeks into my mouth plus I wiped them away with my hands. I was wearing the blush at the time and my symptoms worsened shortly after that. I guess I could have glutened myself that way?? If my tests are positive I will probably only use the Bare Essentuals products which I understand are gluten-free although expensive. Checking labels all the time is not too fun...especially when your eyes are burning and blurry.

Thanks again,

-Rachel

[skbird]

Other than the weight loss, your experience is almost exactly like mine. I went through Enterolab and am not Celiac but have autoimmune gluten intolerance. I especially identify with the crying for no reason and increased food sensitivities. I am still trying to work my way back into eating dairy after being glutened two weeks ago by Tums! It doesn't take much and it does a number on me, usually two weeks, sometimes less. The worst is the second or third day, then I start to feel better and eat more normal foods (for me at least) and then I set myself back by eating something that is borderline, like fruit or chocolate or dairy. Or fried food. Best thing for me is to try to eat minimally like quinoa cereal (hot) for breakfast, things like yams, meats, eggs, and well cooked non-gassy veggies or fruit. Also rice. It's hard because I crave junk foods, too.

Anyway, you are not alone with your symptoms, I think many of us are like this. Take care and consider getting new shampoos, etc. because any of that can get in your body and make things worse or even affect you through your skin (many people here have reported this happening). Better to be overly-cautious about that!

Stephanie

[Rachel--24]

Thanks Stephanie,

I'm eliminating everything that can possibly contain gluten...shampoo and all that stuff. I wanted to find out about the turkey I ate but there was no manufacturer # or anything on the package. It just said natural flavors & spice extracts added. I'm just going to assume it contained gluten because I think I remember seeing those on the list of ingredients that aren't ok. Its been over a week now but I still have symptoms but of course I probably glutened myself again with my make-up and the symptoms are overlapping each other.

-Rachel

[jenvan]

rachel-

with this whole 'glutening' thing--all i know is i am constantly amazed at contamination and what strange ways it seems we can get 'glutened'. it seems like no way is impossible! the longer i'm gluten-free, the more strict i seem to get. makeup can be expensive. bare escentuals lipstick is $15 where i buy it from sephora.com. i'm not sure if they're cheaper, but what about kiss my face? i know most of their stuff is gluten-free--they have a list of non-gluten-free products. benefit says all their lipsticks are gluten-free, although they aren't much cheaper. until you get your results you could buy one tube or just get some kind-of colored type chapstick to wear in the meantime. i'll be honest, my eyes have really been opened to the other ingredients in our makeup after going gluten-free--carcinogens, awful chemicals--i've been amazed! i've decided to gradually eliminate and go with chemical-free/natural products. it certainly won't hurt! i have been trying to replace my body wash (used to use bath and body works) and found this great stuff---california baby. they have all chemical, gluten and casein free products--body washes, shampoos, lotions... i get it today--excited to try it.

so there was no info on the turkey package? i feel like there has to be name somewhere--but i could be wrong. i had some ground pork once i needed to ck and the only name on the package was Cargill (one of the largest meat producers/distributors in the country). --there wasn't really a 'brand name' but the distributor. read the fine print and you might find it. i took me a little while to finally find that name. hang in there girl!

[Rachel--24]

Thanks again

I think the main reason I'm not in a hurry to buy new stuff is that I'm scared to get my hopes up about my test results. It does seem alot like celiac disease but you never know...if its not I'm not sure where that will leave me and right now I cant afford to lose any more weight.

Is the Bare Essentuals stuff also chemical free as well as gluten-free?

I've seen the California Baby stuff mentioned in other posts...where do you get that from? I'm near San Francisco and I think there is a Bare Essentuals store there so I know I can get the make-up there. There is a Sephora store even closer to me but I've never been there...do they sell Bare Essentuals at Sephora?

Do you ever get glutened by accident and if so how long does it take to recover? Seems like it takes me awhile to start absorbing my food again so for the time being no matter how much I eat its not gonna help.

-Rachel

[Kasey'sMom]

Hi Rachel,

I use Bare Minerals and California Baby. Bare Minerals are wonderful and free of many irritating chemicals. I have supper sensitive skin and have done great with the prodcuts. I order my make-up online.

I found a food co-op where I can order the California Baby at a discount price. You might check to see if there's one in your area. I've really saved a great deal $$$ on my gluten-free products also. California Baby also has a website you can order from as well.

I used to use Tyson ground turkey but everytime my daughter ate it she would get sick. I was sure it had gluten but I contacted the company but it only contained a spice. My dd wasn't allergic to the spice but for some reason she couldn't tolerate the meat. I switched brands and now we're using Shelton ground turkey. We like it really well.....

[Matilda]

..

[Guest nini]

Rachel, I have to agree with Matilda. Don't wait on your test results to replace things, and don't be so dependent on what they say. Listen to your body. Your body is trying to tell you what the problem is, you know when your feeling better, and worse... just trust your instincts. The medical community is unfortunately not as informed as they need to be on this subject and you are lucky if you find a dr. that is supportive of your choice to go gluten-free. (in the absence of positive test results)... My advice. Go ahead and get on with feeling better. Don't wait for your test results. Regardless of what your test results are, you know you have a problem with Gluten. Some people are just more sensitive than others. You may just be intolerant to Gluten, and this won't show up in tests... good luck.

[jenvan]

Rachel-

Yes, Bare Escentuals is really 'chemical-free'.... some of their products do contain a sunscreen (titanium dixoide), but that seems to be a lesser evil to me than other things... I do not know about their skincare line, only their makeup. And I believe that not all their skincare is gluten-free anyway. So I've only switched to their lipsticks and face powder. I like it because it has corn starch instead of talc in it. Bare Escentuals is at Sephora. I am so jealous you have one nearby! Everytime I go out of town I look up to see if there is a sephora there

California Baby, you can ck them out here: Open Original Shared Link It seems like they've done a lot of research on chemicals and have tried to elminate most of them. I have other issues like psorasis on my scalp that I just can't seem to get rid of--so I'm sure these products have to be better for me, at least less irritating. This talks about their ingredients and philosophy: Open Original Shared Link

I was glutened last month--I accidentally had soy sauce--when I thought it was balsamic vinegar in a dressing. I literally put in on my tongue, realized what it was and then spit it out, wiped off my tongue. The next day I started to feel crappy and the next week I had major brain fog, was terribly exhausted and had a horrible headache. As I said before, I am still figuring out just how sensitive I am--as I didn't have the 'typical' type symptoms before going gluten-free--I could eat a bowl of pasta and not feel naseau, get cramps or diarrhea.

I understand not wanting to revamp your whole life yet...but try and be vigilant before you get the results--keep your food and products as simple as possible. And even if the results come back negative, your body may still be telling you 'no gluten!', as some have said here...

Take care--have a good weekend!

[Rachel--24]

Thanks everyone for your replies

Matilda, after reading your post I got a little teary because I know that everything you wrote is true. I have completely relied on conventional medicine for the past 2 years trusting that they could "fix" me. I had never been sick before this happened...rarely even caught a cold.

I didn't even realize food had anything to do with my symptoms for a very long time....until a dentist told me I might have Candida.

When I really went strict on this diet 3 months ago the improvement was so tremendous and I was happy...I expected it to continue. Instead I go back and forth and yes...I do seem to have lots of other intolerances.

I'm also a little wary of the validity in Enterolab results. Seems like everyone gets a positive so like you mentioned its highly likely I'll come back +. I'm mainly wanting to find out if I have the Celiac gene...can they make a mistake about that? I'm not sure if a positive for gluten intolerance will have me convinced. My problems seem so severe (been on disibility since it started). I'm not trying to minimize the effects of gluten intolerance in any way and I'm not exactly sure what the difference is anyways. Can intolerance cause such drastic weight loss and symptoms of malabsorption the same as Celiac?

I am as far as I know totally gluten-free for about a week because I've changed hair products and I'm trusting the cosmetic companies that I've called and have told me their products are safe. I'm not noticing any dramatic changes but maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. Only 3 months ago I was unable to get out of bed or do simple tasks...I changed my diet and felt worse for about a week (withdrawl?). Then all of a sudden I had sooo much energy and no brainfog. I've been functioning ever since but still have bad days. I guess I should be thankful I'm in a totally different place then I was 3 months back.

I'm hoping I do have celiac disease because it will answer so many questions...I'm also much more afraid of Candida then I am of having celiac disease. Thing is I cant even seem to eat any of the good gluten-free foods that are out there. I can only stick to the meats and veggies. Maybe this is because of intestinal damage? I just dont know. Some people talk about how once they stopped gluten they were normal again in a weeks time..totally symptom free...that is definately not happening here.

I'm going to stay gluten-free indefinately regardless of what the results are but I am relying on the gene test to rule Celiac either in or out. I know I already asked this but can they make a mistake with this? Also is it possible once going gluten-free symptoms can be more severe when there is an accident (you mentioned you feel worse since gluten-free)?

Jenvan,

Wow...you got all of those symptoms even after spitting out the sauce and wiping your tongue! I'm like you in that I don't get the "typical" symptoms either...I think things would be easier to figure out if I did get the diarreah or cramps. So symptoms can show up a week later? I think that may be what is going on with me and I just never could figure anything out because of the delay in symptoms and also the fact that they are not short-lived.

For now I've made sure all my make-up is gluten-free but I'm definately going to get the Bare Esentuals and California Baby products regardless of my test results because they're chemical free (I'm sensitive to chemicals). Thanks for all the info on these products! I'm actually excited about going to Sephora (probably till I see the prices).

Thanks again to all the great people on this board...regardless if I have Celiac or not I'm sooo glad I found this forum!

-Rachel