Determining Sensitivity To Gluten

[mjennings]

Hi, I was diagnosed with Celiacs just a couple weeks ago. I also recently found out I have iron deficiency anemia, but other than that I've never experienced any symptoms associated with celiacs. I've been doing the gluten-free diet but I'm not sure how careful I should be. I know people have different levels of sensitivity, and that some people need to be super careful about cross contamination and stuff while others do not. Is there any way to determine how sensitive I am to gluten and how gluten-free my diet needs to be?

Also, even though I've never experienced any symptoms, will I feel better after keeping a gluten-free diet?

[mushroom]

Hello, and welcome to the board.

You may not necessarily feel any better today with a gluten free diet (although you could be surprised at little things that go away after a while that you had not realized were associated with gluten), but you will know that you are not doing things which will manifest themselves later in life and cause you great distress. For those who do not experience palpable symptoms from gluten, you have to realize that the gluten is neverthless at work in an insidious way, quietly doing its work (whatever it perceives that to be) and that it will manifest itself later in ways that will totally surprise you if you do not eliminate it -- things like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, lupus, colon cancers, gallbladder problems, osteoporosis (there are too many of them to list ). So yes, unfortunately, it is just as important for you to be careful as those who know they have been glutened; in fact even more careful as it will be harder for you to know when you are getting stray glutenings.

[strezzedout1979]

Honestly everyone is different... But the longer u go gluten free the harsher the side effects of being glutened become. For instance using a hair product or lotion containing wheat and having stomach cramps and diarrhea because of it... Trust me it may take a while to feel any different. U may notice just minor changes if anything at all. But seriously once u know u need to watch what u eat and use and what could happen to your body if u just go on as normal and treat yourself to something u feel like u are missing. It is absolutely worth it. Trust me! I was diagnosed, went gluten free but only after multiple surgeries and years of abdominal pain. Catching it early is a blessing!! =D

[mjennings]

What I'm wondering though is how far I need to go. Can I eat things that don't have wheat, wheat flour, etc. listed as an ingredient or can I only eat things that are explicitly labeled gluten free? I know distilled alcohol is generally considered gluten free but then I hear some people say they'll have a reaction to whiskey or vodka. Its just I look up stuff on these forums and there are some foods were 90% of the people say its safe to eat and then 1 or 2 people will say they have bad reactions to it and I don't know if it's okay for me to eat this stuff. How far do I need to go with the gluten-free diet?

[mushroom]

Fortunately, the supersensitives are a small percentage of celiacs. Most posters on here can eat foods that do not have any gluten ingredients, can drink distilled spirits, can safely eat out at restaurants with appropriate precautions. So I would say, do what a normally prudent celiac would do and don't go looking for problems that may not exist.. For peace of mind, after six months have the celiac test run again, and you will find out how well you are doing. If your antibodies are still high you will know you have to be stricter. If they have dropped down to normal or are much lower (some people take longer than 6 months to get to normal levels) you will know you are on the right path. You can then check again in 6 months to make sure you are doing what you should be.

[Lisa]

Fortunately, the supersensitives are a small percentage of celiacs. Most posters on here can eat foods that do not have any gluten ingredients, can drink distilled spirits, can safely eat out at restaurants with appropriate precautions. So I would say, do what a normally prudent celiac would do and don't go looking for problems that may not exist.. For peace of mind, after six months have the celiac test run again, and you will find out how well you are doing. If your antibodies are still high you will know you have to be stricter. If they have dropped down to normal or are much lower (some people take longer than 6 months to get to normal levels) you will know you are on the right path. You can then check again in 6 months to make sure you are doing what you should be.

Great reply, good advise.