What Do You Do When You Know A Reaction Is Coming?

[Katrala]

I'm a math/science teacher. I teach two different groups of kids - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

I was at recess yesterday and saw my 2nd class (which I hadn't had yet that day and included my son) headed to recess from some kind of outdoor project. Turns out it was making their own Play-Doh to use in a map of Egypt. And, of course, they were all covered in wheat flour. And, of course, it was 10 minutes before lunch.

I knew a child in that class had issues with gluten so my focus was immediately him/her. I made him/her wash up, trying to see where any traces were before he/she ate lunch. I cleaned myself up as well, but couldn't be 100% sure I had gotten everything.

Later I had kids coming to me for help with math and I saw on their hands white splotches of dried flour. My own child had flour on his shirt.

Sure enough, I was feeling it by mid-afternoon and I had one foot tingling (a new symptom, but has happened before) and I could feel the cloud descending over my brain and vision.

I just now (more than 24 hours later) ate dinner on a completely empty stomach (and I do mean COMPLETELY empty - no way anything is left.)

Last night I was afraid of a reaction and tried to drink extra water to avoid any attempts of dehydration just in case. But other than that I didn't know what to do.

If you are pretty sure you've been glutened - do you do anything in advance to combat it?

[pricklypear1971]

I tried some charcoal tablets from Walgreens the other day. Don't know if it was that or the homemade chicken soup but I recovered within 24 hours. I must admit it was a bit of a shock to feel sick (suspected cc) since stomach issues haven't been my thing but hey - things change.

I felt a little panicky and that went away, too. My dh "warning spot" rose up a bit, went down within 24 hours also.

[Jenniferxgfx]

That must have been like watching a car crash in slow motion-- a glutening was inevitable!

My right hand tingles when ive been glutened! It used to just be a twinge, but now it's all out numbness. (I wish I knew what was going on. Does anyone know?) as soon as that starts, I pop a pepto, and drain a bottle of water, and repeat in an hour. It seems to help a little tiny bit.

[AVR1962]

Activated charocoal and I do not even wait anymore to see if I am going to have a reaction. If I question something, like in your situation, I will take 6 tablets, each have 280 mg of charcoal. The bottle says 2 but I take 6, and it works wonders!

[Katrala]

I've never heard of charcoal tablets outside of ODing (and usually referencing drugs, etc.)

So it should absorb what I've just eaten?

[AVR1962]

I've never heard of charcoal tablets outside of ODing (and usually referencing drugs, etc.)

So it should absorb what I've just eaten?

The label says it is an internal cleaner not to be used in the case of poisoning and that combined with meds it can lessen the effectiveness of medications. Basically what it does is it absorbs and then it carries what it absorbs out of the body. It isn't able to just attack the gluten (unfortunately), it takes everything so I only use it when I have to as I am trying to keep the nutrients in my body. I am normally dizzy 3+ weeks after glutening,a slow progression of getting better, and by taking 6 tabs it will take me back to week 2or 3 in the process. Not an absolute answer but it does help alot. I still have to take my gasX but at least it seems to speed up the recovery.

[Michele Renee]

In March of this year I started getting real sick, headaches, sick to my stomach, tired, and I bloated up like I was 6-8 months pregnant. My back always killed me due to the bloating..I started going to the Doctor, we tried alot of different things, always in the ER and they all said I was constipated they had me taking so many things..It was unbelieveable..So someone said something about glutens..I started reading it and doing alot of research, I still have alot to learn but when I follow the diet NO GLUTENS at all. I feel great..I am close to losing my job because of this illness..I don't go out to resturaunts, familie's for dinner anymore..I eat at home, for work I take my homemade food..I was getting into the glutens at work, and I think its cause they totally didn't understand how important it was that I DONT get any..I got sick twice at work so now I stick to my own cooking.

[YoloGx]

I am finding that taking extra nattokinase, L-glutamine, probiotics, and now also some homeopathics really helps stop my otherwise inevitable migraine and sinus congestion after cross contamination with trace gluten. The homeopathic belladonna has helped, as has pulsatilla. Recently I got a formula by Hyland just for headaches in general, and it worked well. There are supposed to be homeopathic remedies for gluten--when I discover ones that are not made with alcohol I will let you know... For those that can't handle the lactose pills, there are remedies made with glycerin out there. I still need to look them up.

Meanwhile, I am making the commitment to constantly wash my hands and not to put my fingers to my face etc. It really helps!

And of course the water cure is good, as is getting as much exercise as possible when I feel up to it... And making green veggie smoothies with plenty of parsley and celery and (for me given my salicylate problems) iceburg lettuce.

In the old days I made dandelion root tea. Helps with the detoxing process quite a lot...

Bea

[areyoufreakingceliac?]

I take a couple Acidophilus capsules and tonnes of water! I have started taking it before eating out now just as a precaution. The charcoal is interesting though, might have to give it a try.

[ArtistinChina]

I know charcoal is cleaning but I can't find any in China yet. When I feel a reaction is coming, I get these signs: skin reaction, energy break down, belly aches. Then I lay down for as long as I need, drink warm water and eat nothing up until I feel I can swallow something. It is hard because I must reduce a lot my activities at the moment because I have recently find out about these problems. Before, I was just taking pills against rash, I was beating up myself to work no matter circomstances and feelings and I wash drinking lots of Perrier, thinking it was helpful for digestive problems.

I am right now giving a try with some chinese medecine although I know a balanced diet is the real key to problem. But then what happens with family's and friend's dinners? That thing is too new for me to know what ingredients are 'testing' negative ad positive in my body. It seems like I have identified a whole list in the last 2 months, but not all.

So yes, I hope I can find some charcoal to prevent any reaction to happen again.