Purposely Glutened

[Leper Messiah]

I don't know why but I have found my cravings for sugar, chocolate, bread etc have gone. I used to eat tons of the stuff and had to have it but now I don't feel any need to have these...even if there was a wonder cure for celiac tomorrow. I think it lends itself a lot to the sugar/carb addiction/epidemic the modern world is facing. Perhaps celiac is evolutions way of saying no, I dunno, but I'm happy eating a lot more restrictive but abundantly healthier diet.

[sahm-i-am]

I cheated on purpose because I didn't believe I had Celiac. It was 9 months after being totally gluten free. I never had any gi symptoms before diagnosis and wasn't sure if I would have them afterwards. Because I was initially diagnosed with lymphoma and then changed to Celiac I was a nervous wreck that I had silent Celiac and would never know if gluten was sneaking in somehow and then that would lead to real lymphoma in the future. I wanted to see how I reacted to gluten so I would know when I was glutened. Does that make sense? So, I made a nice Pillsbury Grand Cinnamon Roll and ate it. I was ready for anything so when I was vomiting 2 hours later it wasn't a big surprise. But now I know. It was confirmed for me. Stupid to some, yes. But for me at that point it was essential to my mental health and it helped me deal with my diagnosis - yes, I really have a reaction to gluten.

I have NEVER done that again, but I have had accidental glutens by well-meaning friends and family and the reaction is the same.

So, you ate your cookies and donuts and felt sick - don't do it again, ok? Not worth opening up your immune system to a thousand other problems. We are just learning how to deal with celiac disease - imagine having other auto-immune diseases or diabetes or even cancer! Keep healthy; avoid gluten.

Wendi

[glutenfreemamax2]

Well, I will have to say, I'm STILL suffering. It's been how long?! I'm so constipated, even my veggie soup clean out didnt work. As much as i live donuts and cookies, I will be sure to get the gluten-free version next time. Still suffering plantar facitis (?) and muscle spasms, as well as mental fog and depresson. It has never lasted this long before. Yuck!

[Monklady123]

No.

I have no desire to feel that bad. I LOVE pizza, brownies, and chewy bread. But not even those can tempt me. And, I can find good substitutes if I really want to.

No.

[Poppi]

I've been tempted but I still haven't actually given in.

I don't have an "official" diagnosis so I keep thinking that maybe once I've been 1 year gluten free I'll have a croissant or an egg roll or a burger from my favourite burger place and see what happens.

I'm pretty sure I won't do that to myself though. I am far too scared of being sick.

[RacerX35]

I don't cheat and really have now inclination to. Whenever I have had some gluten,,,,,,, it usually ends (I am epileptic, possible due to gluten) with me having multiple mild seizures over a day or two, mostly just one day. This keeps me from wanting to cheat and eat. I drive my kids to school on my way to work. The whole roundtrip is about 70-75 mailes a day. I mean, I do look long and hard at fresh baked sourdough bread and love the aroma and all that stuff. I just think of my consequences and the thought goes straight out of my head.

Later,

Ray

[sandsurfgirl]

I am afraid of crumbs. My daughter ate some cookies when my husband took the kids out the other day. She came home and hugged me, kissed me and then drank my water and he forgot to tell me she'd been eating gluten. But the big D and the run to the toilet told me all I needed to know.

I would never cheat. Never, ever, never, ever. There is no food on this planet that is worth the stuff that happens to me if I'm glutened.

The thing that I don't get is that you are so angry at your husband for not understanding and putting you in situations that you might get glutened and then you gluten yourself massively like this. I'm not sure that you have sent him the right message. If I was the non-celiac spouse, especially with how contentious your marriage seems to be, I'd be pissed if I was griped at about eating pizza and gluten and then my wife went nuts with donuts.

I'm not judging you because it's not me that has to suffer, but it's a thought I had and it's something you might want to consider.

[aeraen]

No, not at all. And believe me, I'm not one to give up my Krispy Kremes lightly!

Indeed, I find it odd that I am able to stay on the straight and narrow when it comes to gluten, but can't keep off the sugar to save my life. I wish sugar did to me what gluten did. I'd have a bod like a super-model!

[cougie23]

No, not at all. And believe me, I'm not one to give up my Krispy Kremes lightly!

Indeed, I find it odd that I am able to stay on the straight and narrow when it comes to gluten, but can't keep off the sugar to save my life. I wish sugar did to me what gluten did. I'd have a bod like a super-model!

I hear you about the sugar...Google "the health benifits of dates"! I have been eating dates....they are very sweet and satisfing...they heal the intestines..have lots of fiber...and are amazing for the intestinal tract...not to mention the vitemens and antioxidents!

Not to mention NATUTAL...the key to a GOOD celiacs diet is staying away from PROSSESED food...finding good subtitudes to satisfy our cravings but at the same time give us nutreints and heal our selves from all the damage caused by said PROSSESED food!!! WE CAN DO IT!!! LOL...we just have to get creative! DON'T DENY YOUR SELVES>>>FIND SOMETHING BETTER!!! LOL!!!

Honey..Dates...Coconut...Cinimom...GET CREATIVE...or you can cheat and go over to the food thread and see whats cooking over there those gals are great!!!

[sandsurfgirl]

I hear you about the sugar...Google "the health benifits of dates"! I have been eating dates....they are very sweet and satisfing...they heal the intestines..have lots of fiber...and are amazing for the intestinal tract...not to mention the vitemens and antioxidents!

That is interesting because I was craving dates awhile back and had started eating them. I ran out and quit but now I think I'll buy some more.

[crampy girl]

Hi there. Yip. Same boat here. I don't get a consistent reaction. I broke down and are 2 pieces of the yummiest pizza ever and for horrible reflux and gas and now I'm C. It's not consistently a bad enough reaction to keep me off of it. It sometimes has to build up for a while before my body will cave into an episode of complete D, cramping, out of commission and anxiety. Plus my biopsy and blood tests were neg so that makes me want to cheat even more. I love gluten and when I'm on vacation and can't find enough carbs I cheat.

When I do have my bad 3 day episodes I don't cheat for weeks after. I'm still not convinced its all gluten related. I wish I knew more people with my same symptoms that could say they are 100% better w strict gluten free. I might be convinced.

[sandsurfgirl]

Hi there. Yip. Same boat here. I don't get a consistent reaction. I broke down and are 2 pieces of the yummiest pizza ever and for horrible reflux and gas and now I'm C. It's not consistently a bad enough reaction to keep me off of it. It sometimes has to build up for a while before my body will cave into an episode of complete D, cramping, out of commission and anxiety. Plus my biopsy and blood tests were neg so that makes me want to cheat even more. I love gluten and when I'm on vacation and can't find enough carbs I cheat.

When I do have my bad 3 day episodes I don't cheat for weeks after. I'm still not convinced its all gluten related. I wish I knew more people with my same symptoms that could say they are 100% better w strict gluten free. I might be convinced.

If you cheat regularly I'm not sure you've given yourself a nice long time of being totally gluten free to know if it will help. I understand why you would cheat, but it's not helping you in the long run.

[Sarah P]

Anyone have thoes few things that you can't resist? My dh brought dunkin donuts munchkins for the kids. When no one was looking I ate like 5. them after dinner no one was around and I found nutter butter cookies stashed. I had 8 :-(. Now I'm having gi symptoms as well as neurological. And sleep- forget it. It was so not worth it in retrospect, but at the time it tasted so good.

Anyone have thoes things you can't resist, no matter how sick they make you?

Ummm, wow I really envy all these people posting that are able to never give in. I am with you though, being around my husband and children that can eat what they want when they want makes me give into temptation. I guess maybe it's because even after going gluten free I still don't feel that great, so every once in a while I just do what I want. When I am in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner sometimes I will sneak a bite of mac and cheese or nuggets. We are working on going 100% gluten free in the house but couldn't afford to throw all our food out.

I get super sick every time I do this but I have yet to have it sink in. If you ever need to commiserate I will be here to listen.

[sandsurfgirl]

Ummm, wow I really envy all these people posting that are able to never give in. I am with you though, being around my husband and children that can eat what they want when they want makes me give into temptation. I guess maybe it's because even after going gluten free I still don't feel that great, so every once in a while I just do what I want. When I am in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner sometimes I will sneak a bite of mac and cheese or nuggets. We are working on going 100% gluten free in the house but couldn't afford to throw all our food out.

I get super sick every time I do this but I have yet to have it sink in. If you ever need to commiserate I will be here to listen.

It's not really about being able to never give in. It's that I get so sick for so long if I get accidentally glutened I live in fear of gluten. I have a fear of crumbs getting me. I literally could not eat gluten on purpose for any reason. I suffered for 40 years before diagnosis. I lost so much of my life and my dreams because of undiagnosed celiac. Two horrific pregnancies and my son being born early because intestinal problems caused early contractions. Celiac destroyed so much of my life I literally could not put a piece of gluten in my mouth without having a nervous breakdown.

My son was such a sick baby and toddler and he wasn't diagnosed until he was 6 years old. Seizures, behavior problems, constant vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains and getting every virus that went around. We had so many ER trips for that child. When he was diagnosed his life changed dramatically. He won't ever touch gluten either because he has suffered enough in his life.

If it makes you that sick and you still cheat, I think you might consider therapy. I am not being snarky or mean. It's just that, it's a level of self destruction and sabotage that I would want to examine. Maybe you didn't suffer as much as we did or it doesn't make you as sick, but to intentionally harm yourself is not good and you need to find ways to not do that to yourself.

[Happytobefree]

Wow.

Treat yourself to a gluten-free candy bar or a carton of gluten-free icecream. You can do the same type of unhealthy eating with out the glutening yourself, if it makes you feel better. At the least keep gluten free junk around to pull out in emergencies. You can walk off candy bars but you won't be walking if you keep this up.

- Happytobefree

[Monklady123]

It's not really about being able to never give in. It's that I get so sick for so long if I get accidentally glutened I live in fear of gluten. I have a fear of crumbs getting me. I literally could not eat gluten on purpose for any reason. I suffered for 40 years before diagnosis. I lost so much of my life and my dreams because of undiagnosed celiac. Two horrific pregnancies and my son being born early because intestinal problems caused early contractions. Celiac destroyed so much of my life I literally could not put a piece of gluten in my mouth without having a nervous breakdown.

My son was such a sick baby and toddler and he wasn't diagnosed until he was 6 years old. Seizures, behavior problems, constant vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains and getting every virus that went around. We had so many ER trips for that child. When he was diagnosed his life changed dramatically. He won't ever touch gluten either because he has suffered enough in his life.

If it makes you that sick and you still cheat, I think you might consider therapy. I am not being snarky or mean. It's just that, it's a level of self destruction and sabotage that I would want to examine. Maybe you didn't suffer as much as we did or it doesn't make you as sick, but to intentionally harm yourself is not good and you need to find ways to not do that to yourself.

I was thinking the same thing about therapy. Also not meaning to be snarky...but it's not that those of us who have said we can resist are "superior" or anything -- although that was the tone of one of the previous replies -- it's just that if it makes me really sick then I have NO desire to do it. When I was dieting I would cheat, because I knew I could either make up for it by exercising extra, or eating salads and lean chicken the next day, or just sucking it up and admitting the extra pounds and doing better the next time. But none of that really caused me to suffer. Eating gluten does. And I have no desire to suffer.

Just my two cents.

[sandsurfgirl]

I was thinking the same thing about therapy. Also not meaning to be snarky...but it's not that those of us who have said we can resist are "superior" or anything -- although that was the tone of one of the previous replies -- it's just that if it makes me really sick then I have NO desire to do it. When I was dieting I would cheat, because I knew I could either make up for it by exercising extra, or eating salads and lean chicken the next day, or just sucking it up and admitting the extra pounds and doing better the next time. But none of that really caused me to suffer. Eating gluten does. And I have no desire to suffer.

Just my two cents.

Exactly. The tone did sound like it was implying that we think we're superior. Believe me I have better things to do than post to people's threads on this board but the reason I'm here is to help others and get support for myself. Cheating is dangerous. Period.

[WhenDee]

You are getting some really interesting replies from people who apparently have much worse gluten problems than you do.

I will liken this to my problems with dairy. I KNOW that it gives me gut problems & acne. Is my face clear right now? NO. I have about five knots on my face because I just CAN'T HELP MYSELF. And this morning even the dog ran away as I'm sitting on the couch polluting the atmosphere with my stomach problems...

With gluten, there's no way. No temptation is worth getting a migraine and looking nine months pregnant for a week and feeling like I've been drugged for a few days.

But with dairy? Ugh.

If gluten for you doesn't invoke a really serious reaction, I can totally understand why you have trouble like this. Unfortunately, it is doing so much harm to your body. So much more harm than my dairy does.

I wish you the best in not giving in - but don't get too "down" on yourself. Every day you go gluten free is a success. Focus on that, and not on when you slip up.

[bumblebee-carnival]

I was thinking the same thing about therapy. Also not meaning to be snarky...but it's not that those of us who have said we can resist are "superior" or anything -- although that was the tone of one of the previous replies -- it's just that if it makes me really sick then I have NO desire to do it. When I was dieting I would cheat, because I knew I could either make up for it by exercising extra, or eating salads and lean chicken the next day, or just sucking it up and admitting the extra pounds and doing better the next time. But none of that really caused me to suffer. Eating gluten does. And I have no desire to suffer.

Just my two cents.

I normally lurk here, but I wanted to chime in with agreement. I've been gluten-free for about a month and had I not been in pain and so completely miserable, there is no way I would have stuck to it even this long. To be perfectly blunt, it sucks. It sucks to be the one who can't just grab a sandwich or wrap on the run. It sucks to have to read every single label looking for hidden allergens. It sucks that I can't have stuffing tomorrow and it sucks that I won't get to have Christmas cookies in a month. And yeah, there are gluten-free alternatives, but they are so expensive and they rarely taste just right.

BUT

What sucks worse is waking up with horrible cramps an hour after falling asleep, sitting in the bathroom thinking I'm going to pass out from the pain and dehydration, the anxiety that controlled my life for so long, the constant fatigue, the hair loss, the horribly aching joints (I thought at 35 I was getting arthritis in my knees), the anemia (I have ulcerative colitis, too) and on and on and on.

I'm not some super disciplined health fanatic and I don't think I'm better then anyone else. IMO, breaking the physical hold gluten has over us is easier then breaking the mental hold. So many of our celebrations, get togethers and family time revolve around food. Almost every party in most cultures could be called, "Come over and let's eat!" I just decided that the pros outweigh the cons a million times. It sucks being the only one at the party who passes up the cake, but if I do have that cake, the only person who has to deal with the consequences of eating it is me.

That's not to say I'm not tempted or I don't have freak outs every once in a while. A week ago I had a really bad day, was tired, and didn't feel like cooking. There was literally NOTHING I could eat in our kitchen. I think I ended up (angrily) having a popsicle. Someone in our building was baking bread yesterday and it smelled like heaven. It made me so sad and a little angry thinking, "Why can't I be 'normal'?" But these are the cards I've been dealt and I just have to deal with it. It's not a situation I would wish on anyone (okay, maybe a couple people hehehehe), but it isn't going to change.

You deserve health. You deserve to be pain free. You deserve good things. We all do.