Got Careless - Paying The Price

[kitgordon]

I feel so stupid! Noticed some unusual skin breakouts this week, a little D yesterday, today - serious D, bloating. Spent the morning trying to figure out what I've been eating that is different, just wracking my brains. It was Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice cream! Says it right there on the label - "May contain traces of wheat". And I've been eating it all week! Duh! How did I not read that label before I ate it?! I guess I somehow just assumed it was safe because their other flavors mostly are (unless it is obviously not like cookie dough or something). After a year and a half I should know better, and now I have to spend the weekend hovering near a bathroom, when I have places to go and things to do! Grrrrr!

Lesson learned - ALWAYS read labels!

[Denise121]

I'm sorry you're feeling bad.

I just noticed today that I did something similar. I accidentally grabbed a different brand of cottage cheese than the one I verified was safe and I ate some last night. Woke up during the night with heartburn and cramps, but couldn't figure out why. I went to get some for lunch today and realized that it wasn't what I bought last time. Read the ingredients and saw maltodextrin!

Hope you feel better soon!

[sa1937]

Maltodextrin is safe for celiacs.

[Denise121]

Maltodextrin is safe for celiacs.

Thank you for telling me! I have a paper that lists it as an unsafe ingredient.

[IrishHeart]

I feel so stupid! Noticed some unusual skin breakouts this week, a little D yesterday, today - serious D, bloating. Spent the morning trying to figure out what I've been eating that is different, just wracking my brains. It was Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice cream! Says it right there on the label - "May contain traces of wheat". And I've been eating it all week! Duh! How did I not read that label before I ate it?! I guess I somehow just assumed it was safe because their other flavors mostly are (unless it is obviously not like cookie dough or something). After a year and a half I should know better, and now I have to spend the weekend hovering near a bathroom, when I have places to go and things to do! Grrrrr!

Lesson learned - ALWAYS read labels!

Sorry you got "hit"...but Do NOT feel stupid!

Who among us hasn't done this at least once?

I am (probably) overly ridiculous in being cautious about label-reading but if it even says "may" or "processed in a facility that also"....I do not touch it anymore. I think CC is what "gets" us more often than we can anticipate.

I hope you feel better soon!

[IrishHeart]

Thank you for telling me! I have a paper that lists it as an unsafe ingredient.

As Sylvia says, It's safe.

"Maltodextrin is gluten free. It can be made from a variety of starches, including corn, potato, rice or wheat. However the source does not matter because maltodextrin is such a highly processed ingredient that the protein is removed, rendering it gluten free. If wheat is used to make maltodextrin, "wheat" will be appear on the label. Even in this case, the maltodextrin would be gluten free."

This excerpt came from Open Original Shared Link

This link also provides info on other ingredients often used in gluten-free foods/baking.

A more extensive list of safe foods is:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Safe-Ingredients/Page1.html

Cheers,

IH

[bartfull]

Ice cream has gotten me in the past too. I used to LOVE Bunny Tracks. Now I can't eat any Blue Bunny ice cream at all because they use corn syrup. Ben and Jerry's peanut butter cup is the one that got me. It said the PB cups were gluten free, but made in a facility that processes wheat. It was the ONLY ice cream that even came close at the tiny grocery store in this tiny town, so I read the label and took a chance anyway. Bad decision.

Now I have to drive 60 miles to get ice cream, but they have STARBUCKS (insert emoticon with a big heart) and it's well worth the trip. Ice cream is one of the vital nutrients my body needs!

[Kimbalou]

I was careless too. A co-worker mad some soup and I asked her if it was safe for me to eat...she is very knowledgable about food, she used to be a caterer. I trusted her...but later found out she used Uncle Ben's wild rice...which has hydrolyzed wheat protein in it. ugh. I had 4-5 episodes of watery diarrhea the next morning. I blame myself, though...I took a risk. It's so crazy that a box of rice would be unsafe!!

[Di2011]

After months of experiments (especially with bathroom/cosmetics) I seem to have various problems with the "Gluten Free" products/additives that may be wheat/gluten derived: guar gum, xantham gum, (possibly other E400 series that are gluten sourced but yet to experiment) etc. Check out some of your "gluten-free" products and you will find them.

I've done a lot*lot of read lately and although these ingredients are deemed to be gluten free due to the processing etc for some reason I can't tolerate them.

Although maltodextrin is often corn-based it can be produced from wheat. The following is from Open Original Shared Link

Maltodextrin

[psawyer]

Maltodextrin is highly refined, and even if derived from wheat, does not contain detectable gluten. It then becomes a tiny part of the finished product. Less than 5 ppm in an ingredient that is less than 2% of the finished product? Um, that is less than 100 parts per BILLION. Less than, not equal to. Your "gluten-free" products are tested for 5 ppm or 20 ppm. 0.1 ppm is NOT a concern.

[Jen Z]

I've just completed week 3 of gluten-free living. I often wonder when reading labels how much I should be concerned when there are statements that state made in a facility that produces wheat products. For now I avoid them like the plague. What about others?

[kitgordon]

What is wheat doing in rice or ice cream, for goodness sake?! So unnecessary.

Jen, I usually don't worry about shared facilities - it depends how sensitive you are. I think you are wise to avoid them for now, once you are healed a bit you can try introducing them and see if you are OK.

[Di2011]

Maltodextrin is highly refined, and even if derived from wheat, does not contain detectable gluten. It then becomes a tiny part of the finished product. Less than 5 ppm in an ingredient that is less than 2% of the finished product? Um, that is less than 100 parts per BILLION. Less than, not equal to. Your "gluten-free" products are tested for 5 ppm or 20 ppm. 0.1 ppm is NOT a concern.

I wish I could convince my all-over itchy skin that gum etc is okay in moisturiser, makeup, soaps etc.

[Sarah B]

What is wheat doing in rice or ice cream, for goodness sake?! So unnecessary.

Jen, I usually don't worry about shared facilities - it depends how sensitive you are. I think you are wise to avoid them for now, once you are healed a bit you can try introducing them and see if you are OK.

baahumbug is what I say to that!

[IrishHeart]

There are so many totally dedicated gluten-free facilities that I tend to use only their products.

If I see the word "wheat" anywhere on a label...as in "Processed in a facility that also uses wheat", I do not use it. There are plenty of other options, rather than risk it.

That's just me.

[notme]

I've just completed week 3 of gluten-free living. I often wonder when reading labels how much I should be concerned when there are statements that state made in a facility that produces wheat products. For now I avoid them like the plague. What about others?

i avoid them like the plague! in the beginning i didn't and paid the price. MAYBE i won't get cc'd, but 1-2 weeks of misery isn't worth the risk.

[notme]

lol i was just giving my daughter's boyfriend lessons in label reading. he hands me a box, i read then flip the box back over and give it back to him: nope. after about 4 or 5 products, he says incredously: WOW! you read soo fast! that's because i only read until i get to the part that says the ingredient that i can't eat...

[IrishHeart]

lol i was just giving my daughter's boyfriend lessons in label reading. he hands me a box, i read then flip the box back over and give it back to him: nope. after about 4 or 5 products, he says incredously: WOW! you read soo fast! that's because i only read until i get to the part that says the ingredient that i can't eat...

we get pretty good at this really fast, don't we?

I also go by the "best to avoid the more than 5 ingredients rule" (I made that up) If there are that many "THINGS" in something, especially unpronounceable ingredients with lots of "natural flavors" and hyphens and dyes and MSG (ugh!) and "hydrogenated this -and- that", it is probably best for me to avoid it.

[Tasha2004]

Can you all tell me what you do in the event you consume gluten?

My elderly Mom apparently encountered some tainted food last week when we went out to dinner. I was skeptical of the restaurant and the wait staff was pretty ignorant. I suspect they put her chicken on bread and yanked the bread, or cooked alongside something with flour.

So now Mom is not feeling well...abdominal pain,gas, barely eating but hungry.

She tends to get depressed and turn things into situations which are worse than they are, every winter. Every winter, without fail.

I told her to ride this out another couple days, but she is talking about urgent care and doctors and drinking Ensure and the whole nine yards.

Is there anything you can do to speed up the healing process and/or anything you all like to eat if this happens? It's hard for me to sort out the real true problem from the winter depression (which manifests in this same sort of way.)

[pricklypear1971]

Can you all tell me what you do in the event you consume gluten?

My elderly Mom apparently encountered some tainted food last week when we went out to dinner. I was skeptical of the restaurant and the wait staff was pretty ignorant. I suspect they put her chicken on bread and yanked the bread, or cooked alongside something with flour.

So now Mom is not feeling well...abdominal pain,gas, barely eating but hungry.

She tends to get depressed and turn things into situations which are worse than they are, every winter. Every winter, without fail.

I told her to ride this out another couple days, but she is talking about urgent care and doctors and drinking Ensure and the whole nine yards.

Is there anything you can do to speed up the healing process and/or anything you all like to eat if this happens? It's hard for me to sort out the real true problem from the winter depression (which manifests in this same sort of way.)

Probiotics, digestive enzymes and charcoal tablets.

All need to be taken ASAP - as in within an hour of the glutening (especially the charcoal). The probiotics won't hurt every day to help balance the gut, digestive enzymes can help digest meals daily.

If she gets blue in winter maybe she needs vitamin D?

[Tasha2004]

Probiotics, digestive enzymes and charcoal tablets.

All need to be taken ASAP - as in within an hour of the glutening (especially the charcoal). The probiotics won't hurt every day to help balance the gut, digestive enzymes can help digest meals daily.

If she gets blue in winter maybe she needs vitamin D?

We're a week out though.

Last Sunday night is when she ate most of the meal, but she reminded me she took some home and ate it last Monday.

Is there anything she can do now to remedy things or just has to ride it out?

And she is on a tiny dose of meds for depression, which she keeps telling the doctor she doesnt need (but she does). Things get confusing every winter as we all try to figure out what is really going on.

[IrishHeart]

Probiotics, digestive enzymes and charcoal tablets.

All need to be taken ASAP - as in within an hour of the glutening (especially the charcoal). The probiotics won't hurt every day to help balance the gut, digestive enzymes can help digest meals daily.

If she gets blue in winter maybe she needs vitamin D?

I second these suggestions --with some info if you decide to use activated charcoal tablets.

DO NOT TAKE more than 2 activated charcoal tabs at a time, drink a TON of water because you can get dehydrated from them and DO NOT TAKE them within 2 hours of other medications, vitamins, supplements or food.

Charcoal is used in hospitals to counteract poisonous substances and it acts like a giant sponge in the intestines. So, while it can absorb and transport OUT all the substances we don't want in our bodies, it also absorbs everything else down there that is useful.

Hydrate fully if you use them, especially if your Mom is elderly and does not drink enough water throughout the day. Charcoal can cause constipation and somewhat hard and dark stools. Do not be scared if they look funny.

I used them for two days after a glutening and the detox was pretty intense....felt racy and anxious --much like a glutening!

[IrishHeart]

We're a week out though.

Last Sunday night is when she ate most of the meal, but she reminded me she took some home and ate it last Monday.

Is there anything she can do now to remedy things or just has to ride it out?

And she is on a tiny dose of meds for depression, which she keeps telling the doctor she doesnt need (but she does). Things get confusing every winter as we all try to figure out what is really going on.

Never too late to take probiotics. She may wish to take them every day. Celiac guts need them.

Have they checked her Vit D levels? Sounds as if she may have seasonal affective disorder. This is often associated with low Vitamin D--and of course, lack of sunshine. (if you live in the Northeast for example)But a baseline would be in order before supplementing. Not enough D won't do the trick!

Vitamin D is often low in celiacs as well.I take a lot more D in the winter than I do in the summer. Mine was tanked when I was very ill before DX and we live where the winter seems to last forever!

Maybe this would help your Mom!

How long has your Mom been DXed? Have they tested all her vitamin levels? B-12, Folate, etc? Depression can be caused by so many things, not just low seratonin levels, which is why they prescribe SSRIs (anti-depressants.) (yeah, they gave them to me pre-DX too--and they never did a darn thing for me. In fact, they caused major gut issues and a worsening of symptoms. Gluten was the problem all along!)

Best wishes!

[Bubba's Mom]

This far after ingesting the gluten the best she can do is drink a lot of water and wait it out. A glutening can cause depression to become worse. Gluten sends the brain into dark thoughts, much like your Mom is experiencing.

Having to be on a strict gluten-free diet can be depressing too.

I get the Seasonal Affective Disorder type depression too and have for years. This will be my first Winter since being DXed. I know the darker days make us crave carbs, and in the past it was gluten containing foods for me, making the depression worse. I don't know how I'll be this year? I'm hoping I won't have the roller coaster of emotions gluten-free. Hopefully, your Mom will do better too?

Have your Mom take vitamin D3, along with fish oil. Both help depression and are good for so many other things in the body. I use a full spectrum light for reading and sewing/needlework every day too. The light helps against the SAD type depression and is wonderful for seeing things better.

[Tasha2004]

Thanks all. I'm pretty sure she just had vit. d levels checked out. She's been diagnosed over 20 years btw.

I am getting her one of those lights this year for the holidays or her bday. She will be 86 in two weeks.