Had Flour By Mistake, No Reaction

[Eric-C]

With spring coming up and us traveling to Mexico and Central America last week I started to take Zyrtec for mild allergies.

I always take it when we travel because leaving Michigan usually messes with my sinuses. The past 3 times we've been on vacation in the past year I have never had a single gluten incident. I find that odd since we must have eaten at 20 different random restaurants, normally Mexican since it seems safest, across the US with no reaction at all.

If it be Celiac's or an allergy my reactions are severe, nearly instantaneous, and had long term health effects for me like nervous system problems, and everything else most go through from long term exposure. I've taken a single bit of food and within 30 seconds know something is wrong with it.

Yesterday we went to a local Mexican place we had been to before and I ordered Enchilada's Verde. I got about 1/2 way through my meal and from the first bite noticed something wasn't right with the tortilla's but one of the reasons we go there is they have excellent corn tortilla's, just figured I had missed them.

I realized they were flour tortilla's. This is the first flour I had in 7 years beyond CC. Apparently they make this one dish with flour tortilla's but in the past the waitress knew we were gluten-free and ordered them the right way. Never seen a place that makes flour based enchilada's, they are called burrito's.

Zero reaction. That's enough gluten to put me in the hospital. When I first had a gluten problem it would effect me late at night or at the next meal but slept through the night no problems, just had breakfast an hour ago and nothing.

I've had CC not more than 3 weeks ago with a severe reaction, the only difference is taking the Zyrtec.

[pricklypear1971]

Antihistimines are immune suppressants. In this case, they appear to be helping you (which is a good thing).

I have seasonal allergies, but allergy meds never did much for me UNTIL I went gluten-free. Now, I can take a half dose of Claritin every other day and it works great.

I also discovered it helps reduce ai symptoms during an ai flare, by accident.

My ND isn't thrilled I take it since they are hard on the liver (or is it kidneys?).

[Eric-C]

Antihistimines are immune suppressants. In this case, they appear to be helping you (which is a good thing).

I have seasonal allergies, but allergy meds never did much for me UNTIL I went gluten-free. Now, I can take a half dose of Claritin every other day and it works great.

I also discovered it helps reduce ai symptoms during an ai flare, by accident.

My ND isn't thrilled I take it since they are hard on the liver (or is it kidneys?).

Thanks for the reply.

What I find surprising is how major of an effect it has. I have massive reactions to even the smallest amount of gluten. To see that a small 5mg dose of Zyrtec eliminates my reaction is a bit hard to believe.

I'm going to wait a week and see how I do with something else with flour in it. That would lead more towards allergy versus Celiac. I've never had the tests but because my reactions were so severe and of such variety we always assumed.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for the reply.

What I find surprising is how major of an effect it has. I have massive reactions to even the smallest amount of gluten. To see that a small 5mg dose of Zyrtec eliminates my reaction is a bit hard to believe.

I'm going to wait a week and see how I do with something else with flour in it. That would lead more towards allergy versus Celiac. I've never had the tests but because my reactions were so severe and of such variety we always assumed.

I think I would talk to an allergist and explain the situation and your symptoms. If you are allergic rather than intolerant, which it sounds like you might be, reactions can become life threatening and you may need to keep an epi pen with you. If you are allergic and the antihistimines do the trick that would be great but I wouldn't experiment without seeing a doctor first.

[pricklypear1971]

Thanks for the reply.

What I find surprising is how major of an effect it has. I have massive reactions to even the smallest amount of gluten. To see that a small 5mg dose of Zyrtec eliminates my reaction is a bit hard to believe.

I'm going to wait a week and see how I do with something else with flour in it. That would lead more towards allergy versus Celiac. I've never had the tests but because my reactions were so severe and of such variety we always assumed.

There is someone else here, can't remember user name, that is severely allergic to wheat and I think its Zyrtec that works dramatically well for her.

Yes, if you always assumed Celiac and its really an allergy this could be life changing, couldn't it?

I really think mine is Celiac, unfortunately, because I was on loads of antihistamines for my rash and that didn't stop it... but not eating gluten did. Crap.

[Eric-C]

There is someone else here, can't remember user name, that is severely allergic to wheat and I think its Zyrtec that works dramatically well for her.

Yes, if you always assumed Celiac and its really an allergy this could be life changing, couldn't it?

I really think mine is Celiac, unfortunately, because I was on loads of antihistamines for my rash and that didn't stop it... but not eating gluten did. Crap.

I don't think it would be life changing. It's been 8 years since I've been gluten-free and there are 2 things I miss, White Castle and Perogi's.

The rest I can do without, but Udi's gluten-free bread and Biaglut pasta make gluten-free much easier today than even 2-3 years ago.

We thought it was Celiac, doctor included, because I had all of the other issues and they went away when I went gluten-free however I've posted a few times on here about how Candida can strike people with Celiac and causes huge issues. I did a 4 month no-sugar/no-carb regimen along with Nystatin a year ago for Candida.

So it may have just been grand coincidence.

I just had a complete day of meals including we went for Indian for dinner and I feel great. I'll give it another week on the Zyrtec and try something else next week.

I'll also make an appointment with an allergist but my doctor will never believe me, I was in such bad shape after having gluten its surprising to me that such a small dosage has such a large effect.

[pricklypear1971]

I don't think it would be life changing. It's been 8 years since I've been gluten-free and there are 2 things I miss, White Castle and Perogi's.

The rest I can do without, but Udi's gluten-free bread and Biaglut pasta make gluten-free much easier today than even 2-3 years ago.

We thought it was Celiac, doctor included, because I had all of the other issues and they went away when I went gluten-free however I've posted a few times on here about how Candida can strike people with Celiac and causes huge issues. I did a 4 month no-sugar/no-carb regimen along with Nystatin a year ago for Candida.

So it may have just been grand coincidence.

I just had a complete day of meals including we went for Indian for dinner and I feel great. I'll give it another week on the Zyrtec and try something else next week.

I'll also make an appointment with an allergist but my doctor will never believe me, I was in such bad shape after having gluten its surprising to me that such a small dosage has such a large effect.

Well, it could be a number of things...

1) you could be in Celiac remission

2) you could be Celiac and allergic to wheat and just haven't had the "hit" from the Celiac yet since the antihistimine is holding the allergy and autoimmune reaction in check

3) you could have very different responses to your Celiac and allergy and what you associated with glutening could have been allergy symptoms, and the Celiac is basically silent (which means you don't feel it but it's damaging your body).

4) could have been the candida - I hear it can be awful

5) could be absolutely none of the above, and something you'd never imagine.

Anyhow, I wish you continued good luck. I am sort of holding my breath, hoping you don't get violently ill.