Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

What Is The Severity Of Your Reaction To Gluten?


kaitlynrose

Recommended Posts

kaitlynrose Rookie

Hello, I'm new to this site :)

I am 17 years old, and have been gluten-free for a little over 2 years (wow, I didn't realize it has been this long). I have a younger cousin, 3 years my junior, who has Celiac and Juvenile Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. She has been gluten-free for about 5 years now. When she eats gluten, she doesn't get sick at all (in fact, she cheats all the time. *jealousy* :/ ). However, when I slip up, I am ridden with crippling pain, and do not feel better for atleast 6 hours. My reaction has always seemed very severe, and I was wondering, how bad are your reactions?

Kaitlyn


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



1desperateladysaved Proficient

Hello, I'm new to this site :)

I am 17 years old, and have been gluten-free for a little over 2 years (wow, I didn't realize it has been this long). I have a younger cousin, 3 years my junior, who has Celiac and Juvenile Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. She has been gluten-free for about 5 years now. When she eats gluten, she doesn't get sick at all (in fact, she cheats all the time. *jealousy* :/ ). However, when I slip up, I am ridden with crippling pain, and do not feel better for atleast 6 hours. My reaction has always seemed very severe, and I was wondering, how bad are your reactions?

Kaitlyn

I am two months past eatting gluten. My reactions seem to be getting "more defined." When I was eating gluten I would just feel so tired all of the time. I couldn't tell I was reacting at all. However, about 4 days after going gluten free I started realizing my body's opionion of gluten. I react to gluten in the air or cross contamination. My first reactions were mostly dizziness and fatigue. Some reactions I experienced diarhea and nausea. Lately I have felt like glands are swelling in my neck, coughing, or horseness. I also notice swelling in my abdomen and legs, but I can never pin point when the contamination occured. Most of my symptoms are fleeting, I notice them and they are gone. They do seem to be getting more severe.

I hope you do not learn to cheat as your cousin does. Eat well and be careful. Your body will appreciate it! It is not much fun to disappoint your body. :angry:

I am glad you found out young and wish you the best.

Diana

auzzi Newbie

My niece is a diabetic coeliac: she cheats: she spends a lot of time in hospital.

My eldest is a symptomatic coeliac - reacts almost to a whiff of the stuff: her sister is an asymptomatic coeliac - no external reaction at all. As their gastroenterologist pointed out, looking at their biopsies, the external reaction [or lack thereof] is one thing: the most important thing is the internal damage - and that is the same for both, regardless of symptoms/no symptoms ..

pianoland Rookie

Welcome! I've been gluten free for almost a year. With cross contamination I get stomach gurgles and a lot of gas... it puts me in such extreme discomfort. My mom tries telling me it's normal to get gas and I'm like, 2-3 hours worth of constant burps and painful bloating? Eh not so normal.

A few times when I think I was legitimately glutened I got REALLY tired. I never take naps and if I do they're 20-30 mins. After gluten exposure I'm out for about 2.5 hours. Luckily I usually feel better when I wake up.

lovegrov Collaborator

Vomiting within three hours. Panicky and light headed.

richard

SmnthMllrX Newbie

I've been off gluten for four years now and my reaction to gluten now is the same as it was then. Mine is like a week long cycle that seems like forever to get through. My stomach hurts almost immediately after eating it and depending on how much I eat I might throw-up. Then my insides will proceed to hurt for about two to three days. Because of this stomach pain I have a very difficult time sleeping and I'm tired all the time no matter how much I sleep. I get cramps in my muscles and all of my limbs ache. I get rashes on my legs and sometimes my arms and I'm extremely moody and irritable to the point where I have to lock myself away just to get through my day without screaming at anyone.

My younger brother also has celiac and his reaction doesn't make him nearly as sick as I get. He cheats often to and isn't all that careful when it comes to cross contamination. But I don't care. I feel better when I am not sick with gluten. His insides rip themselves apart just like mine do, and I'm actually thankful I have a reaction because it makes it easier not to cheat. Maybe if he got as sick as I do he wouldn't cheat. But he's a grown man. He can do what he likes.

goblue2014 Newbie

I


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



rml97 Rookie

I'll have been gluten free for a year in Septemeber. When I have gluten my reaction occurs within 10 minutes of eating the stuff and I'm in severe pain for at least 3 days. I'm crabby and irritable because of how uncomfortable I am. I wish I could just take a nap and escape the discomfort for a few hours but the pain is so intense that it makes it nearly impossible to fall asleep no matter how tired I am...

I only eat certified gluten free food that's made in a dedicated gluten-free facility so I have no idea how I am with cross contamination, but with every other aspect of ingesting gluten I am super sensitive. I am hoping that with time my reaction wont be so bad, but I have heard mixed experiences where the pain subsides for some or stays just the same for others......

Cocospeaks Newbie

I'll have been gluten free for a year in Septemeber. When I have gluten my reaction occurs within 10 minutes of eating the stuff and I'm in severe pain for at least 3 days. I'm crabby and irritable because of how uncomfortable I am. I wish I could just take a nap and escape the discomfort for a few hours but the pain is so intense that it makes it nearly impossible to fall asleep no matter how tired I am...

I only eat certified gluten free food that's made in a dedicated gluten-free facility so I have no idea how I am with cross contamination, but with every other aspect of ingesting gluten I am super sensitive. I am hoping that with time my reaction wont be so bad, but I have heard mixed experiences where the pain subsides for some or stays just the same for others......

My symptoms increased in severity for 5 year until my boyfriend forced me into a gluten-free diet, which was the catalyst for my diagnosis. After only one day into a gluten free diet I had completely stopped vomiting, which was mind blowing. Now 2 years into being gluten free I rarely get "glutenized" but when I do the result is devastating. The last time I checked my reaction (a year ago) I ate half a frosted mini-wheat and within 9 mins I was down n out. First I start to get uncomfortable, my stomach becomes distended and I become unable to go to the bathroom. Its as if my entire digestive tract shuts down. I become very awkward about bending my abdomen or anyone coming into contact with it. Then vomiting which persists long after my stomach is empty. Accompanied by on and off again cramping and pain in my trunk region. After a night of drinking tainted margaritas in Hawaii last year I spent 8 hrs in the hotel shower vomiting, crying and passing out. I was sick for around 18 hrs and lost 2 days of vacation. I have not gotten sick from hidden gluten for 6 months!

manderoni22 Newbie

Hello, I'm new to this site :)

I am 17 years old, and have been gluten-free for a little over 2 years (wow, I didn't realize it has been this long). I have a younger cousin, 3 years my junior, who has Celiac and Juvenile Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. She has been gluten-free for about 5 years now. When she eats gluten, she doesn't get sick at all (in fact, she cheats all the time. *jealousy* :/ ). However, when I slip up, I am ridden with crippling pain, and do not feel better for atleast 6 hours. My reaction has always seemed very severe, and I was wondering, how bad are your reactions?

Kaitlyn

I'm 14 and have been gluten free since I was 22 months old. I have diarrhea and depending on the amount I eat pretty severe vomitting. And overall, I just feel terrible after eating it.

bdw062590 Newbie

Not diagnosed (yet, bloodwork tomorrow) but I know when I eat gluten filled foods I panic, lightheaded, light sensitivity, dizzy, upset stomach, then usually after all thats over I get gasious, stomach rumbling, the normal IBS symptoms.

manderoni22 Newbie

Not diagnosed (yet, bloodwork tomorrow) but I know when I eat gluten filled foods I panic, lightheaded, light sensitivity, dizzy, upset stomach, then usually after all thats over I get gasious, stomach rumbling, the normal IBS symptoms.

Good luck with the bloodwork!

bdw062590 Newbie

Good luck with the bloodwork!

Thanks a million man.

LexiBrowni Newbie

Hi:) I'm new to this site as well as to being gluten intolerant. I am 18 years old (nearing 19 now) and had been complaining for many years about aches, an always upset stomach, and incredible headaches. We thought at first that I was lactose intolerant because I noticed my stomach beginning to hurt immediately after breakfast (I would eat cereal or grits almost every morning) and we thought the dairy was causing the problem. It was in fact my favorite cereal (Frosted MiniWheats). Now that I have been gluten free for around 4 months now, I have noticed that my symptoms are more severe when I do slip up. I become extremely dizzy and my head starts hurting almost immediately. Stomach issues usually take 2-3 days to get rid of. Does anyone know why my symptoms would be getting worse? Is it just because my body isn't used to the gluten anymore..?

jizzzzie Newbie

Eh. I'm sick for weeks and then I get sick a lot more often, I can't eat sugar, my digestive track is a mess, and I'm not better again for years. I've never actually eaten gluten afert i was diagnosed, but I know what it was like BEFORE was diagnosed.

B)

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast

Hi:) I'm new to this site as well as to being gluten intolerant. I am 18 years old (nearing 19 now) and had been complaining for many years about aches, an always upset stomach, and incredible headaches. We thought at first that I was lactose intolerant because I noticed my stomach beginning to hurt immediately after breakfast (I would eat cereal or grits almost every morning) and we thought the dairy was causing the problem. It was in fact my favorite cereal (Frosted MiniWheats). Now that I have been gluten free for around 4 months now, I have noticed that my symptoms are more severe when I do slip up. I become extremely dizzy and my head starts hurting almost immediately. Stomach issues usually take 2-3 days to get rid of. Does anyone know why my symptoms would be getting worse? Is it just because my body isn't used to the gluten anymore..?

Your immune system fights against gluten. When it has been gone from your diet, those little immune system "soldiers" get all rested. Then, when gluten enters your system those well rested "soldiers" can attack with full force. That's why your reactions are stronger now.

Junior Chef Rookie

When I get glutened, I typically don't notice anything for at least 5-6 hours, but then it hits. Hard. I get diarrhea, gas, constipation, I'm typically very tired, and achy. I get miserable enough that even though I'm not a diagnosed celiac, I never cheat intentionally. Yes, I occasionally get accidentally glutened, but when I do, I can tell. Yuck. <_<

luvs2eat Collaborator

I can point to exactly four serious glutenings in my 10-year gluten-free journey. One was very early and I had no reaction. The next was a few years later and I just made it to the bathroom 4 hours after the offending food. Next was a few years ago and I spent several hours trying not to barf and spent the next day on the couch feeling weak and foggy. The last was just a few weeks ago when I ate a Rudi's hot dog bun that was not gluten-free (MY bad in not being more careful reading the bag!). About 2 hours after I ate it I spent the next 3 hours sitting on the john w/ a waste can in my hands as my digestive system completely purged itself from both ends. I've never been that sick!! Since then, I've "gone off" some foods and had to take it really easy for the next day or 2.

Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast

Hi:) I'm new to this site as well as to being gluten intolerant. I am 18 years old (nearing 19 now) and had been complaining for many years about aches, an always upset stomach, and incredible headaches. We thought at first that I was lactose intolerant because I noticed my stomach beginning to hurt immediately after breakfast (I would eat cereal or grits almost every morning) and we thought the dairy was causing the problem. It was in fact my favorite cereal (Frosted MiniWheats). Now that I have been gluten free for around 4 months now, I have noticed that my symptoms are more severe when I do slip up. I become extremely dizzy and my head starts hurting almost immediately. Stomach issues usually take 2-3 days to get rid of. Does anyone know why my symptoms would be getting worse? Is it just because my body isn't used to the gluten anymore..?

This is a late response but in answer to your question, when you are exposed to something so long it can actually weaken your immune system by exhausting it essentially. Once the immune system has a chance to "relax" and build itself up again, it can attack with more force. This is why it may seem as though it is worse than it once was.

  • 3 weeks later...
shauniscrazy Explorer

i feel pretty sick and really tired im 16 by the way :)

  • 4 months later...
patz16 Rookie

16 oh wait Im 17 now my stomach hurts for 5 days and I can't sleep well. I start having horrific arthritis symptoms and I get very tired. Oh and I bloat.

  • 2 weeks later...
love2travel Mentor

Had my first obvious (accidental, of course) gluten-related reaction in my life this week. I was diagnosed as a silent celiac and had never felt ill (when I say ill I mean GI issues) until now. Wow - what a change! I began eating a pudding cup and 15 minutes later had an instant migraine, my sinuses became very plugged, I vomited and had D. I re-checked the dumb label and somehow had missed "wheat starch". No clue how I missed that but sadly I did. Symptoms lasted about 48 hours then I developed several canker sores on my lips. That too is unusual for me. Anitihistamines took care of that, thankfully. So, now I know I react badly to gluen after being gluten free for nearly two years. Interesting! In fact, as I mentioned on another thread, I am actually relieved I had a reaction so I know now that I do react so know what to look out for. It can be tough not knowing whether you have been glutened or not, even if you are as strict as you can be!

  • 2 weeks later...
rebeccanicole88 Rookie

Instantly ulcers appear in my mouth, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash (sometimes fine rash, sometimes hives), irritability, anxious, brain fog.

ShaynaTerina Newbie

Hello, I'm new to this site smile.gif

I am 17 years old, and have been gluten-free for a little over 2 years (wow, I didn't realize it has been this long). I have a younger cousin, 3 years my junior, who has Celiac and Juvenile Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. She has been gluten-free for about 5 years now. When she eats gluten, she doesn't get sick at all (in fact, she cheats all the time. *jealousy* :/ ). However, when I slip up, I am ridden with crippling pain, and do not feel better for atleast 6 hours. My reaction has always seemed very severe, and I was wondering, how bad are your reactions?

Kaitlyn

Hi Kaitlyn!

I am 22 and have been eating gluten free since August of 2012. My reactions to gluten have gotten slightly more severe since I stopped eatting it. I have had severe cramping and other gastrointestional upsets from gluten my whole life (Though I didn't know what was causing it untill I was 21...). Now in addition to that my throat swells when I eat it :P The pain lasts an hour or so and I have to take an antihistamine for the throat swelling. I am sorry the reaction lasts so long for you! I know how bad that pain can be! :(

- Shayna

DerpTyler Newbie

i barely get anything from slight contamination, but if i accidently ingest a noticable amount. I get cankersores, then about 6-24 hrs later i might get some diarrhea, and ill be tired for a few days.

If you do ingest gluten i recommend taking some glutamine, i used it as a training supplement, but it turns out that it helps re-line your intestines and get everything going to the proper speed again.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,554
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Becky 0163
    Newest Member
    Becky 0163
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.