Ouchey Gluten Spot :(

[Raywuwei]

A little over a month ago I got my ttg levels retested and found out that in just 3 months of a gluten-free diet I was at 22! And so I became rather lax with my eating habits...

Ok, I just glossed over the heated posts on that "cheating" topic and now I am a bit terrified. I havent straight up eaten gluten or anything, but I've been dating a guy who owns a pizza cart and eating out at bars without asking whats in the spinich dip and what brand of tortilla chips they use and what else they cook on the grill... And now I have my trusty lower left abdomen bothering me and all I can think is, "I ate gluten, it is attacking my villi, I am gonna get cancer and die!"

Is there any new news yet about how long you have to eat gluten unwittingly to end up with cancer? I got DX'd really early (I'm only 24) and my symptoms when I'm glutened aren't that bad (though I'm more sensitive since going gluten-free). My naturopath said if I don't react that badly then I can eat gluten sometimes... I am pretty sure thats BS but how far should I go on the other extreme?

I am feeling really discouraged at the moment. I hit highs where I am super gung ho about my diet, and lows where I feel like my family and the world hate me for having to deal with my hypersensitivity ("Really, I can't cook your eggs with a wooden spatula?? *eye roll*)

[rosetapper23]

You're young--you'll be fine. Return to eating strictly, and the pain in your side will eventually go away (I get the same pain when I'm glutened). You may end up suffering from a nutritional deficiency for a while (or not), but you're not going to get cancer. Relax.....

[jerseyangel]

Hi:). Rose is right (and your Naturopath is wrong). It is not ok to eat gluten once in a while.

You will be fine, just be as gluten free as you possibly can.

[1desperateladysaved]

I recently read in "The Cure for All Diseases" by DR. Hulda Clark PH.D. N.D. that parasite like to hang out on the lower left. Maybe you should be checked for Parasites. It said the intestine takes a bend there.

Diana

[kareng]

I recently read in "The Cure for All Diseases" by DR. Hulda Clark PH.D. N.D. that parasite like to hang out on the lower left. Maybe you should be checked for Parasites. It said the intestine takes a bend there.

Diana

If you look at a picture of intestines, they take a lot of " bends".

[kareng]

I think you know what you are supposed to do. Cancer is the least of the troubles you will cause yourself - infertility, osteoporosis, etc. Please get some info from reputable medical sources like these:

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Associated Conditions

Malignancy

The malignancies occurring more commonly in patients with celiac disease compared to the general population include small bowel adenocarcinoma, esophageal and oro-pharyngeal squamous carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)[1]. There is evidence that a gluten-free diet is protective against the development of malignancy [1]. Though there is a suggestion that the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may persist despite a gluten-free diet [2]. The risk for the development of small bowel adenocarcinoma is increased about 80 fold, compared to the general population [3, 4]. The predominant celiac-associated lymphoma is an enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), which is poorly responsive to chemotherapy. However, both extra-intestinal lymphomas and B-cell lymphomas occur in patients with celiac disease [2, 3]. A recent multi-center Italian study suggests that celiac disease is a moderate risk factor for the development of NHL, a lower risk than the earlier studies suggested [5]. We found the risk for the development of melanoma to be increased[2].

Osteoporosis

Reduced bone density is common in both adults [6] and children [7] and is more severe in patients with diarrhea predominant celiac disease than silent celiac disease. The reduction in bone density is associated with an increased fracture risk. Bone mineral density improves after a gluten-free diet, but may not attain the normal range [8].

Fertility

Celiac disease is associated with delayed age of commencement of menses, premature menopause, amenorrhea, recurrent abortions and fewer children due to relative infertility prior to the diagnosis of celiac disease [9] and reduced frequency of sexual intercourse [10]. Low birth-weight babies [11] and a shorter duration of breast feeding [12] are also described. Adherence to a gluten-free diet is associated with reduction in these poor outcomes. Male infertility also occurs in celiac disease

Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders occur ten times more commonly in celiac disease than the general population. They include insulin dependent diabetes, thyroid disease, Sjogren's syndrome, Addison's disease, autoimmune liver disease, autoimmune cardiomyopathy, and neurological disorders. When both occur in a patient, the celiac disease is frequently silent, as a result theautoimmune disorder is usually diagnosed first.

The association of autoimmune disorders and coeliac disease is considered to be due to a shared genetic tendency (HLA alleles) and a common immunologic mechanism, as well as the presence of celiac disease it self. There are several lines of evidence supporting the role of celiac disease as an etiologic factor for autoimmune diseases. In a large multi-center cooperative Italian study the prevalence of autoimmune diseases was closely related to duration of gluten exposure (age at diagnosis of celiac disease) [13] with children diagnosed less than two years of age having no increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases. In addition, patients with celiac disease at diagnosis have a high rate of organ specific autoantibodies compared to those on a gluten-free diet [14]. Several autoimmune diseases may improve on a gluten-free diet.

This suggests that autoimmune diseases may be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease and in those with established autoimmune disorders there may be improvement on a gluten-free diet, though this is not common.

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The gluten-free diet is a lifetime requirement. Eating any gluten, no matter how small an amount, can damage your intestine. This is true for anyone with the disease, including people who do not have noticeable symptoms.

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Q: Is it ok if I ingest some gluten if I do not experience any symptoms?

No. The majority of patients with celiac disease experience no symptoms when they ingest gluten, either intentionally or unintentionally. This led to the concept that patients, especially children may grow out of the disease. In addition, patients also consider that it is doing no harm to them. However the ingestion of even small amounts of gluten results in damage to the small intestine--regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms--and puts the patient at risk for resulting complications including malignancies and osteoporosis.