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If You React To Oats What's It Like?


megsybeth

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megsybeth Enthusiast

I know about 5% of celiacs can't have oats, even when not contaminated. I've had a couple cases of stomach cramping after eating oats but I don't want to be in that 5%! I've only been on the gluten-free diet for about a month so there have been lots of pains and issues here and there along the way. But last week I made some delicious raspberry oat bars and had cramping and D. Today I just had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and had cramping and a feeling that worse might be to come. Both times it was BRM oats.

So is the reaction to oats quick, like to lactose? Or is it something that would be delayed? Also, is this something I might get over?


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dilettantesteph Collaborator

With me, the reaction is very much like my reaction to wheat gluten. It isn't something you get over. It is genetic just like celiac disease. You can substitute sorghum, millet, rice, etc. It's not so bad.

Chaff Explorer

Everyone will have different reactions. Oats hit my gut hard, I feel like cement is slowly moving through me, I get dizzy and stupid and feel terrible for hours. Gluten affects me differently, but then again I may have an additional oat allergy--no idea. Theoretically it should affect you the same way gluten does, or not at all.

I assume you're eating safe oatmeal, from somewhere like Bob's Red Mill; otherwise cc can be a problem, too, and then you're reacting to oats AND gluten.

cahill Collaborator

My reaction to gluten-free oats is : pain across my shoulder blades ( upper back) much like a gallbladder attack and burning in my gut and later lower abdominal pain,

GFinDC Veteran

Same as gluten for me. C for 2 or 3 days with pain and then D. You could try eliminating oats for 6 months and then trial them again. Give your gut some time to heal and then see if they work for you.

Lady Eowyn Apprentice

Very similar to gluten - go down and form a great big brick of a lump. Bloated up, headache, constipation and depression - in fact, may have mentioned on here before that I think they make me cry (I know that sounds stupid) but they make me miserable and teary :unsure: !

The gluten free version has the same effect - maybe not quite as bad, but no good.

Won't be bothering to try them in the future.

cavernio Enthusiast

My specialist told me to avoid all oats.

Where did you get the 5% number from? Not accusing at all, I just want to know where you get your info. When I looked into it it seemed like 1 study would show most celiacs have oat issues, while another study showed that nearly all of them didn't.


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Metoo Enthusiast

I had stomach cramps!!! But then I read you are supposed to avoid even gluten-free oats for the first 3-6 months of being gluten-free then reintroduce them.

I reintroduced them 4 months after being gluten-free and I have not had a problem with gluten-free oats since.

lovegrov Collaborator

Similar to gluten reaction. Can't imagine it's something you'll get over. In fact, it might get worse.

richard

jerseyangel Proficient

I get intestinal symptoms from oats--diarrhea, cramping.

megsybeth Enthusiast

Thanks, everyone. I'll definitely avoid them. Cavernio, I think I've seen 5% a few places. I'm pretty sure Peter Green's book was one of them, the most recent edition. I guess it's not so important. If it's 80% and I have issues or it's 1% and I have issues, it's better to avoid. I'll also have my son avoid

pain*in*my*gut Apprentice

I am one of the unlucky few who cannot tolerate even gluten-free oats. They make me sick the same way gluten does. Bummer!

  • 6 months later...
LenoreK Newbie

Hi,

I am having a gluten reaction I cannot track down, so am visiting gluten-free oats to see if maybe I am having trouble with them. I read the posts here and really must tell you that some of you are giving up too easily. Some foods will give you symptoms the first few times you eat them after not eating them for a while. Oats, beans, apples, nuts you all have your lists. But if you consistently eat them, and are sure they are not contaminated, often you get used to them and the bloating, serious gas issues, diminish or go away completely. Just plan ahead so maybe not plan on being in Church or a meeting right after eating them! 

But I am having the rash problem, too. I am so used to stomach problems, sometimes I don't know if I was glutened, but boy, the rash is a sure sign! Can't even sleep! FYI Along that line, I was reading up on mangoes, since I love them so much, and found people get terrible allergic reactions to the skins, trees, and they are related to poison oak or ivy, and cashews. One lady had to go to the hospital and besides Benadryl, they put her on Pepcid. I can't take that because of heart issues, but there is another prescription I take as needed for reflux, and it did help the gluten rash...it took the edge off so I could focus on something else. It was not a brain killer like Benadryl. I don't know that Benadryl even helps, but I think the reflux med did. So, if you all have a reflux medication, you might try it for the gluten reaction. Try it at least twice and see what you think. I stayed on it for about 5 days.

One more tip I discovered for cross contamination that I have not seen elsewhere: pet food! My son was feeding his cat and not where I told him too...he had dry cat food crumbs all over the place! And he used to have Cheerios until my last serious attack. Discovered his cereal dust all over, too. So, cat food goes out and we no longer bring any gluten food into the house ever again! It has taken me 4 months to get better and I am still not sure which discovery may have been the culprit. The rash is better, but I am still not back. I discovered the Gluten factor when I was 55 after contracting pneumonia and couldn't eat! I actually felt better! Well, hope these tips help someone. You all have helped me for a long time.

cahill Collaborator

. I read the posts here and really must tell you that some of you are giving up too easily. .

I can assure you (that for me) that is not the case .

cahill Collaborator

Hi,

I am having a gluten reaction I cannot track down, so am visiting gluten-free oats to see if maybe I am having trouble with them. I read the posts here and really must tell you that some of you are giving up too easily. Some foods will give you symptoms the first few times you eat them after not eating them for a while. Oats, beans, apples, nuts you all have your lists. But if you consistently eat them, and are sure they are not contaminated, often you get used to them and the bloating, serious gas issues, diminish or go away completely. Just plan ahead so maybe not plan on being in Church or a meeting right after eating them! 

But I am having the rash problem, too. I am so used to stomach problems, sometimes I don't know if I was glutened, but boy, the rash is a sure sign! Can't even sleep! FYI Along that line, I was reading up on mangoes, since I love them so much, and found people get terrible allergic reactions to the skins, trees, and they are related to poison oak or ivy, and cashews. One lady had to go to the hospital and besides Benadryl, they put her on Pepcid. I can't take that because of heart issues, but there is another prescription I take as needed for reflux, and it did help the gluten rash...it took the edge off so I could focus on something else. It was not a brain killer like Benadryl. I don't know that Benadryl even helps, but I think the reflux med did. So, if you all have a reflux medication, you might try it for the gluten reaction. Try it at least twice and see what you think. I stayed on it for about 5 days.

One more tip I discovered for cross contamination that I have not seen elsewhere: pet food! My son was feeding his cat and not where I told him too...he had dry cat food crumbs all over the place! And he used to have Cheerios until my last serious attack. Discovered his cereal dust all over, too. So, cat food goes out and we no longer bring any gluten food into the house ever again! It has taken me 4 months to get better and I am still not sure which discovery may have been the culprit. The rash is better, but I am still not back. I discovered the Gluten factor when I was 55 after contracting pneumonia and couldn't eat! I actually felt better! Well, hope these tips help someone. You all have helped me for a long time.

I have seen threads  addressing  pet food as a CC issue ,, that is why many of us feed our pets gluten free food.

VeggieGal Contributor

I was also told by my dietician to keep off them for 6 months and then reintroduce them slowly which I will be trying this week :)

Mr. GF in Indiana Newbie

I react to all prolamins except rice:  sorghum, corn, oatmeal included.  My reaction is most of the usual symptoms plus strong neuropathy returns and burns in my legs, it's quite an exacting indicator.   You can look at the research of "oats AND celiac" on pubmed.com.  I do know corn comes in hundreds...thousands....of wildly different seed genetic mixes of proteins, so it may be that some types of oats are ok for most of us, and that others aren't.  The labs running the experiments on oats, buy their oats from a special medical/scientific supply house, and it may be those oats are fine for celiacs, as a lucky coincidence, while every other oat variety and new crossbreeds...like goes into our cereals...are never tested but are toxic. 

GFinDC Veteran

Hi Lenore,

 

Welcome to the forum! (qouth the raven) :)

 

Yep, pet food can be a problem.  Them cats like to eat and then lick their fur all over so they basically are gluten coated fur bombs.  Have you read up on dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)?  That is a rash some people with celiac disease get.

 

Anyhow, good to have you here, we can use the company! :)

 

Hi,

I am having a gluten reaction I cannot track down, so am visiting gluten-free oats to see if maybe I am having trouble with them. I read the posts here and really must tell you that some of you are giving up too easily. Some foods will give you symptoms the first few times you eat them after not eating them for a while. Oats, beans, apples, nuts you all have your lists. But if you consistently eat them, and are sure they are not contaminated, often you get used to them and the bloating, serious gas issues, diminish or go away completely. Just plan ahead so maybe not plan on being in Church or a meeting right after eating them! 

But I am having the rash problem, too. I am so used to stomach problems, sometimes I don't know if I was glutened, but boy, the rash is a sure sign! Can't even sleep! FYI Along that line, I was reading up on mangoes, since I love them so much, and found people get terrible allergic reactions to the skins, trees, and they are related to poison oak or ivy, and cashews. One lady had to go to the hospital and besides Benadryl, they put her on Pepcid. I can't take that because of heart issues, but there is another prescription I take as needed for reflux, and it did help the gluten rash...it took the edge off so I could focus on something else. It was not a brain killer like Benadryl. I don't know that Benadryl even helps, but I think the reflux med did. So, if you all have a reflux medication, you might try it for the gluten reaction. Try it at least twice and see what you think. I stayed on it for about 5 days.

One more tip I discovered for cross contamination that I have not seen elsewhere: pet food! My son was feeding his cat and not where I told him too...he had dry cat food crumbs all over the place! And he used to have Cheerios until my last serious attack. Discovered his cereal dust all over, too. So, cat food goes out and we no longer bring any gluten food into the house ever again! It has taken me 4 months to get better and I am still not sure which discovery may have been the culprit. The rash is better, but I am still not back. I discovered the Gluten factor when I was 55 after contracting pneumonia and couldn't eat! I actually felt better! Well, hope these tips help someone. You all have helped me for a long time.

 

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