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

Puffy Face And Cornstarch

Hala

By Hala
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Hala Apprentice
Hala
Posted

Hi everyone,

I'm in my 10th week since coeliac diagnosis/going gluten-free and I'm progressively becoming familiar with my many 'glutening' symptoms.

One of the symptoms I've noticed is a swollen face. If I've been glutened I get swollen cheeks and puffy eyes. Basically, I look like a hamster!

However, I've noticed I get these symptoms whenever I eat anything with cornstarch in it too. And possibly also soya too. Basically, whenever I eat any processed foods, even if specifically gluten-free. (I have found myself intolerant to gluten-free processed foods, like bread and pasta, and pretty much anything that's processed tbh! Also lactose, egg and white potatoes...)

Is it normal to get a glutening reaction to foods that you are intolerant to? I've read that cornstarch contains gluten, is this true?

Sorry for the confused ramblings, I think my cornstarch reaction may include the classic coeliac mind-fuzz as a symptom too....

Thanks,

Hannah

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

That sounds like an allergic reaction :(

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

To be sure to sort out whether it is an allergic type reaction or not. If it isn't, it is entirely normal to have a gluten type reaction to many types of foods. This does not mean it is contaminated with gluten, it means you have an intolerance to that food. It is quite possible that the reason you aren't tolerating any processed foods is because you are having an issue with one or more of the ingredients in it. Lactose is an extremely common and normal intolerance early on and something you may "grow out of" as you begin to heal, or you may not. Only time will tell.

And no, there is not gluten in cornstarch. While I have seen one container of it once marked as gluten free, it was silly, because it is born gluten free. (Or should be unless contaminated through the manufacturing process.)

Hala Apprentice
Hala
Posted
  • Author

How do I find out if it's an allergy or intolerance? Surely if it's a similar reaction as a glutening then it must be an intolerance?

Ack, life has become so complicated since coeliac disease raised its ugly head....!

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

This is the mayo article on food allergies. Open Original Shared Link You mentioned a swollen face, which is what I think set both of us to thinking it was possible. You'll just want to keep alert for any of the additional symptoms that point to it being an allergy as opposed to an intolerance. If it is an intolerance, it sucks, and you want to avoid it, but if you accidentally eat some it'll suck and you'll get over it. If it is an allergy, it could become life threatening at any time. There is also a mayo article describing the difference between an intolerance and an allergy. Open Original Shared Link

Don't get paranoid. Just file it away and keep it in mind so that you don't get taken by surprise one day by an allergy you didn't know or suspect you may have.

Hala Apprentice
Hala
Posted
  • Author

This is the mayo article on food allergies. Open Original Shared Link You mentioned a swollen face, which is what I think set both of us to thinking it was possible. You'll just want to keep alert for any of the additional symptoms that point to it being an allergy as opposed to an intolerance. If it is an intolerance, it sucks, and you want to avoid it, but if you accidentally eat some it'll suck and you'll get over it. If it is an allergy, it could become life threatening at any time. There is also a mayo article describing the difference between an intolerance and an allergy. Open Original Shared Link

Don't get paranoid. Just file it away and keep it in mind so that you don't get taken by surprise one day by an allergy you didn't know or suspect you may have.

Thanks for the information, I'll keep it at the back of my mind...

Incidentally, someone just suggested to me that I go for Vega testing for food intolerances. Does anyone know anything about the reliability/validity of this?

deb445 Rookie
deb445
Posted

I used to think that I was "fine" with corn....but I have since cut it out (along with other grains, along the way) and weird symptoms and reactions started to disappear. If you're interested, there are lots of blogs that share Paleo recipes (grain free - so, corn free, along with other sources of gluten), and this may help.

My youngest used to get inflammation in his face. He'd snore terribly too... (Inflammation within and out'). And then there were they "mystery" UTIs. All gone now.

I hope you feel better soon.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ButterflyChaser Enthusiast
ButterflyChaser
Posted

I get puffiness - all over, but on my face only when it's really, really bad. My mother calls it "moon face." If I have a bit of cornstarch, say in a cup of hot chocolate, I am ok. But if I eat a couple of servings of corn, like a bag of popcorn, then it gets me.

Hala Apprentice
Hala
Posted
  • Author

Thanks guys, I found some quite interesting articles online that explain a lot of the reactions I've been experiencing...

Open Original Shared Link

(scroll down to What Is Gluten And Where Is It Then?)

Open Original Shared Link

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      0

      Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Shortbread

    2. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      New here

      Hi @KathyR37 and a very warm welcome here. I am so very sorry that you are going through all of this. I just wanted to check, have you ever been tested for any other gastrointestinal conditions? Cristiana
    3. trents
      - trents replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      New here

      @KathyR37, I would suspect that in addition to gluten intolerance, you have other food intolerances/sensitivities. This is very common in the celiac community. The most common offenders are oats, dairy, soy, corn and eggs with dairy and oats being the big two. Have you considered this? Have you tried keeping a food diary to detect patterns?
    4. Theresa2407
      - Theresa2407 replied to Theresa2407's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      Probiotics

      thank you for your advice. I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated. I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    5. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      New here

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,818
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    STy
    Newest Member
    STy
    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

    • cristiana
      New here

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @KathyR37 and a very warm welcome here.  I am so very sorry that you are going through all of this. I just wanted to check, have you ever been tested for any other gastrointestinal conditions? Cristiana  
    • trents
      New here

      By trents · Posted

      @KathyR37, I would suspect that in addition to gluten intolerance, you have other food intolerances/sensitivities. This is very common in the celiac community. The most common offenders are oats, dairy, soy, corn and eggs with dairy and oats being the big two. Have you considered this? Have you tried keeping a food diary to detect patterns?
    • Theresa2407
      Probiotics

      By Theresa2407 · Posted

      thank you for your advice.   I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated.  I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and  gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem I have is a gag reflex out of this world and if something doesn't taste good it is not going down. Most commercially made breads and such taste like old cardboard.Pastas are about the same. I did find one flour that I like and use it regularly, but it is so expensive! All gluten free food is way more expensive. I only eat twice a day because I cannot afford to buy all that. We live on a very low income so my food purchases are quite limited.
    • Scott Adams
      New here

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are feelings many in the community know all too well. Your question about whether you should just eat what you want and manage the symptoms is a heartbreaking one, born from years of frustration. It's crucial to know that the diarrhea is a sign of ongoing damage to your small intestine from gluten, and simply managing the symptom with Imodium doesn't stop that internal harm or the risk of other complications. The fact that you are still getting sick within an hour of eating, even while trying to be gluten-free, is a huge red flag that something isn't right. This could be due to cross-contamination in your kitchen (e.g., using a shared toaster, colander, or condiment jars), hidden gluten in foods, or the possibility of another concurrent condition like refractory celiac disease. Don't give up!  This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
×
×
  • 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.