Ate Gluten And....nothing Happened? Totally Confused

[Shelsi]

My daughter was diagnosed at 20 mos old. It's a long story but the short version is that she was diagnosed based off a negative blood test, inconclusive biopsy, and a very high risk genetic testing result along with her miraculous results going gluten-free. From the time she was born she had food intolerances to almost everything, horrific diaper rashes, distended belly, constant hunger, was not growing, and was just generally a miserable child. She was only 15 lbs at 2 yrs old (was 16 lbs at 6 mos old) and after being gluten-free for 6 weeks she was 20 lbs. Her acid reflux went away as did the distended belly, the constant hunger, the misery, and all the food intolerances. Then we also found out my hubby has celiacs disease as well.

So anyways long story longer, she's now 5 yrs old and yesterday was the first time since 20 mos old that she received anything more than contamination. We were at Cold Stone Creamery, where we've gone successfully before, and I stupidly let her get the cake batter ice cream. I was positive I had looked it up before and had been surprised it was a safe flavor so I didn't even ask. I really don't know what the heck I was thinking. Anyways they knew she was gluten-free because they know to mix it in a different container and not on the stone. After she had been eating for awhile they came running out and told us that flavor has gluten in it. I looked it up and yeah, it's def gluten with wheat flour.

So far nothing has happened? She ate at least 10 spoonfuls of it. I'm so confused. In the past when I was pretty sure she ate something contaminated she was in the bathroom before we could even leave (I think they took the bun off her patty but did not re-make it like they should have - of course I have no proof).

How could she eat that ice cream and have nothing happen? I know reactions can be delayed but this seems kind of crazy. She's running around & totally happy and fine. No side effects whatsoever.

Thoughts??

[nvsmom]

My guess (this is entirely a guess) is that she doesn't have the same damage and irritation in her gut as before so the reaction was not as strong (or noticeable).

Another guess is that the way she reacts has changed over the years and you haven't recognized the reaction for what it is. It could bother her skin, give her mouth sores, a headache, make her a bit tired... any number of things. It is quite common for the reaction to vary in it's presentation; just think of people who did not recognize their celiac symptoms for what they were until the stomach aches started and their symptoms resolved on the gluten-free diet... It's a possibility.

Or she got very lucky!

[Bluesdiva]

I know a lady that was diagnosed with Celiacs as a child that stopped showing symptoms when she was about 5. Her family thought she had out grown it somehow and let her eat gluten from that point on. Later when she was 19, she started having intestinal bleeding because her lining was destroyed by the gluten all of those years, even though she did not show signs. I have read that in children the signs might go in remission for years, but reappear in their teens, just like in this woman. Perhaps that is why your daughter did not react. Children seem to be even harder to read with Celiacs and sensitivity....in their test results, their reactions...everything.