Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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 Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Nightmares- Literally!


Pauliewog

Recommended Posts

Pauliewog Contributor

The past two weeks or so I have been waking up in a complete panic due to dreams where I eat gluten. In the one last night I was holding something. I began to nibble on it then I realized it was bread. I got all freaked out that I was eating bread. Then I woke up! Does anyone else ever dream they are eating gluten foods? I am almost 6 months gluten free.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



RiceGuy Collaborator

Yeah, it still happens to me from time to time, even though I've been gluten-free for some years now. Though I don't wake up in a panic. Just relieved that it wasn't real. But within the dream I can't understand how I could make such a stupid mistake.

My only guess is that it's the result of a true commitment to a gluten-free diet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bartfull Rising Star

I haven't dreamed of eating gluten, but I have dreamed that my hands were INFESTED with the psoriasis that is my main symptom. I had one of those last week. I think it's because I have recently added corn starch back to my diet, and in my dream I must have been thinking it's too good to be true.

When I woke up I could have rolled over and slept some more but instead I got up and rushed into the kitchen to look at my hands under the bright light. Not one single spot. My hands look like everybody elses. But I know those dreams will come again. :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ciamarie Rookie

I've had one or 2 dreams like that, and I also had similar dreams about smoking after I quit cigarettes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Magsirish Newbie

The past two weeks or so I have been waking up in a complete panic due to dreams where I eat gluten. In the one last night I was holding something. I began to nibble on it then I realized it was bread. I got all freaked out that I was eating bread. Then I woke up! Does anyone else ever dream they are eating gluten foods? I am almost 6 months gluten free.

Yes! I've been gluten-free for 11 years and for the first year I had those same dreams. I would wake up and be afraid it was real for a moment! Don't worry, they'll go away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
HauntedEyes Rookie

I just had one the other day. Dreamed I was walking by a bakery and bought two glazed donuts. I was half way through eating one when I realized, whoops, gluten! But in my dream I thought, I goofed and shouldn't have eaten half the donut, but since I have already "done the deed" and the damage was done I decided to finish the donut and went ahead and wolfed down the rest of it and gave the second donut to my husband. In the dream, I did tell him I slipped up and need to be better. I think my dream was a direct result of my having cravings for a donut the day before and resisted the urge in real life. Can't have it in real life, but did in the dream, even though I knew it was wrong even in the dream. Just wish I was stronger in the dream and had resisted the donut in the first place!

I think the cravings and dreams will get better after I learn to cook with gluten-free flours, just to fulfill the rare craving I have for a baked treat. I found a bunch of recipes yesterday that I am hoping to try. Unfortunately, most of the store-bought gluten-free breads I can't have because they have chicken eggs, corn, potato, rice, soy or milk, which I can't have. And so many of the gluten-free flour mixes have those items in them, so I can't use them. So the challenge for me is to make the gluten-free flours and baked goods on my own omitting those things. I really miss pasta, and so far I'm not doing so well trying to make my own while omitting those things ... it's going to take a lot of experimenting, I think. I am looking forward to the culinary challenges and consider it an adventure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SensitiveMe Rookie

I am 2 years glutenfree and have those dreams. I get startled awake, realize I am eating something I shouldn't and think what the heck is wrong with me as I should know better than to eat this. Then I realize it was just a dream, feel relieved about that and end up going back to sleep. Still it is unpleasant to be startled awake like that.

I believe in time my dreams will go away as I find more things I can eat and make more things. I have a zillion (OK, maybe really about 25) glutenfree cookbooks here but there is little in each one I can make because I also can't have oats, soy, have a corn allergy, severe lactose intolerance, and have never tolerated fruits very well. I have tried to have a better attitude and regard it as an adventure but sometimes I just get disgusted about not being able to have anything handy I can eat. I thought I was having these dreams because in real life I spend so much time trying to find things to eat but in the dreamworld I can just relax and eat anything I want.

It's a comfort to know others are also having these dreams. I'm sure in time your dreams will at least get better without having to feel in a panic or freaked out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



luvrdeo Apprentice

I'm very newly diagnosed, and have had a dream every night for the past few nights. One night I was eating a pretzel, the next it was in my coffe...which is ironic, because I suffered my first cross-contamination Tuesday when ordering a drink from Starbucks that I was too naive to think twice about. The effects of it have been tremendous, so when I dreamt of gluten once again last night...I was rather freaked out in my dream!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bartfull Rising Star

I dreamed the other night that I was at MacDonalds. I ordered the quarter pounder with cheese meal. They gave me the burger and said they would bring the fries out to my table when they were done. On the way to my table an old lady said she wanted some fries too so they gave her MY fries. I went into another room and found some fries there, and there was a guy there who told me I couldn't eat them because they weren't gluten-free. I showed him the half eaten burger in my hands and laughed. THEN I went over to get myself a drink. There was nothing there without corn syrup so I just chose water.

CRAZY! Is my subconscious telling me not to worrry about gluten but to worry about corn?! Corn IS harder to avoid, and after having gotten corn starch back and then losing it again I AM pretty upset. But if it weren't for gluten I never would have lost corn to begin with.

Or maybe it was just a stupid, non-sensical dream.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
CeliacShack Rookie

I'm pretty new to being gluten-free, and have had dreams of eating gluten. I wake up feeling so traumatized, lol! It's so funny to learn others have them as well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GottaSki Mentor

I had them for the first year or so....very rare now, but they still happen. Last one was actually about guacamole instead of gluten - I really miss avocados - gluten not so much ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CeliacShack Rookie

I had them for the first year or so....very rare now, but they still happen. Last one was actually about guacamole instead of gluten - I really miss avocados - gluten not so much ;)

Oh, I would miss avacados as well! I still eat them at this point, although I need to get in for additional allergy testing, because I am still having flare ups. I'm doing okay with giving up gluten, for the most part, although I do miss pizza! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kittty Contributor

I had my first gluten nightmare last week. In the dream there were free samples of sandwiches at the grocery store, and they looked so good, so I took three of them. As I was eating them this voice at the back of my mind started warning me of danger, but I couldn't stop! The voice got louder and louder, until I realized what I was doing and jolted awake. It took a few minutes to figure out that it was a dream and I wasn't going to get sick.

This was the night after I was making pasta for my husband, and almost instinctively put a piece of pasta up to my mouth to taste if it was cooked enough. I stopped the spoon inches from my face, and freaked out a little. That probably initiated the nightmare.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
1desperateladysaved Proficient

I woke up from a dream of eating buns. I was thinking hard about it, but I wasn't scared, I was enjoying it!

Only in my dreams I told myself. I can enjoy these things in my dreams.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
luvrdeo Apprentice

After dreaming about pretzels 3 times within 3 weeks (so random, I don't eat them on a regular basis even when I could), I finally went and bought my first gluten free "special" food...Glutinos! While expensive, I have to admit, I'm enjoying them! I've been feeling rather deprived lately due to my colitis, so this has been a nice safe treat! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 5 weeks later...
Krystal K. Rookie

ugh yea i dream sometimes of eating oreos with my husband and then I say oh no why am i eating these? ... then theres the occasional taco bell and chinese take out dream..only if I smelt it that day or someone was talking bout it though! hopefully they stop soon its weird how food can haunt us!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SMDBill Apprentice

I'm newly diagnosed and had my first glutening a few days ago. Awful pain. My wife and I joke about gluten and she'll tease me when getting a bowl of Cheerios saying, "I'm having gluten-o's for breakfast." Yesterday we were talking about "gluten donuts" and last night I dreamed I was eating donuts, then freaked out in the dream after realizing what they were made of.

It didn't wake me up during the dream, but when I woke up and realized I was still in bed I was happy. I know it'll happen again, but I never want to feel this way again, at least not soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Terry Ambrose Newbie

I think I've only had one dream in 10 years about eating gluten (at least, that I can remember) but when I have to handle bread for other people I get a creepy, crawly feeling and have to go wash my hands a couple of times. Freaks me out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GF Lover Rising Star

Another way to end dreams or nightmares is to knock yourself out at bed time with a dose of trazadone. Yes it's a script but it is also very effective med to sleep, no nightmares, no nothing, just sleep.

I Have blocked nightmares for many many years with this. Granted, it may be difficult to stop. I have not been able to stop and probably never stop :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
JNBunnie1 Community Regular

I had a dream recently that I was a spy and my assignment required

me to eat gluten.... :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
anabananakins Explorer

Hehe, I remembering posting about this too. I'm now over 2 years gluten free and those dreams have pretty much gone. I had two recurring ones - one, that I was at a party and absentmindedly ate from a bowl of nibbles and the other was that I was being chased by cupcakes on little legs ;-)

It's still new, you're anxious about making mistakes, your brain is just working through it :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bartfull Rising Star

I had a dream last week that I was eating CATFOOD and it tasted pretty good! But then I realized there was gluten in it and I freaked out. I didn't mind that it was catfood, just that it had gluten. :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GottaSki Mentor

I had a dream last week that I was eating CATFOOD and it tasted pretty good! But then I realized there was gluten in it and I freaked out. I didn't mind that it was catfood, just that it had gluten. :blink:

LOL!

I had one like this a while back - 'cept I was eating my doggy's biscuits...woke up worried about the gluten and somehow didn't realize it would be odd to be eating dog bones until much later the following day :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
luvrdeo Apprentice

I had a dream last night that I was at a concert chugging down a draft beer and after the fact knowing it was sooooo not ok...oh the good ol' days :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Eleanor Creasey Rookie

The past two weeks or so I have been waking up in a complete panic due to dreams where I eat gluten. In the one last night I was holding something. I began to nibble on it then I realized it was bread. I got all freaked out that I was eating bread. Then I woke up! Does anyone else ever dream they are eating gluten foods? I am almost 6 months gluten free.

The past two weeks or so I have been waking up in a complete panic due to dreams where I eat gluten. In the one last night I was holding something. I began to nibble on it then I realized it was bread. I got all freaked out that I was eating bread. Then I woke up! Does anyone else ever dream they are eating gluten foods? I am almost 6 months gluten free.

Yes! I dreamed I was eating Oreo cookies one time. There were others but it's been a while, I have been gluten-free for 12 years,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      121,088
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Aventine
    Newest Member
    Aventine
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Anmol
      Thanks this is helpful. Couple of follow -ups- that critical point till it stays silent is age dependent or dependent on continuing to eat gluten. In other words if she is on gluten-free diet can she stay on silent celiac disease forever?    what are the most cost effective yet efficient test to track the inflammation/antibodies and see if gluten-free is working . 
    • trents
      Welcome to the community forum, @Anmol! There are a number of blood antibody tests that can be administered when diagnosing celiac disease and it is normal that not all of them will be positive. Three out of four that were run for you were positive. It looks pretty conclusive that you have celiac disease. Many physicians will only run the tTG-IGA test so I applaud your doctor for being so thorough. Note, the Immunoglobulin A is not a test for celiac disease per se but a measure of total IGA antibody levels in your blood. If this number is low it can cause false negatives in the individual IGA-based celiac antibody tests. There are many celiacs who are asymptomatic when consuming gluten, at least until damage to the villous lining of the small bowel progresses to a certain critical point. I was one of them. We call them "silent" celiacs".  Unfortunately, being asymptomatic does not equate to no damage being done to the villous lining of the small bowel. No, the fact that your wife is asymptomatic should not be viewed as a license to not practice strict gluten free eating. She is damaging her health by doing so and the continuing high antibody test scores are proof of that. The antibodies are produced by inflammation in the small bowel lining and over time this inflammation destroys the villous lining. Continuing to disregard this will catch up to her. While it may be true that a little gluten does less harm to the villous lining than a lot, why would you even want to tolerate any harm at all to it? Being a "silent" celiac is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing in the sense of being able to endure some cross contamination in social settings without embarrassing repercussions. It's a curse in that it slows down the learning curve of avoiding foods where gluten is not an obvious ingredient, yet still may be doing damage to the villous lining of the small bowel. GliadinX is helpful to many celiacs in avoiding illness from cross contamination when eating out but it is not effective when consuming larger amounts of gluten. It was never intended for that purpose. Eating out is the number one sabotager of gluten free eating. You have no control of how food is prepared and handled in restaurant kitchens.  
    • knitty kitty
      Forgot one... https://www.hormonesmatter.com/eosinophilic-esophagitis-sugar-thiamine-sensitive/
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum community, @ekelsay! Yes, your tTG-IGA score is strongly positive for celiac disease. There are other antibody tests that can be run when diagnosing celiac disease but the tTG-IGA is the most popular with physicians because it combines good sensitivity with good specificity, and it is a relatively inexpensive test to perform. The onset of celiac disease can happen at any stage of life and the size of the score is not necessarily an indicator of the progress of the disease. It is likely that you you experienced onset well before you became aware of symptoms. It often takes 10 years or more to get a diagnosis of celiac disease after the first appearance of symptoms. In my case, the first indicator was mildly elevated liver enzymes that resulted in a rejection of my blood donation by the Red Cross at age 37. There was no GI discomfort at that point, at least none that I noticed. Over time, other lab values began to get out of norm, including decreased iron levels. My PCP was at a complete loss to explain any of this. I finally scheduled an appointment with a GI doc because the liver enzymes concerned me and he tested me right away for celiac disease. I was positive and within three months of gluten free eating my liver enzymes were back to normal. That took 13 years since the rejection of my blood donation by the Red Cross. And my story is typical. Toward the end of that period I had developed some occasional diarrhea and oily stool but no major GI distress. Many celiacs do not have classic GI symptoms and are "silent" celiacs. There are around 200 symptoms that have been associated with celiac disease and many or most of them do not involve conscious GI distress. Via an autoimmune process, gluten ingestion triggers inflammation in the villous lining of the small bowel which damages it over time and inhibits the ability of this organ to absorb the vitamins and minerals in the food we ingest. So, that explains why those with celiac disease often suffer iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis and a host of other vitamin and mineral deficiency related medical issues. The villous lining of the small bowel is where essentially all of our nutrition is absorbed. So, yes, anemia is one of the classic symptoms of celiac disease. One very important thing you need to be aware of is that your PCP may refer you to a GI doc for an endoscopy/biopsy of the small bowel lining to confirm the results of the blood antibody testing. So, you must not begin gluten free eating until that is done or at least you know they are going to diagnose you with celiac disease without it. If you start gluten free eating now there will be healing in the villous lining that will begin to take place which may compromise the results of the biopsy.
    • Anmol
      Hello all- my wife was recently diagnosed with Celiac below are her blood results. We are still absorbing this.  I wanted to seek clarity on few things:  1. Her symptoms aren't extreme. She was asked to go on gluten free diet a couple years ago but she did not completely cut off gluten. Partly because she wasn't seeing extreme symptoms. Only bloating and mild diarrhea after a meal full of gluten.  Does this mean that she is asymptomatic but enormous harm is done with every gram of gluten.? in other words is amount gluten directly correlated with harm on the intestines? or few mg of gluten can be really harmful to the villi  2. Why is she asymptomatic?  3. Is Gliadin X safe to take and effective for Cross -contamination or while going out to eat?  4. Since she is asymptomatic, can we sometimes indulge in a gluten diet? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deamidated Gliadin, IgG - 64 (0-19) units tTG IgA -  >100 (0-3) U/ml tTG IgG - 4   (0-5) Why is this in normal range? Endomysial Antibody - Positive  Immunoglobulin A - 352 (87-352) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks for help in advance, really appreciate! 
×
×
  • Create New...