Macbre

Do celiacs really have to worry about gluten in makeup? I'm confused. I thought we would only have to worry about ingesting gluten. Can it actually be absorbed by the skin? For example, I thought touching a bread crumb is not important to avoid but eating one is. So is the idea that we ingest make-up when it drops into the mouth or that it is absorbed via the skin?

I never thought about the make-up either until I got a free sample of Estee Lauder's night cream & had a gluten reaction to it. I knew I hadn't eaten anything with gluten so I looked up the ingredients & found "wheat" listed. I gave it away the next day! I have always used bare essentials & since it's gluten-free I never had any issues. Now I think about everything I put on my skin (i.e. soap, shampoo, sun tan lotion, etc.). It's a pain in the butt, but it keeps me feeling good so it's worth it.

I'd just like to say that learning this has officially made my day. I just tried my first slice of gluten-free bread, and it almost made me cry, so the fact that I can still have nutella came as a very pleasant surprise.

I felt the same way about bread until I tasted "Canyon Bakehouse" gluten-free bread. I can eat it plain. Has the same texture as the bread I ate prior to going gluten-free & a great flavor. I haven't tried Nutella, I'll have to do that soon!

I was just diagnosed with IBS, not Celiac, but after I eat, I always have to toot...as if my preggers-looking belly isn't bad enough and nothing fits around my middle. Tonight I had gluten-free hamburger helper for dinner, and it really made me gassy. Is it because my insides are so messed up? I've never been this gassy in a long time.

"IBS" that's what I was told in the beginning also. I was even referred to the Boreland Grover Clinic, but in the mean time my blood work came back positive for Celiac. That's all it took for me to go gluten-free & my bloating went away along with the gas. You ought to try going gluten-free for at least a month and see if it helps. Were you tested for Celiac? Most dr.'s don't test for it unless you ask them to. I think there's a lot of people out there taking unnecessary meds for IBS when really they need to avoid gluten. Good luck!

Vasovagal syncope, yep, that's me. Had it for nigh on 20 years Knew it was associated with food, thought it was corn. Have fainted in restaurants, at parties, pretty much anywhere (couple of times on the john ). It took me forever to link it to gluten. And it is still linked to corn, and other foods that contain lectin, another protein fraction (present in gluten too). It has now progressed to where I get atrial fibrillation instead of vasovagal syncope, but it usually only lasts a few hours - that would be runs of tachycardia and ectopic heartbeats that "kick" against the chest wall, racing pulse, and a lot of other associated symptoms. You will see below my signature the foods I have to avoid because of this. As long as I avoid these foods I am okay (except just after the earthquake and all the aftershocks, when my adrenaline level was so high it set it off Usually happens at night after you go to bed. Your abdominal contents move around when you lie down, and bloating (for me) ends up putting pressure on the heart and lungs and sets it off. Not fun and you have my sympathies. Do you have any known problems with any other foods than gluten?

What's weird is that I never had any issues prior to 2 years ago except for the normal bloating with certain foods, but I got a severe infection that attacked my joints and had me almost bed ridden for two weeks. Several doctors later and a strong does of antibiotic I was finally able to walk again without pain. I suffered with arthritis for 1 1/2 yrs after that and noticed a change in my vision, heart, and other things (too many to mention). I was tested for lupus, RA, and many other diseases and still nothing showed. It wasn't until a routine physical that I tested positive for Celiac through blood work. I was sched. for the endoscopy, but backed out. I had already been gluten free for 6 weeks & felt so much better. I didn't want to be poked & prodded. I guess the infection triggered my symptoms and that's when I started having food allergies (would break out in hives). I was a vegetarian at the time and Soy was my main source of protein, but once I was diagnosed I started eating meat again and cut back on the soy, but haven't cut it out totally.

I'm starting to think that Soy lecithin bothers me, not sure about corn, but I'm going to keep an eye on that. After I eat chocolate that has soy lecithin in it, I get jittery and notice my heart rate picks up and gets out of rhythm and sometimes it causes the D, but not always. I've avoided it for a few days and haven't had as many issues. I only drink decaff coffee & avoid sodas. If I have caffeine I feel like my heart will jump out of my chest. Heat also triggers my syncope, and since I live in FL & our temps are already in the 80's, I'm having to be careful & stay hydrated. Can't lay out by the pool like I used too

What's weird is that I can go for weeks with no problem and then "boom" it hits me. Just lying down, my heart rate drops & I have to run for the bthroom. My heart is usually out of rhythm for a few days after and then levels back out. It happens even if I haven't eaten anything with Gluten so maybe it is something else I'm reacting to.

I'm even scared to go to the dentist for a crown (which I desperately need)because the Novocaine has epinephrine in it and I don't want it to effect my heart. I've never been afraid to go to the dentist until now. I had a reaction to eye dilation drops and didn't realize until after I was having severe heart palpations, dizziness & high blood pressure that it was the eye drops (they contain atropine). I won't do that again!!

Sorry to keep running on, it's just nice to know I'm not alone in this. It has been such a mystery to me for so long & now I know I'm not CRAZY!!

These are the items I won't go without:

Mrs. May's trio bars

Kinnikinnick smoreable graham crackers (I spread Peanut butter & then add a few "enjoy life" choc. chips & YUM!!)

Pamela's Products (especially the pecan shortbread cookies)

Bob's Red Mill brownie mix

Bob's Red Mill pizza crust (add a little garlic salt & italians)

Enjoy Life Boom choco boom bars

Apples, oranges, bananas, grapes

Canyon Bake House Raisin bread

Canyon Bake House Multi-grain bread (These breads I have found have the best flavor and texture - doesn't fall apart)

Bubbies pickles

Gluten Free Pantry all purpose flour (does great in place of all purpose flour)

Van's gluten free waffles

Almond milk

Greek yogurt w/frozen berries

Maranatha Peanut Butter

Sorry I'm so late to reply to my own thread. I am glad to hear that it might just take some more time for you to heal before the constipation and gas go away. She hasn't been complaining about it as much, so I guess it is improving.

I've experienced the same thing and have been gluten free since Dec. For constipation I take Magnesium Dioxide, which really helps and I do the Natren probiotics daily. I truly believe in the probiotics. They are pricey, but worth it. When I've got gas pain I take Charco Caps. Nothing else does the trick for me. I don't have the lower abdominal pain, mine is all upper (under my ribcage).

I have been gluten free since Dec. 2010, and have done well avoiding gluten. Prior to my diagnosis I was told I had Vasovegal Syncope. Rapid heart rate, feeling faint, diarrhea & would feel wiped out for 24 hrs. My symptoms improved, but I still experience them sometimes. Usually only after I eat (during digestion) or after getting overheated. They mainly happen at night when I'm relaxing & watching TV, but it happened today during a movie w/my kids. Had to rush from the theater to the BthRm. Does anyone else experience this after eating? I have days when my heart rate is out of rhythm and it seems to be after I have eaten something with gluten by accident. It will last for several days & then return to normal. I usually have chest pain & diff. breathing too. Does anyone else with Celiac's experience this? I just want to feel normal again & if there is something I'm eating, other than gluten, that could be causing this I would like to find out. I'm wondering if maybe I'm having a reaction to Soy or Soy Lecithin. I've never been allergic before. Prior to going gluten free I was a vegetarian & ate mainly soy products. Any ideas??