NorthernElf

When I get glutened it is a general cramping pain, with some intense bouts, with nausea and usually heartburn later. If it's really bad, my lower back can hurt but maybe that's my posture.

The lasting pain tends to be on the right side, down low and/or under the rib cage. It can be sharp and quite painful - it's been awhile since I've been glutened - first Christmas away I didn't get hit ! Maybe I'm getting older AND wiser.....haha. Definitely getting better at refusing stuff.

I have also had all sorts of "women" tests, my gallbladder checked, my appendix checked - all clear. Kinda felt like a hypochondriac !!! Ten years ago my blood tests were negative & 4 months of gluten free later I had the scope & the doc was looking at heartburn damage not for celiac (thanks to my GP at the time, who also didn't tell me to keep eating gluten). So...no proper diagnosis but I could hire myself out as a gluten detector so I have really no doubt I am celiac - I have to be exteremely careful.

What gives ? The bag says gluten free but my intestinal tract says otherwise !

A few months ago I tried the (gluten free) BBQ flavor and next thing I knew I had headaches & gut cramps...ugh, just let me lie down & leave me alone.

So, I'm in Costco the other day and I see the baked plain Kettle chips and the bag says gluten free...so I think, well maybe it was something else or maybe it was the full fat chips. I so wanted to believe ! Anyway, I had a small bowl each of the last 3 nights and headaches and such resumed. Ok, so I'm a little slow, the reactions were mild enough but as I look back I see I wasn't good company the last 3 nights and my tummy has been grumpy...and I've taken a lot of Tylenol. This am it has hit me full force.

So...I'm thinking - either I'm really sensitive or the term "gluten free" is pretty loosely defined. Or Kettle chips just suck...

Anyone else have a similar experience with Kettle chips or other so called gluten-free products ? I know when I was in England last year I got hit by some of the "Free From" products...it was only after I was back home that I found out the level of tolerance (ppm of allowable gluten) was higher there.

I'm an older athlete...not sure I have any testimonials to include (diagnosed in my mid 30s). At any rate, I think one of the hardest things with dealing with celiacs is avoiding gluten everywhere. This may be especially hard for younger folks. I'm a lifeguard & I work with a lot of teens and people in their early 20s. I would imagine it would be hard to avoid gluten in social settings and pretty much just generally speaking. I bake a lot of my own stuff with gluten-free flours because I need energy and store bought stuff is even more expensive. I can't see many of those I work with doing so ! I would also imagine there could be some denial - or temptation to "just have a little bit".

Another good bit of info would be coping with glutening. What does an person do when they do make a mistake ??? What if they have an event or game and they have been glutened ? I know on the rare instances I get glutened and I have to go to work, I dose myself up with Pepto Bismol & tylenol or advil...helps a bit, makes it bearable. The athlete would also have to make sure they get some safe food (energy) and lots of fluids. I have a heck of a time eating after a glutening - anything dairy is offensive for a couple of days. I hate being nauseated AND hungry, but with all the activity I do, I still am hungry. Motivation would be an issue as well - glutening can wear you down.

On the bright side, lists of web sites and/or companies that provide gluten-free info and products would be helpful - general food and sports bars too (eg. Larabars or Mrs. May's nut bars). Portable food makes things easy - I would encourage any celiac to carry food with them everywhere to avoid the temptation to just grab a bite of something that "probably doesn't have gluten in it" simply because they are hungry. Of course food doesn't have to be premade and many foods are naturally gluten-free.

Yahoo ! Another safe product...

I don't know what the "VH" stands for but does anyone know if this brand is on the safe list ? In Canada Extra Foods (and probably Superstore) carries it. I looked at it the other day & I noticed that it's lower sodium soy sauce doesn't list wheat - is it safe ? They have a variety of other sauces.

The yellow Extra Foods brand doesn't have wheat listed either BUT I think I get a reaction from it. I usually avoid all of the yellow brand stuff anyway because they don't list cross contamination ever - and I'm not phoning for every product ! Fortunately, in Canada, this should change soon...

After a wicked virus that triggered my celiacs, GERD was a big issue for me. I'm one of those that had stomach issues all my life but "mild". I had reflux when I was pregnant, a bit - but that is expected to a point. Well, after this virus I had reflux a lot, stomach pain, and lots of acid. I also had sinus issues.

I had that barium thing where they can see your stomach (after an H Pylori test). Turns out the sphincter on top of my stomach is shaped funny...according to my doctor, hence the acid issue. Hmmm...funny how a genetic anomaly didn't become an issue until I was 35 ! The stomach burning is dyspepsia...not really explainable, just there. I take Zantac 150 every morning (I still like my am coffee) and I have no issues, most of the time. One has to identify one's triggers. I can get away with coffee fine BUT alcohol, fluid dairy, and some spicy food do me in. If I want alcohol in the evening, I take an extra Zantac. I have tried Nexium (ugh, I think it is has gluten in it...didn't work for me anyway). I tried another one too - Pepcid ? Not sure. All I'm saying is that the first one prescribed or tried might not be the one.

I also graze - eat small meals throughout the day. A very full stomach is a bad thing, as is eating lots before bed. I tried the bed thing - elevating my head but I didn't like it. For a quick fix my bandaid solution is Gaviscon. I'm also big on physical activity - seems to help digestion. Inactivity and extra weight also don't help.

Anyway, when my throat feels raw or even my ears feel tender (in the ear or up the eustachian tubes from my throat), I analyze my diet and see if I feel acidy. Sometimes it's not so noticeable. Scarring of the esophagus is a bad thing - look up Barret's esophagus - there is a slightly higher chance of cancer. My younger brother has this...*sigh*...I wish he would get tested.

Reflux is sometimes my first clue I've been glutened - it is definitely related. I do have the other ususal symptoms, BTW - nausuea, D, aches, pains, fatigue, crabbiness - it's more than the GERD.