Glutened...first Time In 3 Years!

[Litty Love]

Phew!  Well I found out I am Celiac at age 19, and am now 22 years old. I eliminated everything I could pretty quickly. Since then my body seemed to get more sensitive to many foods; I can't eat GMO corn, no non-organic dairy at all, and organic foods as much as possible. Also, for some reason bananas aren't great. Then it started to get a little less sensitive for a while, I felt like my immune system was level, and my digestive system was pretty solid!

 

Then one day, I went to my tried and true- trusted restaurant who are normally extremely good about preparing Gluten-Free foods. I ordered the burger on a gluten-free bun. Hooray! I was starving,so when it came, I chowed down.  About 3 bites in I thought "Dang, this is awesome, this bun tastes so good"  Then it hit me, oh no..  This isn't a gluten-free bun is it.. So I asked, and it definitely wasn't..   I hadn't eaten that much gluten since age 19!! I almost started crying right there  , I was so afraid of what was going to happen. Well I immediately went to the store and purchased probiotics, gluten-ease enzymes, a papaya, everything and anything to help! It was weird, I got really bloated but didn't quite have the same reaction I was expecting. 

 

A couple days later then it started to happen. I started having all the normal symptoms, rashes, abnormal bowel movements, bloating, foggy head, fatigue, immune system depression, etc.   

 

It's been a couple weeks, but now I'm reacting to so much! Two times in the past week I've had to call in sick to work and just sleep. I've been completely forgetting tasks at work, mood swings out the wazoo (Sorry boyfriend!! I feel like such a jerk sometimes for my crazy mood swings ). I don't know if I've got some sort of contamination happening, or maybe since that hamburger incident my gut was re-damaged and now I'm hyper sensitive again? I worked so hard to get it back to normal.

 

I'm also having swollen lymphs, and hard time sleeping..

 

Any advice on how to deal with this? How to speed the repair along so I can get back to normal? 

Also..any advice on how to deal with a significant other during mood swing times?  That's another whole can of worms..

 

PS. thanks for the ranting space--this helps so much!!   

 

 

[cyclinglady]

Oh, no!  I am so sorry to hear that you got glutened!  I hope you will feel better soon!

 

I can completely relate.  I'm still a newbie (dx in March).  I went to lunch a few days ago with a friend and I chose the restaurant.  They had a gluten free menu and I ordered a hamburger with just lettuce, tomato and no condiments.  My side salad had no dressing.  I joked about the bun being just okay and that I've come to like eating burgers wrapped in lettuce.  Within minutes, indigestion started.  We shopped afterwards at the mall and I felt fine.

 

That night I woke up with abdominal pain, nausea, "rock-feeling" in my stomach, and I couldn't sleep.  Got up to watch TV.  Barely functioned the next day with body aches added to my growing list of symptoms.  Slept better the next night and then had a headache all day was very cranky. My tummy issued persisted.

 

I wrote two reviews on "Find Me Gluten Free" and "Yelp".    I just nicely complained that the restaurant must have had cross contamination issues and the rest of my party enjoyed their food and service.  I warned those with celiac disease to be careful!

 

Would you believe the restaurant sent me a message?  Too sick and tired to deal with it now, but I will respond. Maybe I can help someone else from getting glutened!

 

So, as far as your boyfriend and mood swings?  I can't help you there.  I"m still trying to figure it out myself.  But the mood swings are real and they happen to my hubby too (he's been gluten-free for 12 years).  That's one of the symptoms where we stop and say, "I must have been glutened!"  (Besides our other gluten related issues.)

 

If I had eaten some offending food (e.g. garlic), it would be over in two days.  And that's what happened when I accidentally glutened myself in the first month or so of going gluten free.  Now, the reaction is much more severe!

 

I went on vacation to visit family, ate out a few times and did not get glutened (even at Wendy's).  So, I thought I was safe in my own hometown! In the future, I'm going to always talk to the manager (when I get enough courage to eat out again).

 

Hang in there!

[dilettantesteph]

I'm so sorry.  I think that it would help to get on as clean a diet as possible.  Also, get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and do some mild exercise.  I think that you body is very busy with the restaurant contamination and it does't need anything else to deal with.  I can't imagine what would happen to me if I ate that much straight gluten.  No wonder you felt like crying.  I hope you feel better soon.

[nvsmom]

(((HUGS))) I am afraid that I don't know any tricks to make it pass faster.    As the others said, I would keep you diet simple and clean and rest as much as you can....

 

Congrats on staying gluten-free for three years. You've done a great job! It's a shame someone mad a mistake on you... Hope you feel well soon.

[notme]

rest as much as you can and drink lots of water - you are sick, you would baby yourself if you had the flu, right?  my gluten after-effects stay for 2 weeks    i have to keep reminding myself that i do NOT hate everybody it's just the gluten messing with my mind.  

 

((((hugs))))) i am 6 months without doing myself in <that's a record for me  so, i feel for you, sweetie!   feel better

[Litty Love]

Thanks for your response!

 

Yes I have had a lot of hesitation when eating out, of course. Many people don't even know what it is! I understand that, I did't know much about it in the beginning either, but of course now it's a lot easier. But even 3 years in I still am finding out new things to avoid. 

 

I understand the rock feeling in the stomach, inability to sleep etc. Good for you for writing the reviews! I haven't heard of that website, but I'm going to check it out, hopefully it's in my city. I think it would be a great idea to come out with an app for the phone that lists Gluten Free places-- but with a level. Like, who has real options & knowledge about gluten, and who is just slapping the label on their menus for marketing purposes.

 

Then another problem is that when going to a restaurant sometimes the servers will think that they know gluten really well, but don't. One time I went to a really fancy restaurant, and one of the deserts that my date ordered was a "malt milkshake" I asked the server twice if it was gluten free...(Malt is one of the main things that's definitely not gluten free!) He assured me it was, and then even checked with the Chef too. They insisted it was gluten-free.  There is a small possibility that it was Malt derived from corn, and actually was gluten-free, but I kind of doubt they knew that much detail. So basically, I'm very skeptical now.

 

That's awesome they sent you a message back, were they apologetic? The restaurant I went to was very apologetic, got a refund immediately, and replaced my burger on the gluten-free bun. 

 

Your husband is Gluten-free too, that's actually kind of cool, might make things a little easier to deal with? Not that I wish Celiac on anyone, but he is probably a great source of info for your new diagnosis. 

 

Best of luck on staying non- glutened! 

 

 

 

  On 8/23/2013 at 1:40 PM, cyclinglady said:

Oh, no!  I am so sorry to hear that you got glutened!  I hope you will feel better soon!

 

I can completely relate.  I'm still a newbie (dx in March).  I went to lunch a few days ago with a friend and I chose the restaurant.  They had a gluten free menu and I ordered a hamburger with just lettuce, tomato and no condiments.  My side salad had no dressing.  I joked about the bun being just okay and that I've come to like eating burgers wrapped in lettuce.  Within minutes, indigestion started.  We shopped afterwards at the mall and I felt fine.

 

That night I woke up with abdominal pain, nausea, "rock-feeling" in my stomach, and I couldn't sleep.  Got up to watch TV.  Barely functioned the next day with body aches added to my growing list of symptoms.  Slept better the next night and then had a headache all day was very cranky. My tummy issued persisted.

 

I wrote two reviews on "Find Me Gluten Free" and "Yelp".    I just nicely complained that the restaurant must have had cross contamination issues and the rest of my party enjoyed their food and service.  I warned those with celiac disease to be careful!

 

Would you believe the restaurant sent me a message?  Too sick and tired to deal with it now, but I will respond. Maybe I can help someone else from getting glutened!

 

So, as far as your boyfriend and mood swings?  I can't help you there.  I"m still trying to figure it out myself.  But the mood swings are real and they happen to my hubby too (he's been gluten-free for 12 years).  That's one of the symptoms where we stop and say, "I must have been glutened!"  (Besides our other gluten related issues.)

 

If I had eaten some offending food (e.g. garlic), it would be over in two days.  And that's what happened when I accidentally glutened myself in the first month or so of going gluten free.  Now, the reaction is much more severe!

 

I went on vacation to visit family, ate out a few times and did not get glutened (even at Wendy's).  So, I thought I was safe in my own hometown! In the future, I'm going to always talk to the manager (when I get enough courage to eat out again).

 

Hang in there!

[Litty Love]

  On 8/23/2013 at 1:56 PM, dilettantesteph said:

I'm so sorry.  I think that it would help to get on as clean a diet as possible.  Also, get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and do some mild exercise.  I think that you body is very busy with the restaurant contamination and it does't need anything else to deal with.  I can't imagine what would happen to me if I ate that much straight gluten.  No wonder you felt like crying.  I hope you feel better soon.

 

Thank you! Yes, exercise sounds good. I am now going to be extremely careful about my food choices. 

[Litty Love]

  On 8/23/2013 at 3:15 PM, nvsmom said:

(((HUGS))) I am afraid that I don't know any tricks to make it pass faster.    As the others said, I would keep you diet simple and clean and rest as much as you can....

 

Congrats on staying gluten-free for three years. You've done a great job! It's a shame someone mad a mistake on you... Hope you feel well soon.

Thanks!! (((HUGS))) back!

[Litty Love]

  On 8/23/2013 at 5:02 PM, notme! said:

rest as much as you can and drink lots of water - you are sick, you would baby yourself if you had the flu, right?  my gluten after-effects stay for 2 weeks    i have to keep reminding myself that i do NOT hate everybody it's just the gluten messing with my mind.  

 

((((hugs))))) i am 6 months without doing myself in <that's a record for me  so, i feel for you, sweetie!   feel better

 

Permission to baby myself, Score! haha. Yes, mine last about two weeks too! And then I can't really tell when my immune system gets back to normal, but it's a while. 

 

Haha, yes, I don't hate everyone, it's the damn gluten. My boyfriend is so tired of hearing me say " Gluten Free " But oh well. 

 

Good job 6 months! You got it! Thank you so much !

[cyclinglady]

  On 8/25/2013 at 2:09 AM, Litty Love said:

Thanks for your response!

 

Yes I have had a lot of hesitation when eating out, of course. Many people don't even know what it is! I understand that, I did't know much about it in the beginning either, but of course now it's a lot easier. But even 3 years in I still am finding out new things to avoid. 

 

I understand the rock feeling in the stomach, inability to sleep etc. Good for you for writing the reviews! I haven't heard of that website, but I'm going to check it out, hopefully it's in my city. I think it would be a great idea to come out with an app for the phone that lists Gluten Free places-- but with a level. Like, who has real options & knowledge about gluten, and who is just slapping the label on their menus for marketing purposes.

 

Then another problem is that when going to a restaurant sometimes the servers will think that they know gluten really well, but don't. One time I went to a really fancy restaurant, and one of the deserts that my date ordered was a "malt milkshake" I asked the server twice if it was gluten free...(Malt is one of the main things that's definitely not gluten free!) He assured me it was, and then even checked with the Chef too. They insisted it was gluten-free.  There is a small possibility that it was Malt derived from corn, and actually was gluten-free, but I kind of doubt they knew that much detail. So basically, I'm very skeptical now.

 

That's awesome they sent you a message back, were they apologetic? The restaurant I went to was very apologetic, got a refund immediately, and replaced my burger on the gluten-free bun. 

 

Your husband is Gluten-free too, that's actually kind of cool, might make things a little easier to deal with? Not that I wish Celiac on anyone, but he is probably a great source of info for your new diagnosis. 

 

Best of luck on staying non- glutened! 

It has been a much easier transition for me since my husband's gluten-free too.  I  learned to bake cookies, cobblers and cakes and prepare gluten-free meals beginning twelve years ago.    Eating at home has always been "safe" for the both of us.    

 

It is very cool that he is gluten free.  The best thing is that he completely knows how I feel (when I'm sick or grieving for lost foods).

 

I'm just laying around today (hosted a big party last night) and feeling awful from my glutening five days ago.  I'm feeling a bit crappy about the party too.  Since I was sick, I served lettuce wrapped burgers, baked beans, chips, fruit and salad.  I heard one of my guests complain, "Geez, I could have bought buns!"  My first reaction was anger ("Let it go", I told myself), later I heard my guest say, "This is pretty good".  I just didn't want to worry about cross contamination.  In the past, I'd serve my husband first.  But now who's going to eat the leftover possibly contaminated food? Plus, I have some pretty hefty family members.  Do they really need a bun?  For dessert, I served Costco gluten brownies and lemon cake (no complaints there) and sent home the leftover desserts. It still hurts that family members just don't get it.  But I don't see them everyday and I guess it will take a decade to bring them up to speed.  They'll have to learn or tough it out, since I typically host all the big holiday meals.  Hopefully, I'll have mastered gluten-free rolls and pies by then and they won't be able to guess.

 

I was just feeling good about my fracture healing and gearing up to swim and was walking everyday with my dog.  For five days, I have not exercised and have forced myself to do my normal "chores".  I worry about being about to eat out when my reaction has been so awful.  I had another luncheon date planned for next week, but I've invited them to come to my house.  I'll feel so much safer!

 

I haven't contacted Red Robin back yet.  Am waiting to feel better.  Will let everyone know the outcome.

 

Anyway, so much for the pity party.  My husband's a great guy.  I love him so much even after 25 years!  My kid's great too!

 

Have a better day!