Quick Vs. Slower Reaction

[CMCM]

Does the speed of reaction indicate anything, i.e. reacting within an hour or two vs. reacting maybe as mucha s 6 or 7 hours later? Or even the next day?

For example, would a person with a lesser degree of celiac disease react more slowly perhaps? Just wondering...

[RiceGuy]

Well, it seems everyone reacts differently, so I doubt there will be a general rule. However, I don't think it matters much since the intolerance means being gluten-free for life.

celiac disease (the actual damage) is the result of the intolerance, so it depends on how long the problem went unchecked. If the intolerance is discovered early in life, the damage would be that much less. The degree of damage also depends on how much gluten has been in the diet.

I don't care how I react now that I know I do. The solution is the same.

[KaitiUSA]

There are no "lesser" degrees of celiac. You have celiac or you don't. Everyone with celiac has to follow the gluten free diet 100%.

The only things that vary with celiac are symptoms and damage.

Some people even with really bad damage get no symptoms so you can't really tell from reactions.

The damage may vary depending how long it has gone undiagnosed.

But everyone gets damage from celiac just some people don't get reactions.

[jenvan]

As Kaiti said...no real degrees to Celiac. However, based on how long someone has had the disease, their levels on intestinal damage can vary. People with celiac disease have a range of symptoms and noticeable "reaction times", so to speak. Some have quick, violent reactions. And others, such as myself, have slower, lingering reactions.

[CMCM]

So you all feel that the degree of severity of the reaction doesn't necessarily have a correlation to the severity of the diease....and likewise, may not indicate how much damage is being done??? I guess I've been thinking about allergies, which I know are an entirely different animal, but with allergies one person can sneeze a bit, another might get a rash, and a third might have a more severe reaction. So I've been wondering if celiac could be similar.....some people get violently ill from just a smidgen of gluten somewhere, and others just get gas or some sort of mild abdominal discomfort. I guess the curious thing is why the reactions vary so much.

[Rachel--24]

The reactions really don't tell anything (except that you've been glutened). There are people with total destruction of their villi (seen in biopsy) and they have no symptoms whatsoever. There are others who have severe reactions and no damage seen in biopsy.

[Lisa]

I'm still trying to figure that out. Gluten free (as best I am able) since late August. I am still healing so it is hard to figure out the healing or glutened.

I also do not know now what my sensitivity is. Time will tell. I was glutened either yesterday or today and I can't figure the source. (As posted on today's post)

Time and patience and a food journal would work. I have not done that but it is wise to do.

Don't know whether I am much of a help but maybe for someone.

[cornbread]

What confuses (and worries) me is those of us whose reactions last longer each time. When I first went gluten-free and got 'glutened' the first few times, I would have symtoms for 48 hours. I thought that sucked. Little did I know that the *next* time, it would be 3 days... Then 4 days, then 5. I seem skipped 6 and went straight to 7, and then this last time it was 8! Will it never end?!

[traveljunkie]

Hi, new to the forum. My 16 year old son and I are gluten sensitive. Haven't been diagnosed celiac, but have sent for Enterolab test. I usually have a burning feeling in my lower abdomen after I've accidentally ingested gluten. I will then have diarrhea for the day and have to take immodium to get back on track. My symptoms usually last a day but can be longer...depends on the amount ingested. My son on the other hand will have diarrhea with no pains and feel irritable. I'm so glad I have found this forum and have learned a lot on how to cope with this.