Maybe glutened by microwave at work...

[Jen1104]

Hi all,

Just started a new job recently.  One of my coworkers put food in the microwave for about 10 minutes (didn't see what it was at the time).  Then, I proceeded to warm up my food.  Mine was in a tupperware plate with paper towel on bottom and on top and with the lid placed loosely on top.  About an hour after I ate, I felt a bit dizzy, heart racing, headache behind the eyes. But.. it didn't last long--an hour or two.  Now for two days since then I've been angry, irritated, agitated and still have some of the headache.  After I had these symptoms while at work, I asked what my coworker had for lunch and she said she cooked spaghetti for 10 min in microwave.

It sure seems to me that I got glutened?  But how??

I'm thinking from the steam of cooking spaghetti??

Anybody have any ideas or scientific theories on this?

Also, we don't get to take lunches at this lovely new job, so everyone eats at their desks and we sometimes share desks, depending on the shift.  And, i do find crumbs and just use wet wipes to clean desk.  Do you think this is sufficient to keep safe?

Thanks for reading and any thoughts!

 

[Ennis-TX]

When I use a microwave at a gas station or whole foods to warm up the stuff I brought with me I do the following"
Use a paper napkin to open the door, lay napkins inside and on top of my food, do not touch the controls with my bare hands. and lay down some freezer paper I brought with me or paper towels on the counter I am eating on to avoid gluten residue or crumbs. I also bring my own utensils normally disposable.

[squirmingitch]

I can't see the microwave being the cause of any exposure to you; not with the way you protected your food with the paper towels & the lid (even loosely placed). I really just can't see the steam doing this, I just can't.

Ah, just had a thought. The paper towel you put on top of your food..... was that a paper towel from work? Could that have been contaminated by gluten hands & then you placed in on top of your food?

As far as crumbs on the desk, soap & water is what cleans gluten off. Not sure the wet wipes will do the trick however, you can touch gluten all day long & it's not going to hurt you UNLESS you then put those hands in your mouth without washing them first.

[Jen1104]

Thanks!

Ennis- I don't know if I could use a gas station microwave, you're braver than i am!  But maybe it's not much different than sharing one at work.  Maybe it was the buttons or handle on microwave that got me. I didn't think of that. I'll have to be even more careful. Ugh

Squirmingitch- Thanks for reply.  Yes, I did use paper towels from work. Didn't think about cc from that! Appreciate the heads up.  Co-workers probably already think I'm weird for using wet wipes to clean desks off, but...really don't care.  They don't know about my gluten issues as I've only been there a few weeks so they just think I'm a germ-phobe (which I am a bit ?)

[Ennis-TX]

lol I think your braver then me. Between my corn allergy and celiac....I can not be around the normal americans and gluten eaters for long. I gave up working with normal people a few years back.
Oh lets eat a gluten and corn burrito and wipe my hands on his desk and chair (we got this one on camera)
Oh lets go and eat this stuff he can not eat in front of him.
Oh lets go blow our breath at him and make him smell the food after eating.
Lets go drink beers around him and taunt him with them.
Lets go see how he reacts to a corn syrup soda (yeah the rash was not fun)

Yeah all have happened frack working around people like that. I work for myself and make my own safe work environment. Did not need that drama, worry, and aggravations.

The food I reheat is normally blended porridge, not much room for contamination. I do better on a soft easy diet for lunch and dinner and have to eat them warm, cold foods give me something a bit like gastroparesis where my stomach just hold the food for hours til I get sick and vomit.

Other thoughts, when my stomach is doing better I transition to using Julian Bakery Pegan bars and some of their paleo bars are alright, along with veggie, and almond butter for  easy meals away from home. You might try bringing something that does not need to be reheated and is good in a lunch box with a freezer pack, like nut butters and fruit or veggies, trail mix, nuts, jerky, kale chips, other chips you can eat, and some tubs of guacamole or salsa.

[Jen1104]

Hey Ennis,

Sorry you've had such crappy coworkers, but glad you got away from it!  People can be cruel sometimes.  I'm not sure if my new job is going to work out.  If I would've known people ate at their desks and that we shared those desks, I dont think I would've taken the job.  I feel I'm verrrry sensitive to gluten.  Yesterday, there were huge amounts of crumbs at my desk--all over--who doesn't bother even attempting to clean that up? Pigs!  Nevermind that I may get extremely sick!  

I think I'll definitely take lunch that doesn't have to be heated up in microwave or maybe take something hot in a thermos. Or just something to snack on like you suggested. ?

[squirmingitch]

Jen, are you a diagnosed celiac? If so, then you need to speak up at your work. You come under the Americans with disabilities act & that entitles you to certain protections. 

[Jen1104]

Nope Squirmingitch, not a diagnosed celiac unfortunately.  

I was already on Gluten-Free diet for 6 months when I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy (didn't know I had to keep eating gluten when I started diet on my own).  I had some flattened villi that the dr saw with endoscope even after 6 mo, but the biopsies were normal.  Recently, after a year on diet, I took the ttg iga blood test (just for the heck of it) and it was a 6. Six and up was positive.  So...I think I'm celiac but I'll probably never know for sure.  It seems I have almost every symptom of celiac, which has been going on for 25 years.

Do you know if NCGS is covered under disability act?

 

[squirmingitch]

As far as I know NCGS is not covered under the ADA. Never the less, it is my opinion that you should speak up & tell your co-workers and tell your supervisor or employer. You're not asking for special treatment really. You're just asking for a clean workspace. IMO, employees making crumby messes is not hygienic and only invites vermin such as roaches & rodents. The company should be concerned about that if nothing else.

[Jen1104]

Today, I told my manager that I have a wheat allergy instead of having to explain celiac to her when she asked why I was cleaning off the desk.  She half way scoffed/laughed when I told her this, soooo I get the opinion she probably doesn't care too much about my situation, lol.  I'm just gonna keep cleaning the space well, not use the microwave anymore and maybe pray a bit that I don't get sick.  That's very true about the roaches and rodents though, Ick!

[cyclinglady]

I use a thermos to keep food warm while at school or work.  Worth the $20 investment!  

[Jen1104]

Yep, good idea about thermos.  I plan on definitely doing that!

[LilyR]

On 9/3/2018 at 5:40 PM, Jen1104 said:

Today, I told my manager that I have a wheat allergy instead of having to explain celiac to her when she asked why I was cleaning off the desk.  She half way scoffed/laughed when I told her this, soooo I get the opinion she probably doesn't care too much about my situation, lol.  I'm just gonna keep cleaning the space well, not use the microwave anymore and maybe pray a bit that I don't get sick.  That's very true about the roaches and rodents though, Ick!

I was watching a tv show and one character said they had a gluten allergy and the other character was like, that's not even a real thing.  So if it showed up on a tv show, it most likely is something some people talk about, and some people apparently feel it is not a real thing.  We can maybe thank the gluten-free diet just for the sake of going gluten free to lose weight for that image, perhaps? It was annoying to see it on a tv show.  Even some of my family wonder if gluten is really my issue, since I am still struggling with bloat and stomach distention.  I did start go get better going gluten-free, but now am struggling with the stomach distention and bloat much too frequently.  But I'm still much better off gluten.  I just seem to be getting super sensitive to much more. It's driving me crazy.  

My husband feels I will someday be able to eat gluten again (maybe he;s just dreaming, because this is all been a real pain in the neck for us all, and he feels bad for me struggling with what to eat that won't make my stomach a mess).  Or maybe he has a hunch and it will come true (ya, I wish!).  I am gluten sensitive, not celiac.  Apparently.  I think my stomach doctor only did bloodwork to check.  I did have an endoscopy done at first, and I know they did a biopsy for like, I don't know, that H, Pylori and Barretts esophagus, and whatever.  All came back fine. They didn't mention celiac at that point.  But then later one he decided to check blood work for celiac. Who knows. I don't trust dr's that much anymore. 

 

[Ennis-TX]

Random thoughts top of my head that are also common causes, SIBO, Candida, Colitis...I had my Ulcerative Colitis flare to sugars, starches, and spices and cause distention...but it becomes apparent with bloody stool. SIBO and Candida will cause it with flares of die off and sugars and starches fermenting. Examples coconut oil, oregano oil, garlic will cause die off, bloat while sugars/starches will cause them to ferment stuff and grow. On a gluten free diet with processed foods, grains, starches, potatoes etc. they thrive.
When you starve them and go to a low carb/keto diet they start to die off in mass and cause bloat/gas again so there is a hill of pain to get rid of the issues I  got a candida overgrowth issue over a year ago after several months of antibiotics let the fungus take hold IE no good gut bacteria to eat the fungus let it grow.

[LilyR]

20 hours ago, Ennis_TX said:

Random thoughts top of my head that are also common causes, SIBO, Candida, Colitis...I had my Ulcerative Colitis flare to sugars, starches, and spices and cause distention...but it becomes apparent with bloody stool. SIBO and Candida will cause it with flares of die off and sugars and starches fermenting. Examples coconut oil, oregano oil, garlic will cause die off, bloat while sugars/starches will cause them to ferment stuff and grow. On a gluten free diet with processed foods, grains, starches, potatoes etc. they thrive.
When you starve them and go to a low carb/keto diet they start to die off in mass and cause bloat/gas again so there is a hill of pain to get rid of the issues I  got a candida overgrowth issue over a year ago after several months of antibiotics let the fungus take hold IE no good gut bacteria to eat the fungus let it grow.

Ennis, thank you so much for sharing so much info.  It is a huge help. 

Wow, you know, I was on a lot of antibiotics when I was 18 and had mono, but no dr would even test me for mono, they would just say it could be a flu but give me more antibiotics "just in case" it was something else. And all those antibiotics did cause some problems of its own.  Several months later I ended up in the hospital with the worst case mono, having dr's from out of state come look at me. Then they called it epstein barr virus for the following few years while I was still sick and seeing an infectious disease specialist.  I have struggled with health issues ever since.  Sometimes in the back of my mind, I wonder if all those unnecessary antibiotics caused problems. I did read about candida years ago.  At one point I was put on a very harsh medicine for yeast.  It made me very sick.  But I was hoping it did the trick.  

I looked up the SIBO and bloat seemed to be the only symptom I had in common with that.  I rarely ever have diarrhea.  Only a few days after being glutened.  Otherwise I never have that. If anything, have to work on staying regular. Magnesium helps me a lot with that.  And I've never had blood stool so not sure it would be the colitis?  And when I do have some sugar, I seem fine.  I have some in my morning coffee, and no food, and am fine.  But I wonder if I can get myself to give up that sugar too, and see if it is the candida thing.  And so if I feel worse at first, I will understand that is normal, getting over the hump.  But it'd be so great to heal, if that is what it is.  It is hard to give up sugar though.  That would include honey, maple syrup, and even fruit? Ugh!  (I am such a wimp on giving food up, well, some of it, anyway....since it feels like it is so much all at once).  

I have taken oil of oregano in the past when having sinus infections.  But do you mean that can help get rid of candida?  I would only be on it a few days or a week until the sinuses cleared up.  It helped me a lot to avoid antibiotics when the sinus infections weren't too bad. One dr told me that a lot of times you don't need antibiotics for milder sinus infections and they can go away on their own.  Breathing in steam with vinegar in it over the stove, and then I also read about the oil of oregano helping clear infections.  It did seem to help.  It is harsh stuff though.  I would drop it in a drink, but it never mixed well, and so would sting and burn parts of my lips and mouth as I drank it. And then I'd eat something immediately afterwards to get rid of the strong taste.  So I could maybe look up a candida diet to try?  I tell you though, I don't feel well on so much protein and so little carb.  I tried a low carb diet many years ago. I did lose some weight, but was feeling worse and worse, so gave up. Then gained the weight back, plus like 5 pounds more.  I feel my metabolism is dead anyway.  One dr put me on an antidepressant years ago, promising me I'd get energy and feel better (I told him I was not depressed but he said being sick long term can cause depression).  But all it did was space me out and I gained a ton of weight in a very short time. Even when I stopped taking it, it seemed like it just killed my metabolism ever since.  Luckily the only silver lining to this gluten issue is I have lost weight being so sick, before they diagnosed the gluten sensitivity. And the few times I've been glutened since then, I lose a little more weight.  But all this cutting carbs and barely eating, you;d think  I'd be losing more.  

[Ennis-TX]

14 minutes ago, LilyR said:

I tell you though, I don't feel well on so much protein and so little carb.  I tried a low carb diet many years ago. I did lose some weight, but was feeling worse and worse, so gave up. Then gained the weight back, plus like 5 pounds more.  I feel my metabolism is dead anyway.  One dr put me on an antidepressant years ago, promising me I'd get energy and feel better (I told him I was not depressed but he said being sick long term can cause depression).  But all it did was space me out and I gained a ton of weight in a very short time. Even when I stopped taking it, it seemed like it just killed my metabolism ever since.  Luckily the only silver lining to this gluten issue is I have lost weight being so sick, before they diagnosed the gluten sensitivity. And the few times I've been glutened since then, I lose a little more weight.  But all this cutting carbs and barely eating, you;d think  I'd be losing more.  

High Fat, Moderate Protein, low carb...KETO.  There is a hump as you body gets used to burning fat for energy, fasting at night and using Ketone supplments can help get over the "Keto Flu" where you body feels like it has the flu til it changes gears. I get the slump when I slip up and eat to many carbs or not enough fat.  NOTE do not try keto if your a T1 Diabetic.

If you want some more on the keto diet, Keto Summit is great resource, or you can look up ketogenic girl and her books. Most Keto recipes are gluten free and grain free...you have to check for dairy free.

 

[LilyR]

15 hours ago, Ennis_TX said:

High Fat, Moderate Protein, low carb...KETO.  There is a hump as you body gets used to burning fat for energy, fasting at night and using Ketone supplments can help get over the "Keto Flu" where you body feels like it has the flu til it changes gears. I get the slump when I slip up and eat to many carbs or not enough fat.  NOTE do not try keto if your a T1 Diabetic.

If you want some more on the keto diet, Keto Summit is great resource, or you can look up ketogenic girl and her books. Most Keto recipes are gluten free and grain free...you have to check for dairy free.

 

I get feeling like flu symptoms on and off anyway, part of my on going health issues, so might not even notice that.  But with little carb and lots of protein, I would feel like my sugar crashes a lot, or just feel blah, weak (although I have that issue on and off too).  It is good to know it could be a hump to get over.  I worried about the high fat since my cholesterol is a bit high.  Although I've heard that this diet is not suppose to be bad for cholesterol.  What kinds of fats, mostly like olive oil and avocado?  I read on one elimination diet that avocado bothers some people (if I read enough elimination diets, it's like everything can bother somebody....so confusing).