Gluten freee for 17 years-no instant reaction from accidential large amount of gluten

[Susan F.]

Hi, I have been 100% gluten free since 2006 when I was diagnosed with Celiac. Any time ive had a cross contamination exactly 3 hours from eating I would vomit for 2 hours! Last week by accident I bought regular raviols instead of gluten-free. I had about 10 of them I would say. 2 hrs later felt nausea, I looked in the garbage at the ravioli bag and realized I had been posioned withgluten. I was prepared for hours of vomiting but it never happened. Over week later I still feel sick to my stomach ,nauseous , couldnt go to bathroom,  finally had  abowel movement after a week of nothing.

Is this a common immune response? Feeling awful

 

[knitty kitty]

@Susan F., welcome to the forum!

You've done such a good job avoiding gluten, your immune system has calmed down.  If you continue to eat gluten, your immune system will rev up again and make your intestinal symptoms worse.

The immune cells that produce anti-gluten antibodies (these are the same antibodies that also attack our bodies), those immune cells die off (if not triggered by gluten) in about two years.  

If exposed to gluten after that, the immune system has to gear up antibody production again.  This can take a while.   Remember that a gluten challenge is trying to get those antibody levels high enough to register on a blood test and requires weeks of consistent gluten consumption. 

People that react violently to small gluten exposures still have an actively prepared immune system.  The antibody producing cells are still functioning and readily prepared to produce antibodies.  

Your lingering symptoms suggest nutritional deficiencies.  Low magnesium and B Complex vitamins and Vitamin D are frequently low in long-term gluten free diets.  

Do you supplement any vitamins or minerals currently? 

[Scott Adams]

I agree, many people with celiac disease who are gluten-free for years go into something like remission, and have few, if any, symptoms when they accidently eat gluten. If you continue to eat gluten your symptoms will likely return pretty quickly, but it might take time for the damage to occur, just like it takes time for it to heal.

[Elliemae7395]

I'm curious about the effects of gluten poisoning. Is it unusual after a year of 100% no gluten that when I ate gluten again I was vomiting etc for several days not hours? Is it relative to the length of time gluten free or the amount of gluten consumed? Is it different for everyone? Susan, you felt awful for a week. Is there any way  to know the damage done?

[knitty kitty]

  On 7/24/2023 at 11:04 PM, Elliemae7395 said:

I'm curious about the effects of gluten poisoning. Is it unusual after a year of 100% no gluten that when I ate gluten again I was vomiting etc for several days not hours? Is it relative to the length of time gluten free or the amount of gluten consumed? Is it different for everyone? Susan, you felt awful for a week. Is there any way  to know the damage done?

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The immune cells that produce anti-gluten antibodies (these are the same antibodies that also attack our bodies), those immune cells die off (if not triggered by gluten) in about two years.  

If exposed to gluten after that, the immune system has to gear up antibody production again.  This can take a while.   Remember that a gluten challenge is trying to get those antibody levels high enough to register on a blood test and requires weeks of consistent gluten consumption. 

People that react violently to small gluten exposures still have an actively prepared immune system.  The antibody producing cells are still functioning and readily prepared to produce antibodies.  

[Susan F.]

Ugh, still not feeling great, its day 10 of the poisoning (I call it..lol) . I do take vitamins, and suppliments, started balanc eof nature few months ago, take D, B and slow mag for leg cramps.

My upper stomach is hurting, have not been eating much as i feel nauseous......did eat some dinner, doing fruit otherwise. I dont know if there is or will be damage from this epidsode, so crazy I AM so careful and did this to myself by mistake!

[knitty kitty]

I like Oolong tea.  It's very soothing on the tummy.  One can take some extra magnesium, too.  Take more B vitamins.  They are water soluble and become depleted quickly in diarrhea and vomiting.  Thiamine can help relieve the nausea.  

I think we've all had those moments when we're scrambling and re-reading the package label!  You're in good company.   

It'll get better.  With such a brief exposure, probably little damage was done.  

Best wishes!

[Elliemae7395]

For me when I got beyond sips of water I had tea and then Stony field organic whole milk probiotics yogurt. It was recommended to me. We had the vanilla already. I figured getting active cultures in my tummy might help. I took it slow. But it did help. I hope you feel better soon🤗

[Scott Adams]

  On 7/24/2023 at 11:37 PM, Susan F. said:

Ugh, still not feeling great, its day 10 of the poisoning (I call it..lol) . I do take vitamins, and suppliments, started balanc eof nature few months ago, take D, B and slow mag for leg cramps.

My upper stomach is hurting, have not been eating much as i feel nauseous......did eat some dinner, doing fruit otherwise. I dont know if there is or will be damage from this epidsode, so crazy I AM so careful and did this to myself by mistake!

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It's likely too late, but maybe bookmark this article should it ever happen again...the article comments are also worth a read: