It sounds like you’ve had a really rough week with persistent stomach issues after eating at that restaurant. Given your celiac diagnosis, it’s very possible that cross-contamination from the fries (since they weren’t cooked in a dedicated fryer) triggered a reaction, especially if they were fried in the same oil as gluten-containing foods. Your symptoms—diarrhea, cramping, gas, floating stools, and excessive burping—are consistent with a gluten exposure, even if they seem more severe or prolonged than usual. That said, since your doctor didn’t find anything alarming, it might also be worth considering other factors, like a mild stomach bug or food intolerance (e.g., high-fat foods or alcohol irritating your gut). Some people with celiac also react to other ingredients, like dairy, during a flare-up. If symptoms don’t improve soon, you may want to follow up with your doctor or a gastroenterologist to rule out other issues. In the meantime, sticking to safe, bland foods and hydrating well might help. You’re not alone—many celiac folks have had similar experiences with cross-contamination, and it can take time for the gut to settle. This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:    

I just have a question. On saturday I was out eating on a restaurant. The day after i woke up with a little tummy ache and diarrhea but that went away in the evening. The day after i woke up the same way but diarreha gotten worse. On monday everything was almost fine just had a tummy ache. Same on tuesday but on tuesday night I woke up with the worst stomach cramp and diarrhea. I went in to ER where they just told me to visit doctor next day if i still had pain. I did but not any diarrhea the doctor said nothing looked weird and maybe just irritatated my stomach because of fat food and alcohol. Since then i’ve had very much gas in my stomach and stomach ache because of this. I also burp a lot and my stool is floating as when it did before my celiac diagnosis. It hasn’t went away and i reached out to the restaurant where i ate and they told me that they did not have a dedicated fryer to the fries i ate. This has never happened to me before and that i’ve gotten a reaction. I’m just wondering if someone else has experienced something like this? I’m really worried and don’t know if this can be because of the fries or something else 

Thanks for sharing, Karen. Certainly a needed reminder what we already knew (and I've posted many times on this forum) but sometimes forget, namely, autoimmune disorders tend to cluster. Where one is found, you can look for others to show up eventually. The thing that is unusual in your son's case is the onset of several of them at such a young age. My sister in law, who is in her early 60's has Crohn's and struggles with constipation so I don't think that is unusual with Crohn's. If nothing else, it's the outcome of not eating much because of the pain. Now that you know what is going on with your son and the Crohn's, we hope he is beginning to improve.

Hi there. My son is turning 16 this month. He had an endoscopy and biopsy to confirm celiac. He went gluten-free and his pain never got any better. I think it got worse. Months went by. The pain started around 7th grade. He missed a lot of school in 8th grade, and a whole lot in 9th grade. He couldn't go to school in 10th grade. All along the gastroenterologist prescribed Hyoscyamine, didn't help at all. Cyproheptadine, no less pain. Peppermint oil, ginger, Miralax, Senna. Doc said he was constipated, but I couldn't get him to have Miralax daily. Eventually he went on Linzess and no senna or Miralax. Sorry this is long, there will be a point.  We gave his school not just a doctors not, but everything, and U of M makes a lot of notes. They still turned us in for Truancy.  I didn't get him enrolled in online school fast enough.  The school would not recommend an online school and i didn't know which one to choose.  Doc thought it was nerve pain and mental. He recommended the u of m my pain program.  Nathan did so good, 3 days a week supposed to be for 4 weeks.  Never missed, always on time.   After two weeks, they discharged him. Said it was not  benefitting him.  Pain went on. I had been asking if there were any other test they could do. Ultrasound, colonoscopy. Doc said we can do it, but I don't think we'll find anything.  Finally he had a colonoscopy and another endoscopy.  Guess what, they did find something. They found a ton of tiny ulcers everywhere, from the esophagus to his rectum. They think Crohn's. I understand they didn't check for that because he was more constipated, not much diarrhea. He is getting an MRI with contrast on Sunday. Also they want him to do a cal-protectin (give a poop sample). Then an appointment on the 16th to talk about treatment. Then the probation officer on the 17th. In the meantime he is taking Budesonide extended release.  $276.00 for 30 pills, and that's with insurance. Also he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, Graves disease a few months ago. If it is for sure Crohn's,  it will be three autoimmune diseases. If someone is gluten-free for a month or more, and the pain is no better, don't stop looking. I was beside myself. Did they think he was exaggerating, lying? I was considering taking him to a holistic doctor, who would probably recommend Peppermint oil and ginger.  He's such a good kid. Kind of an introvert. He was on the 9th grade soccer team. He would try to go to practice and kept having to stop, the pain was that bad. Every time he ate, it didn't matter what, gluten-free chicken tenders, mac and cheese, pizza, ice cream, all gluten-free, he would eat a normal amount but stop and say, I can't eat anymore, my stomach hurts.  If anyone reads all this, thank you. I had a gut feeling, no pun intended, that he had an additional problem. They found celiac and stopped looking. If you don't feel better, keep on your doctor to check further, keep looking.   Take care, Karen  

Most likely cross-contamination I believe.