This Is Getting Ridiculous!

[bartfull]

I hope you all don't get sick of me complaining about corn. I know this is a forum for Celiacs, but I have both corn and gluten problems, and frankly, there isn't a corn intolorance forum out there that is as good and informative as this site is.

Anyway, last night I went and played at an open mic at a local restaurant. I knew there would be nothing there I could eat so I ate before going. The last time I went out, I had a glass of iced tea and wound up getting sick. (It was a pizza joint so I assume the flour dust in the air found its way into my glass.)

Well, I didn't want to take another chance last night, so I brought a bottle of water from the convenience store. AquaFina. And last night I couldn't sleep. And today I have some new psoriasis popping out. Guess what? I just looked it up, and they are using these new "plant based" plastics. And that plant is CORN.

So now, not only do I have to bring my own water, but I have to bottle it at home - in glass. I'm so FRUSTRATED!! Even a drink of WATER is suspect! It seems like EVERY TIME I start feeling better, something like this happens.

I heard about a kid who had to have his small intestine removed, and as a result he can no longer eat. At all. Ever. He has to get all of his nutrition from an IV. If I thought it would work for me, I'd do it - but knowing my luck, all of the IV solutions would contain corn and wheat.

[Jestgar]

Or flour fairies will follow you around and dust you periodically when you least expect it.

I'm surprised you reacted to the corn based polymer of the plastic - it shouldn't resemble corn at all by the time it gets to that stage.

Are you really really sure it couldn't have been anything else?

[GlutenFreeManna]

I hope you all don't get sick of me complaining about corn. I know this is a forum for Celiacs, but I have both corn and gluten problems, and frankly, there isn't a corn intolorance forum out there that is as good and informative as this site is.

Anyway, last night I went and played at an open mic at a local restaurant. I knew there would be nothing there I could eat so I ate before going. The last time I went out, I had a glass of iced tea and wound up getting sick. (It was a pizza joint so I assume the flour dust in the air found its way into my glass.)

Well, I didn't want to take another chance last night, so I brought a bottle of water from the convenience store. AquaFina. And last night I couldn't sleep. And today I have some new psoriasis popping out. Guess what? I just looked it up, and they are using these new "plant based" plastics. And that plant is CORN.

So now, not only do I have to bring my own water, but I have to bottle it at home - in glass. I'm so FRUSTRATED!! Even a drink of WATER is suspect! It seems like EVERY TIME I start feeling better, something like this happens.

I heard about a kid who had to have his small intestine removed, and as a result he can no longer eat. At all. Ever. He has to get all of his nutrition from an IV. If I thought it would work for me, I'd do it - but knowing my luck, all of the IV solutions would contain corn and wheat.

I would be more suspicious of the micropone and anything else you put your mouth close to or touched that other musicians were using. Was it a bar? I can't be in a bar where there's lots of beer being consumed or a restaurant where there's lots of baking. I don't know if it the airborne gluten or just all the people eating gluten stuff with their hands and touching everything but there are just some places I've learned I can't go (even if I eat or drink nothing while there). Such is the life for us super-sensitives. Another thought is that Aquafina is just filtered tap water. Perhaps they put more flouride in it than the water you normally drink. I've read flouride can affect some forms of skin rashes. Perhaps you are sensitive to it?

Sorry you're having a rough time and I hope you can get to the bottom of your outbreaks.

[bartfull]

Well, I have only been eating chicken, Yukon Gold potatoes, and cauliflower or broccoli for the past couple of weeks. And I don't sing so I never touched the mic. The only things I touched were my guitar and my banjo. (Maybe I'm allergic to banjo's!! )

Other than that, I touched the door handle and my chair. And I NEVER NEVER touch my face unless I have just washed my hands. That's an old habit I got into during the waitressing days, and it has kept me from getting all of the colds and other "bugs" that go around.

I think I'm super-sensitive to corn. Although the corn forums I have found are not as active as this one, I have heard of other corn sensitive people having trouble with these new bottles.

I MAY be super sensitive to gluten too, for all I know. I've been really lucky with gluten, I think. I threw away all of my pans and my toaster, purged my house of all gluten, and the only chance of CC I have taken were the three times I have been to restaurants since June. The first time, the waiter was a kid who is like a son to me, and I had no problems at all. The second time was that glass of iced tea I mentioned. (I didn't eat anything that night.) And then last night.

If it WAS something else, that's even scarier! That means that whenever I walk into someone's house I'm in danger. Heck, even here at my shop - if someone has just eaten a sandwich and they walk in, will I be sickened by their fumes?!!

At this point, I'd like to go live in a cave somewhere, never come in contact with "contaminated" people, never have to eat again either. Me and the cat and the guitar, living in a cave and eating dirt.

I know now what you all meant when I first joined here, when you said I'd have good days and bad days, and that some days I'd be hopeful, and other days discouraged. I'm not CRYING over this one, but I could. After the last bout though, I think I'm cried out.

[Lisa]

If it WAS something else, that's even scarier! That means that whenever I walk into someone's house I'm in danger. Heck, even here at my shop - if someone has just eaten a sandwich and they walk in, will I be sickened by their fumes?!!

At this point, I'd like to go live in a cave somewhere, never come in contact with "contaminated" people, never have to eat again either. Me and the cat and the guitar, living in a cave and eating dirt.

I don't think it's probable/possible that you could be sickened by the fumes of someone who just ate a sandwich. In the beginning for me, every thing freaked me out too. But, I don't think that this is physically possible.

Have you considered your cat. Is the cat's food and litter gluten free? Keep a food log.

You know, it can take up to several years to heal after the damage caused by Celiac Disease in some people. It took me a good six months to have the confidence in the diet. The learning process is large!

Now, after seven years gluten free, I do not feel that I am disabled in any way. I live a life as normal as everyone else. I just don't eat gluten. I have a normal, fulfilling life, eat in restaurants and have an active social life.

Hopefully that day will come for you.

[bartfull]

Thanks for the encouraging words, Lisa. On good days I feel like I could take on the world. My goal is to feel that way every day, but when things like this happen, it feels like I'll NEVER be well. I know that maybe someday I'll be OK. It sure is hard though, getting a glimpse of good health only to have it ripped out from under me at every turn.

[Leper Messiah]

Feel exactly the same, every time you feel like you get to the top of the mountain, something pushes you back down.

I have corn issues too, it's in everything that gluten isn't it appears, i.e multi vits etc. And of course the "gluten free" section of my supermarket is 95% stuff with either soy, corn or dairy, all of which add to the fatigue for me.

Very depressing at times but once you're on the road, no matter how many times you fall of, the one thing you can hold onto is the fact that you are on the road and know what's causing your issues, which is half the battle.

[Darn210]

Bartful . . . I don't know how long you've been gluten free but I see that you've only been a member since June. It took almost 10 months for my daughter's symptoms to completely subside. Everytime there was a flair (about once a month), I was trying to figure out what she had that caused the problem. Also spent some time trying to figure out a secondary sensitivity. As a kid, she had a somewhat self-restrictive diet anyway ("I don't like the way that looks so I'm not going to eat it") so I was always running into the "that food item has never caused a problem before so why now?" during my investigation. In hindsight, I think it just took that long for her system to heal as we ended up eliminating nothing else from her diet. Now, that shouldn't stop you from doing a little investigating when it does happen, because you never know what you might find. I'm just saying that sometimes in the beginning, it's just that you need more time to heal.

[bartfull]

Thanks, Darn. And I love your avatar, by the way.

That's the thing, though - my psoriasis and insomnia WERE completely cleared up. My digestive symptoms are minor.

Do people with DH still get flare-ups after it has healed WITHOUT being glutened? If so, maybe it's just a coincedence. I DO know though, that each time I have healed and then had a flare-up, there was corn involved. This is the only questionable one, and I double checked - there ARE people with severe corn allergies who react to these new bottles.

But of course, I won't REALLY move into a cave and eat dirt. I just feel like it sometimes. I'll give it more time, be even MORE careful, and try to remember how lucky I am that I can make myself well without the help of a doctor, pills, or surgery.

Sometimes I have to remind myself to count my blessings.

[Lisa]

I don't have DH and should not comment, but I have always heard the DH is iodine sensitive. Perhaps that might be an avenue you could pursue.

[GlutenFreeManna]

Thanks, Darn. And I love your avatar, by the way.

That's the thing, though - my psoriasis and insomnia WERE completely cleared up. My digestive symptoms are minor.

Do people with DH still get flare-ups after it has healed WITHOUT being glutened? If so, maybe it's just a coincedence. I DO know though, that each time I have healed and then had a flare-up, there was corn involved. This is the only questionable one, and I double checked - there ARE people with severe corn allergies who react to these new bottles.

But of course, I won't REALLY move into a cave and eat dirt. I just feel like it sometimes. I'll give it more time, be even MORE careful, and try to remember how lucky I am that I can make myself well without the help of a doctor, pills, or surgery.

Sometimes I have to remind myself to count my blessings.

Sounds like you know your body and your symptoms are clear when you get into some corn. I admit it sounded pretty off the wall that the water bottle would affect you, but I've read more extreme examples of how people got glutened. FWIW, I completely believe you. Listen to your body. I'm glad you're not moving into a cave. It's hard to get an internet connection there.

[T.H.]

Oh, hon, I am RIGHT there with ya. Corn is like a freaking ninja in the food world, compared to gluten, it seems like!

With re: to the plastic, I know I've spoken with a number of corn allergic folks who have claimed to have issues with that, so you're definitely not alone. Seems to depend on the sensitivity.

However, from what you've been eating, a few corn hazards, in case they help?

- water softener can sometimes contain citric acid mixed in with the salt. Most citric acid is corn contaminated (corn is used during production and can still be present). So the water can be an issue even if it's not the plastic. :-/

- I was just reading a post from a corn gal about her chicken. She didn't list the brand, but she buys organic chicken, shrink wrapped, and the company puts corn starch inside of the plastic to prevent it from sticking to the chicken.

- what salt are you using? Have you been able to find a good corn-free one?

- Might want to see if the veggies were washed with any soaps, too. Sometimes can have corn derivatives as ingredients in soap, like a corn-derived glycerin.

All of the above are things that corn allergic folks I've seen have issues with, although some, like the citric acid, only seem to affect the most sensitive. It's just...yeah, crazy! Corn is in freaking everything, including the IV's (corn-based dextrose), sigh. So frustrating, yeah?

"Do people with DH still get flare-ups after it has healed WITHOUT being glutened?"

I've never heard of it. Seen people who ingested more iodine start having issues to lower amounts of gluten, though.

[mushroom]

But gluten/corn free folks do still get psoriasis I have been letting a little cornstarch in since it does not bother my gut and since it makes no difference to my level of psoriasis.

[bartfull]

Oh, hon, I am RIGHT there with ya. Corn is like a freaking ninja in the food world, compared to gluten, it seems like!

With re: to the plastic, I know I've spoken with a number of corn allergic folks who have claimed to have issues with that, so you're definitely not alone. Seems to depend on the sensitivity.

However, from what you've been eating, a few corn hazards, in case they help?

- water softener can sometimes contain citric acid mixed in with the salt. Most citric acid is corn contaminated (corn is used during production and can still be present). So the water can be an issue even if it's not the plastic. :-/

- I was just reading a post from a corn gal about her chicken. She didn't list the brand, but she buys organic chicken, shrink wrapped, and the company puts corn starch inside of the plastic to prevent it from sticking to the chicken.

- what salt are you using? Have you been able to find a good corn-free one?

- Might want to see if the veggies were washed with any soaps, too. Sometimes can have corn derivatives as ingredients in soap, like a corn-derived glycerin.

All of the above are things that corn allergic folks I've seen have issues with, although some, like the citric acid, only seem to affect the most sensitive. It's just...yeah, crazy! Corn is in freaking everything, including the IV's (corn-based dextrose), sigh. So frustrating, yeah?

"Do people with DH still get flare-ups after it has healed WITHOUT being glutened?"

I've never heard of it. Seen people who ingested more iodine start having issues to lower amounts of gluten, though.

Thanks for all the tips! The water I drink and use for coffee is reverse osmosis. I get refills out of the machine in the grocery store. I use the cloudy plastic jugs that water or milk come from, so I know they don't have corn. I'm doubting that the filters or anything in the machine could have corn because I've been drinking it every day, but then again, they may have changed the type of filter. I'll check into it.

I've been buying my chicken at the grocery store. I wash it well, but it might have new packaging. I'll check into that too.

I checked the salt I already had when I first started the diet and it is not iodized, but I don't use it anymore anyway. I haven't had salt since June.

I don't THINK they wash broccoli or cauliflower before you buy it. But, then again, I'll have to check into it.

The only variation in my diet is the meat I eat. Mostly chicken, but sometimes pork, and once in a while, beef. I'll check the packaging on those too.

If you can think of any others, I'm all ears - but NOT ears of CORN!

[weluvgators]

Hi, bartfull! I am so frustrated by psoriasis at the moment. I wish I could figure it out for my very young son . . . who in my research is really, really young to be having outbreaks. I just haven't had much time to research it all that much. I have had time to get to two pediatricians that agree it is psoriasis. It is so frustrating. The slightest missteps in our standard gluten eradication protocols seem to trigger it in a bad way, but so does an exhausted system (like if he has any sinus issues, it is much more easily triggered . . . but is that just a symptom of his "allergy bucket" being full?? - I don't know!). For my son, corn does not trigger it, but gluten contamination certainly seems to be a top culprit. I continue to look for the exact trigger(s), but it has been very difficult.

I just wanted to let you know that you have company in this complex, frustrating mess!

[bartfull]

I don't know which comes first - the glutening and resultant psoriasis flares, or in your son's case, the sinus problems. I have noticed with me, that if I have any OTHER health problems, they always get worse when I have been glutened or corned. I think our bodies have just so much healing power to go around, and as our Celiac can be life threatening in the long run, they send that healing power to the gut, so any other problems we may have suffer. Just an unscientific guess on my part.

I feel so bad for your son! Give him an extra hug from me. If he has been suffering the way I have, and it has brought ME to tears, it must be HORRIBLE for a little one! I hope things get better for him soon.

[bartfull]

But gluten/corn free folks do still get psoriasis I have been letting a little cornstarch in since it does not bother my gut and since it makes no difference to my level of psoriasis.

When I look at the list of all the foods you already don't eat, I am hesitant to even mention this, but I have discovered that almonds cause my psoriasis to flare too. I'm CERTAIN that food is what causes psoriasis. Mine has completely healed so many times since June, only to come back when I get into the wrong foods.

Maybe try giving up nuts for a while? You have helped me so much, Mushroom. I'd just LOVE it if something I posted here could help you in return!

[mushroom]

When I look at the list of all the foods you already don't eat, I am hesitant to even mention this, but I have discovered that almonds cause my psoriasis to flare too. I'm CERTAIN that food is what causes psoriasis. Mine has completely healed so many times since June, only to come back when I get into the wrong foods.

Maybe try giving up nuts for a while? You have helped me so much, Mushroom. I'd just LOVE it if something I posted here could help you in return!

Thank you! I had made a mental note when I saw your post about almonds, since I do love almonds and often snack on them. I have not used any almond flour recently, and have not had any almond nuts for a couple of weeks. Also, have not had a Humira shot for three months now.and while I do have some scabby plaques I am not as bad as I anticipated being I will continue almond free and see how it goes

[T.H.]

I use the cloudy plastic jugs that water or milk come from, so I know they don't have corn.

Umm, milk ones might have corn issues, actually, although hopefully it could be washed away. The vitamins that milk is fortified with are usually put in milk with a corn-based...I think the term is carrier? Not sure that's the proper word. It's what ensures the vitamin survives the stomach acid to make it to the intestines - usually that's corn-based.

Huh...just occurred to me to ask: is your brown rice vitamin fortified, by any chance? That could be a corn cc possible issue.

I don't THINK they wash broccoli or cauliflower before you buy it.

Whoops, just remembered something else with this one. If the broccoli (usually not cauliflower) is on ice, some ice used in this way now has corn cellulose added (fake snow can have this, too). It helps it retain its shape longer and melt slower. I don't know a lot about the process to extract the cellulose, however, so I don't know how likely corn protein cc would be.

When I've had issues with washing produce, it was usually performed at the farm before shipping, as opposed to in the store, if that helps when you are checking on things. :-)

[pricklypear1971]

Real quick - potato SKINS are high in iodine, so skin them to help prevent DH flare.

Also - pork tends to have additives to keep it pretty and pink. Read the wrapping and see if it has a solution added. They do it to chicken too but un-solutioned chicken is easier to find than pork. I still can't find a pork loin roast that doesn't give me gas or cramps.

And here's my anecdotal $0.02- I am starting to have stomach symptoms (like cramps) that I haven't had in 10 years. I've done a lot of thinking and am wondering if 10 years ago (before DH and thyroid problems) I did have gastro gluten symptoms - and now I'm healing, and my body is where it was 10 years ago (too bad my grey hair isn't!). I think my gastro symptoms went away because my

body moved on to more severe damage - like thyroid, liver, skin....because I wasn't listening and doing what would fix it - like stopping gluten.

So,in addition to gluten and corn (or because of it, who knows) maybe you're having healing pains, so to speak??

[bartfull]

You folks are the best! I can't thank you enough.

I don't actually drink milk. I have never liked the stuff. To me it tastes like rubber. I was just mentioning the type of bottle I get my gallons of water in.

I knew that older potatoes were gassed with ethylene gas to keep them from sprouting (Bananas are too - to help them ripen.) So from what I read, new potatoes were supposed to be OK. I didn't know about the iodine in their skins. I don't actually have DH, just psoriasis, but iodine is bad for that too.

The brown rice (the only brown rice I can get here) I have been using was Minute Rice. It doesn't bother my insomnia or psoriasis, but it does give me digestive issues.

There are two grocery stores in town. One has ice chips around their broccoli, the other one doesn't. I'll make sure to buy it at the one that doesn't.

Today is a pretty good day so far. I'm still not sleeping as well as I'd like to, but everything was fine in the bathroom this morning, and my psoriasis is starting to heal again. I'm going to make those changes you both suggested, like peelong my potatoes and buying my broccoli at the other store.

If I discover anything else, I'll pass it along, and if you folks can think of anything else, please let me know. This forum is a sanity, if not a life, saver. I wish you could all come to the Black Hills sometime so I could buy you a gluten/corn/nut free dinner and give you all a great big (((((HUG)))))!