It Was Frightening Last Night...

[lorka150]

So last night for dinner, I made something new for the first time since being gluten free (for about one month). I bought one of those cedar planks and grilled salmon on the bbq. Everything I had on the salmon and side dishes were similar to what I always eat. The only thing new was the plank.

Well, maybe the plank was somehow contaminated.

Three minutes into my meal, I got that familiar brain fog. I couldn't see, got really dizzy, and stomach cramps. Ten minutes later, on the toilet. Stomach pain and dizzyness lasted for the rest of the night.

Then the insomnia hit. At about 3am, there was a party in my stomach - it was so loud it was ALMOST funny. But irritating. You see, I wasn't invited to this party, I was an irritated, tired outsider who wanted to get to bed!

5am, I lay in bed. My chest started to hurt. I started to drift off to sleep and my breathing got really shallow. I had to concentrate to breathe. I tried to take my pulse, but I couldn't concentrate to get through a minute. When I finally did, my heart rate was 38.

About an hour later, I was in intense pain. I could hardly breathe or move. I wanted to get someone, but it just hurt too much. The pain ran from my chest and my whole stomach.

I don't remember how long this lasted. Somewhere at around 6am I drifted off to sleep til around 7.

I'm awake now (was here and there from about 7-8), but man... I'm glad THAT is over. Has anyone ever had anything like that? The longer you are gluten free, does the 'glutening' get worse?

Anyone else think it was the plank? (I don't know what else it could have been?)

Also, at around 8:30 I ran back to the bathroom with a huge poop, and right now, I feel like if I open my mouth (even to say good morning), I would throw up. The only thing I can fathom consuming is a milkshake, which I think I am just craving for some reason becasue I don't eat dairy and haven't had one for about 5 years

Any ideas?

I'm glad it's over.

[Carriefaith]

Sorry you had to go through that

Has anyone ever had anything like that? The longer you are gluten free, does the 'glutening' get worse?

I have had gluten reactions similar to what you explained. I also get dizzy, brain fog, insomnia (sometimes), nausea, diarrhea, mild-severe stomach pain (sometimes to the point where I cannot move because it hurts so bad), and I feel like I have the flu. I have never had any real problems with breathing but I can get intense heart palpitations. You may actually have a wheat allergy in addition to celiac, which may cause the breathing problems.

I think gluten reations do get worse after being gluten free, at least for me they do. I actually got a few reactions that I didn't have before going gluten-free. Like chicken pox-like bumps on the skin, heart palpitations, and intense stomach pain.

Anyone else think it was the plank? (I don't know what else it could have been?)

If the plank was just cedar, than it is unlikely. But really anything you ate or anything that touched your food could have been contaminated. I have been getting mysterious gluten contaminations off and on for about two months now. I have narrowed down two possibles sources; contaminated gluten-free maple leaf hot dogs, and possible cross contamination at a place that cooks gluten-free.

[tarnalberry]

Yep, that reaction sounds like mine, though more severe. Brain fog, noisy stomach, pain in the abdomen are all glutening signs for me. I hope it passes quickly for you.

[Rachel--24]

I feel bad after I eat salmon that has color added. Its like poison to me.

[Guest nini]

oh yes that sounds exactly like my worst gluten reactions... terribly frightening.

Was the salmon fresh or frozen? Some brands of frozen salmon or fish in general, will dust them with flour before wrapping them...

doubt seriously it was the plank... had the grill been used for gluten stuff before and maybe not cleaned thoroughly enough?

I'm so sorry you feel bad...hope you feel better soon.

[JoeB]

This is pretty timely from my perspective. Prior to being diagnosed in April, I used to get sick every time we cooked on the grill. Since being diagnosed, we've been cooking my food on a separate teflon tray on the grill. That stopped me from getting sick, but it was getting complicated trying to cook food containing gluten at the same time as gluten-free.

Yesterday, I put a wire brush on my electric drill and cleaned every bit of gunk off the grates. After that, I used brillo. I declared the grill "gluten-free" and so far after two meals, I haven't had a problem.

Don't relay on just scraping the grill and burning off the residue. It doesn't work.

[mandigirl1]

I feel bad after I eat salmon that has color added. Its like poison to me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How so??????

[Rachel--24]

There is something toxic about farm-raised salmon with color added. I haven't done any research on it but I work in a grocery store and I know by law they have to put those little "color added" stickers on the package now. I kept buying salmon and everytime I ate it I felt worse...I always felt bad anyway so it took awhile to figure out the salmon wasnt helping. Somebody recently mentioned to me about the "dangers" of eating farm-raised salmon. That was enough for me....I haven't eaten it since. Maybe someone else is more up to date on the subject.

[ianm]

Food colorings can produce reactions in some people. I used to have a neighbor that would get a really bad rash if it had a certain type of red food dye in it. I don't remember what it was exactly but it was used mostly in candy. You are probably reacting to the dye put into farm raised fish.

[Guest BERNESES]

Yikes! That sounds like my night last night. Ugh! I don't know about the salmon or the plank, although thyose are certainly possibilities, but when I grill, I grill ALL my stuff on tinfoil. It's not the same but it has kept me safe so far.

[Carriefaith]

but when I grill, I grill ALL my stuff on tinfoil.

same here, until I get my very own BBQ

[pixiegirl]

In my opinion there is something toxic about all farm raised salmon, just just the coloring. I only eat wild salmon, yes its hugely expensive, but I eat way smaller amounts.

Susan

[nettiebeads]

Food colorings can produce reactions in some people. I used to have a neighbor that would get a really bad rash if it had a certain type of red food dye in it. I don't remember what it was exactly but it was used mostly in candy. You are probably reacting to the dye put into farm raised fish.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I was a kid my mom used to buy IGA hot dogs which I loved, but I would get severe migraines after eating them. I figured out it was the red dye that was used.