[no wheat]

[nisaa]

This is mostly a question for my gluten-free LJ friends:

What does it feel like if you've accidentally had gluten in your food? I'm just trying to figure out if my reaction to dinner was because of gluten or something that was bad. I didn't think I was that sensitive but maybe I'm wrong. I figure the symptoms might vary but I'll list .

Throbbing frontal headache
Stabbing stomach pain
Feverish feeling
Had to go to the bathroom immediately

There was a deep fried banana in my dessert - I didn't eat it, I just picked it out and put it aside.
There was soy sauce in one of the dishes - again, I didn't think I was that sensitive so I ignored it.

See, to me, those are food poisoning signs. But a month ago when I asked for no flour on a fish dish and they didn't listen, I got woozy and sort of had hot flashes and a stomach ache for an hour or two after. That I knew was because of the flour.

Help?

Going to bed now but thought I'd ask while the symptoms were . . . fresh.

ETA: for my own info mostly: June 5th, 2006 was when I started the wheat-free experiment, so it's been just over two years now. I thought it was longer.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I would totally hook you up with krasota for a hundred different reasons, including gluteny stuff. She's also my henna goddess.

[twistedcat.livejournal.com]

the stabbing stomach pain for sure.
anything that feels cloggy or toxic usually falls under being wheated for me too...

[mordwen.livejournal.com]

Totally. And soy sauce has lots of wheat in it, so I wouldn't argue the not that sensitive line there.

I don't get the headache but all the rest is identical.

And I've had reaction from a tiny bit of malt in a milkshake... and then seemed completely fine with rye bread on a different day... so I think it depends on a range of intestinal fortitude factors too.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

What's your gluten-free restaurant website? The person in the comment below needs suggestions.

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

OK, this is not helping you, but I was hoping you might help me...
I'm accompanying a person to the US in July. She is gluten intolerant, and we have no idea where to look for food/restaurants/snacks for her. To add to the trauma, we'll be in Dallas and Blacksburg, VA... any ideas or tips? Chain restaurants that might have something safe?

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

I'd suggest checking out mordwen's website:
http://www.glutensavvy.com/

I couldn't help you in that part of the States.

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

Chain restaurants that are really great about gluten intolerance are Outback Steakhouse and P.F. Chang

http://www.outback.com/

http://www.pfchangs.com

If she can bring protein bars and the like to help her along while you search for places that's probably a really good idea.

That way you aren't in the middle of nowhere and she is starving. :-(

I just found this list as well. I hope it helps you

http://www.glutenfreeceliacweb.com/restaurant-chains-working-page/

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

Are there brands of protein bars in the US you can recommend? Since we'll be coming from NZ, it might be impractical to bring stuff with us.

Thanks so much.

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

I eat Think Thin bars and Lara Bars.

http://www.thinkproducts.com/

https://www.larabar.com/secure/index_.php

I have found that you can find both products at Trader Joe's.
I have found the lara bars becoming more popular and can even find them at the local grocery store.

Depending on the bar they will have varying amounts of protein. But I found them to be glorious for trips, long drives, days at museums, and rehearsals.

I hope this helps you both enjoy your trip.

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

I *love* larabars. :)
Thanks, she (and I) really appreciate your input.

[theresat.livejournal.com]

For chain restaurants, Chili's also has a gluten-free menu available, just ask the host/ess or waitperson.

(I'm not personally gluten-free, but I happen to work there, so I've encountered it)

[jetspeaks.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's great to know.

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

My symptoms usually begin with my face, hands, and feet getting very warm to hot, red, and often swollen. Then stabbing pains in the stomach and intestines. Then I live in the bathroom.
Those are my tried and true symptoms, but they can vary from each glutening.

I'm so sorry you are ill. :-(

Have you considered getting tested for celiac?

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

I haven't eaten wheat on purpose in about 3 years. As far as I understand, I'd have to eat wheat to have enough for it to register on the test for Celiac's and I don't want to do that. Is that true?

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

That is true for the blood test and also the biopsy.
There is a genetic test you could take as well, but it does cost more.

I don't blame you for not wanting to do that at all. I think if you are having these symptoms you can go ahead and say "screw it" and live your life as if you have either a general intolerance or the immune disease.

I know others have and are much happier having done so.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

You know, I've been pretty good about eating gluten-free in general when I'm at home, but when I go out to eat, I'm not that careful. I ignore the soy sauce and the malt and just make sure I ask for no flour or breading on things. Maybe it's just time to be more careful.

Thanks for your input!!

[kuzu-no-ha.livejournal.com]

It sounds like it may be.
But luckily you are in a big city, so you will probably be able to find great places that won't poison you!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

The gluten in spelt is just different enough?

[rhonda-c.livejournal.com]

Sounds pretty much exactly how I react depending on how much I have ingested. I get the whole skin thing though too....

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

What skin reactions do you get?

Acne was noticeably better once I stopped eating wheat. Now sometimes I can tell if I've had a little by the types of zits I get. Also, last night I got really itchy all over.

I need to look more into the TCM treatmeht of this . . .

[rhonda-c.livejournal.com]

It's the "itchy" thing. I also get these weird tiny little bumps on my upper arms. I don't think I get any type of facial reaction but I think I will start to notice since you mentioned it. :v)

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

About the acne: specifically, I get more inflamed, pus-filled cysts when I have wheat. That alone was enough for me to stop eating it. I still break out from dairy, but it's not nearly as bad.

[rhonda-c.livejournal.com]

Aw yes the dreaded dairy. I have a love hate relationship with it. It's never been something my body cared to process but I am a total mayo and butter girl so it's super hard for me and I just have to be prepared for the fall out of eating either one of those things. *sigh*

[extraspecialk.livejournal.com]

i've had great results both on patients and myself using xiao feng san - almost like an antihistamine - works for mysterious allergic type skin stuff, hives, rashes etc.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Thank you. I might get a bottle and try that for myself and also maybe for my MSG reactions too. I can see that my Mayway order might be getting bigger and bigger :)

Now all I have to do is find a CEU class on this stuff . . .

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

p.s. I took Huo Xiang Zheng Qi and Huang Lian Su last night and it definitely helped, except I woke up with a bit of a migraine.

[klrmn.livejournal.com]

wow, i am very please that i don't get reactions like *that*. course i still don't have an actual test result on gluten intollerance...in process.

[klrmn.livejournal.com]

uh, go here.
https://www.enterolab.com/Home.htm
they say they can test for gluten sensitivity w/o reintroducing gluten.
this is where my doctor is sending me.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Sounds about right.

Here's what I experience, on different fronts. I have a double whammy of a wheat allergy and celiac disease.

IgE wheat allergy:
hives
possibly asthma/airway involvement, throat/palate/lip itching or swelling
eczema

Celiac disease:
intestinal woe (pain, cramps, diarrhea, rancid gas of doom) onset within about 20 minutes
bloating up to two pants sizes or so
steatorrhea
joint pain
wooziness, headache, moodiness (mostly from feeling sick/angry + dehydration)
hot flashes

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your input. I had a lot of those symptoms last night and the last time I knew for sure there was wheat on something I ordered.

[divineseduction.livejournal.com]

Honestly, it sounds like a food allergy.

Well, that and how I felt when I first got ill and couldn't eat dairy. I often have headaches, so I'm not sure if I registerd that one. But the stabbing stomach pains, and the feeling of having to go to the bathroom (I usually didn't... I ended up throwing up the next morning), plus the hot flashes and feverishness all match.

If I recollect rightly, the new birth control pills I was on pissed off my spleen something fierce, which then decided it wasn't having any more of that dairy shit.

I would suspect more... your body having issue with something you're trying to put in it, rather than the reaction to wheat. That probably doesn't make much sense, but I'm not sure how better to explain it. This mostly hinges on the fact that you don't think you're -that- wheat sensitive.

You probably know this, but I'd stick to easy, well-cooked foods 'til your tummy has a chance to recover.

Definitely look into the TCM stuff for this. It's what helped me get better. I don't know if one can read one's own pulses, but if not, get thee to someone who can, so they can be as informed as possible (as close to the acute-ness as possible).

I'll stop being so rambly and vague now. :D

I hopes you feel better soon.