Okay, I have a question. I don't actually KNOW for sure that I am intolerant to gluten because of my IgA deficiency. I have been GF for 10 months now. But I am sure I get cross contamination here and there. So, I have been pretty good these past months. Last night, we were out eating Mexican (which is usually pretty safe for me). I ordered fish tacos. I asked if the fish was grilled and he said yes. When it came out, I could tell that it was sauted in a pan and was obviously dusted with flour because it had a browned coating. I didn't want to send it back because our food took forever to begin with, so I peeled the coating off the best I could and ate it and hoped for the best. Well, this morning I was surprised to see an almost norman. Could it be that gluten isn't a problem for me? Would I have gotten a quick reaction if I am intolerant? If I experimented and actually had some bread, would I get the answer I seek?
Leah
gluten reaction right away?
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humbird753
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That's a good question, Leah. I hope someone who knows will chime in on this one. I have also been GF for almost a year, and I find that when I do eat something with gluten (occasionally on purpose), I don't seem to get any type of reaction. I am wondering if it is because I have been GF for so long that I would need to eat GF often in order for antibodies to build up in order to get a noticeable reaction. I have at times wondered if I am gluten intolerant also.
Glad to hear you were able to enjoy your meal.
Paula
Glad to hear you were able to enjoy your meal.
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
Hi Leah,
If we have a reaction to an oral antigen within a few minutes, we are having a classic allergy to that food (an IgE reaction). If we have a reaction within few days, we are having an IgA reaction to that food. (Most of us react within about 6 to 12 hours, but reaction times vary by the individual.) If we experience both reactions, we have both types of sensitivity.
Since you are IgA deficient, you may not experience the same type of reaction that most of us experience (because you can't produce antibodies). I'm not sure what mechanism would define your reaction. That may vary by the individual. However, just because you don't produce antibodies does not mean that you can't have a reaction, (obviously you've shown symptoms in the past).
After our gut heals, we tend to become more tolerant of minor exposures to an antigen (exposures that would have caused an obvious reaction while our gut was still hypersensitive). Just because you do not react to every small exposure does not mean that you are no longer sensitive, it may just mean that your gut has done a lot of healing.
I would guess that in your case, your reaction would probably be in the form of a mast cell reaction which might or might not create obvious clinical symptoms. The end result of a chronic (or repeated) intestinal mast cell degranulation episode would be leaky gut, and at that point, symptoms would surely become obvious. However, a single discreet event might not be enough to trigger a leaky gut issue significant enough to cause obvious symptoms. Obviously, a gluten challenge would answer your question, if you doubt that you are sensitive to gluten. Be aware that for some of us, a gluten challenge has to be continued for weeks or months (in some cases), because we all have different sensitivity thresholds. The challenge may have to be continued long enough to undo most of the healing that has taken place, and if you are indeed gluten-sensitive, then after the challenge, healing would have to begin again.
Yes, some of us have a higher reaction threshold after we heal, but tempting fate can be very risky, because once enough damage occurs to trigger a reaction, the reaction can last a while. Remember that I ate oats for 6 weeks with triggering a reaction, but once the reaction started, it took another 6 weeks before it stopped.
There are only 2 ways to determine whether or not you are gluten-sensitive — an anti-gliadin stool test at Enterolab, or a gluten challenge. If you have been following the GF diet for less than 2 years, it's possible that you may still have enough antibodies for a positive test result. Or, if you have been cheating on the diet, you would almost surely show a positive test result if you are actually gluten-sensitive.
Tex
If we have a reaction to an oral antigen within a few minutes, we are having a classic allergy to that food (an IgE reaction). If we have a reaction within few days, we are having an IgA reaction to that food. (Most of us react within about 6 to 12 hours, but reaction times vary by the individual.) If we experience both reactions, we have both types of sensitivity.
Since you are IgA deficient, you may not experience the same type of reaction that most of us experience (because you can't produce antibodies). I'm not sure what mechanism would define your reaction. That may vary by the individual. However, just because you don't produce antibodies does not mean that you can't have a reaction, (obviously you've shown symptoms in the past).
After our gut heals, we tend to become more tolerant of minor exposures to an antigen (exposures that would have caused an obvious reaction while our gut was still hypersensitive). Just because you do not react to every small exposure does not mean that you are no longer sensitive, it may just mean that your gut has done a lot of healing.
I would guess that in your case, your reaction would probably be in the form of a mast cell reaction which might or might not create obvious clinical symptoms. The end result of a chronic (or repeated) intestinal mast cell degranulation episode would be leaky gut, and at that point, symptoms would surely become obvious. However, a single discreet event might not be enough to trigger a leaky gut issue significant enough to cause obvious symptoms. Obviously, a gluten challenge would answer your question, if you doubt that you are sensitive to gluten. Be aware that for some of us, a gluten challenge has to be continued for weeks or months (in some cases), because we all have different sensitivity thresholds. The challenge may have to be continued long enough to undo most of the healing that has taken place, and if you are indeed gluten-sensitive, then after the challenge, healing would have to begin again.
Paula wrote:I am wondering if it is because I have been GF for so long that I would need to eat GF often in order for antibodies to build up in order to get a noticeable reaction. I have at times wondered if I am gluten intolerant also.
Yes, some of us have a higher reaction threshold after we heal, but tempting fate can be very risky, because once enough damage occurs to trigger a reaction, the reaction can last a while. Remember that I ate oats for 6 weeks with triggering a reaction, but once the reaction started, it took another 6 weeks before it stopped.
There are only 2 ways to determine whether or not you are gluten-sensitive — an anti-gliadin stool test at Enterolab, or a gluten challenge. If you have been following the GF diet for less than 2 years, it's possible that you may still have enough antibodies for a positive test result. Or, if you have been cheating on the diet, you would almost surely show a positive test result if you are actually gluten-sensitive.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Leah,
I, like you appear to have an Iga deficiency. My problem is when I talk the medical community about it, they look at me like I've grown a third eye. What I can tell you is for me, I decided that for thanksgiving this year, I was going to eat stuffing. I didn't immediately react, and for the first 36 hours post exposure I felt good. Then my symptoms started showing up.... First came flue like body aches and about 3 days later the big D started! I'm still struggling with symptoms after a month. I now look at it as being a valuable lesson learned. I have found a functional medicine doctor who is surprisingly close to me that at least in reading his blog he's all over the Iga reactions, leaky gut results, etc. I'm currently out of town for the next few weeks for business but hopefully can get in to see him before the end of January.
I, like you appear to have an Iga deficiency. My problem is when I talk the medical community about it, they look at me like I've grown a third eye. What I can tell you is for me, I decided that for thanksgiving this year, I was going to eat stuffing. I didn't immediately react, and for the first 36 hours post exposure I felt good. Then my symptoms started showing up.... First came flue like body aches and about 3 days later the big D started! I'm still struggling with symptoms after a month. I now look at it as being a valuable lesson learned. I have found a functional medicine doctor who is surprisingly close to me that at least in reading his blog he's all over the Iga reactions, leaky gut results, etc. I'm currently out of town for the next few weeks for business but hopefully can get in to see him before the end of January.
Hi Linda,Linda wrote:I didn't immediately react, and for the first 36 hours post exposure I felt good. Then my symptoms started showing up.... First came flue like body aches and about 3 days later the big D started! I'm still struggling with symptoms after a month.
Thanks for posting your experience. That sounds exactly like what I would expect from a leaky gut response to a food sensitivity. When I wrote my response to Leah's post, I wasn't sure what the reaction time fame might be (since these are sort of uncharted waters, and everyone's response is probably somewhat different), so it's very helpful to be able to read a description of your reaction.
Thank you for posting that information.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I knew that I would have a reaction but never in 1 million years did I think the reaction would be that strong or last as long as it has. I still don't know if I truly have an IGA deficiency. According to my G.I. doctor my serum IGA was normal. I'm very excited about seeing this new functional medicine doctor. In his blog he covers auto immune antibodies, Mast cell disease, Leaky gut syndrome, Hypothyroidism And a host of other topics that are discussed on this board. I don't know if my insurance will cover the office visit or all the testing he does for that matter, But I want to get to the bottom of what is truly wrong with me. I went gluten-free almost 2 years ago And finally felt like I had gotten my life back last July. I will never knowingly eat gluten again! The big challenge is living in a hotel now for the next three weeks. I went to Costco today And bought a large container of their rotisserie chicken salad. I'll probably be eating it every day along with Fritos scoops. Food does not have the same importance that it used to for me I have found that eating a high-protein diet works best.
Linda
Linda
Linda, oh how I know that feeling 
I don't have the same relationship with food that I used to and it's actually getting less heartbreaking as time goes on. It's still frustrating and I still cry sometimes but my diet right now consists primarily of meat. Veggies next, rice, nuts, then some fruits.
I spent months playing a game with myself where I continued eating questionable foods. The game was not entertaining but at that time I had a very strong connection with food and it was hard to give up certain things. I ate them, got sick. The next day I would hope it would be ok and eat it again and get sick. Finally, I decided if I were serious about getting well I would have to stop it or consider myself mildly retarded for eating foods I knew made me sick.
I've also slipped many times and it proves time and time again that no matter how much I want to be "cured" of MC- it is never going away. Over Christmas I had one bite of birthday cake and I didn't feel sick immediatley but over the next few days my fatigue was worse than usual. I can't use D as a gage since I still have it. It was dumb but it was a tradition that I had started as a child. Every year we get a birthday cake for Jesus and have it with Christmas dinner at our big family gathering. I did fine at my folks and was content with my turkey and potatoes. It was a HUGE meal with all my favorites and desserts like you can't imagine and I was good with it. However, the next day the piece of birthday cake sent home for my son was sitting in the fridge. I decided just one bite would make me feel better so I had one. It is an accomplishment that I was able to be happy with just one bite. I had thoughts going through my head that maybe I'm not sensitive to gluten. The next day I had a few chocolate covered brazil nuts since I did so well with the cake. The soy didn't sit well with me and I've been feeling crappier than usual ever since. It's a two fold lesson for me in that one slip makes the next one all the more easier and I've worked so hard to get where I am now, even though I don't even feel close to healthy, and I just set myself back. There are enough set backs with MC that we can't control and at least for me, I feel like I should say "shame on me" for thinking of cheating.
I don't have the same relationship with food that I used to and it's actually getting less heartbreaking as time goes on. It's still frustrating and I still cry sometimes but my diet right now consists primarily of meat. Veggies next, rice, nuts, then some fruits. I spent months playing a game with myself where I continued eating questionable foods. The game was not entertaining but at that time I had a very strong connection with food and it was hard to give up certain things. I ate them, got sick. The next day I would hope it would be ok and eat it again and get sick. Finally, I decided if I were serious about getting well I would have to stop it or consider myself mildly retarded for eating foods I knew made me sick.
I've also slipped many times and it proves time and time again that no matter how much I want to be "cured" of MC- it is never going away. Over Christmas I had one bite of birthday cake and I didn't feel sick immediatley but over the next few days my fatigue was worse than usual. I can't use D as a gage since I still have it. It was dumb but it was a tradition that I had started as a child. Every year we get a birthday cake for Jesus and have it with Christmas dinner at our big family gathering. I did fine at my folks and was content with my turkey and potatoes. It was a HUGE meal with all my favorites and desserts like you can't imagine and I was good with it. However, the next day the piece of birthday cake sent home for my son was sitting in the fridge. I decided just one bite would make me feel better so I had one. It is an accomplishment that I was able to be happy with just one bite. I had thoughts going through my head that maybe I'm not sensitive to gluten. The next day I had a few chocolate covered brazil nuts since I did so well with the cake. The soy didn't sit well with me and I've been feeling crappier than usual ever since. It's a two fold lesson for me in that one slip makes the next one all the more easier and I've worked so hard to get where I am now, even though I don't even feel close to healthy, and I just set myself back. There are enough set backs with MC that we can't control and at least for me, I feel like I should say "shame on me" for thinking of cheating.
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Christine.
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:15 pm
This holiday season, for the first time in a year, I had a few bites of chocolate with soy lecithin and one or two bites of sharp cheese. Possibly I've had some gluten from cross contamination with meals out and with friends.
Although I've been rather smug because I've had no overt reactions, today I noticed a couple of little patches of psoriasis. I have been completely free of psoriasis for nearly a year! So it is back to square one. I have even gained 3 or 4 pounds since returning from South America a month ago. I think I will eat paleo minus eggs beginning Tuesday!
Christine
Although I've been rather smug because I've had no overt reactions, today I noticed a couple of little patches of psoriasis. I have been completely free of psoriasis for nearly a year! So it is back to square one. I have even gained 3 or 4 pounds since returning from South America a month ago. I think I will eat paleo minus eggs beginning Tuesday!
Christine
Well thank you to all who have shared your experiences. As much as I'd like to believe I can eat Gluten, I'm pretty sure that I shouldn't. I will be keeping an eye on the next few days to see if anything happens. I also had a couple of onion rings today. so dumb... but I love them.
I already kind of knew what you were going to say Tex. And I certainly don't want to undo all of the healing that I have done. Besides not being able to eat half the things I'd like to, I can live my normal life and I am grateful for that. I agree with the idea that mast cell degranulation is my problem. I don't know if I have leaky gut, but I certainly don't want it if I don't already have it.
What I have gotten from this experience is that I probably don't need to be as panic-y ( as I am ) if I think a little gluten might be in something. I now know that if I accidentally get glutened every once in a while, I won't suffer horribly like I do with dairy.
Thank you for reminding me that I have healed a lot and don't need to mess with that.
Happy New Year!
Leah
I already kind of knew what you were going to say Tex. And I certainly don't want to undo all of the healing that I have done. Besides not being able to eat half the things I'd like to, I can live my normal life and I am grateful for that. I agree with the idea that mast cell degranulation is my problem. I don't know if I have leaky gut, but I certainly don't want it if I don't already have it.
What I have gotten from this experience is that I probably don't need to be as panic-y ( as I am ) if I think a little gluten might be in something. I now know that if I accidentally get glutened every once in a while, I won't suffer horribly like I do with dairy.
Thank you for reminding me that I have healed a lot and don't need to mess with that.
Happy New Year!
Leah
Don't go to hard on yourself Deb,
I too am a victim of mild retardation
There have been 3 times this past year where I threw caution to the wind and ate something I knew wasn't good for me. I did have a reaction each time however they were fairly mild. This one though really hit me hard. In the future when I'm tempted to cheat, I just have to remember how this last episode has hit me and hopefully I will have the determination to just say NO! I know that is easier said than done but when the temptation arises I will tell myself that I am stronger than this disease and I will control it - not let it control me.
Linda
I too am a victim of mild retardation
There have been 3 times this past year where I threw caution to the wind and ate something I knew wasn't good for me. I did have a reaction each time however they were fairly mild. This one though really hit me hard. In the future when I'm tempted to cheat, I just have to remember how this last episode has hit me and hopefully I will have the determination to just say NO! I know that is easier said than done but when the temptation arises I will tell myself that I am stronger than this disease and I will control it - not let it control me.Linda
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fatbuster205
- Gentoo Penguin
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- Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 7:53 am
- Location: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Hello and Happy New Year to you all!
What an interesting discussion! I have to say, while it took me a while to go GF due to my intention to educate my Doctor's, I have to say I am enjoying the challenge! I don't appear to have the food intolerances that many of you suffer with - at least they haven't shown up yet!!
But I have responded so well in such a short space of time I have no doubt at all in my mind that I am gluten sensitive particularly as I don't have coeliac disease! I did have a three day blip but that seems to have been down to a gastric bug - my mother has just had it as well! Other than one episode involving Dream Topping - which I have since avoided - I have been having one or two Normans a day since going GF! I have no intention of challenging myself with gluten for a very long time if ever! If you are well, why would you deliberately poison yourself?? 
Anne
PS Have new laptop which is working!!!
What an interesting discussion! I have to say, while it took me a while to go GF due to my intention to educate my Doctor's, I have to say I am enjoying the challenge! I don't appear to have the food intolerances that many of you suffer with - at least they haven't shown up yet!!
But I have responded so well in such a short space of time I have no doubt at all in my mind that I am gluten sensitive particularly as I don't have coeliac disease! I did have a three day blip but that seems to have been down to a gastric bug - my mother has just had it as well! Other than one episode involving Dream Topping - which I have since avoided - I have been having one or two Normans a day since going GF! I have no intention of challenging myself with gluten for a very long time if ever! If you are well, why would you deliberately poison yourself?? Anne
PS Have new laptop which is working!!!
Well I've been bad! My hubby bought me some GF,DF,SF chocolate bars from Enjoy Life and they are soooo good! I have some that are just dark chocolate and some that have rice milk chocolate. Well chocolate is my big time weakness and I've eaten 7 bars in the last 4 days. Two of them equal the size of a Nestle Crunch bar. Then we went out to eat Saturday evening and even though I told the waiter no dairy, they brought me out spinach that had been sauteed in garlic butter. They usually don't screw up my order like that. I noticed after 5 bites that my spinach tasted extra good and I knew no oil tasted that good. That's when I asked....they offered me the steamed spinach and I said "Screw it"...I'm eating it.....it was just so good. The only reaction I've gotten (don't know if it's from all the sugar/fat in the chocolate or the dairy) is some heartburn, a slight fullness feeling and a very dull ache in the mid-abdomen. No D thank goodness. I've been taking a couple doses of Pepto once a week as preventative due to all these holiday gatherings but the only time I really needed it was for the persistent heartburn I had one day (after eating uncooked onion and bell pepper) which Pepto ended up knocking that out.
As for gluten, I will never test that. Though I'm sure I get a little cross contamination at the few restaurants I eat at. It's just been so tough during the holidays not to indulge a little. And I've learned that my body hasn't healed enough to eat a WHOLE chocolate bar. Arrgghh! I've got 2 more left and I honestly don't know how I'm going to stop at just one square! Tomorrow they will be gone, thank goodness.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I'm so glad they are over!
Terri
As for gluten, I will never test that. Though I'm sure I get a little cross contamination at the few restaurants I eat at. It's just been so tough during the holidays not to indulge a little. And I've learned that my body hasn't healed enough to eat a WHOLE chocolate bar. Arrgghh! I've got 2 more left and I honestly don't know how I'm going to stop at just one square! Tomorrow they will be gone, thank goodness.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I'm so glad they are over!
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.