What happens if you eat gluten after remission?

[Sorphal79]

After we reach remission and the gut does some healing, what would eating gluten do to us? If we accidentally had a little through cross-contamination, would it only cause a flare and we would be fine again after that? Or does it completely do more damage to our colon and start this whole process all over again? What if we ate gluten (a slice of pie, for example) once or twice a year?

I guess I am thinking ahead to the future and am a little bit afraid of what might happen to me if I ever ate it again, even in tiny amounts or by accident. I certainly don't want to have to spend months (or years) trying to reach remission just to have everything come back the way it was from Day 1.

Thanks!

[tex]

Hi Sarah,

There are exceptions, of course, because some of us are more sensitive than others, and some will have more serious reactions. But for many of us, once we have healed for a few years, an accidental exposure to gluten will cause us to have symptoms for a day or so, and then we will be OK. Unless we continue to eat it, of course. If we were to continue to eat it we would sooner or later wind up back at square one. For most of us, it would be sooner. Some won't have any symptoms, so they will misinterpret this to mean that they are no longer sensitive to gluten, and they will continue to eat it. But when the symptoms finally do appear, they will almost always signal the start of a serious, long-term relapse.

A rare exposure is usually not a major problem, but somewhat more frequent exposures will result in a situation not unlike repeatedly poking a rattlesnake with a stick. Sooner or later that rattlesnake is going to strike.

For most of us, that slice of pie is never worth it, because of the suffering that it will trigger.

But that's just my opinion — others may see it differently.

Tex

[Sorphal79]

Whew, that puts my mind at ease. I certainly won't choose to eat gluten again but I keep hearing so much about cross-contamination that I started to get real nervous about my future with this disease.

Thank you, Tex!

[tex]

You're very welcome. As long as we do our own cooking, most of us very rarely ever have a problem (unless our life is filled with stress). If we eat out a lot, the risk goes way up. And that's where products such as Glutenease can come in handy.

Tex

[Marcia K]

Hi, Sarah. I’m in remission for around five years. When I am accidentally glutened I will get a headache, body aches, generally just feel bad, but the D has not returned. I will never intentionally eat gluten again.

[brandy]

Knee pain (from 0-10), brain issues (brain fog), sometimes D

I'm with Marcia, I will never knowingly touch gluten again. Remission is hard fought and hard won.

[dolson]

I will never touch carbs again. I don't miss carbs. I think I'm healthier because of my no-carb diet. I have accepted this disease as is, and with every dark cloud there is a silver lining. I have lost weight and love it!!!!!! Dorothy

[Deb]

I don't react at all to cross-contamination anymore and eat out quite a lot ( though I did for the first few years.) I am now nine years into it. With one notable exception about 3 years ago! I was accidentally served a regular hamburger bun instead of a GF one and had debilitating knee pain for six months. Never would I intentionally ingest gluten.

[brandy]

Hi Deb,

I'm with you on the knee pain! Mom gets knee pain from eating gluten too. She has alzheimer's dementia and is also
celiac. Early on one of the neighbors dropped off cupcakes at Christmas. Mom ate a whole one before her
caregiver could stop her. She had debilitating knee pain for about 4 months and in fact made her caregiver drive her
around to appointments with knee surgeons so she could talk about knee replacements her pain was so bad. By month 5 her
knee pain was gone so no surgery.

[Deb]

The knee thing is really odd, Brandy. My husband ingested a bun at the same time and we both had terrible pain in our left knees. He was still doing physical work and decided to see if Mayo could help but didn't want cortisone. He tried chicken cartilage injections. His pain last six months. My pain without anything lasted six months. Go figure!

[grhandlan@comcast.net]

Went on vacation and purchased tylenol, an off brand. I read the ingredient list, nothing showed that would suspect gluten contamination (that I knew of). After about a month of taking the tylenol about 5-6 times a week, I noticed my joints starting to hurt and started cramping. Thought it was something I ate...... any way after some detective work, I have a NIMA --- found gluten in the tylenol........
I am about 3weeks from last tylenol....... my body is on hyper alert...... I am reacting to most things again..... however no D this time.....just all the other issues.... brain fog, joint and back pain, plantar fascistic, FATIGUE,...... it amazing how it affects the body..... anyway..... do feel on the mend..... less fatigue today...... what a journey...... thank you so much for being here for me...... Gena

[tex]

Gena,

Thanks for sharing. That's some good detective work tracking it down That information is good to know.

Tex

[brandy]

Wow, interesting about the Nima and the off brand tylenol.

[JFR]

This is interesting. I broke my wrist 4 weeks ago. For the first few days I took Walgreen's tylenol. I quickly developed some mild intestinal problems. Since nothing else about my diet had changed I figured it had to have been the tylenol. Since stopping the tylenol the symptoms have gone away. I've been in remission for a long time so this was very unexpected.

Jean

[brandy]

I've never had noticeable problems with the brand name Tylenol.