2 Years Gluten-Free
by Lauren | Celiac Teen on January 30, 2010
Okay, so that isn’t technically true. I have accidentally (and very unfortunately) ingested gluten in the past 24 months. However, 2 years ago (at 5 o’clock to be precise!) I was diagnosed with celiac disease. The moment I found out, I was thrilled. Overcome with relief. We knew what was wrong. It could be fixed. There were no more drugs (those came for other things).
So maybe you’re wondering what happens when someone gets “glutened”. Sure, as celiacs we cannot eat gluten, but what actually happens when we do? By some unfortunate twist of fate, I was recently served wheat pasta instead of rice. I only had a couple of bites before I was certain. Then I ran over to my mom and got her to check it. I was frantic. I just ate wheat pasta. My heart was in my throat. Pulsing and making breathing laboured. Colour exploded across my face in a mixture of anger, sadness and nerves. A tear spurted. Taking a step back, I caught my breath. This will be okay. Let’s just take it slow.
By the time it hit my stomach, I could feel the confusion. ”What’s that doing here?!” the acid screamed. Over the next day or so, I felt it as it moved through each part of my digestive tract. Beating up my small intestine, draining all of my energy as it attacked not only this invader, but me. Being autoimmune, celiacs attack their own small intestine when gluten is present. Goodbye long villi. Hope to see you soon.
It wasn’t a searing pain, but it hurt. More than uncomfortable.
The days that followed weren’t great. Occasionally the pain would peak as the gluten turned a corner or hit a extremely sensitive section of my intestines. Other than that, it dully moved along. Dull but powerful. Like one of those new-fangled vacuum cleaners that suck without any noise, the gluten robbed me of any energy. It also stole my appetite. Coming in waves I would feel pain worming through my abdomen. Slow, yet not, I could only wish it was gone.
I ate food, but not much. Oranges and clementines and cheese and tapioca pudding were my main food groups. I’m sure there are foods you’re “supposed” to eat but I didn’t feel good, and energy was hard to come by. The couch and computer (where I didn’t actually do much of anything) was where I stayed. I did go for a long walk at one point, but that only helped while I was walking. The second I got home, I was wiped. Luckily, I didn’t have school during this gluten incident and I sure hope that I don’t have to experience it in the future. At least not soon.
I’m glad this gluten incident is over and even more thrilled that I’ve been celiac for 2 years. I know that I will never knowingly eat gluten again, and that is one of the most wonderful things I know. Gluten-free food can be absolutely delicious. Even the bread (which I have an upcoming recipe for!).
So tell me, how long have you been gluten-free? What are your experiences with getting glutened (if any)?
xoxo
Lauren
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[edit: this post is linked to Get The Gluten Out]
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Oh. My. Goodness. Reading everyone’s comments about leg pain and “mysterious” pains struck one of those moments in my mind. My entire life I have struggled with incapacitating leg pain, it’s a dull pain, as if I had run a marathon when the only thing I did was wake up in the morning and eat a bowl of cereal. What I didn’t know was that the gluten in that cereal was causing that pain and the myriad of digestive issues and lack of energy that would suddenly come over me. As I write this I’ve been gluten-free since just before Christmas and it has been marvellous! I can’t even express my absolute joy at my wellness. I always thought people kind of felt like crap all the time and felt mysterious - I say mysterious because the pain seemed without merit- pains in their bodies. Now I know that isn’t true.
Congratulations Lauren on being healthy for 2 years! I’m still in the stage where I’ll see a former restaurant I love(d) and realize there isn’t a thing on their menu I can eat, or my favourite dish is packed with wheat. That means I’ll sometimes eat something without even thinking, food that I always ate before and within minutes I’ll know I’ve done something horrible. My husband is fantastic about giving me “the look” and I just nod simply. I wish he had been with me today when I absentmindedly threw a chocolate bar in my cart at the store. I really, really wish he had been home when I opened that chocolate bar and nibbled on two sticks of it, gluten-packed wafers and all. I could blame the stress of taking a very naughty and mischievous 2 year old to a restaurant for my lapse (or the pandemonium that ensues when shopping with two small and rambunctious but sweet children), but ultimately it was me who ate that and when I’m exhausted tomorrow and curled in pain, I’ll know it was my fault. I almost cried when I realized what I had done.
It’s gets easier I’m sure and it hasn’t been that long. Amazing how old habits can screw you.
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What a good description. A month or so ago my friends and I had a potluck, and I thought I did well, eating the salads, twice-baked potatoes and chicken wings, but after about half an hour I knew something was wrong. Everyone was full, but there was something beyond the being-full pain. It was the oh-so-familiar stabbing pain of gluten. It lasted 5 days overall. I rarely left the fetal position on my bed, and when I did I would suddenly keel over in pain while walking to class or wherever. I was so exhausted, and the pain kept me awake for the first few nights. It seems the longer I go without eating it, the worse the episodes are, which just strengthens my resolve to stay away.
People thought it was a phase I was going through when I first self-diagnosed 3 years ago, but now I don’t care what they think, because I remember going to school every day from grade 1 to 2nd year university with a searing stomach ache, which my mom chalked up to “anxiety” (well…gluten does make you anxious, as it turns out). I am just so happy to know that the pain can be prevented as long as I am careful. How lucky are we to know the cause?
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I’ve been gluten free since the beginning of Febuary, and in March when I found out I have acid relfux I discovered that I cannot have tomatoes, dairy (although I can have our raw goat’s milk!), peanuts and chocolate (I am a big chocolate lover, so that was hard!). Last time I was glutened was end of March when I did it to myself. We went on a mini vacation and I really didn’t have any choice but to eat it too. I get headaches, stomach and intestinal cramps so bad from eating offending food that I am stuck in bed
I hate it when people just don’t understand…”surely that little bit of gluten can’t hurt you, can it?”
I’m finding great recipes here! Although, I’m kind of holding off on sugar, I still got honey
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I was gluten free for 15 months when I got gluten at a restaurant. I’d eaten there many times, they have a great gf protocol for their kitchen, but a lazy chef made my salad from the line instead of the protocol mandated back room fridge. After I ate part of it, I saw a crouton sitting on the cheese. The manager was horror stricken as they work with our local CSA chapter all the time. It turned out that the cheese on the line had become contaminated with the croutons. That night I had insomnia just like before my diagnosis. The next day I felt like a truck ran over me. It has been a month and the neurological symptoms are finally going away.
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I just found your site, and I have to say I love it! You’re so creative, bold, and fun! I have to try one of your recipes soon, most likely the pierogi one, wish me luck haha. But congratulations on staying gluten-free for two years! When I found out, it was bittersweet- I would no longer be crying on the bathroom floor, but then I couldn’t eat most of the foods in my house! I have been gluten free for almost 9 years now, and it’s only getting easier. I used to have to order GF foods from Canada! Haha, I live in the US so that’s was kinda far. But now GF is in my local grocery store, there are so many options, and lovely recipes to choose from! The latter thanks to people like you! Anyways, I’ll let you know how my pierogi turn out (i’m not that much of a chef, and I’m in a small apartment) but it should be fun either way!
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