How bad is cross contamination?

[computerdyslexic]

I am 65 and newly diagnosed with celiac disease. I have not yet had a biopsy (shceduled for 9-16) but my doctor says based on the results of my bloodwork I am positive for celiac. I have had an irritable bowel for 50 years but my symptoms are nowhere as terrible as what most celiac patients report. My major complaint that led to the diagnosis of celiac is severe muscle pain, cramping and exhaustion following only slight exertion, and this doesn't always happen. I never know when a small job will make me ill. I am a retired nurse and also have many allergies. When I read cautions about slight cross contamination I am baffled. I can cheat and eat or be near other allergens and may experience no or only mild symptoms. Since cheating won't cause me diarrhea will I be able to ignore something like not eating GF toast from the same toaster other people use? Do I really have to make the deli worker clean the slicer before he slices my GF Krakus ham? I am on a regular diet until after the biopsy and trying to learn now what a gluten free diet is. I have tried some GF foods and they all tasted awful!
_________________
Nancy in New York's Finger Lakes
Rescued Siberian huskies Zeke, Vixen, Duke and Moxie
Rescued DSH cats Timmy, Toby and Madeline-Rose
Please Google to learn about prosopagnosia, a neurological condition also called faceblindness.

[aklap]

Hi Nancy,

Welcome to the board and welcome to the world of gluten-free eating!

Yes, cross contamination risks are real and needs to be watched. Gluten is a poison to us. How much rat poison do you think is safe to consume?

Doctors and researchers feel that 20 parts per million of gluten is an acceptable level of gluten. Being a nurse, I suspect that you can understand how small 20 ppm really is. There is a post around here that says how many millgrams that is per day. I'll have to hunt that up for you.

Symptoms are NOT a good judge as to the amount of gluten you happen to consume. Even though you may not have an outward reaction, your body is reacting - causing damage. If fact, only about 50% of the dx'ed celiac has classic gastro sx's. Often times they are Silent - meaning they have no outward reaction what so ever!

Not all GF food is bad. Just take a look thru our recipe forums, I think you'll find we don't want for good food. There is LOTS of good food that is naturally GF, it just takes a bit of time to figure all that out.

Here's some threads that you might find interesting/helpful:

Our Thread on GF Diet Boot Camp

Our Thread on Dietitian's Resources - Links to info aimed at RD's.

Our Cross Contamination Thread - sounds like you may have seen this already.

You are correct in eating gluten until your biopsy. Make yourself at home, poke around, ask questions, read, learn as much as you possibly can!

Good luck! Please, let us know how the biopsy went.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[teacherpat]

Since celiac disease is not an allergy and you're not responding to gluten as an allergen what you're dealing with is rather different, as far as exposure goes.
Celiac is, as you know, an autoimmune disease, triggered by gluten. I'm sure you've treated Lupus patients in the past, and have seen the wide array of symptoms which can arise in that autoimmune illness. Just as many Lupus patients are different in the way their disease manifests itself, so celiac patients are also quite different in their presentations. For example, I have severe neuropathy, others here do not.
_________________
Pat

[jeant]

I also don't have severe symptoms from cross-contamination. Usually the worst thing that happens to me is that my cheeks get red and itchy. Still, I would not share a toaster or buy lunch meat from a deli. I have my own toaster and cutting boards, and I buy prepackaged lunch meats that are gluten free.

It is trial and error to find gluten-free products that you will like, but there are some good ones out there. And many of my favorite foods are naturally gluten free or easy to find gluten free (meat and vegetables, of course, but also tortilla chips and salsa, popcorn, etc.).

I agree with Al--poke around here and read as much as you can, and know that we are willing to help with questions!

[STZ]

If you look around you can find some good gluten free foods. Like Al said look thru some past post and you will get some ideas. As for the cross contamination everyone reacts different but know matter how you react or not it is causing damage inside. Your best bet for a healthier life is just stick to the diet. i am 40 and was DX this past spring and I LOVED gluten but had become so ill from it that I now have a mental block and when i see bread ect it makes me feel sick (mentaly) LOL. I am a celiac that very easily gets sick so that helps me stay on the diet. For example I had my order from Outback Steakhouse get cross contaminated and I was sick for a month and lost 15lbs. Trust me it's a rough way to lose the weight... Good Luck...
_________________
STZ
DX = Celiac
High ttg 3/2009
Biopsy positive 10/2009
GF since 3/2009
DX = Osteopenia
Bone Density Test 9/2009

[bbillcee]

is cross contamination just as important to someone who is intolerant vs allergy?

[Home-Based-Mom]

Think of cross contaminated food as food that has become contaminated after coming in contact with gluten, rather than containing it naturally. The gluten is still there, no matter how it got there. You body will react to the gluten, no matter how it got there.
_________________
Sandi ~ learning to live in a world obsessed and infested with wheat.
"If it wasn't food 100 years ago, it isn't food now." Mike Huckabee
Support Operation Christmas Child

[ostrich]

[bbillcee]

so i cant buy a hamburger from wendy's and 86 the bun?

does the amount of gluten have any relevance?

will i get more sick from a handful then a pinch?

[teacherpat]

You need to request it without the bun. Wendy's and McDonalds are happy to serve you a bunless burger. The local McDonalds puts their bunless burger in a covered salad bowl with extra foliage, its a common request.Don't forget to ask for a fork.
Peeling the bun off does not work.
_________________
Pat

[bbillcee]

[teacherpat]

[bbillcee]

[teacherpat]

You need to get a clear diagnosis before I can answer that. If you're gluten intolerant its one thing, celiac another...My aunt was a diagnosed celiac who would not follow the diet and died of Multiple Myeloma so I'm strongly motivated to flee screaming from the bun...or bits of the bun...
_________________
Pat

[aklap]