does the amount matter?

bbillcee · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 30

i am having a bit of trouble understanding something,

does the amount of gluten have any revelance?

if i eat 10 bowls of regular pasta or eat a burger that was taken off a bun....is it the same thing or is eating more worse?

if i haven't eaten gluten in 10 years and eat a burger on a bun is my whole world gonna collapse?

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Deb · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject:

I can only tell you my experiences. I have been gluten free for over 9 years. 2 yrs ago, I had a bladder infection in January...the doctor had me get an OTC med called Azo Standard. Most everything I read about it said it was gluten free, some people were not sure, and I could not get a hold of the company. I had one dose at supper, 1 at breakfast, and 1 at lunch. The next morning I was hit with a terrible neurologic attack because it did contain gluten, probably in the filler. I was sick for 4 months, and lost 24#. How much gluten do you think I may have gotten out of 3 doses of a med that was thought to be gluten free?

At my support groups Gluten Free Vendor Fair, I ate maybe 2 cookies, and a tiny piece of cake, took me 3 weeks to get over it.

So, yes, for me, it does make my whole world collapse for some time. I am a super sensitive, it may not be that bad for you, or it just might be. Do you really want to take that chance???
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bbillcee · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 30

Deb · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

You assume correctly. I was very ill.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Oh, just to add...the good news is that many experts feel that 20 parts per million is a safe limit. Some people feel they react to even lesser amounts.
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Al

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

STZ · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Posts: 136 Location: Corpus Christi, TX

I am the same as Deb any amount makes me very ill. If I was you I would just stay away from it.
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STZ
DX = Celiac
High ttg 3/2009
Biopsy positive 10/2009
GF since 3/2009
DX = Osteopenia
Bone Density Test 9/2009

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Deb · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:48 am Post subject:

bbillcee · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 30

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

cultureslayer · Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 921 Location: NC

jeant · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 274

I don't think how one felt before going GF is necessarily related to what they feel like when they are glutened. I know a woman who thought she was dying when the doctors finally figured out she had celiac, yet she's accidentally eaten a little gluten and been okay. I know others who had mild symptoms before but now get sick from the tiniest cross-contamination.

teacherpat · Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 165

You may have very mild symptoms and, still be having all sorts of horrid stuff going on in there. My aunt had very mild symptoms, that's why she continued eating gluten (and drinking beer, but that is another story-I sometimes think if they'd had Redbridge back then she'd be alive today) and died of cancer because of the resulting autoimmune response. Symptoms are a poor indicator of the severity of the disease process. One of my cousins did not get diagnosed with celiac till she broke a hip-at 35. Intestinal symptoms were minimal, but her osteoporosis is terrible.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

As others have said, basing your health on symptoms when it comes to gluten ingestion is not a good idea.

You may not react outwardly,but because gluten is a poison,it's still doing damage.

I have a friend that I've known for 27 years. He was properly diagnosed with celiac disease. In his case, he's known as a Silent Celiac. This means he has no outward symptoms when he ingests gluten. He feels no ill-effects. There in lies the problem. Since there's no 'feedback", you don't know if you've been GF or not. Sadly in my friends case, he decided to go back on gluten simply because he couldn't tell the difference. This is a very dangerous decision. I made sure he was aware of what his choices might do in the future.

My firned also thyroid issues for 20 years, a brain tumor, and probably a few other medical issues I've forgotten about .Thyroid conditions are known to be connected with CD. A brother, a sister and mother have been at one time dx'ed with CD.

For those that have mild symptoms pre-GF - often times they become more sensitive after they've been GF- just like others have mentioned.
_________________
Al

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