The next day it hit me. Hard. I've been cross contaminated before with gluten, but I think this time I actually ate something that must have been LOADED with it. I woke up with an itchy throat and runny nose Friday morning. By Friday night I had full on cold like symptoms. My nose was running uncontrollably, my head felt like I punching bag, my ears were plugged, my gums felt tender and I was TIRED. As the weekend went on it got worse and worse. Today (day 3) I have been forced to lay low and sleep off and on all day. I still feel under the weather, but I do feel little better this evening.
On top of this, I honestly didn't even feel like myself all weekend. I started feeling depressed, overwhelmed and paranoid late Friday night. I didn't link this up to the gluten attack until this evening, but the symptoms lasted all weekend. My research led me to a Celiac discussion on mood swings and apparently if you do have a gluten contamination it can actually affect a person's brain function and mood. I know I've written a lot on the affects of gluten on the gut but here are some other ways that it can affect you if you are gluten sensitive.
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Learning problems
- Migraines
- Lack of concentration
- Changes in mood
- Behavioral problems in children, such as hyperactivity and defiance
It's really disturbing to me that the small amount I had last week affected me this much. It makes me wonder how much it is affecting those that eat it consistently!
If you are not sure if you have a gluten intolerance, I suggest you do some research and go get tested. Taking it out of your diet could change your life!
Besides the ugly rash (dermatitis herpetiformis) I had going on on my legs, the emotional side affects of gluten were what finally made me go get tested. The anxiety, depression, paranoia, anger (moments of rage for me) were so overwhelming I knew something was very wrong - turns out it was gluten! The physical side affects of gluten are not fun, but the emotional affects are much worse. I have not found a remedy, but at least knowing what is making me feel that way helps. My faith is definitely strengthened in this time, because I don't know where else to turn. Writing, also, helps me. I find when I am feeling so anxious, overwhelmed, angry, upset, etc. - writing down what I am feeling or making to-do lists (to ease the anxiety) helps me a lot. I did read somewhere that when you know you have had gluten - work out! Sweating it out and releasing those endorphins helps. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry you got into some gluten this weekend. :( Hope you feel better soon. :)
There are some digestive enzymes that are supposed to help in this kind of situation, though they can't and shouldn't be use pre-emptively unless possibly you were entering your kind of situation where you try HARD not to get exposed but know it's risky:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=gluten+enzyme&x=0&y=0
I wouldn't ever tell someone to just eat gluten and take one of these and they'll be okay, but maybe it helps a but after the fact.
Good luck and thanks for sharing the story!
With Hashimoto's Thyroidits, I have the EXACT same series of syptoms when too much gluten sneaks into my system. The way I understand it...when gluten causes inflammation, it happens everywhere...inlcuding the brain and glands that control hormone production.
ReplyDeleteA local chiropractor (and all-around healer, really...Dr. Bandy at AOMA) recommnded Oreganol to me for clearing gluten out of my system. I think it helps...and use it for a few days the second I think I may have eaten someting off. It comes in little pills or a tincture, and is very strong...so eat it with food, or else you'll be burping up oregano all day!
When I get glutened (love that word you made up!) I do a 12-36 hour fast, taking in only organic green tea and home made bone broth from grass fed animals, which I always keep some in my freezer.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know how to make a healing type of bone broth, but if you want my recipe just let me know.
I ate cake and pizza last night, the first gluten-containing food I've had in months. I passed out at 7pm, even though I hadn't even worked out that day, and slept for 11 hours. And I only woke up because my 1-year-old started making noises as he woke up at 6am.
ReplyDeleteCrystal,
ReplyDeleteI loved this post by Shirley over at glutenfreeeasily.com. There are a lot of things here for you to do after you're glutened. http://glutenfreeeasily.com/honor-your-body-how-to-recover-after-being-glutened-gluten-exposure/