Meal out

[Junny1]

I went for a meal out with my sisters and as usual had to be careful with ordering and took longer than the others. I decided to have some type of oven chicken. But had a few chips on the side. Just got home and my legs a aching badly and my arms are starting. A horrible constant pain 😔. It’s the food I had there isn’t it? Some of the girls there r just so surprised that the gluten can even cause pain. Does this happen to many of you “celiacs” like myself

[Lydiahipkin]

Hi there. Your not on your own. This is something I suffer with quite badly when I've eaten gluten. My joints ache so badly, more than I get belly ache in fact and tends to last for a few days.

[Whydothis]

Another time - I suggest never having chips, unless they can guarantee that they are cooked in a separate, gluten free fryer. Normally they are cooked in the same oil as breaded and battered foods, and this is asking for cross-contamination.Also - did the chicken come with any sort of sauce, or was it seasoned / flavoured with anything before being cooked? I have got now so that I won't even order a plain piece of chicken or a steak if it might be cooked on the same griddle as other foods or with any seasoning, and I never eat any sauces.

You are certainly not alone - we all have slightly different symptoms. I haven't been glutened for a long time - once I realised about cross-contamination I have been super careful.

Remember that the pain, as well as being horrible, is telling you about the damage being done to your intestine - it is not worth the short enjoyment of the meal!

[Bazmack48]

A lot of frozen chips are dusted with flour. We went to a fish shop who said they used different fryers to ensure no cross contamination but hubby was Glutened and suffered for days. Rarely eat out now, too risky.

[Junny1 in reply to Bazmack48]

I’ve decided to never have a takeaway on a Saturday night as we adapts have done on a Saturday night 😞

[Knip in reply to Bazmack48]

Have to be careful they don't use the same utensils for both friers. I have been made ill by this before.

[MTCee]

Yes I get pain and aching too. I feel like I’ve been stabbed and kicked in the stomach and get severe backache first and then joint aches all over, with diarrhoea, nausea and headaches. It can last for weeks and I usually have to stay in bed for the first few days. It’s unbelievably bad. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I’m super cautious and never feel safe when eating out. It ruins any sense of enjoyment. Sorry you get this too.

[Junny1 in reply to MTCee]

I really thought to myself can this aching be to do with the gluten? But yes it is after reading what so many of you have said. It’s awful pain keeping me awake at night. Family ask is the pain ok now the next day? I just go along with it and say it’s little better. Not many understand

[MTCee in reply to Junny1]

I think the level of inflammation in our bodies rises rapidly when we’ve been glutened. Our joints can suffer when this happens which is why they ache. It will get better but it takes time. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Hidden]

I find the biggest problem in coeliac land is trying to justify your range of symptoms to others, and seldom getting any validation. Coeliac is autoimmune with a vast range of symptoms. Muscle, joint and nerve pain are just a few. If only people understood that, and if only restaurant didn't make people ill. Did the restaurant make any 'gluten free' promises and/or did you check if the chips are cooked in separate fryer?

[Knip in reply to Hidden]

I so agree with you. I have other autoimmune illnesses and because they are 'hidden' people just don't understand the issues unless they suffer themselves or have seen you suffering the side affects. So many people say 'a little won't hurt you'.

[Hidden in reply to Knip]

That is the worst. It genuinely gets my anger levels up massively. Would you tell a nut allergy sufferer a little won't kill you? Or someone that a small amount of cyanide is actually reasonable. I can't help but feel we are being failed on the support front in that the awareness raising for coeliac is desperately poor. I'd never heard of it until a GP mentioned it to me years ago. 1 in 100 coeliac, 4 in 100 (apparently?) who are seriously gluten intolerant, and the most we get are news stories debunking that gluten free diets are healthy and calling gluten avoiders 'faddy'.

[Knip in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Benjamin. Well said. You've put it in a nutshell!

[Junny1]

Yeh that’s what’s What I meant above. Restaurants can make people yeh ur right