If you're GF, how long does it take to experience a reaction if you accidentally eat a small amount of something containing gluten?
I've been gluten free for nearly five months now (diagnosed hypo six months ago, and now on 50mcg levo)) and started feeling the benefits of GF within a few days so I have stuck to it very strictly. I had family staying recently which was quite a test as I'm single so normally don't have any gluten foods in the house - but managed to cook separate things where necessary and avoid cross contamination, and wasn't really at all tempted by their gluteny bread, hot cross buns, etc so was feeling quite proud of myself! But two evenings ago (Thurs) I also baked some gluten brownies for a friend, and out of sheer habit licked some mixture off my finger at the end - doh! Thought I'd got away with it, but then this afternoon, so about 40 hours later, I have huge bloating, gas, etc. And thinking back, I woke up with a headache this morning which is also now quite unusual for me. Could it be a reaction to a tiny bit of gluten, even more than a day after I ate it? Or might I be having an unusual reaction to something else I've eaten more recently?
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I react within about 24 hours. The last time I had gluten was about six months ago when I had a 'light bulb' moment and realized communion hosts contain gluten. I couldn't understand why I felt so rough after going to church. I get a kind of fluey reaction. My church has now started giving out g.f. hosts. Happy days.
Thanks for your reply Scazzoh. My church had introduced GF communion wafers, to help a member with Coeliac, just before I went GF - so I was fortunate on that front at least! It's amazing where gluten can be hidden away in unexpected places, isn't it?!
The Catholic church won't entertain g.f. hosts, because the Bible says it's got to be 'leavened bread' and made with wheat, apparently. So I left them and joined another one.
Golly, I didn't realise that the Roman Catholic church held that view. A good decision on your part I feel to go to a different church! Though I'm sad for you that you had to do so. Thankfully in the Church of England, where I worship, there's a lot more flexibility ☺️.
I shall hope this passes quickly! It was the silliest thing but shows that only a tiny bit of gluten is needed to mess things up. Still, it also reassures me that generally I'm doing well at avoiding contamination!
So you and I have been gluten free for about the same length of time, Gcart - and it's so tempting sometimes to slacken off and give in, isn't it? But this experience has taught me that I need to stay strong and keep clear of gluten even if I do miss some of my favourite foods (jam doughnuts... that's what my downfall would be!).
Like you I am very grateful for all I've learnt from this forum ☺️. Just wish I'd learnt some of it earlier in life!!
While I'm gluten intolerant rather than coeliac, looking back I can see how it was affecting me from at least my early 20s if not before then - and am now in my late 40s. Still, better late than never; at least thanks to this forum I have finally realised I need to avoid the stuff! This recent experience of having a tiny bit by mistake has confirmed that giving up gluten was definitely a good decision.
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