We started a gluten free diet about 3 weeks ago. We got rid of everything in our pantry and fridge that had gluten in it and called on anything we weren't sure of. We've changed detergents, cleaners, soaps, toothpaste, makeup, hair products, etc. because my daughter and I also have skin issues. Our pans are ok, as are our utensils. We don't use a toaster, and everything should be ok.

I have no formal diagnosis of Celiac or gluten sensitivity, but feel that my family's and my symptoms fit. I've felt so much better after starting this. My everyday intestinal issues have subsided (except a few times) and I feel awake for the first time in a decade, and like I can think clearly and pay attention to things. I'm hoping other symptoms will get better for all of us with time.

The problem is, we're still getting glutened, or something is causing the intestinal distress we're getting off and on. The first time we experienced it again was after 2 weeks. We purposely ate some gluten filled bread to see if we really were sensitive. Well, it worked and I was sick for a few days (the worst of the episodes). My kids were really moody, but my hubby seemed fine. Then we got back to a gluten-free diet, and everything was back to norma.

Then a few days later, we made hamburger buns with a Bob's Red Mill gluten-free mix. Nothing else that we had could have had gluten in it that day. We all got sick this time with D and stomach cramps. It wasn't as severe as the previous time I got sick, but more of us were visibly affected. Again, we were ok a few days later.

Then we went to PF Changs for dinner. We ordered gluten-free, but the waiter messed up and brought the wrong Street Noodles out. He caught us before we all ate them, but my daughter ate a few bites. Later that evening, she had D again. By the next day she was feeling ok.

Today, I made pizza with the Gluten Free Pantry French Bread Mix, and I have D again! I just can't figure it out. Dairy products don't seem to bother me at all. Except for the obvious mistake when eating out and the time we purposely did it, we seem to be sick when we eat bread. But, we have no problem at all when we have pasta or rice, so I don't think it's the flours.

Someone mentioned that it might be yeast, but I essentially cut it all out for a month a few years back, and the D got to an uncontrollable level, not better. So I don't think that's the answer.

I thought maybe garlic, but there's times when we used it in the last 3 weeks that we were fine. The only other thing that was on the pizza that could have gluten was the Classico Alfredo sauce, but it's supposed to be gluten-free.

I'm just tired of hurting. I was so excited to start feeling better, but I don't know what's causing the occasional flare ups. I would love some suggestions. Maybe we're missing something somewhere.

It could be corn or soy. Or dairy after all. Or maybe tapioca or sorghum, who knows? I am afraid you'll have to play detective and use the ingredients from what you made somehow one at a time to see if you react.

It doesn't sound like it is gluten. So, it must be something else.

Pasta or rice is rice. I guess you aren't intolerant to rice. But those flour mixes have a lot of different ingredients, and it appears to be one of those.

Well here's the ingredient list for the two packages:


White rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, guar gum, granulated honey, salt, and a packet of yeast.

stone ground garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, corn starch, sweet white sorghum flour, tapioca flour, evaporated cane juice, fava bean flour, xanthan gum, active dry yeast, potato flour, sea salt, guar gum, soy lecithin


They only share a few things in common:

Rice flour (but pasta doesn't bother us....either does rice)

potato starch (whole potatoes don't bother me, so I don't think this is it either)

corn starch (we've been eating a bunch of corn products since we started, so I don't think it could be that either, or we'd have been sick more often)

guar gum.......does anyone else react to this?

I don't think it's dairy simply because we eat a lot of cheese and I eat yogurt almost every day. I would think I would just continue to be sick if it was due to dairy, but I was feeling really good except those few times.


oh crud.... I just looked up guar gum....it says it has a laxative effect. Well, that must be it. What is it with food companies these days? It seems like everything they substitute in food causes a "laxative effect". Olestra for fat free foods causes it, the fake sugars cause it. Geez, it's like some sick twisted humor.....couldn't they find something that will block you up instead??? It wouldn't be fun, but at least it would be different.

Thanks Ursa for getting me to cross check the ingredients.....you saved me another bought or two of D! I can't tell you how thankful I am!!!

Shortly after I went gluten free, and started to incorporate more items with corn, I became intolerant to corn. As soon as it was removed from my diet, my D stopped! You may want to try it and see what happens--even if you try it for a week or two. I know it stinks, but your health is worth it! Good luck.

A

If gluten is your problem, and you've only been gluten free for 3 weeks, then I would assume you haven't fully healed yet. It may not be another food intolerance.

Healing doesn't happen overnight. Even if you are 100% gluten free, your body still needs time to adjust.

I see a few things I'd suspect if it were me.

First, one mix has honey, which I've heard can have gluten. Then there's the yeast. Also, corn products and corn starch aren't necessarily equally safe. Some corn is organic, others are GMO, which I know I react to. I'm not entirely convinced that it need be a common ingredient, but I agree it's a good place to start. The cane juice I don't know much about, as I don't do sugar.

As for guar gum being a laxative, that's what Wikipedia says, but recently I read the opposite From my experience I'd have to disagree with Wikipedia this time, sadly. It's the insoluble type which is used in laxative products isn't it?

Here's what Wikipedia says about dietary fiber:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insoluble_fiber