The picture above? That was me ALL DAY yesterday. One of those days where I wake up tired and just get more exhausted as the day goes on. Clock-watched the entire day and finally crawled into bed at 7. Actually woke up in the middle of the night thinking it must be time to get up. Looked at the clock and it was 9:13…pm.
And this is where my mind starts to wander a bit. Was I glutened? Or was I simply just…tired? I mean, people get tired, don’t they?
But I did eat something that I’ve never had before yesterday.
On the other hand, I watched the Super Bowl, had a few beverages and watched the (awesome!) Giant highlights until midnight.
If I didn’t have Celiac disease, I wouldn’t think twice about it.
But every time I have a symptom of being glutened, I have a minor panic attack because I know it means six months of hell in front of me. Six months of brain fog. Six months of daily naps. Six months of crap basically.
So here we are, the day after. Been up since 4:00am. Feeling…normal…so far (it’s only 7:30).
So was I glutened? My gut says no.
But if I was, it’s going to be a long Spring.
The waiting is the worst part of this disease!
If I suspect contamination, the first day after the exposure is filled with anxious thoughts as I try to feel for any signs. And then, BAM, day two or three comes and it hits you like a bus.
I truly hope you’re not contaminated! I found drinking an insane amount of water the first few days can help, although, not enough!
Speedy recovery!
Thanks Nicole. Celiacs tend to be a bit paranoid, but for good reason.
So far, so good today!!
That is so what I go through…….celiac induced paranoia………every time my digestive system malfunctions or I get exhausted. I have no advice just the hope that you weren’t glutinized!
Celiac induced paranoia…I like that.
Thanks for your wishes Anneliese…I think I’m good.
I feel for you. It takes me a month and a half of prilosec to feel better. Nasty heartburn, bloating, chest pains from indigestion and the infamous brain fog plus the tiredness. Yeah, my boss told me one day in the middle of a glutening that I had a stupid look on my face when she asked me a question. Nice huh? I hope for your sake that it’s just tiredness.
Reason number 37 why I work for myself 🙂
Feeling back to my abnormal self today.
I had a huge grin on my face as I read this…. ahh… the lying in bed freaking out about just how long you’ll feel like hell. We have to remember that EVERYONE feels lousy sometimes – we just can’t help wondering…. thanks for making me feel “normal” 🙂 claudine
I call it “the new normal”.
Really? Six months to get back to normal after consuming gluten? I’ve known that I had this disease for 7 years and thought I was pretty up on stuff (my two teenaged sons are also celiac dudes), but you took my breath away with your comment. I would have said that I (and the people around me) can snap back in a week or so…but you’ve got me wondering if I’m not paying enough attention to lingering effects. Do you mind sharing your symptoms at, say, 30 days after contamination?
Thanks for your blog, by the way. Your attitude and sense of humor are refreshing…and my 13 and 17 year-olds appreciate having a smart, wise-ass male role model in their celiac lives.
Hi Gaby. Glad I can entertain and enlighten at the same time.
Everybody is different, but my main symptom is sheer exhaustion. And last time I got glutened, that’s how long it took me to feel “normal”. I don’t get severe stomach pains. Just bloating early, brain fog and then lots and lots of naps.
I was glutened at a gluten-free cooking class a week and a half ago. Although my initial symptoms were worse for a few days, I am starting to realize the symptoms that linger. Just before the class, I had really started to feel good for the first time in a long time. In a good mood, really energetic, happy. When the gluten hit, BAM! Not only did I have the digestive upset and fatigue, but my good mood was gone. Brain fog set in, and I am still trying to get back to that happy place. I think for me gluten = instant depression (or blues) that makes me fight and claw back out of the fog. Not sure how long it lasts because this is all still new to me.
Glutened at a gluten-free cooking class?? How’s that for irony! So sorry to hear. The brain fog is just the worst, isn’t it?
Hopefully, you will be one of those celiacs that bounces back quickly. Please keep me posted.
Thanks to you both for your thoughts and experiences. I think sometimes we feel our butts dragging and chalk it up to something else (teen growth spurt, aging parent who can’t keep up anymore, might be coming down with something, etc.) and there’s a strong possibility we’re feeling residual effects of sneaky gluten.
I’m definitely going to pay more attention to this.
Brain fog is THE worst, and the toughest symptom to get someone to understand. It’s a wonder that any of us ever really HEAL, when it can take that long to recover from one tiny glutening 🙁
Totally agree. Brain fog is just…just…what was I saying??
I have been diagnosed and eating free for about 6 years, and didn’t realize til now what this exhaustion was all about. Thank you for saying. I haven’t been able to get out of bed for the last 24 hours. Hating it.
It is by far my biggest symptom Cindy. Hating it too. Hang in there.