Biology-Online

This is in general a very well thought out and well written article on celiac disease. It touches on a lot of important information, how many different products can have gluten in them, how diagnosis can be a problem because the symptoms can match so many different disorders, etc. There are only a few things that I should add that the article either didn't touch on, or didn't explain clearly.

With regard to how things get cross contaminated: The article explained how cross contamination can occur from using the same utensils/oil to cook a dish for a celiac allergic individual when they used that utensil/oil to cook something that contained gluten. Cross contamination can also be transmitted by hand contact from a gluten product to an item for the allergic person (this is why in my restaurant plastic gloves are used at all times and are changed when they get an allergy ticket) plus the utensils must be washed clean and WIPED DRY. This last point is very important. In the same way that oil can harbor traces of gluten, water can be a conduit as well. This is why the method that something is cooked is just as important as the ingredients used in the dish. Let me give an example.

If someone comes into my restaurant (it's a seafood restaurant) and has a severe shellfish allergy we can still serve them other food on the menu that is not shellfish (salmon for example) or an item on the menu that is not seafood at all (filet mignon). Most people would think, if you are severely allergic to shellfish, why would you go to a seafood restaurant and tempt fate? Well, as a company, we don't want to 1) turn away that person's business and 2) make them feel uncomfortable and that there is something wrong with them for having an allergy that they very well could've inherited genetically. Now this is where the preparation comes into play...that guest can order two side dishes with their salmon or filet mignon. They pick steamed broccoli and white rice. You as the server don't check with the kitchen manager or the front of the house manager to discuss any possible interactions for that meal. You serve the allergic guest their dish and watch in panic as they begin to choke. They aren't able to breathe and can't locate the epi pen in their pocket/purse. Congrats! You've just killed your guest. How did you do it? The broccoli and rice that you thought was fine because they aren't shellfish was contaminated in the steamer oven. It turns out that the restaurant steams its lobsters in the same steamer that steams the rice and broccoli. What can cause an allergic reaction is not only the offending object but the oils or juices that can come off it. So for nut allergies it would be the nut oils, in our example it would be juices from the lobster meat that get trapped in water molecules and are spread around the inside of the steamer. The same thing can happen if you wash the utensils, but then don't properly dry them. Wiping them dry with a clean cloth ensures that you are wiping away any last traces of the offending allergen. The reason this is especially important for celiac allergies is that the damage it causes is not visible (such as someone choking because of anaphylactic shock) but internal (in your intestines).

The other thing that bothered me was the part of the article that states:

"It's not clear whether ingesting gluten causes a person to develop celiac or simply triggers symptoms of the disease."

Then the author contradicts this statement a few pages later:

"It's also possible for a person to just be gluten-intolerant or have a wheat allergy without having the genetically linked celiac disease."

Let me be clear that celiac disease is a genetic disease. It can lay dormant until a stressor (surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress) causes the immune system to weaken and then you may begin to experience symptoms. The difference between a gluten sensitivity and celiac allergy is the fact that with the allergy there is an immune system response and with the sensitivity there is not.

Since a person with a sensitivity does not have the allergic reaction, they may still be allowed to eat gluten in very small quantities. Just how much we still don't know and requires further research. This is why my chef can educate a guest about the possibility of some kind of reaction with a sensitivity but ultimately it is up to the guest whether or not they eat it. With a clear cut allergy, we have the right to refuse responsibility (note: refuse responsibility, NOT SERVICE) if we inform the guest that what they are ordering will definately cause an allergic reaction. This way both me and my restaurant are not legally liable if someone dies or gets seriously injured from our food, because we warned them first.

I have been reading several of the messages regarding the same problem that has been bothering me for years. I also fell like I am pregant (and I'm 62).

I hate to accept invations out for the day or evening because I never know how large my stomach will look. I'm sure I have IBS, but have not discussed it with my Dr., Because I felt like I was just climbing on the latest band wagon of the latest disorder.

I was so surprised to hear how may of you have the same discomfort, I will try some of your ideas, and will keep in touch, for any updates.

Thank you again, for making me feel like I'm not going crazy, when I look in the mirror and think I look like I'm about to give birth.

hey there everyone, i just spent the last half hour reading all the posts and nodding my head in agreement. i´ve had a bloated stomach for 6 years now, done all the tests everyone else has done, for parasites, acidity levels, stomach cancer, i used to take pills for candida, and tried different diets; lactose-free, celiac, high fibre, no fibre, nothing works.. i have the 6 months pregnant look too, especially after eating raw fruit and veggies, but honestly everything bloats me out.. it started when i was 17 more or less and it´s ruining my life.. i´m a skinny person, always played sports and ate well, i haven´t had the weight gain that others have mentioned, but my stomach makes me look like i´ve gained weight..in my family we all have a different version of IBS and also i have anxiety problems.. i pass gas all day long, especially if i suck in my stomach or wear tight clothes, had second and third opinions, one doctor actually said to me "i´m not God you know".. which i thought was REALLY helpful.. i started swimming 6 months ago, and noticed something really weird.. as soon as i´m under water, my stomach completely, but i mean completely, goes away, and then when i step out of the water, it bloats out in a millasecond.. i just don´t know what to eat anymore, i eat fruits and veg because they´re healthy and i don´t want an artery-clogging diet, but i feel awful after every single meal.. if anyone has had any success with any type of pill or diet, please post thanks.

...one doctor actually said to me "I'm not God you know"...

My, my. What charming bedside manner. It's no wonder your problem hasn't been diagnosed. If it bothers him so much to do his job then he shouldn't be practicing medicine. As for you I'd seek a second opinion about your condition from a doctor who actually likes taking care of their patients.

I've been back to my doctors today and they're giving me a blood test that is a FSH/LH + Testosterone. Not quite sure what this means as she really hasn't said a deal. But doing a few tests first before having a scan on my stomach if the tests don't show anything..

I am glad to have found this site. To know so many people are experiencing this. No matter what or how I eat I still get bloat. I have ruled out many things already. I like the idea of eating cereal and I also do not drink enough water. I like to eat raw vegetables like celery and carrots. But as I said I still get bloated no matter what I eat. I will let you know what happens over the next few weeks as I up the water and cereal.

Walking and water use to help keep the weight off especially around the middle. But exercise during the winter is more difficult.

The shape of my body has even changed. I was always thin. Now its as if I have never been thin. I weigh 173 at 5' 5'' and the pressure on my back and legs makes them swell. It really is miserable.

I've been researching this problem awhile. I can especially relate to looking 4 to 6 months pregnant even after I've had only a glass of water with no food and not being able to fit your clothes, covering yourself up, increase in breast size too.

I wonder if its food in general which we all have in common. Also work habits being sedentary. Being inside so much. I learned lack of sunlight has an effect on weight gain (vitamin d). Look at the children. When I was growing up we had gym and recess and played outside.

Children now spend most of their time indoors now and many schools had cut out physical education. I spend more time indoors working on my computer and have to make myself go and walk, exercise. I appreciate the way everybody here has opened up to share I feel a lot better knowing its not just me. God bless you all.

This is my first time posting a message on the net. I am doing it because I am at a loss as to what wrong w/me. I have spent well over the last hour reading some of the messages on this forum and I have some of the same symptoms as the rest of you, but I am still unsure if I am on the right forum.....So I am sure someone will let me know.

For almost 2 years I have had abdominal pain, in my upper right quadrant of my stomach, below my naval, and in my right shoulder blade area. I am bloated 24/7. I wake up and I feel like I have been to a buffet. Than when I really do eat, my stomach hurts that much more, because it thinks it's already full. I have gas, heartburn, and diarrhea all day long. When I don't eat, or eat very little, I am able to maintain my weight, but it SEEMS like no matter what I eat, (and I am a very health conscious when it comes to food) it turns to fat. I have gained 30 pounds just in the last year from this. I exercise (cardio and weights) for about 2 hours a day 5-6 times a week. I very rarely drink pop, caffeine, or milk; I mainly drink water. I have done everything the doctors have asked me to. My stomach is never flat, no matter what I do, and it gets worse as the day goes on. I use to always see my abs, now I just feel like I'm pregnant. I have been scoped up one end and down the other. I have had ultra sounds, cat scans, blood tests, and a hydascan. The hydascan showed that I may have "Sphyncter of Oddi dysfunction" and a bad gallbladder. I had the gall bladder removed ( and the symptoms did not change) and I have been taking bentyl, nexium, and zantac since than to try and control some of these symptoms. My gastro had referred me to Indian University to have a manometry (ERCP) done. Than when I go to IU the doctors there said they are unsure that I have "SOD", even though my Hida scan showed that I probably do, that I have some of the symptoms of "SOD" but not all. The doctors at IU are reluctant to do the procedure to fix this because it is a very evasive procedure. I was told 20 percent of all patients end up w/pancreatitis, so they want to be 100% sure that I have this. They make me feel like it's in my head. I am just wondering if anyone else has has this procedure done, or if maybe the doctors are right and it is something else that is causing the problem. As of now no doctor has definitively said what the problem. I have been told that I have an ulcer and IBS. But the doctors said that shouldn't be causing me to feel like I do 24/7.
Any help would be very much appreciated.

I have Ulcerative Colitis (have been diagnosed for over 10 years) and sometimes, when I am having a flare-up, my stomach (and other body parts, especially legs) become quite bloated and very uncomfortable.

I have not read any mention of this specific chronic disease here, although I skipped many posts, but UC is an Irritable Bowel disease--attacks mainly colon, large intestine, and rectum. The main symptoms are severe pain and cramping on your left side, diarrhea, bloody stool, black, tarry stool, low iron, exhaustion, and unexplainable pain in your left shoulder.

The bloating is an added bonus!

Medications: I take anti-gas medication, products with Simethicone, drink plenty of water, use hydrocortisone suppositories, take Levbid (Hyoscyamine) 0.375 mg for the cramping, and (9) 500 mg tablets/day Sulfasalazine.

I've come to a decision to try a colon cleanse. I've been reading the many reports across the internet and I can relate to so many of them. I mean if the food is not digesting the way it should because of blockage it makes sense that water would be absorbed by the food and we would bloat with gas and nowhere for the food to go.

I had a big problem with de-hydration a couple of times and water always cured it and there was no bloated stomach and I didn't change my diet.

I'm not saying it will work for everybody but I would rather try the colon cleanse than listen to doctors who seem to always end up cutting you open and removing stuff or making you a legal drug addict.

I'm in my 50's and I know that when you are youger you bounce back from things. But its when you get older that you find all the medicine and cutting you open aids ill health. Then you're stuck with becoming a slave to the medical industry and your body is too old to fight back.

I've watched older people going through this for years and I have no intention of ending up that way. My mom died this year at 82. She was constantly on meds. She was a small lady but she had bloated breast and stomach everywhere else was thin.

My dad has always refused to take anything except an occasional pill for high blood pressure and he stands straight as a tree and healthy at 83. He's not over weight and has no stomach whatsoever. My mom was always nibbling or eating. My dad eats very small meals and only eats if he's hungry.

Doctors cannot get paid making anyone well. There are doctors who really care out there but try to find them or afford them.

The colon cleanse sounds like a solution to getting rid of toxins, parasites and other things in our systems first. I know it sounds gross but I think about all the food that has not digested in our systems just sitting there like old garbage and we wouldn't leave that junk in our homes for a minute. These are just observations

I'll be in touch after I've tried the colon cleanse.

Add me to the list of those with this bloating problem.

Unfortunately, I have no medical insurance so I can't have a doctor check me out.

I was diagnosed with IBD years ago. I was also diagnosed with cervical cancer years ago. I had numerous surgeries for the cervical cancer and it appeared to be gone 10 years ago.

Anyway, I look like I'm 7 months pregnant these days. It really drives me nuts! The minute I start to lose any weight I get extremely sharp pains in my right side so I eat again. Eating makes the pain go away.

I wish I had the money to go to a doctor but I don't so I just have to live with this -- but I really hate it. How can I lose weight when losing weight makes me feel horrific!

I have had stomach bloating for the past 1 year. It started after I had plastic surgery to remove excess skin after undergoing gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago. I have been back to the plastic surgeon 3 times as it seemed to come on shortly after my surgery. He assured me it was not from that in that he did nothing inside the stomach. My gastric bypass surgeon said it was not from that original surgery. He even did an exploratory surgery 3 months ago and found just a little bit of adhesions but nothing else terribly wrong. I have had every blood test, CAT scan, scope, and colonoscopy done. The colonoscopy did show that I had ulcerative colitis so was put on Asacol, and then just within the last month an antibiotic to kill bacteria overgrowth. Still nothing works. I am distended in the morning when getting up and by the end of the day look like I am about to give birth. It also gets very uncomfortable as the day goes on. I cannot eat much at one time due to the gastric bypass so this is so frustrating. I also have gained 20 pounds, which is so hard to understand because I do not eat that much during the day. I do take a lot of medications, Neurontin and Vicodin, because of neuropathy in my feet and hands, but I have been on that long before this problem came about. It gets so uncomfortable at times all I can do is go and lay down. Anybody with this problem that has had gastric bypass surgery and/or plastic surgery for skin excess?
Michele