I've had a long stretch of feeling really good!
Matter of fact, I was superstitious about counting how long it's been since the last time I got glutened-- for fear I would get glutened.
Then about a week ago I started feeling a little off.
We're in the middle of cold and flu season, I figured that was causing my congestion.
A slight nagging feeling under my rib cage worried me on and off; not bad enough to take my breath away. Hmm... maybe I should have the HIDA scan my doc recommended.
Every day my fingers got slightly stiffer. But it was not the KA-POW from a full gluten hit.
Four days ago my knee cap started aching; sitting or standing made no difference.
I began losing my nouns.
Communication became like a bad game of charades. "Hand me the, you know, the whatchamacallit that you use to lift the round thingy off the doo-lolly that I'm cooking on."
Spatula? Yeah, that doo-diggy.
My dear husband started saying, "I really think you got glutened."
I protested, "No, no, I'm not that bad. I'm just a little off. Night sweats? Weren't you hot too? No? Nah... I still don't think it's gluten."
Yesterday I left communion coffee with the neighbors, ready to have a nice Thanksgiving with my family and I burst into tears. I sobbed the whole walk home! And then I continued to cry on my husband's shoulder when I got home. Can I tell you, I'm generally not a weepy person.
I finally gave in an admitted I could have been glutened.
I racked my foggy brain trying to remember every morsel of food that went into my mouth the last week. Nothing jumped out at me. Resigned to the fact that I might never know, that's when it hit me.
I started diligently using Listerine at bedtime about a week ago. After discussing its benefits with a friend, it seemed like a good practice. I never thought to read the ingredients or call the manufacturer.
Doing a quick search for information on the gluten status of Listerine yesterday, I found this blog written in June 2012. The response the blogger got was, basically, they can't guarantee the product has not been cross-contaminated.
My husband said, "Why don't you quit using it and see if you get better?"
Thank goodness for him, because I really might not have come up with that on my own. No sarcasm, my brain really was that fuzzy.
That was yesterday.
"Wow, you're up early!" was the response I got this morning when I popped out of bed.
"I didn't use any Listerine last night!" I started wiggling my fingers and kicking my leg like someone cured at a revival.
My knee has miraculously stopped hurting. My fingers aren't swollen and my disposition in on an upswing.
I'll call the company myself on Monday to see if they have changed their gluten free status... but I think I already have the answer I need.
Just wondering what you learned about Listerine, since I felt "off" after a dental visit last week and guess what they had me "swish with"...and because I was doped on the novacaine, I did not think before taking that first swish. I NEVER, EVER do that. I just swish with water....I spit it right out, but I had a rough week after that. Hubs says "it's the 'caines'--they always get you!"...But then I saw this and now....hmmmm
ReplyDeleteThis is what they were saying as of June 2012:
ReplyDeleteThank you for contacting McNEIL-PPC, Inc., makers of COOL MINT® LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.
We do not specifically test for the presence of gluten in our products; therefore, we cannot certify them to be gluten free. While I can tell you that there are no gluten-containing grains in this product, I cannot guarantee that cross-contamination with gluten did not occur in the manufacturing process.
Is there gluten in their facility? Do they uses a gluten containing substance during manufacturing? I read once that flour is sometimes used on equipment to keep some food items, like candy, from sticking but since it's not an ingredient it doesn't have to be listed. I'm not sure what this statement means.
What I do know, is that I started feeling better immediately after discontinuing use.
As an aside, when I go to the dentist they polish my teeth with pure pumice and not the other polish because the dentist couldn't verify if the chemical polish was gluten free.
Only 'caine I want is a Hurricane... in a big glass!!
That's a CYA statement for sure LOL
ReplyDeleteI do pure pumice for cleanings, too. I do not even use flavored floss.
To me, it's the old joke. " I stopped banging my head against the wall and it stopped hurting." LOL
Like anything with this disease process, we should always stop anything that makes us feel crappy. I just told a friend who is still brain foggy to dump the Listerine. Let's see if it helps.
Thanks for posting this, Kim ---and a very Happy Christmas to you!!