Headaches Are a Common Feature of Celiac Disease

Hi Friends:  This is only my second posting on this site so I hope I can help as much as I benefit from your posts. This article that addresses headaches is a good start.  I for one am still experiencing headaches from intracranial pressure due to inflammation.  My MRI showed white lesions in my cerebellum several  years ago.  The neurologist didn't mention them but reading my files during my studies of gluten issues, there they were.  I read more about where a leaky brain is affected and that the neurological issues were called "gluten ataxia".  I have never had GI  problems, and so didn't know I was ill until I was about 55.  I first had RLS probably due to poor nutrient and mineral absorption.  Then starting 5 years ago, I have beaten kidney failure, 4th stage metastatic carcinoma of my tonsil, had 20 lymph nodes removed, chose no radiation and then 2 1/2 years ago had a NSTEMI myocardial infarction (heart attack).  I have suffered severe dermatitis herpatiformis (sp?) and beaten that. Then, not too long ago, found out  that I was hypothyroid. Resolving that. What has endured are the neurological symptoms.  Since  all of my physiological symptoms, I believe, have been from ingesting gluten, dairy  and eggs, I have now found why my headaches are continuing.  Back to RLS, the first sympton:  Drs put me on clonazepam and carbidopa/levo.  I have been on those meds for 17 years.  I should have been on clonazepam for 2 to 4 weeks.  I AM A BENZO ADDICT.  I am a new member of Benzobuddies.  More than 50,000 subscribers and so many were prescribed benzos just to  flipping sleep with the RLS (possibly due to gluten intolerance and malabsorption of iron).  Sucks.  The  list of benzos is long.  Ambien and Zanex, klonopin and lorazepam just to name a few.  If you are your loved ones have been put on these drugs for symptoms of celiac issues or for any other reason, please take action.  The longer one uses the worse the symptoms, the harder it gets to get off.   Boy, was that a rant.  All because wheat finally hit the fan!!! Good luck and thank you for reading.

Before going gluten free 31/2 years ago I used to suffer from migraines on a weekly basis; I used to dread rainy weather because that's when they would get really bad. I'm pleased to say that I have not had a migraine in almost 3 years & I no longer hate the rain

I have been gluten free since being diagnosed with celiac about 20 years ago (I'm 66 years old). I have headaches about 5 nights a week. They wake me up after sleeping about 4 or 5 hours. I've been to a neurologist and have been told that the headaches are caused from the arthritis in my neck. These headaches usually start at my neck and generate to the whole left side of my head to my temple and above the left eye. I exercise daily and am in good physical shape. I have osteoporosis from going misdiagnosed for so many years. When finally diagnosed, my villi was flat, so my body had not been absorbing the nutrients it needed for years. Everything passed right through me? How do I make these headaches stop?

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2009.  I had more headaches after going gluten-free.  By trial and error, I discovered it was nightshade vegetables that gave me the headaches.  A lot of gluten free baked goods have potato starch, which is a night shade.  Paprika is another one that is added to a lot of foods and in condiments.  So this is another food group to think about eliminating if you are still having headaches.

I have migraines every day.  Celiac tests have been inconclusive because I'm not ingesting gluten.  I'm also dairy intolerant and recently discovered nuts are a problem.  So, why the migraines every day even though no gluten?  I get botox in the scalp every 3 months but eventually that won't work as the pain finds new avenues.  Headaches are different every day so different cause.  What's the solution? 

1 hour ago, Kathy M said:

I have been gluten free since being diagnosed with celiac about 20 years ago (I'm 66 years old). I have headaches about 5 nights a week. They wake me up after sleeping about 4 or 5 hours. I've been to a neurologist and have been told that the headaches are caused from the arthritis in my neck. These headaches usually start at my neck and generate to the whole left side of my head to my temple and above the left eye. I exercise daily and am in good physical shape. I have osteoporosis from going misdiagnosed for so many years. When finally diagnosed, my villi was flat, so my body had not been absorbing the nutrients it needed for years. Everything passed right through me? How do I make these headaches stop?

17 minutes ago, Guest Carole said:

I have migraines every day.  Celiac tests have been inconclusive because I'm not ingesting gluten.  I'm also dairy intolerant and recently discovered nuts are a problem.  So, why the migraines every day even though no gluten?  I get botox in the scalp every 3 months but eventually that won't work as the pain finds new avenues.  Headaches are different every day so different cause.  What's the solution? 

Consider posting your question in the forum section.  You might get a better response.  ?

I also have celiac, I have gotten migraines every month and headaches about 5x a week. I’ve been gluten free for almost 8 years and The only thing that helped me is taking magnesium and b2. It was recommended by my chiropractor who was treating me for my headaches. I hope this helps others! 

HI, i don't get the headache .But the problem i have is weight gain. I watch what i eat . An very active person . Is their anything i can do to lose some of this weight . I have gained about 35 pounds .Also the bloating that goes with it . Sometime i look like i am about 9 months pregeant . Please i hope you can give me some kind of idea what to do. Thanks

10 hours ago, L.Faye said:

HI, i don't get the headache .But the problem i have is weight gain. I watch what i eat . An very active person . Is their anything i can do to lose some of this weight . I have gained about 35 pounds .Also the bloating that goes with it . Sometime i look like i am about 9 months pregeant . Please i hope you can give me some kind of idea what to do. Thanks

Have you been tested for celiac disease?  

2 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

 

13 hours ago, L.Faye said:

HI, i don't get the headache .But the problem i have is weight gain. I watch what i eat . An very active person . Is their anything i can do to lose some of this weight . I have gained about 35 pounds .Also the bloating that goes with it . Sometime i look like i am about 9 months pregnant . Please i hope you can give me some kind of idea what to do. Thanks

Hi L.Faye:

I found out the hard way that I am intolerant to rice; if you're eating rice or anything with rice in it, cut it out of your diet and see if that makes a difference.

On my own, 6 1/2 years ago I decided to go gluten free because  I was having migraines three times a day and I would do anything to make it stop. (FYI, I never got tested for Celiac disease.) Going gluten free brought my migraines down to weather changes.  I too have arthritis in my neck and once they got started would continue for a couple of weeks because my neck muscles got extremely tight.

I just recently found out about massaging the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Now, once my migraines get going, I can break the cycle by massaging that muscle and the muscles in the back of my neck. I found out how to do it on YouTube, then I went to a physical therapist and got him to teach me how to do it, just to make sure I was being safe. You have to be sure you are not massaging the artery going up your neck (you can feel the pulse).