Not healing after gluten exposure

[Aaron275]

Hi,

I could really use some help. I seem to have gotten myself stuck in a hole.

I was diagnosed with Celiac about a year and a half ago. Before I was diagnosed I had no symptoms except for some minor bloating.

I recently had a severe gluten exposure (I ate it for 3 months before I realized my mistake). Since then I have been dealing with severe Celiac symptoms. I stopped eating the gluten more than two months ago and have seen very little improvement in that time.

I've been addicted to caffeine and added sugar for several years (mostly in the form of coffee, soda and energy drinks). I only started making a serious effort to get off them earlier this year. I didn't think it was a serious problem before, but now I've realized I was probably using those things to mask symptoms of something more serious.

I was probably using the caffeine and sugar to mask symptoms of depression, which was probably caused by a bad diet.

I suspect that the high intake of caffeine and sugar is stopping my gut from healing after the gluten exposure. However, I am very hesitant to stop the caffeine and sugar because I have gotten horrible depression symptoms in the past when I've tried to do so (as mentioned above). So I feel bad now, but I'll probably feel even worse if I stop the caffeine and sugar.

I don't know what to do next. Do you think this is why I'm not healing?

Like I mentioned, it is likely that my underlying depression symptoms are a result of a poor diet, but I don't know that for sure and I don't want to change things until I do know. I have talked to doctors about it but haven't gotten solid answers. I was told I'm vitamin D deficient but I think that's only a small part of the problem.

I have more doctor appointments in the near future and will obviously be discussing this. But in the meantime I wanted to get the forum's opinion on this.

Thanks

[Corinne D.]

Hello Aaron,

Could it be that inadvertently ingesting gluten for a while has caused some other intolerance(s)? You could maybe keep a food diary if you're not doing it already and eliminate, then reintroduce the foods you eat most often, one by one, to see if you get any better.

Improving your diet, going for whole, natural foods and greatly reducing processed foods would surely help you feel better. I'm not sure caffeine and sugar mask depression symptoms - perhaps depression is a symptom of withdrawal when you give them up?

I used to be addicted to coffee and had a hard time giving it up. What I did was I weaned myself off it very slowly, over a month's time. I would make my coffee weaker and weaker every few days, then I replaced it with green tea, which I made weaker and weaker every few days too, until there was no point drinking it anymore. Perhaps you could do something similar, or at least gradually reduce the amount you have, of both caffeine and sugar. Coffee per se may not be so bad, but that soda and the energy drinks you mention are probably pure poison for anyone, let alone someone already ill.

Vitamin D deficiency is actually strongly linked to depression. If possible where you live, you should try to get some sun exposure on the naked skin every day when the sun is high. You could also try to include in your diet as much fatty fish as you can (salmon, sardines, mackerel), it would also give you those precious Omega-3 fatty acids that also help with depression and inflammation.

Good luck and feel better soon!

[Ennis-TX]

To address you concerns on healing...100% gluten free will result in healing that should be your main focus. This is much easier to do with a whole foods only diet and not eating out or eating processed foods. >.< But you will heal faster getting proper nutrients from real meats and veggies then anything processed.
Supplementing some nutrients can help, and some of your binge eats and cravings might be related to nutrient deficiencies...iron, minerals, and magnesium trigger some crazy cravings for chocolate for me among other things...but I eat bakers chocolate/dark unsweetened chocolate for these right now.
Common issues that might need supplementing are full spectrum B-vitamins, vitamin D, Magnesium, vitamin C, etc. Iron is another but I suggest red meats or certain protein powders due to bad issues with iron supplements.

Gas and bloating, as mentioned above you could have gotten a new intolerance/sensitivity, Most people with celiac develop lactose intolerance as the enzymes to break it down from from the villi.
Our immune systems could develop issues to anything and a food diary will shed some light with a elimination diet. I for one found years ago  found all carbs gave me gas and bloating and went low carb then keto due to other issues. But there are many underlying issues to this like candida or SIBO that could contribute makes this worse.....THEY also make you CRAVE sugar more and you have to remove it to help get rid of it...so it partially might not be your fault,

" Sugar and many ultra processed foods generate a dopamine release of 400 units of dopamine which is the same level as cocaine in the brain. "
So it is literally a addiction, I am sugar free keto due to my glucose reactions to it but am struggling to give up sweets still. My recent gut issues made me give up Erythritol but I am now still using Stevia and Monk Fruit both natural with zero effect on either glucose OR insulin (some artificial sweeteners can spike insulin).

Ketogenicgirl has been talking about sugar addiction recently and stopping it cold turkey.
"The first step in food or sugar addiction recovery is 100% abstinence. All sources of the foods that one is unable to moderate must be removed from one's home & proximity. This is the same protocol as drug and alcohol recovery."

Coffee and Caffeine, go decaf I have been using Christopher Bean Decaf Flavored coffee for while. I changed over then started taking measured caffeine pills to "Dose" my caffeine, then I backed it down...in the end I learned I actually have been self medicated my nerve pain with it lol so I am still on partial doses throughout the day.

I am going completely savory in a few more days, to see how that works.
I know after new years I am giving away all the desserts and keeping all the meats and trying out Carnivore Keto.

 

[cyclinglady]

I think you need to more time to heal after that last gluten exposure.  I am talking months!  

Focus more on a gluten-free diet with less processed foods (easier to avoid gluten and healthier too) and not eating out.  Know that everyone is different.  It is always good to keep and food journal and note symptoms.  This will help you identify any foods intolerances that may have developed.  

I am glad that you will be seeing your doctor.  While chances are everything is related to an active celiac disease flare up, make sure you have not developed anything else.  You are at risk for other autoimmune disorders.  

As far as caffeine and sugar?  Caffeine never bothered me.  I have autoimmune gastritis in addition to celiac disease, if flaring, I have to abstain from coffee which is harsh on my stomach.  Not sure if this really works, but I like to think that it does.  I have not had a severe flare up in over a year and I consume a few cups a day.   Sugar is addictive and is probably not healthy for everyone (autoimmune or not) based on the Standard American Diet which is rich with sugar.  Cut back slowly.  For example, My hubby eventually gave up sodas  (sparkling water now), but that took time.  He did it gradually.  

The holidays are coming, enjoy the food, but consume everything in moderation.  

Drepression? So common in celiacs or people who are struggling with health issues.  

For me, I cope by connecting with family and friends.  I volunteer.  I exercise outside as much as possible (bundle up).  And like Ennis, I cook.  Those things bring me joy and get me through rough patches (like closing our books for the year.....taxes...ugh....? or writing that tuition check which is so painful).  

Hang in there!  

Edited December 8, 2019 by cyclinglady

[Aaron275]

On 12/9/2019 at 3:00 AM, Ennis_TX said:

But there are many underlying issues to this like candida or SIBO that could contribute makes this worse.....THEY also make you CRAVE sugar more and you have to remove it to help get rid of it...so it partially might not be your fault,

I had never heard of SIBO before. Very interesting. I found some studies that say SIBO is common in Celiacs, and also that SIBO can mimic symptoms of gluten exposure.

Is it possible that my recent gluten exposure caused SIBO (or worsened it if I already had it) and that's why I still have symptoms?

The bacteria in SIBO feed on sugar which could explain why I still have symptoms after going gluten free again.