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Gluten Intolerance and RLS

smooches173
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smooches173 Newbie
smooches173
Posted

Hello,

 

I'm relatively new to the gluten free world and I can tell you it's been a long road. I have Restless Leg Syndrome,  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and I need to be gluten free. I did get tested for antibodies but was told the results were negative. I know for sure through eliminating everything in my diet that bread is the issue. My stomach swells to ridiculous proportions.  Being gluten free has helped my thyroid heal. My meds are lower now. My question is if anyone has any information on a connection between celiac/gluten sensitivity and RLS? Anyone else have it in this group? 

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Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

There is definitely a connection between RLS and gluten, and this search will guide you to the articles we've done on this:

https://www.celiac.com/search/?&q=restless leg syndrome&type=cms_records2&search_and_or=and 

smooches173 Newbie
smooches173
Posted
  • Author
1 minute ago, Scott Adams said:

There is definitely a connection between RLS and gluten, and this search will guide you to the articles we've done on this:

https://www.celiac.com/search/?&q=restless leg syndrome&type=cms_records2&search_and_or=and 

OMG! Thank you so much for replying so quickly and supplying the info.  I'll check it out. 

Beverage Rising Star
Beverage
Posted

RLS and a little fluttering in the intestines are my big give aways that I have been glutened.  I used to have RLS every night before I knew I had Celiac's.

John Spoolman Apprentice
John Spoolman
Posted
On 6/4/2020 at 5:53 PM, smooches173 said:

Hello,

 

I'm relatively new to the gluten free world and I can tell you it's been a long road. I have Restless Leg Syndrome,  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and I need to be gluten free. I did get tested for antibodies but was told the results were negative. I know for sure through eliminating everything in my diet that bread is the issue. My stomach swells to ridiculous proportions.  Being gluten free has helped my thyroid heal. My meds are lower now. My question is if anyone has any information on a connection between celiac/gluten sensitivity and RLS? Anyone else have it in this group? 

I've been gluten-free for 23 years having been diagnosed after finding out I was severely anemic, very unusual for a man.  The RLS has been a more recent development, gradually getting worse over the last few years and really bad the past 4 months.  Having done some research over the last 4 sleep-deprived months, I've found that low iron may be associated with RLS.  I've always been marginal in my iron tests, even now just barely making the minimum levels. So I'd suggest getting your iron levels tested; you are probably low anyway if you're just discovering you're celiac.  As I've taken more iron the intensity of RLS seems to have diminished but I've had to take it gradually - it can be constipating..  Also, more potassium and vitamin E seems to stop the RLS twitches temporarily.  A weird midnight snack of tomato juice (high in potassium) and sunflower seeds (high in vit E) does the trick for me some nights.  Hang in there as you learn more of the wonderful side effects of having celiac!  Trouble is, many doctors still don't know much about celiac.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

You can also try B vitamins for nerve issues.  Iron is absorbed better when taken with some lemon juice in a meal.  It can take a long time to recover iron levels in the body.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
On 6/4/2020 at 3:53 PM, smooches173 said:

Hello,

 

I'm relatively new to the gluten free world and I can tell you it's been a long road. I have Restless Leg Syndrome,  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and I need to be gluten free. I did get tested for antibodies but was told the results were negative. I know for sure through eliminating everything in my diet that bread is the issue. My stomach swells to ridiculous proportions.  Being gluten free has helped my thyroid heal. My meds are lower now. My question is if anyone has any information on a connection between celiac/gluten sensitivity and RLS? Anyone else have it in this group? 

Maybe you actually have celiac disease.  Stomach swelling after consuming bread is not a Hashimoto’s symptom.  Did you get the complete celiac panel (all TTG, DGP and EMA tests)?  Did you know that about 10% of celiacs do not have the antibodies?  Did you know that Hashimoto’s is strongly linked to celiac disease?  
 

But you are gluten free now.  Glad your thyroid is healing.  My thyroid damaged so much that I still need thyroid replacement, but my thyroid is no longer enlarged and my nodules are gone.  

Please make sure you are really gluten free.  Research is your best defense!  

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posterboy Mentor
Posterboy
Posted

Smooches,

Try taking the Amino Acid Tyrosine....it has been linked to RLS....

Also try to get your doctor to check you for SIBO it also recently been linked to RLS as well...

See this latest/newest research about it establishing this connection from the american academy of sleep medicine...

entitled "High levels of rare gut bacteria (aka SIBO) may be linked to restless legs syndrome"

https://aasm.org/gut-bacteria-restless-legs-syndrome/

Taking Benfotiamine the fat soluble form of B1 might help your SIBO (best with meals) because it is a fat soluble form of the Vitamin...

Here is an article that explains the connection of a thiamine deficiency to SIBO....

https://www.eonutrition.co.uk/post/thiamine-deficiency-a-major-cause-of-sibo

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,

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