Irregular periods AFTER going gluten-free?

[Blue Roan]

Hi there,

I am 30 and was diagnosed with celiac almost a year ago after a series of severe “unexplained” abdominal episodes. Everything is improving and I am feeling so much better overall except my cycle is worse. Has anyone else had a similar experience? 

I got my period as a pre-teen and my cycles have been regular for as long as I can remember: every 21 days, lasting 5 days. My periods were heavy and I always had severe cramping at the start that subsided after the first two days. 

I went gluten-free immediately when I was diagnosed in February. At first, my cycles were the same but around July, I started noticing very crazy symptoms around that time of the month: chills all over the body, severe headaches, some hot flashes, dry mouth and then cramps starting a few days earlier than usual. My cycles also started happening later and later. This time around, I’m on Day 35 and no period so far, but still cramping/abdominal pain/nausea on and off for the past week. It has been feeling like it’s about to happen any minute but nothing. I even get the pelvic contractions/pains but nothing after. I cannot sleep from all the hormonal fluctuations and chills. I can confirm I am not pregnant. 

I’ve seen the endocrinologist, OBGYN, primary, and multiple gastro doctors throughout the year. No IBD ( but possible IBS), thyroid panel normal, thyroid ultrasound normal, negative for Hashimoto’s. I had a full vitamin panel and all levels normal (no anemia or vitamin B deficiency). After some testing, the gyn thinks PCOS is highly unlikely and that my body is “still adjusting” to going gluten-free. I’ve been strict gluten-free for nearly a year though.
 

All of my regular labs are normal and my antibodies are on a downward trend. I am really confused because more of my research points to the gluten-free diet resulting in better cycles rather than the opposite. While my cycles are not as heavy, they’re more unpredictable and uncomfortable with all these new symptoms.