Have Gone Gluten Free

[susiek]

I've been gluten free since Friday. Oh, there have been some gluten-ings! But mostly doing ok and feeling fine. Still exhausted. Mostly I am worried about the ever-present heartburn and the feeling that I have something stuck in my throat. One day I thought it was the fairly awful dry cluten-free cookie I tried. But it seems to happen a lot.

I am not eating bland. I am eating "regular" along with my family but doing so gluten free.

Can anyone give me a hint about the stuck in my throat feeling? Or am I way off course with this thought that gluten intolerance has been causing my problems! I just had blood drawn last Friday and have heard nothing about results.

Thanks so much!

[jenvan]

One possibility could be reflux. Chronic heartburn can cause inflammation in the esophagus, which can constrict it...and cause the feeling or reality or food getting stuck in the throat. Complications of untreated Celiac can include reflux...but your doc would have to do a scope to really confirm esophageal inflammation.

[Nancym]

Sometimes people with thyroid issues have a funny feeling in their throat or difficulty swallowing. Get your thyroid checked!

[gfp]

One possibility could be reflux. Chronic heartburn can cause inflammation in the esophagus, which can constrict it...and cause the feeling or reality or food getting stuck in the throat. Complications of untreated Celiac can include reflux...but your doc would have to do a scope to really confirm esophageal inflammation.

This would be the first suspect but it begs the question if you are really 100% gluten-free.

Are you possibly being contaminated if eating regular food with the family.

Its practically impossible to avoid this in a mixed kitchen and a spoon used to stir or a breadcrumb on butter are more than enough to make you ill.

However some foods tend to cause some people heartburn....

If I eat a lot of buckwheat I get heartburn... independant of gluten.

Others have problems with soya... (my mom)

You could also have introduced a new food item you don't usually eat in the gluten-free stuff you are eating.

[Cazzy]

Only gluten free since Friday? It's very early days, and even if you were clever enough to avoid all mistakes immediately, it takes some time for the damaged villi to repair themselves.

Don't ask too much of yourself, it takes time to come to terms with Celiac Disease, and stress is a major cause of indigestion and heartburn.

It also takes time to adjust to your new lifestyle, just learn what you can, be consciensious about avoiding gluten, but don't expect instant good health. It's good that you finally know what is wrong with you, and the good news is that you can be well again. Slow and steady does it. Good luck Susie!

[happygirl]

Susie-

Welcome to the world of gluten free

I had heartburn as one of my symptoms before being diagnosed. After going COMPLETELY gluten free (no glutenings....multiple glutenings means you are not gluten free), my heartburn and other symptoms went away. It took months for me to feel even remotely normal. Until you are consistently gluten free AND your body has had time to heal, your symptoms may/probably will still be present (if they are gluten related).

Hope you continue to feel better each day!

[mn farm gal]

The other thing that come to mind because I have been hospitalized for it is dehydration. If your body reacts to dehydration the way mine does it will feel tight in the chest like heartburn. I would done about 3 large glasses of water an see if that make a difference. Now I just know to do my daily water intake and I try to do it all before noon so I don't have a heartburn feeling in the afternoon. So then anything I drink in the afternoon if a bonus. And the headaches are way less often also because of the water. Just something to think about.

[susiek]

Thanks everyone for being so supportive! Could I get glutened from either Dr. Pepper (in a bottle) or I Can Believe It's Not Butter Light? I've eaten at home today and these are the only two things I can think of that could have done it! I thought I was being so careful! But I got the D immediately after drinking the Dr. P--which, has always seemed to have a laxative type effect on me.

Also, the thing in my throat seems bigger and won't go away! GRRRRRRR It's like something rpessing down on the top of the back of my throat. I can breath and swallow...it just feels dry or something. I kept thinking it was pet hair or something! But I couldn't hack up a hairball! lol

[jerseyangel]

Thanks everyone for being so supportive! Could I get glutened from either Dr. Pepper (in a bottle) or I Can Believe It's Not Butter Light? I've eaten at home today and these are the only two things I can think of that could have done it! I thought I was being so careful! But I got the D immediately after drinking the Dr. P--which, has always seemed to have a laxative type effect on me.

Also, the thing in my throat seems bigger and won't go away! GRRRRRRR It's like something rpessing down on the top of the back of my throat. I can breath and swallow...it just feels dry or something. I kept thinking it was pet hair or something! But I couldn't hack up a hairball! lol

Hi Susie,

The Dr. Pepper is gluten-free. I don't know about the Light Butter product.

I had that exact feeling in my throat before I was diagnosed. It was awful--I got to the point where I hated to eat all alone in the house because I was afraid I'd choke.

After being on the diet for several months, it gradually went away. Every once in a while, I get it--but not as bad. And it never lasts more than the one time anymore.

Hopefully, with some more time, yours will go away, too