Two Weeks Later!

[OzGirl]

Hi everyone,

Well two weeks ago, I took the plunge and have gone gluten free following suggestions (from here) that it was well worth the try. I immediately started feeling better. The headaches, feeling of swelling around my face, the IBS symptoms, feelings of anxiety etc, all seemed to be disappearing. I had people commenting that i wasn't as dark around the eyes, I started sleeping better of a night, and I have had heaps more energy. I have been really vigilent in what I've been eating, keeping it really basic so I knew for a fact that there wasnt any gluten. Now, two weeks later, Im starting to feel really revolting again. I'm tired and feeling really headache-y. I don't know if there is something else that I'm eating, that is doing this as well? Once you eliminate foods, can other intolerances surface? I have not been diagnosed Coeliac ( waiting on results of gene tests but assume that I wont be, because my symptoms aren't anywhere near as bad as I read on here). I am definitely sticking to the gluten-free diet. I know it was making me feel better, but I don't understand what I am experiencing now. Any thoughts, comments, advise would be appreciated...Thanks!

[jknnej]

Yes, other food intolerances do often emerge as you go gluten free.

In addition, we are "supposed" to taper off gluten gradually, which I didn't know a year and a half ago. Because of this, I suffered gluten withdrawl pretty bad, which can mimic all the symptoms you had before going gluten free.

If you don't start feeling better soon, see your dr. Or try eliminating some of the other possible food allergens: dairy, soy, corn, etc. I know it will feel very restrictive, and it is, but it's worth it if it helps you diagnose which foods you can tolerate.

Finally, if it isn't a food intolerance, and there's nothing the dr's find wrong physically, it can also be anxiety, which I suffered after going gluten free and after being on this board for almost two years, I am convinced is a symptom of gluten withdrawl. I never thought I had anxiety because I never felt anxious, but as soon as I started anxiety meds, it all cleared up. I suffered from headaches, dizziness, nausea, sleep issues, muscle aches, hearing my own heartbeat, fatigue, you name it. Apparently it was ALL linked to anxiety because as soon as I started the meds it all disappeared. I had been convinced there was something terribly wrong with me and after seeing the dr so many times I guess he figured out I wasn't really sick, I just FELT sick. And again, I had no stress and anxiety at all. Weird.....

[OzGirl]

I'm confused! Does that mean I should start eating a little gluten to avoid gluten withdrawal? Should I start eliminating other things as well, and where do I start? How long is a reasonable amount of time to assume it is "gluten withdrawal", and when do symptoms of "gluten withdrawal" start to ease? Sorry to ask so many questions Thanks.

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm confused! Does that mean I should start eating a little gluten to avoid gluten withdrawal? Should I start eliminating other things as well, and where do I start? How long is a reasonable amount of time to assume it is "gluten withdrawal", and when do symptoms of "gluten withdrawal" start to ease? Sorry to ask so many questions Thanks.

No do not reintroduce it. You are through the withdrawl period. Many of us see a lot of ups and downs at first and many times it is part of the healing process and many other times it can be linked to 'hidden' glutens in toiletries, makeup, hair products, cross contamination in the kitchen, or even kissing someone who has just had a sandwich or a beer. Even something as innocent as playing with playdoh or spackling a wall can introduce enough gluten to make us symptomatic. Also as your body gets used to not being poisoned everyday many of us find we are more sensitive to CC and hidden glutens. This is not a bad thing, it shows us that the body is recognizing this poison and is screaming 'what are you doing'. There are a lot of ups and downs and for many it can take at least a couple months before things are doing well all the time.

One thing you may want to eliminate right away though is dairy products. The villi that are damaged by gluten are the same villi that allow us to digest milk protein. Many need to eliminate dairy for 6 months or so and then reintroduce it in small amounts.

Keeping a food diary can be helpful, just remember that intolerances are usually delayed reactions so if you suspect another intolerance remove the suspect food for a couple of weeks and then reintroduce it in 'pure' form. For example if you wondered about rice you would cut out all rice products for 2 weeks then have boiled rice with no sauces or flavoring at least 3 times a day for a week and watch for a reaction. You also don't want to overuse a single food. I made myself sensitive to nightshades by overeating them (read at almost every meal) when I was first diagnosed with celiac. It wasn't long till I started reacting to them. I cut them out totally and now I can have a potato or a tomato a couple times a week with no problems.

It can seem a long haul at first but things will get better.

[jknnej]

I think the withdrawl period lasts a lot longer than two weeks. I think the worst of it may be in the first few weeks, but I think it can last a significant amount of time. I know that after I went gluten free, an entire list of problems cropped up that I'd never had before. I think that because I changed my diet so drastically after 29 years of eating wheat and gluten, it significantly impacted my health, and not all for the better.

Although my stomach aches are gone (that's all I really suffered from pre diagnosis), the other problems I have now from going gluten free are also an issue. Thankfully, most of the symptoms are treated with the anti-depressant, but still, I'd rather not have to use medicine if I can help it. Still, after a year and a half, I tried going off the anti-depressants, and all of my symptoms reappeared.

[daffadilly]

be sure to take a B12 everyday.

jknne, a complete blood work up would be a good idea, you might have some deficiencies. Be sure you get a copy of the test, do not just take what they say over the phone etc.

[up-late]

I'm getting the same things too.

I'm on my third week, the headaches have stopped but now I'm exhausted and have a bit of an upset stomach, joint and muscle pain, puffed up like a baloon and I'm not tollerating any food real well right now. Not as bad as before but not good either.

I did a detox diet a few years ago and got so sick on it I had to quit, I couldn't get out of bed, I hope it doesn't get that bad.

How long will it take till I start feeling better?