Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I'm New! Any Help Greatly Appreciated

BadTummy

Recommended Posts

BadTummy Newbie
BadTummy
Posted

Hi!

I have been looking at this site for a few days now and think that I have a gluten problem. I have been having symptoms since I had my gall bladder out a 2 yrs ago and my problems seem to be escaltaing.

Pretty much my symptoms are: severe diahrea and stomach cramps sometimes asscoiated with nausea and also some vommiting about 3-5 hrs after eating (sometimes it happens a lot earlier, but usually 3- 5hrs). Now, it doesn't happen after I eat a salad, but if I eat anything else, I get sick. IE: Today I had a ham sandwhich and like clockwork, I just got sick!

Any info and help is much appreciated since I am brand new to all of this!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


amybeth Enthusiast
amybeth
Posted

It depends how confident you are that this is you....if you're pretty confident (over 50%), you should probably consult your dr. and at least have the bloodwork done.

If you're still not that sure...you could keep a food log for a couple of days....My reaction to gluten is pretty immediate (usually within 20 min after the fact)...some people's symptoms aren't realized until much later. If your body's pattern is 3 - 5 hours, then I would keep track of what I ate and then not eat again until that time window has passed. It may be a reaction to another food, too - like dairy? - the log would help you eliminate possibilities and target the culprit.

The log would be helpful if and when you did consult a dr. , too.

I am sorry you are feeling badly. It can be so frustrating - but once you have narrowed it down you can take the positive steps toward making sure it doesn't happen again - or at least not as often.

Good luck!

BadTummy Newbie
BadTummy
Posted
  • Author

As of right now, I have no health insurance, so going to my Dr is out... I am almost positive that I am intolerant to gluten. I will just have to wait to be tested. I am highly considering eliminating gluten for 2 weeks to see what happens...

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted

Hi,

Well going gluten free to see what happens is certainly an option. Have you ever tried the diet before? This can be tricky as gluten could slip in your diet without you knowing and mess up your results. Also if this does work you will then have to make a decision whether or not to get any further testing done. Say you try the diet and your symptoms disappear. Would that be reason enough for you to stay on this diet from now on? If the answer is yes then nothing else would be needed. If it is no or you are not sure you may have to go back on gluten to see what happens. It can be simple or complicated based on what result you desire and how you obtain that result. If I had no health insurance then I think I would give the diet an honest effort and see what happens. Hope this helps.

Tom

BadTummy Newbie
BadTummy
Posted
  • Author
Hi,

Well going gluten free to see what happens is certainly an option. Have you ever tried the diet before? This can be tricky as gluten could slip in your diet without you knowing and mess up your results. Also if this does work you will then have to make a decision whether or not to get any further testing done. Say you try the diet and your symptoms disappear. Would that be reason enough for you to stay on this diet from now on? If the answer is yes then nothing else would be needed. If it is no or you are not sure you may have to go back on gluten to see what happens. It can be simple or complicated based on what result you desire and how you obtain that result. If I had no health insurance then I think I would give the diet an honest effort and see what happens. Hope this helps.

Tom

No, I have not tried it before. I am new to this with the exception of a child I know is on the diet due to possible Autism... I don't really even know where to start! That is why I joined this place so I could get more info, help and encouragement! At this point I am willing to try the diet though b/c I am tired of being sick to my stomach pretty much daily...

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted
Pretty much my symptoms are: severe diahrea and stomach cramps sometimes asscoiated with nausea and also some vommiting about 3-5 hrs after eating (sometimes it happens a lot earlier, but usually 3- 5hrs). Now, it doesn't happen after I eat a salad, but if I eat anything else, I get sick. IE: Today I had a ham sandwhich and like clockwork, I just got sick!

Welcome! Your symtpoms could be celiac related, and do sound food related. The reason why a food log would be so helpful is that you say it "doesn't happen if you eat a salad" - what was on that all of those salads that didn't bother you; did it include croutons? And you say that it does happen if you eat anything else? Is that *REALLY* anything else? An apple? A steak without seasonings? A breaded chicken? These are the sort of seemingly pedantic, but actually vital, questions that a food log can help answer.

That said, your responses, and response time, do fit within the classification of food intolerance symptoms.

As of right now, I have no health insurance, so going to my Dr is out... I am almost positive that I am intolerant to gluten. I will just have to wait to be tested. I am highly considering eliminating gluten for 2 weeks to see what happens...

If you choose to wait to be tested, there are two issues: the first is if you don't go gluten free if you are celiac - you continue to damage to your intestines and the rest of your system and increase your risks for long term serious complications, the second is if you do go gluten free - you will have to go back on gluten for at least three months prior to laboratory testing to get accurate results when you decide you do want to go that route.

Either choice is a valid one. The majority of doctors could not in all good conscious advise you to do anything but the first one (because the diet is "so difficult" - they're wrong on that front). Many of us on the board could not in all good conscious advise you to do anything but the later, if laboratory testing isn't an option.

Don't forget, however, that the dietary challenge - going gluten free for a good length of time (2-4 weeks, at least) then challenging with gluten (for 1-7 days), is a valid diagnostic test as well.

No, I have not tried it before. I am new to this with the exception of a child I know is on the diet due to possible Autism... I don't really even know where to start! That is why I joined this place so I could get more info, help and encouragement! At this point I am willing to try the diet though b/c I am tired of being sick to my stomach pretty much daily...

You've found a helpful resource! The diet isn't that hard once you get past the learning curve and adapt, but it's full of pitfalls that make the learning curve steep, and the adaptation a challenging process. The safest way to get started is to stick with naturally gluten free whole foods - produce, meats, eggs, beans, and naturally gluten-free whole grains (corn, rice, quinoa). Keep on reading - you'll find a lot of help!

Nantzie Collaborator
Nantzie
Posted

I always suggest that people go to the doctor and get tested mostly because you want to make sure it's not something else more scary.

But if that's out of the question anyway, I don't see any reason you shouldn't try the diet. There isn't a prescription the doctor could give you if you got an official diagnosis. There are a lot of people here who don't have an official diagnosis, so it certainly won't be a big deal here. A lot of people end up figuring it out for themselves for one reason or another. Testing isn't very reliable, doctors are misinformed, family is unsupportive, funds aren't available...

I agree with keeping a food diary. It may not end up being gluten, but another common food. Gluten is as good of a place to start as any.

Take some time though to really do some research on this message board. Read the archives. Read, read, read and read some more. It's a steep learning curve, but once you've got it, you've got it.

When I first found out about gluten, I ended up having to wait for several months for a biopsy (from September to February!). I pretty much understood most of the diet after about a month or so of being on this message board. So it's not that hard to figure out. By the time Christmas was over, I was so sick, and was so certain by my own trial and error that gluten was the issue that I went gluten-free right after Christmas. I'm never going to know for sure if I would have had a positive biopsy, and by that time I couldn't have cared less anymore. I just wanted to stop hurting.

I would say that you should spend some time on the message board learning as much as you can about the diet. One of the things about being gluten-free is that you really should try to be 100% or it's hard to tell if gluten is the issue.

I hope you feel better soon.

Nancy

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mn farm gal Apprentice
mn farm gal
Posted

I personally chose not to get test. I have been doctoring since 1998. I started the diet after coming across this board and someone I met that had Celiac. I then tried the diet instead of getting tested. I don't want that in my chart if I do ever come self employeed like I want to it would make it harder to get insurance at that time. It is a preference on what an offical diagnosis would do for you. I tried the diet and have not turned back once. Everyday gets better!!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      1

      Natural remedies

      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to miguel54b's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Gluten and short-term memory.

      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sl...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Suze046's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Reintroduction of Gluten

      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly c...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Mykidzz3's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,367
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Brianman
    Newest Member
    Brianman
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Natural remedies

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living, particularly for managing systemic inflammation and its various symptoms, so sharing your story is valuable. Your observation that it may also be helping with bloating is fascinating, as that could point to an overall reduction in inflammation. Thank you for sharing what is working for you!
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten and short-term memory.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sleep disruption, and digestive irregularity. It's a frustrating and often invisible effect that can make you feel unlike yourself, so that moment of clarity, though born from a tough dominoes match, is actually a powerful piece of self-knowledge. Identifying a specific culprit like that steak strip is a huge win, as it arms you with the information needed to avoid similar pitfalls in the future and protect your cognitive clarity. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this particular set of neurological and physical symptoms; it's a strong reminder of gluten's profound impact on the entire body, not just the digestive system. Supplementation may help you as well.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      Reintroduction of Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly consistent with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While a celiac reaction can be more immediate, a sensitivity reaction is often delayed, sometimes taking several days to manifest as your body's inflammatory response builds up; the fact that your symptoms returned a few days after reintroduction is a strong indicator that gluten is indeed the culprit, not a coincidence. Your doctor's advice to reintroduce it was necessary to confirm the diagnosis, as the initial negative celiac test and subsequent improvement on a gluten-free diet pointed strongly towards sensitivity. Many in this community have gone through this exact same process of elimination and challenging, and it's wise to reintroduce gently as you did. Given your clear reaction, the best course of action is likely to resume a strict gluten-free diet, as managing a sensitivity is the primary way to control those debilitating symptoms and allow your body to heal fully.
    • Scott Adams
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained gluten-containing beer, contaminating your drink. The fact that you didn't react at a clean brewery suggests they may have had more meticulous practices or separate lines, but this is the exception, not the rule. Many in the community have had identical experiences, leading them to strictly avoid draft cider and opt for bottled or canned versions, which are poured directly from their sealed container and bypass the contaminated tap system entirely. Switching to bottles or cans is the safest strategy, and your plan to do so is a smart move to protect your health. PS - here are some articles on the topic:    
    • Scott Adams
      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and less processed, like rice, potatoes, beans, lentils, corn, eggs, and frozen fruits and vegetables—these are nutritional powerhouses that can form the basis of her meals. For the specialty items like bread and pasta, see if your local stores carry smaller, single-serving packages or allow returns if a product causes a reaction, as some companies understand this challenge. Regarding vitamins, that is an excellent next step; please ask her doctor to prescribe a high-quality gluten-free multivitamin, as insurance will often cover prescribed vitamins, making them much more affordable. Finally, connecting with a local celiac support group online can be a treasure trove of location-specific advice for finding the best and most affordable products in your area, saving you both time and money on the trial-and-error process. 
×
×
  • Create New...