[soulcurrent]

I've never had issues with sleep in the past (unless I was particularly stressed about something, then I might lay awake for an hour) but since going gluten free a couple of weeks ago I've been having trouble every single night. I'm having trouble getting to sleep then staying that way (but part of that is my cats who prefer my bedroom for their mischief at night) and I am feeling less rested as a result. Not that I normally feel rested after a night's sleep, even if I get a full night. I attributed that to full time work and school but I hear that celiac can be to blame also.

So what's with with insomnia now that I don't have gluten? Actually I can't say I don't have it.. I *think* I don't have it but I'm just learning that I should get a new toaster and things like that to avoid cross contamination so there could be traces but I'm making a valiant effort.

*yawn*

[ang1e0251]

Many people experience low blood sugar in the night which messes with their "sleeping clock". You may need a high protein snack before bed. Have you been extra hungry? If so, you will need some hunger killing food to sleep through the night.

[homemaker]

ang1e0251, on Oct 26 2009, 04:31 PM, said:

Many people experience low blood sugar in the night which messes with their "sleeping clock". You may need a high protein snack before bed. Have you been extra hungry? If so, you will need some hunger killing food to sleep through the night.

Wow, I have not heard of this...I too seem to wake up around 3pm feeling that sort of weak in the knees blood sugar thing...
How strange, I wonder why that is?

[soulcurrent]

ang1e0251, on Oct 26 2009, 03:31 PM, said:

Many people experience low blood sugar in the night which messes with their "sleeping clock". You may need a high protein snack before bed. Have you been extra hungry? If so, you will need some hunger killing food to sleep through the night.

I've noticed some extra hunger but nothing that's kept me up at night. I usually eat several small meals throughout the day at the advice of the nutritionist. I'll try adding something closer to bedtime.

[tmbarke]

My sleep pattern goes thru spurts.
Meaning I can go to bed, sleep about 4 hrs and then I'm up.......the longer I'm up, the more apt I am to have coffee.
If I try to go back to sleep, I just lay there with my eyes closed and mind wide awake.
I've never had the coffee issue before going gluten-free - I could go to sleep after a POT of coffee!
Now it's all different.
I am not always tired when I know I have to get sleep.....so I usually end up having a drink (mixed or wine) before bed to 'relax' me....and I've never been a lightweight on that either.
But it does the trick.
There's times that my sleep is good and then times that it is restless or limited......due to dreams or nightmares or noises.
I do notice that the sleep patterns have definitely changed.....along with my senses.
I'm guessing my hightened senses has something to do with the sleep issues.
The only time I really get tired is at work after I've eaten a lunch that was bigger than I'm used to.
Maybe there is some truth to what was said about eating and sleep.
But I'm not one to eat before bed.
It just doesn't seem normal..........but then again, I'm learning to be abnormal compared to the gluten life.

[travelthomas]

soulcurrent, on Oct 24 2009, 12:32 PM, said:

I've never had issues with sleep in the past (unless I was particularly stressed about something, then I might lay awake for an hour) but since going gluten free a couple of weeks ago I've been having trouble every single night. I'm having trouble getting to sleep then staying that way (but part of that is my cats who prefer my bedroom for their mischief at night) and I am feeling less rested as a result. Not that I normally feel rested after a night's sleep, even if I get a full night. I attributed that to full time work and school but I hear that celiac can be to blame also.

So what's with with insomnia now that I don't have gluten? Actually I can't say I don't have it.. I *think* I don't have it but I'm just learning that I should get a new toaster and things like that to avoid cross contamination so there could be traces but I'm making a valiant effort.

*yawn*

I will get insomnia with diet changes. Because I like to travel there are times when my dietary habits change pretty drastically.

Before going on a Gluten-Free diet I had read that eating a whole grain snack, and something high in calcium helps with sleep.

With my last dietary change, traveling to Texas, I used rice crackers and Tums with good success as a nighttime snack before sleep.

Because my trip to Texas was to visit with people I had been talking to for years on the internet, I did quite a bit of eating out in restaurants, plus their home cooked meals. Talk about a change in diet! None of the people I visited had Celiac Disease (around 10 destinations), but they knew to try and keep Gluten out of the meals.

[Desiree49]

I have had the same thing happen to me. I recently went gluten free and it takes me forever to fall asleep.

[Pac]

I didn't experience exactly insomnia, but after going gluten-free and every time after major glutening I got into a kind of 'hyperactive mode'. It felt as if somebody slipped a few extasy pills into my meal. I wouldn't be able to fall asleep before 1-2am and even like that I would wake up at 5am, I wouldn't feel a tiny bit tired working all day non-stop until late at night... (almost feels worth getting glutened ). It always lasted a few days/a week, then after a few lazy days I would be 'normal' again.

[lucia]

I'm going through the exact same thing. I could have written your title.

[conniebky]

I'm glad that you posted this. I am one week gluten free today and every night I turn this way, then turn that way, get up, drink some milk, lay back down, get up again.

I've never been like this my whole life. I sleep fine once I fall asleep, but it takes a long time to feel asleep.

Then, when Im trying to fall asleep, here come the jimmy legs. I get the jimmy legs awful. Have to start turning my ankles and stretching my legs. I don't know if that's what you all call it, the jimmy legs. Do you know what I mean?

[marie1107]

Same here! For years I have had either a toasts or cereal before bed. I thought it was the carbs that were making me sleepy (I was eating pretty much low carb all day). But no! I realised when I went gluten-free that it was actually the bad stuuf that was knocking me out. I have noticed how sleepy I get when I come in contact with the tiniest amount of gluten.
Since going gluten-free (2 years ago) I have tried about every trick and remedy. I good snack seems to help, I also found some natural herbal mix that is quite effective and sometimes some yoga helps. But every night I have to keep the same relaxing routine and I make sure I only go to bed when I'm quite sleepy.
I am now realising I was "using" gluten as a sleeping peel and was quite addicted...
It's frustrating at first but my now sleep (and without a doubt my health) is constantly getting better.
Hope you also find tricks that work for you.

[polarbearscooby]

After I get glutened I suffer from insane insomnia. I have to literally force myself to sit still or even go to sleep. It's like I'm a little kid again who's had way to much sugar or something I tried tylonal PM but even it doesn't help much. I'm only getting a couple hours of sleep at a time falling asleep at 4 or 5 am and waking up at 9am

[SuperMolly]

polarbearscooby, on 06 July 2010 - 06:37 PM, said:

After I get glutened I suffer from insane insomnia. I have to literally force myself to sit still or even go to sleep. It's like I'm a little kid again who's had way to much sugar or something

I agree with this. I am a night person anyway, but when I get glutened I will be tired but I cannot settle down. I'll get a lot of stuff done though.

[George Knighton]

Doesn't wheat and dairy products generally make you or help you sleep better and easier before going to bed?

[Brigit]

Wow, looks like we all have the same kind of problem. Just under two weeks gluten free, and suddenly awake around 2 or 3am, can't lie on one side for more than a few moments.

Strange thing though, I'm not as tired as what I would have been if still eating gluten products and only had four hours sleep. So, besides that the tossing and turning wakes my husband, its not been too bad!

Would love a solution though. One other than sleeping tablets.