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Anyone Recover From Chronic Insomnia After Going gluten-free?

carrieanna76

By carrieanna76
in Related Issues & Disorders

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carrieanna76 Newbie
carrieanna76
Posted

hi, i'm new to the forum. i was recently diagnosed with gluten sensitivity and i have been gluten free for about three weeks now. i discovered i was gluten sensitive after going to my naturopath for chronic insomnia, which i've had for the past seven years. as of now, i can see no improvement in my sleep and am worried that gluten is not the cause of my insomnia...

so i'm just wondering if any of you suffered from chronic insomnia before going gluten-free, if going gluten-free cured the insomnia and if so, how long did it take after going gluten-free before you got sleep?

thanks so much! i've really enjoyed this site and look forward to hearing from other gluten intolerants.

carrie

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Tigercat17 Enthusiast
Tigercat17
Posted

Hi Carrie,

I've had trouble sleeping for years, too. I thought it was just me. I never took any medication for it, but I was tempted sometimes. It wasn't everyday, but at least three times a week. I would go to work a lot with no sleep at all & feel horrible. I also felt a lot of anxiety & brain fog. Now that I've been gluten free for four months. I think it took about a month or more for my insomnia to go away & then I started sleeping so good & I felt so calm. It was wonderful. Then I was getting glutened again two weeks ago & now , of course, along with all the other GI symptoms, I'm having trouble sleeping again. I think it is getting better, but it just takes a while for the body to recover from the gluten. Just make sure you're on a very strict gluten free diet & recheck everything you're taking -vitamins, medication, hand & face lotion. I realized I was getting glutened from my synthriod medication. It was driving me crazy. It was the last item I thought of & as soon as my doctor changed my medicine I started to feel better. But I still having some brain fog & having a hard time falling to sleep. I do listen to soft music & meditation celiac disease's (BelleRuth Naparstek) right before I go to sleep & that does help me a lot. If you think a mediation celiac disease would help you, you might want to try it. You can buy them on (Company Name Removed - They Spammed This Forum and are Banned). I have a few of her celiac disease''s & they helped it really helps me to relax.- not trying to sell you anything, just trying to help. :)

Hang in there. It'll get better soon.

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carrieanna76 Newbie
carrieanna76
  • Author
Posted

thanks so much for the advice! it's encouraging to hear that it took a while for your sleep to improve. just curious, what thyroid medication are you taking now? i started taking Levoxyl recently and i've heard it's gluten-free, but not 100% positive. i too have the brain fog and a bit of depression - really hoping to feel like a normal person soon...

thanks again and good luck on your gluten-free journey!

carrie

Hi Carrie,

I've had trouble sleeping for years, too. I thought it was just me. I never took any medication for it, but I was tempted sometimes. It wasn't everyday, but at least three times a week. I would go to work a lot with no sleep at all & feel horrible. I also felt a lot of anxiety & brain fog. Now that I've been gluten free for four months. I think it took about a month or more for my insomnia to go away & then I started sleeping so good & I felt so calm. It was wonderful. Then I was getting glutened again two weeks ago & now , of course, along with all the other GI symptoms, I'm having trouble sleeping again. I think it is getting better, but it just takes a while for the body to recover from the gluten. Just make sure you're on a very strict gluten free diet & recheck everything you're taking -vitamins, medication, hand & face lotion. I realized I was getting glutened from my synthriod medication. It was driving me crazy. It was the last item I thought of & as soon as my doctor changed my medicine I started to feel better. But I still having some brain fog & having a hard time falling to sleep. I do listen to soft music & meditation celiac disease's (BelleRuth Naparstek) right before I go to sleep & that does help me a lot. If you think a mediation celiac disease would help you, you might want to try it. You can buy them on (Company Name Removed - They Spammed This Forum and are Banned). I have a few of her celiac disease''s & they helped it really helps me to relax.- not trying to sell you anything, just trying to help. :)

Hang in there. It'll get better soon.

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  • 4 weeks later...
katco Newbie
katco
Posted

Carrie,

I'm wondering if you've seen any improvement in your sleep since you last posted. My son, who has sleep problems, is on day 10 of a Gluten-free Casein-free diet. I know results take a while, but it's hard to be patient!

Kathy

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RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

The best thing I found to cure insomnia is vitamin B12. It makes total sense too, because B12 is vital for the production of serotonin and melatonin, amongst other things. These are critical for regulation of sleep/wake cycles, mood, energy production, and lots more. Also, those with Celiac Disease are very often deficient in B12, so there again it makes sense. I find I sleep quite well now, especially if I take the B12 about 30 minutes or so before I go to bed. The one I prefer is a 5mg methylcobalamin sublingual tablet made by Source Naturals.

Other nutrients are also helpful with sleep. For instance, magnesium is known as the calming mineral. And interestingly, people with Celiac Disease often have a deficiency of magnesium too. A co-enzyme B-complex can also be very helpful, as can a multivitamin/mineral, so I'd suggest these as well.

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jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

Carrie,

Let us know if your sleep improves.

Mine is better now that I am gluten free but I still have issues. I found out I have a lot more food intolerances than gluten so am hoping that by limiting my diet even more that my sleep will continue to get better.

I never know when I go to bed what is in store for me. I have absolutely no sleep pattern. Some nights I go to sleep right away but wake up after a short time and then can't get back to sleep. Some times I am awake most of the night and don't fall asleep until after 3 a.m. Some nights I don't sleep at all. I do get some wonderful nights when I sleep all night. All in all, it is getting better.

I have tried so many approaches with sleep and for now I just stay in bed and rest. I do know that if I get up and do something else, it won't help me get back to sleep later. I am absolutely not able to sleep during the day. I would love a good nap.

Good luck!

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CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
CHARBEEGOOD
Posted

Carrie,

I didn't think you were alone (and the responses above prove that). I too have experienced sleep problems. I have been "keeping" a gluten-free diet since October and besides the digestive improvement I did experience a sleep improvement. B12 is something to keep your eye one, B12 is absorbed in the colon which is why so many individuals who suffer with celiac or gluten sensitivities end up needing supplements.

I wish you luck and hope that you find the rest you need to heal and function. Remember to talk to your doctor so that he/she is aware of your issues. It is the only way (s)he can help.

char

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bluebonnet Explorer
bluebonnet
Posted

The best thing I found to cure insomnia is vitamin B12. It makes total sense too, because B12 is vital for the production of serotonin and melatonin, amongst other things. These are critical for regulation of sleep/wake cycles, mood, energy production, and lots more. Also, those with Celiac Disease are very often deficient in B12, so there again it makes sense. I find I sleep quite well now, especially if I take the B12 about 30 minutes or so before I go to bed. The one I prefer is a 5mg methylcobalamin sublingual tablet made by Source Naturals.

Other nutrients are also helpful with sleep. For instance, magnesium is known as the calming mineral. And interestingly, people with Celiac Disease often have a deficiency of magnesium too. A co-enzyme B-complex can also be very helpful, as can a multivitamin/mineral, so I'd suggest these as well.

i thought the b vitamins were responsible for energy and was surprised to read you take them so close to bed time. i feel like i haven't slept for 13 1/2 years now and hated when night time rolled around because i knew it was gonna be a looooong night. i don't want to take any sleeping meds but i will give the b vitamins a try. it would be so great to look forward to bed time and actually get a full night's rest!

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RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

i thought the b vitamins were responsible for energy and was surprised to read you take them so close to bed time. i feel like i haven't slept for 13 1/2 years now and hated when night time rolled around because i knew it was gonna be a looooong night. i don't want to take any sleeping meds but i will give the b vitamins a try. it would be so great to look forward to bed time and actually get a full night's rest!

Yes, B12 can provide an energy boost. I just haven't noticed that, only how I seem to sleep more deeply if I take the B12 towards the end of the day. Of course, once you're levels are up, the effects may be more evened out. That is, perhaps the boost is more noticeable when the deficiency is more severe. I can only guess at that. I suppose it may vary from person to person too.

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carrieanna76 Newbie
carrieanna76
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@Kathy

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carrieanna76 Newbie
carrieanna76
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@Riceguy

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carrieanna76 Newbie
carrieanna76
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@Jackay, Char and Bluebonnet

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jackay Enthusiast
jackay
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@Jackay, Char and Bluebonnet

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jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

Carrie,

I didn't think you were alone (and the responses above prove that). I too have experienced sleep problems. I have been "keeping" a gluten-free diet since October and besides the digestive improvement I did experience a sleep improvement. B12 is something to keep your eye one, B12 is absorbed in the colon which is why so many individuals who suffer with celiac or gluten sensitivities end up needing supplements.

I wish you luck and hope that you find the rest you need to heal and function. Remember to talk to your doctor so that he/she is aware of your issues. It is the only way (s)he can help.

char

Char,

You didn't mention sublinqual B12 supplements but most people using this forum do. If B12 is absorbed by the colon, how does taking it sublinqually help?

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hpymomof3 Rookie
hpymomof3
Posted

I wonder why so many people who can't have gluten have insomnia. My daughter has had severe debilitating insomnia for about 20 months. We have gone to so many specialists and no one has been able to help her. She went gluten free in October after finding out that she tested positive through Enterolab. We still haven't seen any improvement. She is on several supplements (B12, B6, zinc, b complex to name a few) and nothing is helping her.

It is so bad that I had to pull her out of school last fall and have been teaching her at home. It is even difficult for her to learn at home. She can never fall asleep before 3:00 and often not until 4 or 5. Then she wakes up pretty much every hour and can't get back to sleep. I let her stay in bed until 10:00 but she still isn't getting very much sleep. It is so difficult for her to get through the day.

Any more suggestions?

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RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

Char,

You didn't mention sublinqual B12 supplements but most people using this forum do. If B12 is absorbed by the colon, how does taking it sublinqually help?

The B12 we get from food is absorbed as it passes through the digestive tract. There are actually several steps which need to occur for proper absorption to take place. Eventually, the liver must convert it into a usable form. However, in the case of Celiac Disease, malabsorption apparently effects the absorption of certain nutrients more than others, B12 being one of the more typical ones.

That's when a sublingual form really helps. It gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and when taken in the right form (methylcobalamin being one of the best known), it doesn't require conversion by the liver either. So whether you're dealing with malabsorption, Pernicious Anemia, or liver problems, the sublingual B12 will bypass all of that.

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jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

The B12 we get from food is absorbed as it passes through the digestive tract. There are actually several steps which need to occur for proper absorption to take place. Eventually, the liver must convert it into a usable form. However, in the case of Celiac Disease, malabsorption apparently effects the absorption of certain nutrients more than others, B12 being one of the more typical ones.

That's when a sublingual form really helps. It gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and when taken in the right form (methylcobalamin being one of the best known), it doesn't require conversion by the liver either. So whether you're dealing with malabsorption, Pernicious Anemia, or liver problems, the sublingual B12 will bypass all of that.

RiceGuy,

Thanks so much for clarifying this. It makes so much sense. I'll see if my doctor sells this and if not, I'll order some online. It will be interesting to see where I come out with my nutritional blood work because B12 (from what I've read) doesn't always show up as being deficient when tested because it draws it from the bones.

Are there other nutrients that are better off taken sublingually?

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  • 2 weeks later...
jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

i thought the b vitamins were responsible for energy and was surprised to read you take them so close to bed time. i feel like i haven't slept for 13 1/2 years now and hated when night time rolled around because i knew it was gonna be a looooong night. i don't want to take any sleeping meds but i will give the b vitamins a try. it would be so great to look forward to bed time and actually get a full night's rest!

bluebonnet,

Have you tried the B12 yet and had any luck with it?

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bluebonnet Explorer
bluebonnet
Posted

@Jackay, Char and Bluebonnet

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CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
CHARBEEGOOD
Posted

@Jackay, Char and Bluebonnet

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CHARBEEGOOD Newbie
CHARBEEGOOD
Posted

The B12 we get from food is absorbed as it passes through the digestive tract. There are actually several steps which need to occur for proper absorption to take place. Eventually, the liver must convert it into a usable form. However, in the case of Celiac Disease, malabsorption apparently effects the absorption of certain nutrients more than others, B12 being one of the more typical ones.

That's when a sublingual form really helps. It gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and when taken in the right form (methylcobalamin being one of the best known), it doesn't require conversion by the liver either. So whether you're dealing with malabsorption, Pernicious Anemia, or liver problems, the sublingual B12 will bypass all of that.

Riceguy..thank you. You said that so much better than I could have. Each Dr. tells his or her patients how to take the B12. I was injecting it for a few months and taking supplements. Once the levels got up, I was told to stop the injections and just take the supplements. They will continue to test my levels for a while to see if they change. Depending on the change, a rise or fall the treatment may be tweaked to compensate.

Good Luck.

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Lz-erk Newbie
Lz-erk
Posted

@Jackay, Char and Bluebonnet – wow, it’s really fascinating that so many of us “gluten intolerants” have sleep issues. My insomnia has been so bad that it prevented me from going to grad school and I could only hold a part-time job, so needless to say, I feel for all of you! Thanks so much for your comments and suggestions. Around the same time I went off gluten, I also discovered I’m hypothyroid, as well as melatonin, vitamin d, zinc and b12 deficient, so this might be contributing to the insomnia as well… Just out of curiosity, do any of you have thyroid issues?

Thanks to all of you and sweet dreams!

[No known thyroid issues on me.] I've had Non-24 symptoms since possibly birth, definitely since 13+. I went gluten free a year or two ago and have tried orthomolecular solutions, which helped with other things, but no effect on sleep.

I'm glad to hear your melatonin's been tested. Were you also tested for circadian rhythm disorders?

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  • 4 months later...
brandynickle Newbie
brandynickle
Posted

The best thing I found to cure insomnia is vitamin B12. It makes total sense too, because B12 is vital for the production of serotonin and melatonin, amongst other things. These are critical for regulation of sleep/wake cycles, mood, energy production, and lots more. Also, those with Celiac Disease are very often deficient in B12, so there again it makes sense. I find I sleep quite well now, especially if I take the B12 about 30 minutes or so before I go to bed. The one I prefer is a 5mg methylcobalamin sublingual tablet made by Source Naturals.

Other nutrients are also helpful with sleep. For instance, magnesium is known as the calming mineral. And interestingly, people with Celiac Disease often have a deficiency of magnesium too. A co-enzyme B-complex can also be very helpful, as can a multivitamin/mineral, so I'd suggest these as well.

All of the things you say are true! One other thought is the Candida issue. My son wakes up in the middle of the night( and never seems tired at bedtime) whenever his Candida grows out of control. Our naturapath doctor treats him with an anti-fungal for systemic yeast and he is feeling right as rain. Just food for thought!

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Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I started sleeping when I sorted out the psych issues, which requires gluten-free, fish oil, and lots of a high-potency vitamin/micronutrient supplement. If I get into gluten or slack off on the handfuls of vitamins and fish oil, I'm lying awake at 4am, anxious and deeply worried about something that would be trivial if I felt normal.

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conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

when I first went gluten free, I had insomnia bad for about a week...and I got the jimmy legs (RLS)....it stopped about about 2-3 nights.

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