Nicotine Gum For Gluten Symptoms.. Am I Crazy?

[fatjacksonthecat]

Okay what I’m about to ask is probably does sound a bit crazy or at least desperate but has anyone ever used nicotine products to control their celiac/gluten sensitivity symptoms? After quitting smoking a few years back I began having some pretty severe issues with gluten. I went on the gluten free diet so I was never able to obtain a diagnosis but every time I accidentally get glutened, some of my worst symptoms are severe depression and anxiety. I also immediately get this ball of acid in my esophagus and stomache and hardly feel like eating at first, which is then followed by days of wanting to eat like a horse and can never get satisfied.

One particularly bad episode I guess I just wanted to make myself feel better in any way I could and had a brief relapse with smoking. Oddly enough, my symptoms mysteriously all went away. Of course I didn’t want to go back to smoking so I quit with the help of nicotine gum. Again I began noticing that if I got glutened and chewed a piece of nicotine gum that my symptoms were again drastically reduced and I’m not just saying this as an excuse to keep ingesting nicotine, it really works for me, it just about takes it all away.

Long story short, I gave up the gum as well because I also didn’t want to get addicted to that but have since continued to suffer many bouts of mysterious glutenings that is making my quality of life terrible. It is also driving the people around me insane as I am always battling the fatigue, acid, depression and anxiety. Out of desperation I went and got some more nicotine gum and have found that once again it drastically cuts my symptoms down at by least 75 percent, maybe more at times. While I know this is not healthy and not the best  method of coping I am struggling between weighing the cost/ benefit of being able to live a somewhat normal life with the gum, as opposed to feeling like total crap when these accidental glutenings happen.

I know there have been several studies done on Celiac, Chrons and IBS using nicotine as a replacement aid and that in some people nicotine was in fact found to ease these symptoms. I only plan on chewing it if I accidentally get glutened but know that can be a tricky slope as well. What are your thoughts on this? I know the best case scenario is not to ingest gluten, and I was doing fine for the past two years until recently it seems I have gotten more sensitive than ever. I haven’t been eating gluten and try to avoid cross contamination so although this might sound crazy I am desperate as the symptoms are just crushing me. Just when it seems I’m getting better again, I get sick yet again. Any thoughts on this are appreciated!

[notme]

you had previously wrote in july that you had a doctor's appt - what was the outcome of your visit?  

[nvsmom]

If you do use it, be aware that the gum is hard to give up. My mom quit smoking 20 years ago and has been chewing the gum ever since...

[fatjacksonthecat]

 Hi Notme,I did go to the docs, well actually she was a nurse practitioner. Unfortunately she didnt seem that informed about Celiac/ gluten sensitivity and I wished I had waited to see a gastro doc.  I believe she ended up running the same test that I had already had ran about a year ago that came back negative. I mentioned that I had been on a gluten free diet for almost two years and she said ,well now that I think about it Im not sure if our tests are that accurate in picking it up if youve been gluten free for that long. She said she had never had anyone who had already went on the gluten free diet before being tested.

 

I logged on to thier website to see the results because she never called me to explain anything, but from what I can tell they were  negative. That doesnt really surprise me as the one I had a year ago was also negative. I almost didnt even go to see her but I have been having so many problems I was desperate.Its just an in an out cycle with me with a couple weeks of feeling good and then bam, sick sick sick for no reason. Ive almost given up trying to find the source, its made me totally paranoid.

 

Nvs, funny you said you have a family member chewing the gum for that long. I  also have an aunt who has been doing the same thing for the last twenty years and so although it helps me immensely I am pretty concerned about the addiction potential. Has she had any side effects from chewing it that long do you know?

 

Here are my test results,they look negative to me although she did write gluten intolerant on my file, I dont know alot about the different types of testing but I have read Id have to go back to gluten for at least two months or so in order to get an accurate test which theres no way I could do so I might just have to figure out how to heal myself without a diagnosis.Thats why the gum has been quite a comfort as it works so well but sadly well aware of the trade off.. pheeewy!.

 

tTG IgA Ab4.1
Reference range: <20
Unit: U/mL
(Note)
Reference Range:
<20 Negative
20-25 Equivocal
>25 Positive

Between 2-3% of Celiac patients have selective IgA deficiency. If the
tTG IgA result is negative but Celiac disease is still suspected,
total IgA should be measured to identify possible selective IgA
deficiency and to rule out a false negative. In cases of IgA
deficiency, measurement of tTG IgG should be considered.

 

Immunoglobulin A  YOUR VALUE-207  STANDARD RANGE 69 - 380 mg/dL

[fatjacksonthecat]

I just realized I that I didnt copy and past my actual number , it was 4.1 which seems pretty low right?

 

4.1
Reference range: <20
Unit: U/mL
(Note)
Reference Range:
<20 Negative
20-25 Equivocal
>25 Positive

[notme]

not surprising your test came back negative - lolz - i'm just getting used to reading all different sorts of tests.  i actually went to the doctor the other day and when the girl called with numbers, i shocked myself by knowing what they were supposed to be (ALL good yayy )  

 

so, nicole, lolz, would you read those ^ ??!!  hahahaaa  

 

jackson, you can chew any sort of gum you want, i suppose.  the bigger question is, where are you getting your 'surprise' gluten from?  is your lack of formal diagnosis preventing you from removing *all* gluten from your diet/lifestyle?  if gluten is indeed your problem, after two years, if you are doing it correctly, you should see a wealth of improvements.  it sounds like you are going through withdrawal over and over again.  have you read the newbie 101 thread?  very much useful information there, maybe you are missing something.  if you are going out to eat alot, i would say that is a huge risk of cross contamination.  i have been just one year longer than you gluten free and i can tell you i don't get glutened hardly at all!  last time was in february and i know exactly where it came from (cupcake from non-dedicated bakery - stupid me!  but it was my b-day and i was feeling all invincible lolz)  you should keep a food journal and find out where the source(s) of gluten is in your diet/lifestyle.  it *is* possible to be completely gluten-free and if gluten is your problem, you should see improvements.  

[nvsmom]

 

 

Nvs, funny you said you have a family member chewing the gum for that long. I  also have an aunt who has been doing the same thing for the last twenty years and so although it helps me immensely I am pretty concerned about the addiction potential. Has she had any side effects from chewing it that long do you know?

 

Here are my test results,they look negative to me although she did write gluten intolerant on my file, I dont know alot about the different types of testing but I have read Id have to go back to gluten for at least two months or so in order to get an accurate test which theres no way I could do so I might just have to figure out how to heal myself without a diagnosis.Thats why the gum has been quite a comfort as it works so well but sadly well aware of the trade off.. pheeewy!.

 

tTG IgA Ab4.1

Reference range: <20

Unit: U/mL

(Note)

Reference Range:

<20 Negative

20-25 Equivocal

>25 Positive

Between 2-3% of Celiac patients have selective IgA deficiency. If the

tTG IgA result is negative but Celiac disease is still suspected,

total IgA should be measured to identify possible selective IgA

deficiency and to rule out a false negative. In cases of IgA

deficiency, measurement of tTG IgG should be considered.

 

Immunoglobulin A  YOUR VALUE-207  STANDARD RANGE 69 - 380 mg/dL

 

 

I don't think my mom has had any side effects but it's hard to say. Her teeth are quite stained but that could be from tea.... I don't really know.

 

Your tests look negative to me too. tTG Iga is low, and your IgA is a good number. Looks like an accurate test for a gluten-free celiac.  LOL

 

I would go through everything with a label that you are eating, including, gums (is nicorette gluten-free?), candies, medications and vitamins. Perhaps something changed? If you find nothing, then check your food prep supplies, could something be cc'ed?

 

What about dairy and thyroid issues. I know i get very similar to celiac disease symptoms from both of those.

 

I hope you figure it out.

 

not surprising your test came back negative - lolz - i'm just getting used to reading all different sorts of tests.  i actually went to the doctor the other day and when the girl called with numbers, i shocked myself by knowing what they were supposed to be (ALL good yayy )  

 

so, nicole, lolz, would you read those ^ ??!!  hahahaaa  

 

 

I'm getting a rep around here aren't I??  LOL It's the old science teacher in me coming out, I guess.

[notme]

 

I'm getting a rep around here aren't I??  LOL It's the old science teacher in me coming out, I guess.

 

i appreciate it!  math and science are not my favorite thing <probably because i suck at them lolz    i couldn't even read my own tests........  i had to put them up here 

[fatjacksonthecat]

Yea I agree with both you guys. I need to reevaluate everything again. I have been extremely careful  with my food but now I am starting to think it could be cross reactivity or maybe even CC . At first I thought the idea sounded a bit crazy that I could be picking it up from household utensils that have had gluten on them as did my family but Im really starting to rethink things.As far as my diet there for a while I cut it ALL out because im almost for certain I have leaky gut. I wasnt eating gluten soy,dairy, eggs, nuts or grains of any sort .. even no nightshades but then it just got all too much for me as I got sick of not being able to eat anything. Recently Ive been thinking I might need to go back on it again because that might be why I could be reacting to it seems everything when Im pretty certain Im not eating gluten.I walk around feeling almost toxic much of the time.

 

Which leads me to  my meds! I just realized yesterday that I havnt checked my new ones so Im almost hoping that they do have gluten because that will be my answer and I wont have to turn into a gum addict for the next twnty or so years hha(which for me I know is entirely possible as I do like nicotine a bit too much in general).Intersting to hear that we can get the same symptoms from dairy too. You know whats so frustrating to me and my family even moreso is because weve all been so concious of gluten and I keep getting sick after two years of doing so well, so its got to be something Im missing.I need to figure it out soon as I fear they are begining to secretly think Im just a hypochondriac but I know what I feel, I just wish they could also if even for just one minute. Ill go read the 101 newbie post as well.Yea I think I give up on the tests for a while, I did get a letter saying a biopsy would be the next step but Ive read thats pretty inconclusive as well unless you have total villous atrophy. I stink at math and science too so thanks for helping me reafirm my results!

[fatjacksonthecat]

Ooooh yea I almost forgot,  as one of you brought up thyroid is another thing I have suspected. I had a TSH test  a year or so ago as well but according to my studies on "stop the thyroid madness.com" THATS not accurate either as something called reverse T3 and reverse T4 is what should be tested instead.Im too chicken to tell a doc what test I want, I feel like Im trying to tell them how to do thier job or something so I think Ill need to order the tests myself just to put my mind at ease but yea Ive got alot of thyroid symptoms as well. Im in the cant lose weight for nuttin group, low temperature,thinning eyebrows etc you know the deal, but yea its somthin I should def look into so thanks for reminding me there.

 

And btw Nvs-  its probably most def the gum that is making her teeth yellow, esp if its the 4 mg but any will do that because of course it contains nicotine. When I quit smoking a couple years back using the gum I went out with friends and was chewing like a maniac to avoid smoking and we had a few pictures taken. I was horrified when I saw the pics on facebook as my teeth looked the color of an ear of corn,so I can imagine what it would do after chewing for that many years!(-;

Edited August 12, 2013 by fatjacksonthecat

[kgunsaul]

On Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 7:12 PM, fatjacksonthecat said:

Ooooh yea I almost forgot,  as one of you brought up thyroid is another thing I have suspected. I had a TSH test  a year or so ago as well but according to my studies on "stop the thyroid madness.com" THATS not accurate either as something called reverse T3 and reverse T4 is what should be tested instead.Im too chicken to tell a doc what test I want, I feel like Im trying to tell them how to do thier job or something so I think Ill need to order the tests myself just to put my mind at ease but yea Ive got alot of thyroid symptoms as well. Im in the cant lose weight for nuttin group, low temperature,thinning eyebrows etc you know the deal, but yea its somthin I should def look into so thanks for reminding me there.

 

And btw Nvs-  its probably most def the gum that is making her teeth yellow, esp if its the 4 mg but any will do that because of course it contains nicotine. When I quit smoking a couple years back using the gum I went out with friends and was chewing like a maniac to avoid smoking and we had a few pictures taken. I was horrified when I saw the pics on facebook as my teeth looked the color of an ear of corn,so I can imagine what it would do after chewing for that many years!(-;

My T3/T4 included a very low temp and chronic  fatigue,  iodine supplements seemed to clear up most if it. Temps stay in the 98.3 range with inexpensive liquid supplements.  This as after spending thousands on tests and Wilson's Temperature Syndrome protocol 

[Crazy4answers]

Please look into the following (from experience over 15 years of the run around I promise)

1) Avoid NPs trying to sell you on "zoomer" tests too. Really really read up on everything and you will find the test are all subjective. Not to mention please of the criteria the lab techs have to meet to run your test. Errors are made every day, I promise. I worked in said facilities and watched laziness abound.

 

2) Look into adrenal fatigue, lack of oxygen in blood (large blood platelets as you age can lead to heart issues), yoga, breathing techniques and how they all play in to Gluten intolernace, primarily coeliac. If you have a DNA test done by any family member and find high levels of Irish-European decent, don't feel crazy. THIS IS VERY COMMEN

3) Know that gluten-free and dairy intolerance go hand in hand BUT not indefinitely for everyone. Hormone imbalance too. Thyroid issues. Weight loss AND Weight gain for some. Infertility. Untreated can lead to lots of complications. Mine are currently adrenal fatigue and fertility issues.

Things that super helped me: During attacks = slippery elm tea and rest. Eat what you know is gluten-free 100% and sounds good. You have to treat yourself like a king/queen during that time. Believe YOUR gut. Excerise when and how YOU want to, but do exercise to get oxygen in that blood and help your gut health. GET BACK TO NATURE. Water is your friend. Lowering stress levels TOP priority, and can only be done how YOU see fit :)

Doctors are fast becoming about as good at researching things on this as we can do ourselves. Notice they leave the room and come back before you get any answers? Test yes, but repeat tests and no answers...it is time for your to embrace your instincts.

 

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Sezam]

On 8/9/2013 at 1:50 AM, fatjacksonthecat said:

Okay what I’m about to ask is probably does sound a bit crazy or at least desperate but has anyone ever used nicotine products to control their celiac/gluten sensitivity symptoms? After quitting smoking a few years back I began having some pretty severe issues with gluten. I went on the gluten free diet so I was never able to obtain a diagnosis but every time I accidentally get glutened, some of my worst symptoms are severe depression and anxiety. I also immediately get this ball of acid in my esophagus and stomache and hardly feel like eating at first, which is then followed by days of wanting to eat like a horse and can never get satisfied.

 

One particularly bad episode I guess I just wanted to make myself feel better in any way I could and had a brief relapse with smoking. Oddly enough, my symptoms mysteriously all went away. Of course I didn’t want to go back to smoking so I quit with the help of nicotine gum. Again I began noticing that if I got glutened and chewed a piece of nicotine gum that my symptoms were again drastically reduced and I’m not just saying this as an excuse to keep ingesting nicotine, it really works for me, it just about takes it all away.

 

Long story short, I gave up the gum as well because I also didn’t want to get addicted to that but have since continued to suffer many bouts of mysterious glutenings that is making my quality of life terrible. It is also driving the people around me insane as I am always battling the fatigue, acid, depression and anxiety. Out of desperation I went and got some more nicotine gum and have found that once again it drastically cuts my symptoms down at by least 75 percent, maybe more at times. While I know this is not healthy and not the best  method of coping I am struggling between weighing the cost/ benefit of being able to live a somewhat normal life with the gum, as opposed to feeling like total crap when these accidental glutenings happen.

 

I know there have been several studies done on Celiac, Chrons and IBS using nicotine as a replacement aid and that in some people nicotine was in fact found to ease these symptoms. I only plan on chewing it if I accidentally get glutened but know that can be a tricky slope as well. What are your thoughts on this? I know the best case scenario is not to ingest gluten, and I was doing fine for the past two years until recently it seems I have gotten more sensitive than ever. I haven’t been eating gluten and try to avoid cross contamination so although this might sound crazy I am desperate as the symptoms are just crushing me. Just when it seems I’m getting better again, I get sick yet again. Any thoughts on this are appreciated!

HI - Registered to this portal as I was asking same question to myself. I have similar story with difference that my doctor recognizes that i have celiac even no tests have proven that. as all symptoms are as per book - if get exposure even slightest - I then usually loose 1-3 weeks of life - exhausted, stomach, fight with own brain - as depressions and anxiety comes and then like mantra to myself that just survive 1 week then it starts to be easier. I am lucku as my familly supports me and we all chose not to have any gluten products at home.

Next I am non-smoker never was. 

Recently 3 weeks back one of my friends shared Nicotine Pouch - level 5. Tried it - got dizzy and sick terribly (for first hour) - but then lot of gluten symptoms eased including allergy to cats - I thought that I have something like placebo.

Took pause two days - allergy came back and tiredness, depression, anxiety. So my wife as experiment recommended to try that Nicotine pouch one more time. To not to get sick I got level 3 strength. so took - first hour again felt dizzy little of sickness - but then again 1 -1,5 day like gluttoned symptoms gone almost 90%.

SO when I write this I took two hours back again - and I can work.

I am really interested is there any science behind this? As I am non-smoker - I am really afraid to  get addicted - BUT then i think is better to be addicted if I can get off majority of Celiac symtoms away.

Really looking for some scientific research on this.

AND Thank You for sharing your experience - as I feel not so crazy and it is good to know that I am not alone.

[trents]

3 hours ago, Sezam said:

" . . . but then lot of gluten symptoms eased including allergy to cats"

Are you saying your allergy to cats is a gluten symptom or are you saying that some allergies also were reduced? Celiac disease is not an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease.

[Sezam]

1 hour ago, trents said:

Are you saying your allergy to cats is a gluten symptom or are you saying that some allergies also were reduced? Celiac disease is not an allergy. It is an autoimmune disease.

No it is not - same as migraines  - I have visual distress (I use colored glasses when working).

Issue is that both allergy and visual distress are at maximum sensitivity when glutened - specifically my eyes (actually only eyes) - dry eye - (nothing helps) - I get tired very fast when need to focus my vision and if i try to overcame difficulty to push myself to work i get migraine hit. 

day-to-day I learned how to live with two cats at home - installed hepa filters etc. But when hit by gluten seems my body turns on max all it can throw at me.

[Scott Adams]

Although getting hooked on nicotine isn't advisable to treat celiac disease, there is evidence that nicotine may have a protective effect against getting celiac disease, and there has been research done on this: