Two Interesting Things (Wheat Germ And Low Weight)

[laura1959]

I guess I'll continue to post in this pre-diagnosis forum, since I probably will never have an official diagnosis.  

 

I thought I'd ask the group about a couple of things.  The first is wheat germ.  I used to love this stuff, but even back in the day I discovered that, when I'd eat it, I'd get terrible indigestion and stomach pain.  I never had this with other wheat products, just wheat germ.  So I stopped eating it entirely and probably haven't had any in 30 years.  Anyone else experience that with wheat germ before you realized you were GI/celiac?  

 

The second thing is kind of odd.  I was always very, very thin in my younger years.  We're talking 5'7" and 95lbs kind of thin.  No matter what I'd do, I could not put weight on, and I stayed this way into my late 30's or early 40's, at which point I finally began to gain (I quit smoking and went on an ice cream binge which, I swear, changed my metabolism).  Now, in my 50's, I struggle with weight gain like anyone else my age.  

 

I know that being very thin and unable to gain weight can be a sign of celiac, but why would it change all on its own without stopping gluten?  Any thoughts?  

[bartfull]

I think you answered your own question - your metabolism DID change, partly from age, and a good part from quitting smoking. Even if you aren't digesting your food and absorbing nutrients, sugar goes into your system almost instantly, along with all of its calories.

[laura1959]

Yeah, I understand what you are saying.  I just wonder-- does that happen to other people here before getting on the gluten-free diet?  Does the metabolism change with age and bring with it the usual weight problems even if you are celiac?  I guess I'm trying to tease out whether my inability to gain at a younger age might have something to do with gluten intolerance or if that is just coincidental.  Same with the wheat germ reaction.  Is there something about wheat germ in particular that makes it particularly heinous, like a high gluten content?   

[cyclinglady]

I've been small my whole life until I got pregnant at 40.  Even though I only gained 26 pounds during pregnancy, I never lost the last 10 pounds.  I assume it's because 1) I breastfed forever and 2) I started perimenopause at age 41 (fat cells contain estrogen!).  Since then, my weight hasn't changed and I confess I still eat like a pig!   On the other hand, my hubby has been gluten free for 12 years.  He was heavy before and is still heavy now.  

 

I think you gave up smoking, got old  , and gained weight (celiac or not!).  However, I think there's hope.  Start moving and count your calories.  I'm waiting to see if my weight increases as my healing continues (gluten-free for five months).  

[burdee]

Another common consequence of (or correlation with) celiac disease is autoimmune disorders.  One of those disorders is Hashimoto's thyroiiditis or low thyroid levels, which impair many metabolic functions. Common symptoms are fatigue, low blood pressure, low body temperature, difficulty losing weight, hair loss, and constipation.  Many docs overlook, misdiagnose or discount hypothyroid symptoms.  The usual test for hypothyroidism is a TSH level test.  TSH is a pituitary hormone which is inversely related to the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood.  However, the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood doesn't tell how much of those hormones actually enter the cells and regulate many metabolic functions.  So you could have a 'normal TSH level' and still have hypothyroid symptoms.  Also many docs and labs continue to use outdated TSH 'normal' ranges, which allows many people to go undiagnosed. 

 

Long story short:  Your metabolism could have slowed down because of hypothyroidism.

[laura1959]

Thanks, everyone.  It's probably the classic age-related weight gain.  The ice cream didn't help, either!