Gluten Challenge - Ugh :(

[CanadianK]

I'm on day 3 of the gluten challenge, after feeling A.Mazing on the SCD. I did the SCD for 5 weeks and while my loose BMs didn't clear up they went down to one a day and I had energy that went on forever and patience for my children (and husband) and just generally felt light and good! 

 

Now my back pain is back, my kidney's ache (referral from intestines?), I'm weepy, no patience and tired. So so tired. The amount of times I have diarrhea is slowly creeping back up and I just feel nauseous. The brain fog is creeping in as well...

 

I'm very surprised how weepy I feel. Just a general low level sadness, and inability to cope. *sigh* 

 

Doing the gluten challenge is by choice and it's for my own knowledge to have a definitive answer (being called a hypochondriac my whole childhood leads to me needing to have concrete answers) so I know I'm bringing this on myself, but my goodness, this doesn't feel manageable today. 

 

Thanks for "listening"

 

[BlessedMommy]

I'm sorry that you're feeling bad. Hopefully you will get some definite answers.

 

Remember not to overdo the gluten, one sandwich a day is plenty. 

[nvsmom]

Yes, all you need is 1-2 slices of bread per day, or equivalent.  Try for 2 slices if you are doing a shorter challenge (8 weeks) rather than the longer one (12 weeks).

 

Since you've reacted so strongly, you definitely know it is either celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  If tests are positive, it is celiac disease, and if they are negative, it is most likely NCGS.  Both are nasty and require a gluten-free diet for treatment, but celiac disease is better known even though it is more rare (<1% vs ~6%).

 

Hang in there. If it gets to be too much, contact your doctor and test early - it may not be accurate, but it could be. Just be careful, not everyone can make it through the gluten challenge.

[Jmg]

I'm on day 10 of my challenge and this:

 

I'm very surprised how weepy I feel. Just a general low level sadness, and inability to cope. *sigh* 

 

 

is how I feel too. I try to look at it in a positive way, at least as it comes after the change in diet there's an explanation for it and that makes it a lot easier for me to deal with it. In the past I'd be thinking about anti depressants or counselling, now I know it's physical manifestation of my bodies reaction to gluten, it doesn't make me less sad or anxious, but it does help me to rationalise and deal with it

 

Best of luck!