Suspecting Gluten Sens./ Weight Gain Etc

[tammyinwv]

      I went vegetarian in january, then Vegan in February. Mostly for health reasons. I also have done bouts of 100% juicing. When I juiced I would lose up to 3 lbs daily. Then when I even added in just one plant based meal I would start gaining back. I have been struggling to figure out whats going on. I then eliminated nuts and almost all oil and sugar. Lost for 2 days then started gaining gain. For the last two months I have gained and lost the same 5 lbs over and over. After a comment by a friend I started reading about gluten sensitivity. a lot of the symptoms sound very familiar but then again could go along with a lot of things.  Here are some of the things I have noticed: 

1. weight gain

2. chicken skin like texture to back of arms

3. bloating after some meals with discomfort but not real pain

4. excessive Hair loss including eye lashes.

5. fatigue

4 days ago I started trying to eliminate gluten. However I didnt realize one had to be so obsessive until I read book by elizabeth Hasselbeck. But I lost some those first two days, stayed the same on the third, and ate at Olive garden last night and since I hadnt read elizabeth's book I had ordered Minestrone soup not realizing it had macaroni. so I just picked it out. Now I know better. But when I weighed myself this morning I had gained 1.5 lbs back over night. I also researched my mascara this morning and see it has gluten. I have struggled with eyelash loss for yrs.

Tammy

[kareng]

I went vegetarian in january, then Vegan in February. Mostly for health reasons. I also have done bouts of 100% juicing. When I juiced I would lose up to 3 lbs daily. Then when I even added in just one plant based meal I would start gaining back. I have been struggling to figure out whats going on. I then eliminated nuts and almost all oil and sugar. Lost for 2 days then started gaining gain. For the last two months I have gained and lost the same 5 lbs over and over. After a comment by a friend I started reading about gluten sensitivity. a lot of the symptoms sound very familiar but then again could go along with a lot of things.  Here are some of the things I have noticed: 

1. weight gain

2. chicken skin like texture to back of arms

3. bloating after some meals with discomfort but not real pain

4. excessive Hair loss including eye lashes.

5. fatigue

4 days ago I started trying to eliminate gluten. However I didnt realize one had to be so obsessive until I read book by elizabeth Hasselbeck. But I lost some those first two days, stayed the same on the third, and ate at Olive garden last night and since I hadnt read elizabeth's book I had ordered Minestrone soup not realizing it had macaroni. so I just picked it out. Now I know better. But when I weighed myself this morning I had gained 1.5 lbs back over night. I also researched my mascara this morning and see it has gluten. I have struggled with eyelash loss for yrs.

Tammy

The gluten free diet isn't about weight loss. A couple of pounds difference in weight every day is normal. If you are severely limiting your calories, you might not be getting the vitamins you need and that can lead to hair loss and fatigue.

[kareng]

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"....Daily water fluctuations, which are more common in women because of hormonal changes throughout the month, are one of the main reasons that I tell my patients not to weigh themselves every day, ...."

[tammyinwv]

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"....Daily water fluctuations, which are more common in women because of hormonal changes throughout the month, are one of the main reasons that I tell my patients not to weigh themselves every day, ...."

I have been having hair loss for several yrs. Sometimes worse than others. I have only recently been changing my eating habits but I am very careful about getting a variety of greens and other fruits and veggies especially when juicing. One doesnt have to have dairy and meat for a well balanced diet.  as for the weight gain. I went a whole week while on vacation not jucing, but eating a healthy vegan diet. I am not a big eater and tend to graze at times. But during that week I gained 8 lbs. The only thing I can see different from when I juice and when I allow a meal was that I could possibly be getting gluten. I know my weight varies from day to day, but should not continue to go up without balancing out unless something is going on.

[GF Lover]

Have you considered having your thyroid function checked?

[tammyinwv]

Have you considered having your thyroid function checked?

Thyroid has been checked a couple of times. once normal, the other borderline normal for hypothyroid.

[kareng]

Well... If you have Celiac disease, you should consider getting tested for it. Then that question would be answered. Most, maybe not all, but most, people with Celiac disease will gain weight once they have started healing and are now able to absorb nutrition.

[Hobbes]

I definitely gained weight due to getting sick. Even now, when I get glutened I get bloated and puffy. So it could be a problem for you. I would encourage you to get tested before going 100% gluten free. I wish I had done that.

[tammyinwv]

I definitely gained weight due to getting sick. Even now, when I get glutened I get bloated and puffy. So it could be a problem for you. I would encourage you to get tested before going 100% gluten free. I wish I had done that.

I had thought about waiting the month till my next appointment until I read you had to be on gluten for 12 weeks before testing. I have been trying to be gluten free for about 4 days. But I know there have been a couple of mistakes. Can I still test?

[Hobbes]

I had thought about waiting the month till my next appointment until I read you had to be on gluten for 12 weeks before testing. I have been trying to be gluten free for about 4 days. But I know there have been a couple of mistakes. Can I still test?

 

If I understand your situation correctly, you have been just a regular gluten-eating person for a long time, and have recently eaten somewhat gluten-free for 4 days. If this is the situation, then yes, you can still test. It's highly unlikely that your villi have healed in the 4 days of somewhat gluten-free eating period. Until you get the test, keep eating gluten.

[jaggirl47]

Look at having your vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone checked. Hair loss is a big symptom of parathyroid disease

[nvsmom]

You should be fine to be tested after only 4 days gluten-free.  It usually takes weeks, and sometimes months, for autoantibody levels to drop to normal.  If it worries you, just wait a couple of weeks and eat 1-2 slices of bread daily.

 

I agree that you should get your thyroid checked, but get it checked thoroughly.  I have Hashimoto's, but I tested as TSH high normal to subclinically barely high for decades.  When they finally admitted I have a thyroid problem, my TSH was high but not crazy high (14 I think) yet my thyroid was almost non-functioning.  Get the actual hormones tested to make sure you are okay.

 

For thyroid get:

• TSH - should be near a 1 (for some, a 2 is too high)
• free T4 and free T3 - should be in the 50-75% range of your labs normal reference range (especially the FT3) - do not get total T4, total T3, T3, or T4 as they do not as accurately reflect the hormone levels your body uses
• TPO Ab - should be low

For celiac disease get:

• tTG IgA and tTG IgG (tissue transglutaminase)
• DGP IgA and DGP IgG (deaminated gliadin peptides)
• EMA IgA (endomysial antibodies)
• total serum IgA - control test
• AGA IgA and AGA IgG (anti-gliadin antibodies) - older and less reliable tests
• endoscopic biopsy - 6+ samples taken

 

Good luck!

[tammyinwv]

Look at having your vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone checked. Hair loss is a big symptom of parathyroid disease

Thanks. I go Thursday of next week to my GP and making a list of labs i will ask him to do. 

Tammy

[tammyinwv]

You should be fine to be tested after only 4 days gluten-free.  It usually takes weeks, and sometimes months, for autoantibody levels to drop to normal.  If it worries you, just wait a couple of weeks and eat 1-2 slices of bread daily.

 

I agree that you should get your thyroid checked, but get it checked thoroughly.  I have Hashimoto's, but I tested as TSH high normal to subclinically barely high for decades.  When they finally admitted I have a thyroid problem, my TSH was high but not crazy high (14 I think) yet my thyroid was almost non-functioning.  Get the actual hormones tested to make sure you are okay.

 

For thyroid get:

• TSH - should be near a 1 (for some, a 2 is too high)
• free T4 and free T3 - should be in the 50-75% range of your labs normal reference range (especially the FT3) - do not get total T4, total T3, T3, or T4 as they do not as accurately reflect the hormone levels your body uses
• TPO Ab - should be low

For celiac disease get:

• tTG IgA and tTG IgG (tissue transglutaminase)
• DGP IgA and DGP IgG (deaminated gliadin peptides)
• EMA IgA (endomysial antibodies)
• total serum IgA - control test
• AGA IgA and AGA IgG (anti-gliadin antibodies) - older and less reliable tests
• endoscopic biopsy - 6+ samples taken

 

Good luck!

Thanks for the specific lists of test needed. I go Thursday of next week to GP. I have had fibromyalgia since 98, and just tried of feeling tired.

Tammy

[nvsmom]

 I have had fibromyalgia since 98, and just tired of feeling tired.

 

Understandable.    Good luck!