Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Withdrawal?

sweethome

By sweethome
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

sweethome Newbie
sweethome
Posted

Hi everyone, I'm pretty new to this. I was diagnosed with coeliac disease (blood test and biopsy) just over a month ago and tomorrow I will have been gluten free for 4 weeks.

I'm having some trouble though. Although I do feel some improvement in my gastro symptoms (definitely less bloating and discomfort) I am really struggling with fatigue, dizziness/lightheadedness, and tired, aching muscles. It almost feels like I have a virus or the flu, although I don't think I do as no cold symptoms or sore throat or anything.

I felt fine the first fortnight of being gluten free, but weeks 2-4 have been really hard. Could this be from removing gluten from my diet. So far I haven't been eating any 'substitute' items, e.g. I've not had any gluten free bread, etc. I've just been eating things that are naturally gluten free.

I didn't expect to feel worse rather than better and I'm just hoping this is a phase. Anyone experienced anything similar? The dizziness/lightheadedness in particular is becoming really upsetting to me. :-(

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Healing from any illness or damage takes extra sleep and calories.  Are you eating enough?  Sometimes, people make a drastic change when removing gluten from their  diet and are missing important nutrients or fiber.  

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I had this.  Big headache and big faigue... and big crankiness.  LOL It lasted about a week or so.  Hang in there.

I also experienced increased autoimmune flare-ups for a while.  I would feel flui-ish, get achey muscles, increased hair loss, mouth sores, and joint pain.  That settled down after about 6 months (for me).

I agree with Kareng that you should also make sure your calories aen't going to low.  Make sure you are replacing gluten-free items with other good foods. Whole foods if you can manage it.

Best wishes. I hope you feel better soon.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

I had big time gluten withdrawal! Some people get off lucky & don't go through it but plenty of us get to experience it. Looks like you're one of us who doesn't get off lightly. The good news is that it usually doesn't last more than a month -- less for most people. Mine lasted about 2 months. Everyone is different.

Hang in there. 

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

yeah, withdrawal is a thing - some people get it, some don't.  it feels like the flu (mine lasted 2 weeks) so, i just treated it as such:  nap when you can,(many, many naps!)  lots of fluids, etc, i think i took some tylenol for head/body aches.  it should go away soon, or your days should start getting progressively better.  hang in there :)

sweethome Newbie
sweethome
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all so much for your input. My mum thinks I may not be eating enough now that I've eliminated gluten. I've got a 3 year old so busy most of the day working and running around after him, so that may not be helping. I'm not getting much time to just rest even though I'm feeling off. I'm hopeful this will pass soon but it's reassuring to hear that others went through similar in the early weeks.

I've been so so tempted to eat some bread to see if I miraculously feel better, but know that would just be stupid and I've got to keep going. I was walking upstairs today and my knees just felt like I was 100 years old (I'm 33). Ah well, onwards...! :-) Thanks again!

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Just keep going forward girl, keep going forward. This will end. But don't be surprised if you get another withdrawal symptom which is stark raving starving hungry, hungry, hungry 24 hours a day. It was part of the withdrawal for me as well as many others. If that happens just go with the flow & eat your fool head off. That too will pass. LOL!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Hang in there. It will be getting better soon.

@squirmingitch I had that crazy hunger too. I ate so much, but I remember losing weight at the same time.  I enjoyed that!  LOL

BoJo Newbie
BoJo
Posted

Week four was the worst for me. I was grouchy and mean for several days. I was not fit to be around. That was years ago and I still shudder when I think of how I acted. 

sweethome Newbie
sweethome
Posted
  • Author

Well I think I can safely say it must have been withdrawal. I'm nearly 6 weeks in now and feeling okay. The dizziness lasted about a week, but I didn't get sick or come down with a bug or cold or anything, so I'm positive it was down to my changing diet. I have started to eat a little more as well so maybe that it also helping.

I'm noticing too that I feel a lot less bloated. If I have a big meal and feel really full, it's a strangely different - more comfortable - feeling of being full. It's hard to describe I guess. I *am* noticing that I'm REALLY hungry a lot of the time now!

It's amazing how much cutting something out of your diet can have so much effect...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Florence Lillian's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      Hi Scott: A wonderful, thoughtful explanation. Controlled human studies would be very interesting and quite informative. I have been eliminating certain foods and have narrowed it down considerably. Having other autoimmune diseases along with Celiac has become rather challenging. I appreciate your input, thank you. All the best, Florence
    2. trents
      - trents replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      326

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      Hector, have you had a follow-up biopsy to check the progress of small bowel villous lining recovery after going gluten free?
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      326

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      @HectorConvector, Please try adding Niacin to your supplements. Low Niacin has a connection with suicidal ideation. Been here, done that. Niacin made me feel better mentally and physically. Omega Three fats will help, too. For pain, Thiamine, B12 and, Pyridoxine B6 have been shown to have analgesic effects when taken together. I know this works...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Florence Lillian's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      4

      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      Hi Florence, thank you for clarifying — and no worries at all about late-night writing. I appreciate you explaining that you’re specifically asking about gluten cross-reactivity, particularly the proposed immune cross-reaction between alpha-gliadin and certain non-gluten foods on a gluten-free diet. It’s an interesting and often confusing topic. The Vojda...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      326

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      I’m really sorry you’re dealing with such intense burning pain right now. When symptoms get that overwhelming, it can feel unbearable and even trigger really dark thoughts, and that’s a sign of just how much you’ve been carrying — not a sign of weakness. It makes sense that you’d want to go back to a lower-carb, meat-and-vegetable approach if that’s help...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,627
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    sailingsun1
    Newest Member
    sailingsun1
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Florence Lillian
      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      Hi Scott: A wonderful, thoughtful explanation. Controlled human studies would be very interesting and quite informative. I have been eliminating certain foods and have narrowed it down considerably. Having other autoimmune diseases along with Celiac has become rather challenging. I appreciate your input, thank you. All the best, Florence
    • trents
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By trents · Posted

      Hector, have you had a follow-up biopsy to check the progress of small bowel villous lining recovery after going gluten free?
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @HectorConvector, Please try adding Niacin to your supplements.  Low Niacin has a connection with suicidal ideation.  Been here, done that.  Niacin made me feel better mentally and physically.  Omega Three fats will help, too. For pain, Thiamine, B12 and, Pyridoxine B6 have been shown to have analgesic effects when taken together.  I know this works because I've cracked some vertebrae and this combination relieves the pain.  I was prescribed opioids, but couldn't function or poop, so... I can highly recommend these vitamins for pain relief.   I adopted a paleo diet, the Autoimmune Protocol Diet which has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Improving intestinal health improves mental health because of the gut brain-axis.  Important neurotransmitter Serotonin is made in the digestive system.   Please Read... Association between dietary niacin intake and suicidal ideation: mediating role of C-reactive protein https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40859220/ Mechanisms of action of vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin) in pain: a narrative review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35156556/
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Hi Florence, thank you for clarifying — and no worries at all about late-night writing. I appreciate you explaining that you’re specifically asking about gluten cross-reactivity, particularly the proposed immune cross-reaction between alpha-gliadin and certain non-gluten foods on a gluten-free diet. It’s an interesting and often confusing topic. The Vojdani & Tarash paper you mentioned did report antibody cross-reactivity in laboratory settings, which has led to a lot of discussion in the gluten-free community. However, it’s important to note that in-vitro antibody reactions (in a lab dish) don’t always translate into clinically meaningful reactions inside the human body. At this point, major celiac research centers generally conclude that true immune cross-reactivity to non-gluten foods in people with celiac disease hasn’t been clearly demonstrated in well-controlled human studies. That said, many individuals do report symptoms with foods like corn, dairy, oats, or others, and those reactions can absolutely be real — they just may involve different mechanisms, such as food intolerance, FODMAP sensitivity, separate immune responses, or individual gut permeability differences rather than molecular mimicry of gliadin specifically. If certain foods consistently trigger symptoms for you, keeping a structured food and symptom log and discussing it with a knowledgeable gastroenterologist or dietitian may help clarify patterns. It’s a nuanced area, and your question is thoughtful — we just have to separate what’s biologically plausible in theory from what’s been conclusively demonstrated in patients.
    • Scott Adams
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I’m really sorry you’re dealing with such intense burning pain right now. When symptoms get that overwhelming, it can feel unbearable and even trigger really dark thoughts, and that’s a sign of just how much you’ve been carrying — not a sign of weakness. It makes sense that you’d want to go back to a lower-carb, meat-and-vegetable approach if that’s helped reduce symptoms before; sometimes dialing things back to simple, whole foods can calm inflammation or gut irritation. At the same time, your safety and mental health matter just as much as the physical symptoms. If the suicidal thoughts are feeling strong or hard to control, please consider reaching out for immediate support — in the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or go to the nearest emergency room if you feel at risk. You don’t have to handle this alone. It may also be worth checking in with your doctor soon to review what’s changed and see if there are adjustments or treatments that could ease the burning pain more effectively. You deserve relief, and you deserve support while you figure this out.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.