Do Your Legs Ever Get So Numb.....

[danikali]

Good Morning!

Well, I have been testing myself through some things lately because I was getting so bored of eating the same old 'whole foods' that I was living on. So I decided to try a few 'mainstream' products off of the delphi list.

Well, I don't know who has been following my posts this week, but I will tell you, those of you who are interested in trying Balance Bars, or Atkins Bars, DON'T DO IT! Neither of them have gluten IN THE INGREDIENTS, but both of them are manufactured in places with wheat. I have had the Amy's gluten free soups before, and I know it says that they also manufacture wheat in their facility.......but I never got a problem from the soup (yet, anyway). So.....I decided to try them! I'm thinking they are a little better because it actually says gluten-free on the can, and probably try a little harder than a regular mainstream company.

Well, first, I had the balance bars. I got some back pains, but ignored them and ate a couple more. Then I had some more the next day. Well, the next morning I woke up and my whole body was KILLING ME. I felt like I was 100 years old, and I'm only 21! The whole day, weird things were happening, things that used to happen when I was eating gluten, except without the stomach problems. Have any of you ever experienced your legs, or feet getting so numb, and staying that way for a while, to the point where you just CANNOT move them. My muscles were completely out of whack! I also had the night sweats ALL NIGHT LONG both nights of the days that I was eating them. (also one of my many gluten symptoms). I was scared! Well, I gave up the balance bars, but was determined to find something else out there that was chocolatey, and healthy, too! And the third day of not eating anything new, the pains subsided. So on to the Atkins bars.

There were (as with the balance bars) no gluten listed in the ingredients, and this time, on the warning label, all it said was that they also use nuts and eggs in their facility. So, I thought, okay, I'll buy it. So I bought it and then found the 1-800 number, so I decided to call it. I waited a while for them to actually call me back, but in a few hours, they finally did. The lady mentioned that they WERE gluten free, but they use wheat in their facility. I asked if it was on the same lines, and she said she didn't have that information. So she said, I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T BE CROSS CONTAMINATED, BUT THERE IS NO GLUTEN IN THE RECIPE. So, curious me, and since I already bought it and wanted chocolate so bad, ate it.

Lo and behold, the muscle spasms came back in my legs and feet, and I really really scared myself again. (Am I the only dummy who 'thinks' I'll be okay, and tricks myself into believing it and eats it and then gets paranoid that I'm dieing or that I have just created something worse, like MS or something.....? -maybe it's just me) Anyway, my legs, espeically my right one was so tight, and my calf muscles were so sore.....I thought at any second I would become paralized for life or something. (I get really paranoid) Anyway, again, I had the worst night's sleep with night sweats and 'restless leg' problems.

So, I guess from this huge ugly story of mine, HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN THERE DONE THAT, too, and then wanted to kick yourself for letting your cravings overtake your common sense? And have any of you experienced these symptoms? I saw the thread for nightsweats and being glutened, that made me feel better.......

And by the way, DON'T EAT BALANCE BARS OR ATKINS ADVANTAGE BARS, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR GLUTEN FREE LIST SAYS! I had a few of each, so I don't know if I got glutened from all of them, or only one of each or whatever, but there was cross contamination somewhere.......

[Rachel--24]

Well...I've been there done that. It got to the point where it seemed like everything was"contaminating" me. I just wasnt getting better, after originally feeling great on the diet (only lasted a couple weeks) everything seemed to get me sick. After a couple months I decided there had to me more going on than just gluten contamination. I've been looking for answers and having tests run. So far diagnosed with C.Diff infection and still waiting on results to other tests. If you're not getting better I would suggest staying away from the processed foods for a good while to allow yourself time to heal or look into other causes.

Also night sweats can be caused by a number of things....not just gluten. I get night sweats from gluten but also from other things. Its probably my body trying to detox or something.

[danikali]

I don't think I have other food intolerances because so far, I can handle all gluten free specialty foods, and I can have dairy without any problems too (I was always to scared to try that, but now I have milk a few times a week and still have regular BM and no pain at all after I drink it). I started an elimination diet, but I found that everything I was eating was fine. I felt like a million bucks! I'm thinking I'm just really really really sensitive to any tiny amount of gluten because of the balance bar that was produced on a line with wheat. I've even figured out other times I've been 'glutened', or thought I did, and recently confirmed it. For example, I didn't know bourbon was not ONLY derived from corn, but the standard also adds rye and barley. I had that before and was sick for a week thinking that I was okay with the bourbon, when only yesterday, I figured out it WAS that.

I guess through all of this, I was just trying to see if anyone had these bad muscle problems when they got glutened, and if so, could it eventually lead to MS or something else. It just scares me when I feel like my legs aren't my own.

But thanks for replying to me Rachel!

[Guest katzmeow21]

I don't think I have other food intolerances because so far, I can handle all gluten free specialty foods, and I can have dairy without any problems too (I was always to scared to try that, but now I have milk a few times a week and still have regular BM and no pain at all after I drink it). I started an elimination diet, but I found that everything I was eating was fine. I felt like a million bucks! I'm thinking I'm just really really really sensitive to any tiny amount of gluten because of the balance bar that was produced on a line with wheat. I've even figured out other times I've been 'glutened', or thought I did, and recently confirmed it. For example, I didn't know bourbon was not ONLY derived from corn, but the standard also adds rye and barley. I had that before and was sick for a week thinking that I was okay with the bourbon, when only yesterday, I figured out it WAS that.

I guess through all of this, I was just trying to see if anyone had these bad muscle problems when they got glutened, and if so, could it eventually lead to MS or something else. It just scares me when I feel like my legs aren't my own.

But thanks for replying to me Rachel!

Hi

just want to say that I also got the muscle spasm thing in my legs(feels more like popcorn popping). Sometimes I got it in my arms and other places as well. I did get the tightness in my calves where it feels like when I just walk a little way my legs felt exhausted.

Also got buzzing and numb/sensitivities in my feet. I really think it could be from gluten and if you have not been glutened that you know of it might be other sensitivities or it may also be that you are not getting enough nutrients into your system and it is causing sporadic problems (on off again kind of stuff not directly related to what you just ate)

Are you taking great gluten free supplements.

I would also suggest that chocolate can sometimes make me feel the night sweat kind of stuff too.

As far as your contracting MS or any auto immune issues just thing positive, eat right and if that means no processed foods and only chicken, fish, veggies and the like then do it....

regards mj

[EmilyLMT]

I will get night sweats too...I used to get them all the time before going gluten-free. Now if I accidentially ingest it I'll get cramps or I call them charley-horse in my feet and I'll get nose bleeds too - which I think is weird.

So pretty much anytime something weird happens I contribute it to gluten.

What helps if I accidentally ingest it, I'll drink LOTS of water to help flush it out of my system...take fiber pills to help "push" it through and take a b-complex vitamin because it makes you pee...which in turns helps flush it out! oooh.. the lengths we'll go.....hehe

Oh and thanks for letting us know about the bars, I'll make sure not to buy those. And sorry you had to go through great lengths to find it out.

Emily

[Lollie]

I'm still new to all this......but I have noticed that I get this weird muscle "twitch" in my abdomen. I t's almost like when your eye will twitch, but in my stomach. It doesn't hurt, it's just a bother.

Thanks for the advice on the bars.....I will stay clear!

Lollie