I was not intolerant to gluten before doing elimination diet... now I am!?

[wingz]

I ate gluten-free for 1 month to see if it would cure me from some chronic conditions such as neck pain, back pain, fatigue. I had NO stomach/gut-related problems. I did not have any relief from those chronic conditions, though I realize 1 month may not have been long enough.

In the past few weeks since my gluten-free month, I have eaten gluten 3 times. The day following each time I've had a bout of intestinal discomfort and bad bowel movements. I was hoping it was a coincidence, but it's 3 for 3 at this point... so I'm trying to figure out what's happening.

Why am I having severe reactions to gluten now? Have I actually been intolerant this whole time, but my body was somewhat used to constantly dealing with it, so it didn't react so severely? And now that I was without it, it's had a chance to reset and decide it's going to freak out when it next sees gluten?

[cyclinglady]

Maybe.  The body can do a great job of adapting.  

It happened to me.  I was diagnosed when I went for a routine colonoscopy (yep, I am over 50).  My consulting GI noticed that I has life long anemia (actually have two types of anemia).  He ordered a celiac blood test panel, endoscopy,  and the rest is history.  

I had no GI issues with gluten.  I did have lactose intolerance which resolved on a gluten-free diet and being lucky that I am not genetically predisposed to being lactose intolerant.  Once gluten free, I developed GI issues.  Each exposure became much worse.  Makes it easy to adhere to the diet.