Gluten Challenge UK - Feeling rubbish

[Hev75]

 Hi - I'm nearly at the four week mark of the UK gluten challenge before going for a blood test. After not having this much gluten daily for what seems like forever, is it normal that as the days/weeks go by on the challenge, that I will notice just generally feeling more rubbish and be more 'aware' of my stomach all the time. Today I've been conscious of a dull ache or cramp moving around my stomach. I even Googled Appendicitis yesterday as I was a bit worried about it. It seemed to be located more on the lower right of my stomach yesterday, but today is seems to be moving all around, with no respite. Still feels a bit like someone is jabbing my insides with a needle repeatedly. Is this normal??

I had a big bowl of Bran flakes this morning so not sure if that might be why. Do they contain an excessive amount of gluten? 

Any input would be appreciated as I feel pretty rubbish today. 😌

Thank you. 

[cristiana]

Hi Hev and welcome to the forum!

If you haven't had any gluten/much gluten for a while, and you do have undiagnosed coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten intolerance, your gut might well be protesting about it!   

As regards Bran Flakes, I had a particularly hard time with fibre around the time of my diagnosis when my coeliac was at its worse and I found lentils, oats and some other high fibre food made me feel really bloated, uncomfortable and sore. You may find that the high fibre content plus the gluten is creating the symptoms you describe.  Dairy was an issue then too.  

You may wish to avoid the bran flakes while you are on the challenge.

That said, it might just be the gluten that is doing things to your digestion.

If the pain persists or worsens do put a call through to your doctor.  

Do come back to us if you have any more questions and all the very best with the remaining weeks on the trial.

Cristiana

 

[Hev75]

Hi Cristiana, thanks for the reply. I had already cut back on dairy before I thought gluten might be an issue, but some is still sneaking in - particularly over the Easter break! I'll maybe give the bran flakes a wide berth for now. 

[cristiana]

You are more than welcome, Hev.

Yes... dairy might also be a factor, although hopefully a temporary one.  Once your gut is healed (if you are a coeliac) things will most likely improve on the dairy front.

Take care.

C

Edited April 7, 2021 by cristiana

[Hev75]

I'd also forgotten to ask if dizziness can be a factor whilst doing the gluten challenge as I'm aware of feeling a bit woozy several times during the last couple of weeks. Is this normal or should I be worried? 

[cristiana]

15 minutes ago, Hev75 said:

I'd also forgotten to ask if dizziness can be a factor whilst doing the gluten challenge as I'm aware of feeling a bit woozy several times during the last couple of weeks. Is this normal or should I be worried? 

Hi Hev

I feel dizzy when I'm glutened.  Over Christmas I was handed a piece of cake which was meant to be gluten free and it was made using wheat flour.  Within a couple of hours I couldn't stand up with the dizziness - I'd describe it as something akin to motion sickness.   

In your case,  it could be gluten or perhaps just be something like an inner ear infection, and totally unrelated?

C.

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by cristiana

[Scott Adams]

Vertigo and dizziness were a big symptom for me, and are a common symptom. 

 

[CMCM]

Same here....vertigo and dizziness.  

Also....I remember I once heard or read that people can be attracted to foods they are allergic to or intolerant to....I don't know if that's actually true, but it sure seemed true to me.  I used to love cereals such as Weetabix, Shredded Wheat, Grape Nuts, Wheat Bran and other similar wheat based cereals, and when I combined wheat cereals with milk (which I am also highly sensitive to) it was a recipe for an upset digestive system and I knew it before even eating the cereal.

Edited April 8, 2021 by CMCM

[cristiana]

I was raised on Weetabix  -loved it-  and my parents took a cine film of me eating it when I was a toddler!  I haven't had it since my gluten challenge - but I do miss it!

[Scott Adams]

I also craved gluten almost constantly before my diagnosis. I pretty much ate high gluten foods 2-3 times a day, and usually had a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast each day.

[morganastar]

I am 11 days away from the blood test and definitely have had more dizzy spells/ just not really feeling 'with it' over the last 4ish weeks since upping the gluten (to such an extent that I have been put off getting back into driving, as I don't really trust my reactions at the moment) Just so sooo tired and achey and would love my stomach to decide what sort of upset it would be in a more consistent manner hah!

[Hev75]

3 minutes ago, morganastar said:

I am 11 days away from the blood test and definitely have had more dizzy spells/ just not really feeling 'with it' over the last 4ish weeks since upping the gluten (to such an extent that I have been put off getting back into driving, as I don't really trust my reactions at the moment) Just so sooo tired and achey and would love my stomach to decide what sort of upset it would be in a more consistent manner hah!

That's exactly how I'm feeling. I was really nervous of driving home from work yesterday as I'd had a couple of dizzy spells at work. I HAVE noticed these on occasions before removing gluten a few month ago and then adding back in for this challenge. Sometimes I would get them whilst just sitting down! But since adding the gluten back in, as with the other symptoms, they seem to be more prevalent at the moment. 

[Hev75]

19 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Vertigo and dizziness were a big symptom for me, and are a common symptom. 

 

I just read this article (thank you) and yet another symptom which I'd not seen before, I can totally relate to in recent years - Epistaxis—nose bleeds. I've been getting them on and off for a while. I first noticed them just after I had my daughter, some 14 years ago. She also has them regularly too and hers are quite bad. Another one to add to the list of symptoms when I speak to the doctor about being tested!