Pressure in head - Help

[CorieW]

I’m recently gluten free (2.5 weeks). I wasn’t officially diagnosed with celiac, but I have an uncle who’s confirmed celiac and 2 cousins who have severe gluten intolerance, so I know the gene runs in our family. I’ve had a vast improvement in my symptoms (headaches gone, joints feel better, MUCH better moods, plus a plethora of other symptoms) but I have this pressure in my head that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s constant and my neck is slightly stiff as well. I’ve read on this site about other people experiencing the same, but haven’t found an answer from anyone in regards to how they fixed it. I’m corn free as well and suspect I likely need to be dairy free, so I’ll see if that helps. But my question is - can these symptoms be part of the healing process? Have others experienced this after going free and did it resolve on his own? And if so, how long did it take? Thank you!

[cristiana]

Hi Corie

I used to get a tight feeling across my temples when I ate gluten, but it didn't last once I gave it up.

I get pain over my left eye and pain in the eye socket sometimes, but I think it is because I'm not wearing glasses when I should.  I also get pain at the base of my neck which also feels headachy, if that makes sense, which can be to do with anxiety, poor posture or stress.

Have you asked your GP about this?  I think you should, because it may not be related to gluten at all, it could be a neck problem, for example.   Also, have you visited your optician to rule out eye issues.  They can also check eye pressure.

It could also be a hormone related headache?

If things continue, I'd definitely check out other possibilities.  

Cristiana

 

 

[CorieW]

  On 7/6/2023 at 8:22 AM, cristiana said:

Hi Corie

I used to get a tight feeling across my temples when I ate gluten, but it didn't last once I gave it up.

I get pain over my left eye and pain in the eye socket sometimes, but I think it is because I'm not wearing glasses when I should.  I also get pain at the base of my neck which also feels headachy, if that makes sense, which can be to do with anxiety, poor posture or stress.

Have you asked your GP about this?  I think you should, because it may not be related to gluten at all, it could be a neck problem, for example.   Also, have you visited your optician to rule out eye issues.  They can also check eye pressure.

It could also be a hormone related headache?

If things continue, I'd definitely check out other possibilities.  

Cristiana

 

 

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Hi Cristiana,

 

Thank you so much for replying. I didn't consider it being something other than gluten-related since I only noticed it when I went gluten free, but you're right - the headaches I got from gluten were perhaps masking this feeling in my head, meaning it's been there for a long time. I'll investigate other areas if it doesn't go away soon. Thank you again!

[cristiana]

No problem, it can be very difficult to work out what is gluten related at first, and what might be another issue.

If you want to be absolutely sure it isn't gluten, though, you will need to be quite ruthless in eliminating gluten from your diet.

You will find some good advice here.

Also, with your family history of coeliac disease you may wish to find out for sure if you have it or not.  It is quite a commitment to stick to a gluten free diet.  To get this confirmation from a gastroenterologist would involve a 6-8 week gluten challenge, where you consume 2 slices of normal bread (i.e. not gluten free) or the equivalent, and then have a full coeliac panel to check if there is a reaction in your blood indicating coeliac disease.  This reaction is evident in the overwhelming majority of coeliac sufferers, not all, so that is why sometimes people who do not have a reaction still go onto have a biopsy if they want to be absolutely sure.