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

How Long After Being Gluten Free Did Your Sleep Improve

Guest marshlakemom

By Guest marshlakemom
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Guest marshlakemom
Guest marshlakemom
Posted

I am curious if any of you can remember approximately how long after being completely gluten free that you noticed an improvement in your sleep patterns.

I have been having problems with my sleep for all of my life, and although diagnosed with Celiac at the age of thirty two, didn't remain true to the diet at all times, and consequently have major sleep issues.

I have been completeley gluten free now for just over a week, and haven't noticed any improvement yet, should I be looking at a three months off???

I know this sounds nuts that I haven't been following a completely gluten free diet, but I just have tested my fate for so long now, but I think I am finally getting it into my head that I NEED TO STAY OFF GLUTEN, and just maybe my sleep and exhaustion will improve.

Thanks guys,

Deb

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Deb:

I am sorry that you have been had a long line of sleep problems. This has not been one of mine, but quite the opposite.

Therefore, I am not the one to answer you questions, but perhaps others will post with similar experiences.

Be patient, there are others out there. :)

Kaycee Collaborator
Kaycee
Posted

Deb, sorry you are not sleeping well. That was me too prior to being gluten free.

I think it took me about a month or two to see any improvement in my sleeping. To start with I was quite on edge when I first found out I had coeliac, so sleep was more of a problem at the start. But now I sleep like a log. Unless of course I have eaten something that does not agree with me, and that is usually gluten by mistake.

So Deb, it might take a while, it can be a bit like withdrawals as well, which does not help with sleep. But hang in there and I am sure you will notice an improvement in you sleep soon, and not only that but other things you probably never realised were gluten related.

Catherine

IrishKelly Contributor
IrishKelly
Posted
I am curious if any of you can remember approximately how long after being completely gluten free that you noticed an improvement in your sleep patterns.

I have been having problems with my sleep for all of my life, and although diagnosed with Celiac at the age of thirty two, didn't remain true to the diet at all times, and consequently have major sleep issues.

I have been completeley gluten free now for just over a week, and haven't noticed any improvement yet, should I be looking at a three months off???

I know this sounds nuts that I haven't been following a completely gluten free diet, but I just have tested my fate for so long now, but I think I am finally getting it into my head that I NEED TO STAY OFF GLUTEN, and just maybe my sleep and exhaustion will improve.

Thanks guys,

Deb

It took me 4-5 months (and a Super B Complex vitamin everyday...i take nature made because they are gluten free ;) ).

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Sleep was something that improved for me right away after going gluten-free. I was having problems sleeping prior to that--both falling asleep and staying asleep.

Guest marshlakemom
Guest marshlakemom
Posted

Hi All

You guys are great, thanks for the responses, I appreciate each one. I know I'm being a "bit" optimistic by thinking my sleep should improve within a week, and I agree that our body probably does go through a bit of withdrawal once becoming completely gluten free.

I will keep you posted.

Deborah

TestyTommy Rookie
TestyTommy
Posted

I had lots of sleep problems before going gluten-free. It took a few months til it got significantly better. I'm 8 months gluten-free and still having problems sleeping. I haven't slept through the night in over nine years, but it's getting better.

So be patient. Especially if you've been damaged for many years like a lot of us, it will take many months of being strictly gluten-free to get better.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


marciab Enthusiast
marciab
Posted

Mine got a little better after 6 months, but it has only been in the last month that I can sleep all nite and wake up rested. So, one year for me ... marcia

elonwy Enthusiast
elonwy
Posted

I used to have really bad insomnia, the "not able to fall asleep no matter how tired you actually are" kind. This started to get better after about 2-3 months on the diet. I now only get that way if I've been glutened or am really stressed out. Its really nice to know that when I'm going to bed, I'll probably be asleep soon. I fall asleep so easily now that sometimes I wake up and I've fallen asleep with the light on.

I have Sonata as a backup for emergencies, and that helps me supplement when I'm having falling asleep issues.

Elonwy

georgie Enthusiast
georgie
Posted

The day I was Glutened last week - I ended up having a nightmare that night. Is that a normal reaction ??

sspitzer5 Apprentice
sspitzer5
Posted

I'm 1.5 years gluten-free and my sleep has improved, but not dramatically. My main problem is staying asleep. I've recently started taking time realeased melatonin and it's helping a lot.

S

  • 3 weeks later...
munchkinette Collaborator
munchkinette
Posted

My sleep issues are connected to other things. I sleep a lot better when I can exercise, but I never had the energy to exercise because of the anemia. I've started getting enough energy to exercise in the last 2-3 months, so that's about six months since I've gone gluten free.

par18 Apprentice
par18
Posted

For me in the beginning there were two issues keeping me from sleeping much at all. One was I was so malnourished I could not get enough exercise to get tired. I was eating a lot of food each day with no appetite. The other more important issue was just plain "anxiety". I could not convince myself in the beginning I would recover. I would lay awake in the bed for hours and stare at the clock. It was as if I was afraid I would fall asleep and never wake up. I had to take some medication for about 6 weeks to help calm me down. Finally I started to notice some positive physical changes (gained a few pounds). When I realized I was not going to die anytime soon I relaxed and was able to give up all meds. Today everything is fine.

Tom

suzannabanana Newbie
suzannabanana
Posted

I have had chronic sleep problems for ages. Gluten-free since March with slow improvement in various areas. My NP gave me amatryptaline recently instead of Ambien CR (have tried several meds and naturals). She says it slows down the gut and that is what I'm finding. I have averaged probably 6 out of 7 full nights of sleep since starting, where I was getting 1/7 for years and years and years.

Ellen Newbie
Ellen
Posted
I'm 1.5 years gluten-free and my sleep has improved, but not dramatically. My main problem is staying asleep. I've recently started taking time realeased melatonin and it's helping a lot.

My daughter has the same problem...but she's 5.5 years old and part of that is a kid just plain fighting going to sleep! Her doctor told us the melatonin was good for getting you to sleep, but it doesn't keep you asleep. Magnesium is what keeps you asleep once you get there. He reccomended epsom salt baths twice a week to help boost her magnesium levels. That seems to have helped alot...she's sleeping through the night after 2 weeks of baths. Since she's only 5 they only do it twice a week, but I imagine an adult could take the baths more often, or even take a magnesium supplement. Hope this helps!

emi-220 Rookie
emi-220
Posted

I've had sleep problems my whole life. I could never fall asleep and I was always so fatigued (though I'm not sure if the always being tired part was related to the celiac or just because I didn't get much sleep to begin with). I've only been on the gluten free diet for about a week and my sleep hasn't improved much. It sounds like it will get better though according to what everyone else has said so that's good.

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. tiffanygosci
      - tiffanygosci posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      0

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      Hello all! My life in the last five years has been crazy. I got married in 2020 at the age of 27, pregnant with our first child almost two months later, gave birth in 2021. We had another baby in April of 2023 and our last baby this March of 2025. I had some issues after my second but nothing ever made me think, "I should see a doctor about this." After...
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      8

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      On the AIP diet, all processed foods are eliminated. This includes gluten-free bread. You'll be eating meats and vegetables, mostly. Meats that are processed, like sausages, sandwich meats, bacons, chicken nuggets, etc., are eliminated as well. Veggies should be fresh, or frozen without other ingredients like sauces or seasonings. Nightshade vegetables...
    3. Yaya
      - Yaya replied to Jhona's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      29

      Does anyone here also have Afib

      Thank you for responding and for prayers. So sorry for your struggles, I will keep you in mine. You are so young to have so many struggles, mine are mild by comparison. I didn't have Celiac Disease (celiac disease) until I had my gallbladder removed 13 years ago; at least nothing I was aware of. Following surgery: multiple symptoms/oddities appeared including...
    4. larc
      - larc replied to Jhona's topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      29

      Does anyone here also have Afib

      When I accidentally consume gluten it compromises the well-being of my heart and arteries. Last time I had a significant exposure, about six months ago, I had AFib for about ten days. It came on every day around dinner time. After the ten days or so it went away and hasn't come back. My cardiologist offered me a collection of pharmaceuticals at the time...
    5. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      8

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      So I should not eat my gluten free bread? I will try the vitamins. Thank you all so very much for your ideas and understanding. I'm feeling better today and have gathered back my composure! Thank you kitty kitty I am going to look this diet up right away. And read the paleo diet and really see if I can make this a better situation then it currently...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,917
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    tiffanygosci
    Newest Member
    tiffanygosci
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

      By tiffanygosci · Posted

      Hello all! My life in the last five years has been crazy. I got married in 2020 at the age of 27, pregnant with our first child almost two months later, gave birth in 2021. We had another baby in April of 2023 and our last baby this March of 2025. I had some issues after my second but nothing ever made me think, "I should see a doctor about this." After having my last baby this year, my body has finally started to find its new rhythm and balance...but things started to feel out of sorts. A lot of symptoms were convoluted with postpartum symptoms, and, to top it all off, my cycle came back about 4m postpartum. I was having reoccurring migraines, nausea, joint pain, numbness in my right arm, hand and fingers, tummy problems, hives. I finally went to my PCP in August just for a wellness check and I brought up my ailments. I'm so thankful for a doctor that listens and is thorough. He ended up running a food allergy panel, an environmental respiratory panel, and a celiac panel. I found out I was allergic to wheat, allergic to about every plant and dust mites, and I did have celiac. I had an endoscopy done on October 3 and my results confirmed celiac in the early stages! I am truly blessed to have an answer to my issues. When I eat gluten, my brain feels like it's on fire and like someone is squeezing it. I can't think straight and I zone out easily. My eyes can't focus. I get a super bad migraine and nausea. I get so tired and irritable and anxious. My body hurts sometimes and my gut gets bloated, gassy, constipated, and ends with bowel movements. All this time I thought I was just having mom brain or feeling the effects of postpartum, sleep deprivation, and the like (which I probably was having and the celiac disease just ramped it up!) I have yet to see a dietician but I've already been eating and shopping gluten-free. My husband and I have been working on turning our kitchen 100% gluten-free (we didn't think this would be so expensive but he assured me that my health is worth all the money in the world). There are still a few things to replace and clean. I'm already getting tired of reading labels. I even replaced some of my personal hygiene care for myself and the kids because they were either made with oats or not labeled gluten-free. I have already started feeling better but have made some mistakes along the way or have gotten contamination thrown into the mix. It's been hard! Today I joked that I got diagnosed at the worst time of the year with all the holidays coming up. I will just need to bring my own food to have and to share. It will be okay but different after years of eating "normally". Today I ordered in person at Chipotle and was trying not to feel self-conscious as the line got long because they were following food-allergy protocols. It's all worth it to be the healthiest version of myself for me and my family. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little overwhelmed and a little overloaded!  I am thankful for this community and I look forward to learning more from you all. I need the help, that's for sure!
    • knitty kitty
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      On the AIP diet, all processed foods are eliminated.  This includes gluten-free bread.  You'll be eating meats and vegetables, mostly.  Meats that are processed, like sausages, sandwich meats, bacons, chicken nuggets, etc., are eliminated as well.  Veggies should be fresh, or frozen without other ingredients like sauces or seasonings.  Nightshade vegetables (eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers) are excluded.  They contain alkaloids that promote a leaky gut and inflammation.  Dairy and eggs are also eliminated.   I know it sounds really stark, but eating this way really improved my health.  The AIP diet can be low in nutrients, and, with malabsorption, it's important to supplement vitamins and minerals.  
    • Yaya
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By Yaya · Posted

      Thank you for responding and for prayers.  So sorry for your struggles, I will keep you in mine.  You are so young to have so many struggles, mine are mild by comparison.  I didn't have Celiac Disease (celiac disease) until I had my gallbladder removed 13 years ago; at least nothing I was aware of.  Following surgery: multiple symptoms/oddities appeared including ridges on fingernails, eczema, hair falling out in patches, dry eyes, upset stomach constantly and other weird symptoms that I don't really remember.  Gastro did tests and endoscopy and verified celiac disease. Re heart: I was born with Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) and an irregular heartbeat, yet heart was extremely strong.  It was difficult to pick up the irregular heartbeat on the EKG per cardiologist.  I had Covid at 77, recovered in 10 days and 2 weeks later developed long Covid. What the doctors and nurses called the "kickoff to long Covid, was A-fib.  I didn't know what was going on with my heart and had ignored early symptoms as some kind of passing aftereffect stemming from Covid.  I was right about where it came from, but wrong on it being "passing".  I have A-fib as my permanent reminder of Covid and take Flecainide every morning and night and will for the rest of my life to stabilize my heartbeat.   
    • larc
      Does anyone here also have Afib

      By larc · Posted

      When I accidentally consume gluten it compromises the well-being of my heart and arteries. Last time I had a significant exposure, about six months ago, I had AFib for about ten days. It came on every day around dinner time. After the ten days or so it went away and hasn't come back.  My cardiologist offered me a collection of pharmaceuticals at the time.  But I passed on them. 
    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      So I should not eat my gluten free bread?  I will try the vitamins.  Thank you all so very much for your ideas and understanding.  I'm feeling better today and have gathered back my composure! Thank you kitty kitty   I am going to look this diet up right away.  And read the paleo diet and really see if I can make this a better situation then it currently is.  
×
×
  • 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.