Reflux Worse After Going gluten-free

[alexp]

I've been gluten-free for 7 days now. For the last 3 I have noticed that my reflux is worse and I seem to be burping more. I also have a gnawing ache in my stomach like hunger pains even right after I eat. I don't have an ulcer, at least not to my knowledge, I just had an upper GI this summer and all it showed was reflux. My theory is that maybe my stomach is used to producing so much acid to break down all the gluten and stuff, and now that it is not there I have even more excess. I don't know. So if someone could let me know what they think, or if someone has ever had this happen could let me know I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[key]

I am probably not much help as to why it is worse. SOmetimes people find that once they remove gluten, then they have trouble with dairy. Also, are you sure after a week that all the gluten is gone from your diet? Hidden sources or eating out? Most people react more violently to small amounts of gluten, once they go gluten free.

Monica

[alexp]

Yeah, I am almost one hundred percent sure that I am totally gluten-free. I have heard about the dairy thing though. Actually when I went to my doctor with stomach complaints, the first thing she said was to try and cut out dairy, which I never did. So maybe I will try that and see. Thanks

[Nantzie]

Sometimes when you cut out gluten you end up eating more of something else too, so you may want to just keep an eye out for something like that.

Definitely cut out dairy, it's very common for that to go along with gluten problems.

I also found that for the first month or two of being gluten-free, all of a sudden soy caused problems for me, which is another one of those things that are in just about everything nowadays. Margarine, peanut butter, vegetable oil (why don't they just call it soy oil if that's all that's in it).

The soy issue went away after a month or so. The dairy also goes away a lot of the time. It's the tips of the villi that make the enzyme that digests dairy, so after they grow back dairy can often be reintroduced.

Nancy

[Guest cassidy]

I had very bad reflux and now I only get it when I'm glutened. It usually lasts for up to 3 weeks when I am glutened. It gets better over that time but it is definitely there. When I went gluten-free it took me 2 weeks to feel better at all.

I don't think that you have been gluten-free long enough to draw any conclusions. It takes many people several weeks to fully recover from being glutened when they are gluten-free, so I'm sure it will take a while when you are just coming off of gluten. I've heard the damage takes 6 months to a year to heal and while you should feel better during that time I would think you will feel a lot better over the next few months.

Couple things that help me: first, I tried apple cider vinegar when I was at the end of my rope. I was on aciphex twice a day and it wasn't helping enough. The vinegar worked so I determined my problem was from too little acid. I couldn't stand drinking it so I got some apple cider vinegar capsules and they work just as well. Also, digestive enzymes help your body digest food. These make it easier on a system that is healing. Enzyemedica or something like that has digest gold which is also suppose to help with heartburn, you could try those.

Lastly, a food diary is great. I realized that potatoes, chocolate, tomatoes and oranges and preservatives and things like MSG. I went on a very natural diet of no processed foods and stayed away from those that bothered me.

Don't give up! Hopefully you will feel better soon.