Is This Normal?

[Mj25]

I was just recently diagnosed with celiac disease in March. I have been on the gluten free diet for a month as of yesterday (May 1) and have been experiencing muscle spasms all over my body and I mean all over! I have also had several bouts where I get very shaky, dizzy, nauseous and feel very weak. I was previously told that I am hypoglycemic but usually if I eat something sweet when I feel like that it goes away and this doesn't go away no matter what I eat. I have to just lay down and rest and it is the worst feeling. Also, I have had this DH rash all over my body for a week now and it will not go away. Is all this normal? Is there anyway to get rid of this rash or at least soothe it somewhat? It is driving me crazy.

[Ursa Major]

Several things come to mind when you talk about muscle cramps, weakness and dizziness. The muscle cramps could be caused by a magnesium deficiency. The weakness could be an iron deficiency/anemia. You could also have adrenal fatigue.

My suggestion is, to see your doctor and demand (nicely ) to be tested for nutritional deficiencies, since those are extremely common with celiac disease. The reason of course is, that your intestines can't absorb certain nutrients when your villi are damaged.

You need to be tested for magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, ferritin (iron), hemoglobin, vitamins B12 and B6 and vitamin K (if I forgot something, others please chime in).

You should also have a bone density test done, as even children can have osteoporosis because of celiac disease already.

[pedro]

HI Mj25

My daugther suffers from the rashes. We got a natural soap that contains vit E as long as the soap Does Not contain gluten.

I experienced the muscle spasms and cramps all over my body, they usually attack at in the middle of the night. When I started the gluten-free diet 5 weeks ago. I try to take lots fluid everyday to flush my system, and please don't forget to take vitamins. The feeling of shaky, dizzy, nauseous, weak, has dissapear for me.

I hope you get better, best regards to you.

[loco-ladi]

Well, once upon a time I had a foster child with juvenille asthma and not wanting him to be dependant on medicine we both looked into natural things to do that would help....

One thing was increasing the magnesium intake, so I will admit when he found out that it meant more leafy green veggies he was dumbstruck, I believe his exact words were "EEEWWWWWWWW... theres NO way I will eat lettuce or spinich" we ended up striking a deal, he only had to eat 1 leafy green veggie a week at a meal if he learned how to take a magesium suppliment..... never seen a kid so eager to learn to swallow a pill in my life!

p.s. he absolutely loves spinich now(dont think thats spelled right but i cant do no better today i guess)

[DestinyLeah]

Another thought- your muscles cannot function correctly without potassium, neither can your brain. It is the 'lube' that makes the signals from nerves transition smoothly. The other thing you would notice in this case is a rapid or odd heartbeat, where beats are either skipped or added where they shouldn't be.

Definitely get tested for deficiencies, as well as for white count. High white count along with these symptoms usually means a lot of inflammation, and in order to treat a deficiency, you would need to know which ones you have. Besides, Rx supplements could be needed if you are severely under the necessary amount. a month later, and I'm still on horse-pill potassium supplements. I just don't absorb anything anymore!

[sunshinen]

I would also question whether you are accidentally still getting gluten. It took me about 6 months to really learn the diet.

When I was diagnosed, I had reached the point where it was very hard to bring my sugars back up. I think this is because it gets to where we just aren't absorbing or adequately processing either the fat/proteins that help balance sugar levels or the sugar to actually bring the levels back up. For several months, I had to really eat lots of snacks throughout the day.

I also took a lot of supplements to build my body back up, including vitamins, minerals, and adrenal and immune system support.