New To gluten-free With Questions

[stephanie19]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, and this is my first post. As background, I have tried gluten-free off and on for the past year or year and a half but haven't consistently been able to stick to it. I didn't really have any symptoms to begin with--I had just heard that a lot of people feel better when they're off gluten, and since I was in the process of improving my diet anyway, I thought I would give it a try. (Plus, I had some sort of "allergy" to wheat when I was a baby--but apparently not to rye--which I supposedly "outgrew," even though I've heard that's not possible, even if the symptoms go away. I don't know what the deal was with wheat being a problem but not rye.) I'm a college student, and when I was at school and totally responsible for my own food, I had no problem sticking with gluten-free. But when I came home for weekends/vacations every month or so, I would be surrounded by yummy gluten foods and just couldn't resist. As soon as I returned to my apartment, I immediately switched back to gluten-free and felt great.

This off-and-on experience raised several questions that you all might know the answers to from your experience:

First, I have a harder and harder time keeping myself from eating it. It's like I'm addicted! Is this a normal reaction to have if you're gluten sensitive?

Second, it seems like each time I go off of gluten-free, I notice more problems. Within the last few weeks, I've started experiencing join pain in my hands/wrists and feet/ankles and jaw, more bloating, headaches, this weird garlicky/yeasty body odor, red bumps on my skin, having a harder time concentrating, and just feeling less energetic. Is it normal to get progressively worse like this? It's weird that I had no problems before I started this whole experiment--did I create a problem I didn't have when I started?

That raises a general question that I've thought of from my own experience and from reading posts about people who develop new food sensitivies, like soy, after they go gluten-free. Am I correct with this observation? It seems like cutting out gluten creates new problems, either making symptoms from gluten sensitivity worse, or bringing about new sensitivities.

The fact that I've developed new symptoms has helped me make up my mind that starting tomorrow, I'm going to commit to cutting out gluten for the long-term. The hand pain especially is distressing, since I'm a trombone player, and the worsening pain is preventing me from being able to play. I don't know if it's caused by gluten, since I've never been diagnosed, but I figure it's worth a try. (By the way, do you think it's worth being tested by Enterolab even though it's so expensive?) How long do you think I need to be gluten-free faithfully in order to see a difference, if it's going to make a difference?

Since I've tried gluten-free before, it's not totally new to me, although I'm sure there are some things I'll discover that I've been doing wrong. It's the long-term commitment that's scary to me--like I said, I feel like such a gluten junkie, I don't know how I'm going to do it! I'm also vegan, so it can be hard coming up with ideas of things to eat (especially if I end up with new sensitivities, like corn, yeast, soy, etc., as some seem to do...).

Thanks,

Stephanie

[NoGluGirl]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum, and this is my first post. As background, I have tried gluten-free off and on for the past year or year and a half but haven't consistently been able to stick to it. I didn't really have any symptoms to begin with--I had just heard that a lot of people feel better when they're off gluten, and since I was in the process of improving my diet anyway, I thought I would give it a try. (Plus, I had some sort of "allergy" to wheat when I was a baby--but apparently not to rye--which I supposedly "outgrew," even though I've heard that's not possible, even if the symptoms go away. I don't know what the deal was with wheat being a problem but not rye.) I'm a college student, and when I was at school and totally responsible for my own food, I had no problem sticking with gluten-free. But when I came home for weekends/vacations every month or so, I would be surrounded by yummy gluten foods and just couldn't resist. As soon as I returned to my apartment, I immediately switched back to gluten-free and felt great.

This off-and-on experience raised several questions that you all might know the answers to from your experience:

First, I have a harder and harder time keeping myself from eating it. It's like I'm addicted! Is this a normal reaction to have if you're gluten sensitive?

Second, it seems like each time I go off of gluten-free, I notice more problems. Within the last few weeks, I've started experiencing join pain in my hands/wrists and feet/ankles and jaw, more bloating, headaches, this weird garlicky/yeasty body odor, red bumps on my skin, having a harder time concentrating, and just feeling less energetic. Is it normal to get progressively worse like this? It's weird that I had no problems before I started this whole experiment--did I create a problem I didn't have when I started?

That raises a general question that I've thought of from my own experience and from reading posts about people who develop new food sensitivies, like soy, after they go gluten-free. Am I correct with this observation? It seems like cutting out gluten creates new problems, either making symptoms from gluten sensitivity worse, or bringing about new sensitivities.

The fact that I've developed new symptoms has helped me make up my mind that starting tomorrow, I'm going to commit to cutting out gluten for the long-term. The hand pain especially is distressing, since I'm a trombone player, and the worsening pain is preventing me from being able to play. I don't know if it's caused by gluten, since I've never been diagnosed, but I figure it's worth a try. (By the way, do you think it's worth being tested by Enterolab even though it's so expensive?) How long do you think I need to be gluten-free faithfully in order to see a difference, if it's going to make a difference?

Since I've tried gluten-free before, it's not totally new to me, although I'm sure there are some things I'll discover that I've been doing wrong. It's the long-term commitment that's scary to me--like I said, I feel like such a gluten junkie, I don't know how I'm going to do it! I'm also vegan, so it can be hard coming up with ideas of things to eat (especially if I end up with new sensitivities, like corn, yeast, soy, etc., as some seem to do...).

Thanks,

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

Yes, you are addicted to gluten! It is common to be addicted to what you are allergic to! Isn't it scary? It is true many people with multiple food intolerances do not discover the others until they have been gluten free for a while. I may have others, as a matter of fact. Symptoms can progress with time. They do tend to worsen. You may not have muscle and joint pain in the beginning, only gastric distress. This varies from person to person. Of course, there is a possibility that you had the symptoms before but were just used to them. So, you did not notice them as much until you went back to eating gluten after being on the gluten-free diet for a while.

The yeasty/garlicky body odor is likely due to a yeast infestation. I have body odor like that. I have been on a lot of antibiotics throughout my life, along with steroids for asthma, and birth control for ovarian cysts. That is a trifecta of doom for bringing about an overgrowth of Candida. I have an essay I would be more than happy to e-mail you. Just PM me with your e-mail, and I will send it in an attachment.

Being vegan can make this more difficult to follow. However, some good news is that I was longing for Chinese food ingredients. When I did my search, I found out Mori-Nu has a number of gluten-free products. All Mori-Nu Silken Tofu (8 varieties)

Mori-Nu Mates Chocolate Pudding Mix (Chocolate, Lemon Creme, and Vanilla)

I hope this helps!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[mftnchn]

Hi Stephanie,

Yes it is really difficult to adjust to and stick to this diet! For me, convinced that I may be celiac and reading about what damage it does to my body scared me into a commitment to a long-term attempt--at least to see what happens with my health.

I am 3+ weeks into gluten-free. There are lots of treats that are really good and I don't feel too deprived as yet. But you have to make them or find them and that takes time and effort. The gluten-free peanut butter cookies are great and easy to make!

What I have gleaned from this forum is that yes, things can get worse before they get better. That is the case for me too. I only have one symptom (the one I started trying to find an answer for) that has improved a bit but it is not consistent. Other symptoms have come on or worsened. I read an older post earlier today that explained that if you want to feel better faster, being more strict is what will help. Apparently everyone has to go through the period where they are more sensitive to things, eventually when you heal, you become less sensitive. But it takes time. And some people feel good right away, but many don't feel better for months.

I think if you are strict and these new symptoms go away, that's a good sign that you should stick with it.

Good luck!

[Kellygirl]

I agree you will get worse before you get better. My bloated marshmellow body also agrees with this statement. It is almost like my body is rebelling against the diet, my body is mad and it is acting out. I will stick with it and endure the bloating abdominal area and the pimple and the numb hands when I go to bed because despite all of that, I am off my stomache pills and I am off the pills for IBS, panic attacks are gone and I am not waking up in the middle of the night with the grating pain inbetween my ribs.

I think my hormones are in distress because I was usually so routine, and I haven't got myself in a routine with the gluten free food yet. I think it is possible for you to sense more issues when your body has been on again off again with gluten mainly because it is quite possible you had these problems mildly before and just didn't notice them. Now that you are routine until your gluten binges, your body is more sensitive and in touch with what it normal eats, so it's acting out.

I am not doctor, but that is my amature opinion.

Kelly

[NoGluGirl]

Dear Stephanie,

I went gluten-free 8 months ago. I had such severe reflux that I was taking two Prilosecs daily and still having to sleep sitting practically straight up. Now, I actually have times where not only can I skip my second pill, but can lie flat to sleep! It is like a miracle. That is on top of the stomach bloating and cramping in the colon. I had these poking pains in my stomach all over. The nausea was unbearable to the point I was at that pre-gag stage most of the time. I could not go to the dentist or the doctor hardly due to its severity. Within three days of going gluten-free, I began to notice the change. I did not have withdrawal. I have not been tempted to cheat. I miss flavorful pizza and chinese takeout. However, I found out ingredients I could make at home. Homemade Chinese is the most authentic anyway. I also was surprised to learn some of the things on the market we could have.

Who knew Dinty Moore Beef Stew or Turkey Spam was safe? I would never make it as a vegetarian. I get sick if I do not have meat.

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl