I'm Sick Again...shampoo/medicine?

[SUZ42]

I've been gluten-free since 3/18. And feeling good most days. But in the past few days/week, maybe, I've been feeling like I did "before". Sad/down in the dumps, argumentative, cold, sleeping a lot, lower leg discomfort, abd discomfort, bloated/gassy and the brain fog, oh my. Anyway, I did three things at the same time around May 10th.

1. Started using Salon Selectives shampoo and conditioner (recently read the ingredients - wheat is listed).

2. Switched from Nexium to Prilosec OTC (same med, 1/2 the dose - gluten-free as far as I can tell, called a pharmacist who said "should be gluten-free.")

3. Doc cut my Cymbalta in half, from 60mg to 30mg.

Could be I need to continue with the full dose of Cymbalta, but that wouldn't cause abd discomfort/bloating.

Maybe the small amount of shampoo I am swallowing is finally effecting me? Try as I might, I can't avoid swallowing a little. I wash my hair everyday. Would it take that long to build up to a reaction?

I know my food has been gluten-free.

OR... Is it casein? I have been eating some in the form of cheese and sour cream occassionally. If a person is casein intolerant does it cause the same type of problems as eating gluten?

Any ideas? I'm stumped.

[jerseyangel]

I would say first, stop using that shampoo!

It only takes a minute amount of gluten to trigger a reaction, and just having the shampoo run down your face on your lips is enough to make you sick.

It happened to me early on when I didn't think that personal products mattered. When I stopped using my conditioner and hair gel with wheat protein, there was a marked difference.

I don't know what to say about the Cymbalta because I have no experience there--but if your symptoms are exactly like your former gluten symptoms, I would start there.

As for the dairy, it might be a good idea to leave them out, too, for a few months while you are healing. When you are feeing better, you can then try them again and see it you can tolerate them.

[jknnej]

Stop taking Prilosec right away! I too used it and was nauseated and sick all the time. I went to my doctor and told him how lousy I was feeling...he suggested stopping the Prilosec and I got better right away.

I know they say Nexium and Prilosec are similar and therefore Prilosec should not make you sick but something in it made me horribly sick.

I take Protonix now and have felt better than ever. Nexium is no longer covered by my insurance. I feel better on Protonix, anyway.

I also take Cymbalta, 30 mg a day. Cutting your dose could definitely give you the same symptoms you listed!!

So it's either the Prilosec or the Cymbalta. Try one at a time! And it wouldn't hurt to stop the shampoo, either.

[SUZ42]

Thank you for the replies. I'm starting with the shampoo/conditioner. I threw them away yesterday. BTW - it was Suave volumizing NOT Salon Selectives.

The meds will have to wait until I go back to the Doctor 7/3. I will ask for the Protonix. And if I'm not doing better I'll ask about increasing the Cymbalta back up to 60mg.

The rotten thing is I'm going on vacation in 2 weeks. We didn't go anywhere last year because I was so sick. Positive thinking is it will be the hair products and I'll perk back up before we go to Disney World.

[sspringer]

What ingredient is it in shampoo and toothpaste that we need to look out for?