Is There A Connection?/female Question

[Ryniev]

I've always had horrible, miserable periods with the most painful cramps ever. I've been off gluten for about 2 months now and when I had my last period, I barely even noticed. I had slight cramps, didn't need to dose myself up with Ibuprofen and take to my bed and the mild cramps were gone in about 12 hours as opposed to the usual 48. I wasn't mean and crabby, I wasn't bloated, I didn't have a lower backache, nothing.

In the past, my OB/GYN has prescribed medicine including anti-depressants, tested for fibroids and even suggested a hysteryctomy if it really bother me that much (no thanks). If tried fish oils, evening primorose oil and other natural stuff and nothing has EVER helped. EVER. Until I gave up gluten.

In short, for the first time in 27 years (minus pregnancy and breastfeeding) I didn't have to practically stop my life because of my period.

Anyone else experience anything like this? It was nothing short of a miracle for me. Could there possibly be a connection?

[BRUMI1968]

I think that when I quit wheat and dairy two years ago, I noticed a change in my periods - even easier than before (I've been blessed with "barely" periods for some time now). Lately I've been getting BAD cramps for the first day (I'm a bit over a year gluten-free) -- but it could be the amount of eggs I'm eating. I once read a theory about how women should not eat the reproductive byproducts of other animals. So this month I'm going to experiment with the egg thing and stop eating them the week before my period.

Also, when I first went gluten-free, I thought my periods actually increased in flow a little bit the first two or three days. I thought it might be hormones evening out. But now they are back to practically nada...so much so that I can't use tampons.

Anyway. Yahoo for you! Periods shoudl not be miserable...they are supposed to be a miracle. Maybe living in a culture that frames them as punishment and a curse adds to our problems.

-Sherri

[Rosewynde]

I'd been wondering if there was a connection too. My flu like problems seem to get worse the week before I start my period and only start getting better a day or two after. Supposedly from what I've read, when Celiac's Disease shows up latter in your life it's usually triggered by pregnancy, a flu virus, or some other major stress. Maybe the hormone swing and stress of periods affects it too. I'm not a doctor though so this is pure guesswork on my part ; D