Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Join Our eNewsletter:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Do You Think Onset Of Acute Bout Of Celiac Disease Is Triggered By Exercise?

sandylulu

By sandylulu
in Sports and Fitness

Recommended Posts

sandylulu Newbie
sandylulu
Posted

Hi all,

I was just diagnosed with celiac disease today, after going to my docter for having acute, severe abdominal cramping that started about an hour after a strenuous tennis match. The cramps lasted for approx an hour, then subsided. I then got them again after a match I played 2 days later, and then the cramps just stayed in mild, chronic form for the next 2 weeks. I feel a little better now. The puzzling thing is that the cramping was triggered by the exercise, but I can find no evidence that Celiac is triggered by exercise. What are your thoughts/Knowledge?

Sandylulu

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


BRUMI1968 Collaborator
BRUMI1968
Posted

INteresting. Malabsorption of nutrients needed to avoid muscle cramping maybe? Not sure. Anyway, glad you got diagnosed, and can start eating right. Good luck to you.

Emily Elizabeth Enthusiast
Emily Elizabeth
Posted

That's really interesting. I never really thought about it, but both times in my life that I was really feeling the symptoms were when I was exercising strenuously (and losing weight). Like Bully4U said, it probably has to do with the malabsorption of nutrients and our bodies reacting because we need even more nutrients when we exercise. Also I think when we have symptoms of D then we are already more dehydrated then we should be and exercise will only cause us to need more water. Very interesting post! Thanks!

Emily

Hi all,

I was just diagnosed with celiac disease today, after going to my docter for having acute, severe abdominal cramping that started about an hour after a strenuous tennis match. The cramps lasted for approx an hour, then subsided. I then got them again after a match I played 2 days later, and then the cramps just stayed in mild, chronic form for the next 2 weeks. I feel a little better now. The puzzling thing is that the cramping was triggered by the exercise, but I can find no evidence that Celiac is triggered by exercise. What are your thoughts/Knowledge?

Sandylulu

Teacher1958 Apprentice
Teacher1958
Posted
Hi all,

I was just diagnosed with celiac disease today, after going to my docter for having acute, severe abdominal cramping that started about an hour after a strenuous tennis match. The cramps lasted for approx an hour, then subsided. I then got them again after a match I played 2 days later, and then the cramps just stayed in mild, chronic form for the next 2 weeks. I feel a little better now. The puzzling thing is that the cramping was triggered by the exercise, but I can find no evidence that Celiac is triggered by exercise. What are your thoughts/Knowledge?

Sandylulu

There weren't any suspect ingredients in your sports drink, were there?

sandylulu Newbie
sandylulu
Posted
  • Author
There weren't any suspect ingredients in your sports drink, were there?

During the first match I ate a Power Bar, and the second match I drank Gatorade. I think Gatorade is safe, but I am assuming that the power bar is not. I have eaten Power Bars for years with no problems.

It is interesting to consider the malabsorption of nutrients as a culprit for the cramping, as well as dehydration. I have made a conscious effort to hydrate, including adding more salt to my drinks/water, and the last two times I have exercised, the cramps were not as bad.

I appreciate the replies. Thanks--

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

What power bar did you eat?

I believe all of these have gluten in them - at the very least, oats.

DingoGirl Enthusiast
DingoGirl
Posted

Interesting, but I would suspect either dehydration or gluten also.....I lifted weights (excessively and intensely ) for 20 years, and was a very serious technical rock climber, and never had anything like that. Intestinal problems, for me, didn't start until the last 4 - 5 years, and I'd given up climbing and strenuous weights by then......

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 1 month later...
NWLAX36Mom Rookie
NWLAX36Mom
Posted

I never had a lot of the digestive symptoms associated with celiac. However, during the times I was dealing with intestional problems, I found that I would sometimes get "runner's diarrhea" triggered by an intense or long run.

I also lift weights regularly, swim, and do the other cardio machines in the gym but none of those activities has ever caused problems for me.

I definitely feel so much better when I am getting my exercise!

KMW Newbie
KMW
Posted

This is a very interesting question and I tend to agree with some of the answers - during strenuous exercise while you are malnourished your body cannot handle the exertion. I was diagnosed after I had begun bicycle training. I was seeing stars and feeling faint while biking and, finally, all day long. I discovered that I was severely anemic. We eventually discovered that the anemia was due to celiac disease. I feel that exercise saved my life because if I hadn

  • 1 year later...
glutenfreebaker Newbie
glutenfreebaker
Posted
Hi all,

I was just diagnosed with celiac disease today, after going to my docter for having acute, severe abdominal cramping that started about an hour after a strenuous tennis match. The cramps lasted for approx an hour, then subsided. I then got them again after a match I played 2 days later, and then the cramps just stayed in mild, chronic form for the next 2 weeks. I feel a little better now. The puzzling thing is that the cramping was triggered by the exercise, but I can find no evidence that Celiac is triggered by exercise. What are your thoughts/Knowledge?

Sandylulu

Celiac isn't something that's triggered. It's not like a migraine or back pain. It's there all the time! If you eat the wrong food.. ie something with gluten in it. You will feel the effects of your disease otherwise it just stays there being pretty much harmless.

  • 3 weeks later...
Tinku Newbie
Tinku
Posted

If you have just been diagnosed, then it will take a long time for your body to fully recover.

The only way to speed that up is to not take chances with anything you eat. My gluten reactions last up to 4 days.

I think the cramping is most likely due to your power bar - if it didn't contain Oats it must have been cross contaminated.

Eat LARABAR, KIND or any other expensive bar from the health food store that is made in a Gluten Free facility. If you are on a budget, go for raw nuts and bananas for energy. Nearly all processed food carries a risk for us so be sure to read labels.

  • 2 weeks later...
LuvMoosic4life Collaborator
LuvMoosic4life
Posted

yes, i think excercise does trigger the symptoms of celiac to come forth. Excercise is obviously really good for the body, but depending on the intensity and impact on the body, it can also be a stress. Research shows that people can be born with the celiac genes, but never have it "activated" or triggered until later in life. Stress and traumatic events can effect the body and trigger the deteriorating symptoms of celiac to come on. (sorry if this all isn't completley "on key" I'm just going by what I've read heard! I'm not a doctor! LOL)

I never started having really bad digestive problems until around age 17. I started running when I was 16. When I was 17 my dad died from suicide, a obvious stress on my body....but I also started running more and doing distance running after the event. It was one of my ways of coping... after I intoduced more distance running I started getting D and cramping during the runs. It got to a point where a few years later it would disrupt almost every run. I was so happy when I had days where I went running D FREE!!!

I always notieced my other symptoms like gas and bloating were much better on the days I took off from running or did shorter distances...but they never completely went away until I went gluten/dairy/soy free...which of course took me a long time to figure out!!

So yeah, i think it definitly agrevates the symptoms!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to yellowstone's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      Has someone experienced discrimination because of their illness?

      Regarding the discrimination you asked about, it is a lot more easy now to discriminate when you're supposed to answer whether or not you have celiac disease on job applications, and from what I've seen, MANY companies now include this question on their applications:
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams commented on Scott Adams's article in Spring 2026 Issue
      2

      When Home Isn't Safe: Celiac Disease, Cross-Contamination, and the Right to a Gluten-Free Space

      It's too bad relationships end because of this disease, but I suppose that being healthy may be more important than being married or living with someone who isn't on board with the gluten-free diet.
    3. Flash1970
      - Flash1970 commented on Scott Adams's article in Spring 2026 Issue
      2

      When Home Isn't Safe: Celiac Disease, Cross-Contamination, and the Right to a Gluten-Free Space

      This is a huge topic. My ex husband didn't care. Even though I had my own area where his food wasn't allowed, I'd find crumbs. I was always constantly cleaning. I threw a lot of food away because I wouldn't be sure if he had contaminated it. It really showed what a narcissistic person he was and is. Now I'm in my own home. Much better. I do have dogs...
    4. Russ H
      - Russ H posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      0

      Fiber-Metabolizing Bacteria Could Boost Gut Health in Celiac Disease

      People with coeliac disease have an altered gut biome compared with those who do not, which may be associated with gut inflammation. Although the gut biome recovers on a gluten-free diet, there are still significant differences at 2 years. In a mouse model of coeliac disease, supplementation with the soluble dietary fibre, inulin, increased the number...
    5. suek54
      - suek54 replied to Ginger38's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      46

      Shaking/Tremors and Off Balance

      Hi Ginger38 Well done you for pushing through the pain barrier of eating gluten, when you know each mouthful is making you poorly. I went through the same thing not long ago, my biopsy was for dermatitis herpetiformis. Result positive, so 95% certain I have gut coeliacs too. But my bloods were negative, so very pleased I went for the gluten challenge...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,941
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Sensible
    Newest Member
    Sensible
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Has someone experienced discrimination because of their illness?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Regarding the discrimination you asked about, it is a lot more easy now to discriminate when you're supposed to answer whether or not you have celiac disease on job applications, and from what I've seen, MANY companies now include this question on their applications:  
    • Russ H
      Fiber-Metabolizing Bacteria Could Boost Gut Health in Celiac Disease

      By Russ H · Posted

      People with coeliac disease have an altered gut biome compared with those who do not, which may be associated with gut inflammation. Although the gut biome recovers on a gluten-free diet, there are still significant differences at 2 years. In a mouse model of coeliac disease, supplementation with the soluble dietary fibre, inulin, increased the number of beneficial microbes and reduced gut inflammation. Inulin is used by some plants as carbohydrate store, it is a complex polymer of fructose in the same way that starch is a complex polymer of glucose. Inulin cannot be digested by humans but serves as food source for some gut bacteria. Inulin is present in many vegetables but the richest sources are (g/100g): chicory root 41.6 Jerusalem artichoke 18.0 dandelion greens 13.5 garlic 12.5 leeks 6.5 onions 4.3 The Scientist: Fiber-Metabolizing Bacteria Could Boost Gut Health in Celiac Disease    
    • suek54
      Shaking/Tremors and Off Balance

      By suek54 · Posted

      Hi Ginger38 Well done you for pushing through the pain barrier of eating gluten, when you know each mouthful is making you poorly.  I went through the same thing not long ago, my biopsy was for dermatitis herpetiformis. Result positive, so 95% certain I have gut coeliacs too. But my bloods were negative, so very pleased I went for the gluten challenge and biopsy.  Hang on in there. Sue
    • Scott Adams
      Has someone experienced discrimination because of their illness?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      When symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or low energy change how we interact, others sometimes misinterpret that as disinterest, rudeness, or negativity—especially if they don’t understand the underlying condition. That doesn’t make their behavior okay, though. You don’t deserve to be treated poorly for something outside your control. Often, it reflects a lack of awareness or empathy on their part, not a fault in you. It can help to explain your condition to people you trust, but it’s also completely valid to set boundaries and distance yourself from those who respond with hostility. Your experience—and your reaction to it—makes sense. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      HLA-DQ2 POSITIVE it's nothing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Being HLA-DQ2 positive doesn’t diagnose celiac disease by itself, but it does mean he has the genetic potential for it, so it absolutely deserves careful follow-up if symptoms or concerns are present. You’re right that celiac is often downplayed, but it’s a serious autoimmune condition—not an allergy—and it can affect the brain, nervous system, and overall health if untreated. Given everything your son has been through, you’re doing the right thing by advocating and asking questions. I would strongly recommend getting a full copy of his records, and if possible, consulting a gastroenterologist who understands celiac disease well so you can get clear answers and, if needed, proper testing and monitoring.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.