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):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

A Lady Thing

L.A.

By L.A.
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted

Good Morning: Do any of the other ladies out there experience tummy trouble with their period? It's seems since I have been gluten free, cramps etc upset my whole system. Any adcise would be helpful.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


stargazer Rookie
stargazer
Posted

I was diagnosed with Celiac in November. I had no problems with my periods at that time, but after being on the gluten free diet for a couple of months, I started having terrible cramps and pain before, during, and after my periods!! I only had a few days out of the month that I felt okay. The pain was similar to the scale of having contractions! Not only was the pain hard to deal with, but my periods started lasting for 15 days!! My doctor did cat scans and ultrasounds and couldn't find anything wrong with me. At a last resort, I went back on the Pill. It took a couple of months after being on the Pill, but now the pain (it is still there) is much, much less intense, and my periods are much shorter and not as heavy. I can't explain it, and neither can my doctor. I don't know why a gluten free diet could cause so much havoc in that area, when it does so good for my tummy! My whole system was turned upside down! I think I have it under control now. I hope you find a solution :)

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
I was diagnosed with Celiac in November. I had no problems with my periods at that time, but after being on the gluten free diet for a couple of months, I started having terrible cramps and pain before, during, and after my periods!! I only had a few days out of the month that I felt okay. The pain was similar to the scale of having contractions! Not only was the pain hard to deal with, but my periods started lasting for 15 days!! My doctor did cat scans and ultrasounds and couldn't find anything wrong with me. At a last resort, I went back on the Pill. It took a couple of months after being on the Pill, but now the pain (it is still there) is much, much less intense, and my periods are much shorter and not as heavy. I can't explain it, and neither can my doctor. I don't know why a gluten free diet could cause so much havoc in that area, when it does so good for my tummy! My whole system was turned upside down! I think I have it under control now. I hope you find a solution :)

Thanks! Maybe I should just get pregnant :lol:

melrobsings Contributor
melrobsings
Posted

yes and i get very gassy like an old lady and when i do stairs i'm passing gas with every step...

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
yes and i get very gassy like an old lady and when i do stairs i'm passing gas with every step...

Don't you just love this disease! :P

loraleena Contributor
loraleena
Posted

My cramps are worse gluten free. I wonder why?

Electra375 Newbie
Electra375
Posted

Maybe your thyroid has decided to give out on you???

Or your pitutitary glands???

I haven't noticed any of those kinds of changes, but I'm 6 mo PP. Have had very HEAVY bleeding (as in can't leave the house with a super plus tampon and pad on).

I have hypothyroidism, but when I say that I have to clarify the endo turned me away, my GYN gave me a script for Synthroid just 3 weeks ago. My TSH levels are normal, my T4 is a hair line within range on the low end.

Celiac is easy compared to thryoid and endocrine system problems.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
Maybe your thyroid has decided to give out on you???

Or your pitutitary glands???

I haven't noticed any of those kinds of changes, but I'm 6 mo PP. Have had very HEAVY bleeding (as in can't leave the house with a super plus tampon and pad on).

I have hypothyroidism, but when I say that I have to clarify the endo turned me away, my GYN gave me a script for Synthroid just 3 weeks ago. My TSH levels are normal, my T4 is a hair line within range on the low end.

Celiac is easy compared to thryoid and endocrine system problems.

Just had my thyroid checked and it was good. Never thought about the pituitary gland though--hmmm. Could be totally unrelated to my celiac disease and just a blip on the period radar map--who knows. But found it funny that the cramps seem to mess up my tummy.

covsooze Enthusiast
covsooze
Posted

Hormones do funny things to the tummy! When I was pregnant, my whole digestive system was a wreck (not just sickness, but increased IBS type symptoms etc). Don't know what to suggest really, but you have my sympathy :)

Susie x

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for your input "girlfriends" :D

bloatedntexas Rookie
bloatedntexas
Posted

i have always had horrible cramps, but i had it long before i went gluten free. i actually thought they were getting a little better once i started the diet. who knows? now i am confused. i thought bad cramps might have been linked to celiac disease in general. hmmmm...

sfm Apprentice
sfm
Posted
I was diagnosed with Celiac in November. I had no problems with my periods at that time, but after being on the gluten free diet for a couple of months, I started having terrible cramps and pain before, during, and after my periods!! I only had a few days out of the month that I felt okay. The pain was similar to the scale of having contractions! Not only was the pain hard to deal with, but my periods started lasting for 15 days!! My doctor did cat scans and ultrasounds and couldn't find anything wrong with me. At a last resort, I went back on the Pill. It took a couple of months after being on the Pill, but now the pain (it is still there) is much, much less intense, and my periods are much shorter and not as heavy. I can't explain it, and neither can my doctor. I don't know why a gluten free diet could cause so much havoc in that area, when it does so good for my tummy! My whole system was turned upside down! I think I have it under control now. I hope you find a solution :)

I had something similar happen to me after the birth of my son. It wasn't related to being gluten free, but the symptoms sound exactly the same. It lasted over a year, then gradually calmed down. I was having irregular periods - sometimes as close as 2 weeks apart - which lasted close to two weeks sometimes. Very painful cramping, very heavy bleeding, and digestive symptoms (gas and diarrhea). I was told by my doc that hormonal changes can be brought on by age as well as having children. Now I have a fairly normal monthly cycle again, but it was really freaky.

I'm just wondering if it's coincidental that it has started gluten free for you - or if maybe you notice the symptoms more because you aren't as uncomfortable in other ways as when you were eating gluten?

Sheryll

KAG Rookie
KAG
Posted

I get more digestive upset problems and more problems with gas when I am on my period. I did get more cramps when I started with a gluten free diet but after being gluten free for more than 5 years, the cramps diminished. I kinda think that your body needs a lot of time to heal after being bombarded with poison all those years.

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted

You seem young it's probably not an aging/life-change thing. But, you now have me wondering... I am a year gluten-free and my periods are wretched. Terrible cramps (I could describe some as early laborish), much PMS build-up, and extremely irregular. HOWEVER! I do know I am nearing menopause (I'm 49) Curious, though. Never had PMS before. Also, a glutening during the week before or of my period is catastrophic!

lisa

little d Enthusiast
little d
Posted

When I finally understood why I was getting D most of the time one of my nurses that I work with if I get D when Im on my period I said sometimes and she tried to tell me that the D was connected to my periods not to worry I told her no it may be connected but I get D all the time before during and after I get my periods. and on the same note I was alway regular, I had my daughter and was messed up on when I would start on time I thought that i was pregnat because I was 22 days late felt nauseas, not any interest in eating or it I did want to eat wanted to eat everything in sight which of cource made everything worse. I even went to my OBGYN and got my thyroid tested and that was fine, took two pregancy test at home and at the pregnacy clinic and negative I had finnally got my period after some sweeting some. now gluten free for a month now we will see if I get straightened out some and continue with my normal 28-30 days. I think that my Bleeding has been the same 2-3 days. Maybe a little on the light side sometime heavy nothing to complain about. I told the nurse that I work with about gluten intolerance and said that I don't think that my periods had anything to do with my D. If I have gluten while on my period then the D is pretty bad.

donna

darkangel Rookie
darkangel
Posted

Increased gut troubles around that time of the month are common. An explanation from Oprah's Web site:

Dr. Masterson has a single word of reasoning: hormones. "All women react differently to hormones," she says. "People don't realize that the hormones in our body control our temperature, women's temperature, around the time they ovulate. It's responsible for the acne around periods that people hate. Breast tenderness. It's responsible for so many things and our metabolism, slowing down the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach, that's why a lot of pregnant women will become constipated or have diarrhea because of those high hormone levels during pregnancy.

Again it's the same thing with the menstrual cycle. The ebb and the flow of hormones can cause constipation and diarrhea.

L.A. Contributor
L.A.
Posted
  • Author
You seem young it's probably not an aging/life-change thing. But, you now have me wondering... I am a year gluten-free and my periods are wretched. Terrible cramps (I could describe some as early laborish), much PMS build-up, and extremely irregular. HOWEVER! I do know I am nearing menopause (I'm 49) Curious, though. Never had PMS before. Also, a glutening during the week before or of my period is catastrophic!

lisa

My hubby says I act like I'm 20 but I'm really 47...so maybe it is the dreading "M" word :lol:

darkangel Rookie
darkangel
Posted

Anywhere from late 30s on up you're fair game for perimenopausal symptoms. Many women go through a period of wildly fluctuating hormonal levels before they hit menopause. I experienced a worsening of PMS symptoms - up to two weeks before my period, worse cramping during my period that lasted longer than it used to, night sweats, insomnia and a sex drive suddenly through the roof. I tried OTC progesterone creams, but ultimately ended up seeing my OB/Gyn who put me on low dose BC pills to stabilize my hormone levels.

oceangirl Collaborator
oceangirl
Posted

Just wanted to add, referring to the sub-title of this thread- Guys, if "you don't want to go here", maybe you'd better not go "there". Sorry, but, if we're having relationships, we'd better be able to handle all involved...

lisa

submarinerwife Newbie
submarinerwife
Posted

I have always had horrible horrible periods, so you have my sympathy and best wishes. However before going gluten-free I started going through an early M. I was only 28 at the time. Since being gluten-free I have started regulating again. Lots of changes to adjust to as the whole body heals. My mother however who NEVER had any PMS EVER (lucky woman!) started having severe cramps when she started going through M. Now that she is almost through with it all it is getting better, you may want to have your hormone levels checked for the begininning of the dreaded life change. Hope it is helpful and I am sorry to hear you are having to go through it. No fun at all.

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. Mari
      - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Related issues

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate...
    2. MogwaiStripe
      - MogwaiStripe replied to annamarie6655's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Airborne Gluten?

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Midwestern's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      16

      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes. HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc. Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to annamarie6655's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Airborne Gluten?

      Hello, @annamarie6655, Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten! Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten. I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store. The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions. I find the histamine release...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Butch68's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Guinness, can you drink it?

      This article may be helpful:
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,246
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    IRENEG6
    Newest Member
    IRENEG6
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Mari
      Related issues

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Jmartes, It sure is difficult to get useful advice from medical providers. Almost 20 years  ago a Dr suggested that I might have Celiacs and I took a Celiac Panel blood test. No gluten challenge diet. On that test the tTG was in normal range but an alpha antibody was very high. I went online and read about celiac disease and saw how I could investigate this low tTG and still have celiac disease. Normal tTG can happen when a person had been reacting for many years. Another way is that the person has not been eating enough gluten to raise the antibody level. Another reason is that the tTG does not show up on a blood but may show up on a fecal test. Almost all Celiacs inherit at least one of the 2 main Celiac genes. I had genetic tests for the Celiac genes at Enterolab.com. I inherited one main Celiac gene from one parent and the report said that the DQ gene I inherited from my other parent, DQ6, could cause a person to have more problems or symptoms with that combination. One of my grandmother's had fairly typical symptoms of Celiacs but the other grandmother had severe food intolerances. I seem to show some problems inherited from both grandmothers. Human physiology is very complex and researchers are just beginning to understand how different body systems interact.  If you have taken an autosomal DNA test you can download your raw data file and upload it to Prometheuw.com for a small fee and search for Celiac Disease. If you don't find any Cekiac genes or information about Celiac disease  you may not have autoimmune gluten intolerance because more than 99% of Celiacs have one or both of these genes.  PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW EHAT i HAVE DONE TO HELP WITH SYMPTOMS.  
    • MogwaiStripe
      Airborne Gluten?

      By MogwaiStripe · Posted

      I can't prove it, but I truly believe I have been glutened by airborne particles. I used to take care of shelter cats once per week at a pet store, and no matter how careful I was, I would get glutened each time even if I wore a mask and gloves and washed up well after I was done. I believe the problem was that because I'm short, I couldn't do the the tasks without getting my head and shoulders inside their cages, and so the particles from their food would be all over my hair and top of my shirt. Then I had to drive home, so even if I didn't get glutened right then, the particles would be in my car just waiting for me to get in the car so they could get blown into my face again. I gave up that volunteer gig and stopped getting glutened so often and at such regular intervals.
    • knitty kitty
      Gluten Issues and Vitamin D

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @MogwaiStripe, Vitamin D is turned into its activated forms by Thiamine.  Thiamine deficiency can affect Vitamin D activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14913223/ Thiamine deficiency affects HLA genes.  HLA genes code for autoimmune diseases like Celiac, Thyroiditis, Diabetes, etc.  Thiamine deficiency inside a cell triggers a toggle switch on the gene which in turn activates autoimmune diseases carried on the gene.  The reference to the study is in my blog somewhere.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll down to the drop down menu "Activities" and click on blogs.  
    • knitty kitty
      Airborne Gluten?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @annamarie6655, Yes, there's many of us who react to airborne gluten!   Yes, animal feed, whether for chickens or cats or dogs, can release airborne gluten.  I can get glutened from the bakery section at the grocery store.   The nose and mouth drain into the digestive system and can trigger systemic reactions.   I find the histamine release in response to airborne gluten will stuff up my sinuses and bother my eyes.  High histamine levels do cause anxiety and migraines.  The muscle spasms can be caused by high histamine, too.  The digestive system may not manifest symptoms without a higher level of gluten exposure.   Our bodies make an enzyme, DAO (diamine oxidase), to break down histamine.   Pyridoxine B 6, Cobalamine B12, Vitamin C, copper, zinc, and iron are needed to make DAO.  DAO supplements are available over the counter.  Taking a B Complex supplement and additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) helps reduce the amount of histamine being released.  Mast cells without sufficient Thiamine have an itchy trigger finger and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine helps mast cells refrain from releasing their histamine.    I find taking additional TTFD thiamine helps immensely with neurological symptoms as TTFD can easily cross the blood brain barrier without a carrier.  High histamine in the brain can cause the muscle spasms, anxiety and migraines.  Vitamin C really helps with clearing histamine, too.   The Digiorno pizza mystery reaction could have been caused by a reaction to the cheese.  Some people develop lactose intolerance.  Others react to Casein, the protein in dairy, the same as if to gluten because Casein resembles the molecular structure of gluten.  An enzyme used in some dairy products, microbial transglutaminase, causes a gluten reaction because it is the same as the tissue transglutaminase our bodies make except microbes make it.  Those tTg IgA blood tests to diagnose celiac disease measure tissue transglutaminase our bodies release as part of the autoimmune response to gluten.   You're doing great!  A Sherlock Holmes award to you for figuring out the connection between airborne gluten and animal feed!!!  
    • Scott Adams
      Guinness, can you drink it?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This article may be helpful:  
×
×
  • 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.