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
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,918
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Dizzyma
    Newest Member
    Dizzyma
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celic.com community @Dizzyma! I'm assuming you are in the U.K. since you speak of your daughter's celiac disease blood tests as "her bloods".  Has her physician officially diagnosed her has having celiac disease on the results of her blood tests alone? Normally, if the ttg-iga blood test results are positive, a follow-up endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining to check for damage would be ordered to confirm the results of "the bloods". However if the ttg-iga test score is 10x normal or greater, some physicians, particularly in the U.K., will dispense with the endoscopy/biopsy. If there is to be an endoscopy/biopsy, your daughter should not yet begin the gluten free diet as doing so would allow healing of the small bowel lining to commence which may result in a biopsy finding having results that conflict with the blood work. Do you know if an endoscopy/biopsy is planned? Celiac disease can have onset at any stage of life, from infancy to old age. It has a genetic base but the genes remain dormant until and unless triggered by some stress event. The stress event can be many things but it is often a viral infection. About 40% of the general population have the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% actually develop celiac disease. So, for most, the genes remain dormant.  Celiac disease is by nature an autoimmune disorder. That is to say, gluten ingestion triggers an immune response that causes the body to attack its own tissues. In this case, the attack happens in he lining of the small bowel, at least classically, though we now know there are other body systems that can sometimes be affected. So, for a person with celiac disease, when they ingest gluten, the body sends attacking cells to battle the gluten which causes inflammation as the gluten is being absorbed into the cells that make up the lining of the small bowel. This causes damage to the cells and over time, wears them down. This lining is composed of billions of tiny finger-like projections and which creates a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients from the food we eat. This area of the intestinal track is where all of our nutrition is absorbed. As these finger-like projections get worn down by the constant inflammation from continued gluten consumption before diagnosis (or after diagnosis in the case of those who are noncompliant) the efficiency of nutrient absorption from what we eat can be drastically reduced. This is why iron deficiency anemia and other nutrient deficiency related medical problems are so common in the celiac population. So, to answer your question about the wisdom of allowing your daughter to consume gluten on a limited basis to retain some tolerance to it, that would not be a sound approach because it would prevent healing of the lining of her small bowel. It would keep the fires of inflammation smoldering. The only wise course is strict adherence to a gluten free diet, once all tests to confirm celiac disease are complete.
    • Dizzyma
      Newly diagnosed mam to coeliac 11 year old

      By Dizzyma · Posted

      Hi all, I have so many questions and feel like google is giving me very different information. Hoping I may get some more definite answers here. ok, my daughter has been diagnosed as a coeliac as her bloods show anti TTG antibodies are over 128. We have started her  on a full gluten free diet. my concerns are that she wasn’t actually physically sick on her regular diet, she had tummy issues and skin sores. My fear is that she will build up a complete intolerance to gluten and become physically sick if she has gluten. Is there anything to be said for keeping a small bit of gluten in the diet to stop her from developing a total intolerance?  also, she would be an anxious type of person, is it possible that stress is the reason she has become coeliac? I read that diagnosis later in childhood could be following a sickness or stress. How can she have been fine for the first 10 years and then become coeliac? sorry, I’m just very confused and really want to do right by her. I know a coeliac and she has a terrible time after she gets gluttened so just want to make sure going down a total gluten free road is the right choice. thank you for any help or advise xx 
    • xxnonamexx
      Fermented foods, Kefir, Kombucha?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      very interesting thanks for the info  
    • Florence Lillian
      gluten free cookie recipes

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      More cookie recipes ...thanks so much for the heads-up Scott.  One can never have too many.  Cheers, Florence.
    • Russ H
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Russ H · Posted

      Hi Charlie, You sound like you have been having a rough time of it. Coeliac disease can cause a multitude of skin, mouth and throat problems. Mouth ulcers and enamel defects are well known but other oral conditions are also more common in people with coeliac disease: burning tongue, inflamed and swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, redness and crusting in the mouth corners, and dry mouth to name but some. The link below is for paediatric dentistry but it applies to adults too.  Have you had follow up for you coeliac disease to check that your anti-tTG2 antibodies levels have come down? Are you certain that you not being exposed to significant amounts of gluten? Are you taking a PPI for your Barrett's oesophagus? Signs of changes to the tongue can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron, B12 and B9 (folate) deficiency. I would make sure to take a good quality multivitamin every day and make sure to take it with vitamin C containing food - orange juice, broccoli, cabbage etc.  Sebaceous hyperplasia is common in older men and I can't find a link to coeliac disease.   Russ.   Oral Manifestations in Pediatric Patients with Coeliac Disease – A Review Article
×
×
  • 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.