Asthma? Yeast? Hot Flashes? Connected To Celiac?

[poet925]

Hi all. I am in the beginning of the process of getting evaluated for celiac. I have been having worsening problems with my asthma and worsening problems with recurrent bronchitis and recurrent vaginal yeast infections for the last few years, esp. this year with the yeast, sigh. I also for last 1.5 yrs or so have had what I think of as sort of "hot flashes" upon mild exertion -- I don't look flushed but my temperature does go up and I feel flushed, very warm, to the point that I'm standing in front of the fan (even if it is winter), bent down with my face in front of it and my shirt up to let the breeze hit as much of me as possible. Could these be CELIAC related? The powerpoint thing for newbies listed asthma and allergies as possible complications of celiac disease but I can't find anything further about that. Does anyone know of any articles on this site or elsewhere verifying the asthma connection or explaining it -- something I can take to my asthma doc or PCP maybe?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[wowzer]

I've never thought of asthma causing hot flashes. I am in the same boat, but I have gotten better since going gluten free. I do still take Singulair for asthma. I do sometimes have to use my rescue inhaler, but not as often now. I am back to hot flashes, but am thinking they could be from menopause now. I am 52. The flashes did go away when I went gluten free. I'm not sure if they are gluten related now since they are back. I am more sensitive to gluten now, but I don't eat it on purpose. I do battle the candida. It does seem to be a vicious circle. I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

[poet925]

I've never thought of asthma causing hot flashes. I am in the same boat, but I have gotten better since going gluten free. I do still take Singulair for asthma. I do sometimes have to use my rescue inhaler, but not as often now. I am back to hot flashes, but am thinking they could be from menopause now. I am 52. The flashes did go away when I went gluten free. I'm not sure if they are gluten related now since they are back. I am more sensitive to gluten now, but I don't eat it on purpose. I do battle the candida. It does seem to be a vicious circle. I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

I didn't mean that my asthma is causing hot flashes, just that I have both those things occurring. Holy cow now that I read my post, that IS what I said. What a typo! I meant could they be CELIAC related? I went back and fixed that, wouldn't want anyone else to be confused. lol BTW, Do your hot flashes seem to be triggered by mild exertion or do they just occur whenever the heck they feel like?

AS for yeast, I am seeing a gyne specialist in a couple of weeks. I've heard that a very low-carb, sugar free, sugar substitute free diet is helpful for many people but I myself have found that quite hard to follow for the long-term. I am considering trying again though. Having infections this often is nuts! I'll let ya know if the specialist says anything surprising or particularly useful.

[wowzer]

It seems like my hot flashes come whenever they feel like it. I was taking estradiol until March. I stopped and the flashes didn't happen until this last month. I also take synthroid for my thyroid. My levels didn't change at all since going gluten free. It is frustrating that is for sure.

[VioletBlue]

I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis about seven years ago. It was with me almost constantly. The mornings were the worst for the coughing. And when I'd have a major coughing fit my temperature would go up suddenly and drastically. About two years ago I started having hot flashes. My period became extremely irregular and unpredictable and the doctor called it early menopause.

I was diagnosed last December with Celiacs. Once I stopped eating gluten the bronchitis almost entirely went away. It does come back with a vengeance when I'm accidentally glutened or eat something else I'm allergic to. Cold weather also tends to make it worse, but it is not nearly as bad as it was when I was eating gluten and all those other things I've since come to realize I was allergic to.

The early menopause is apparently here to stay however. But the hot flashes have significantly reduced in frequency and temperature since going off gluten, and while my period is still irregular, going as long as four months without a period, my cycle is no longer the crazy wild insane schedule it once was. I was also severely anemic by the time I was diagnosed which had an effect on my cycle. I've also read that some Doctors believe untreated Celiac can bring on early menopause. Not that I mind, I was really done with the reproductive organs anyway, but it was making me feel old. Now that I have something I think I can blame early menopause on, I'm somehow comforted, go figure.

Violet

[wowzer]

I used to always get bronchitis as a child and also as an adult. I only went gluten free the beginning of the year. I do have asthma which I take Singulair for. I took estradiol because my gynecologist didn't want me to go into menopause. I quit taking it in March, when I found out they couldn't guarantee that it was gluten free. I didn't have side effects going off of it. Who knows maybe I wasn't absorbing it anyway. It seems like this is an endless puzzle!

[ravenwoodglass]

In myself these were clearly gluten related. I stopped taking my singulair along with all my other meds when I did my elimination diet and have never had to add them back in (or any other scripts for that matter). As to the hot flashes make sure if you are female that they check your hormone levels, my doctors refused to check and I turned out to have celiac related early menapause. Although my GYN told me that my periods might come back after I was finally diagnosed it was too late for me. My seemingly nonstop hot flashes did resolve gluten-free, and they did it pretty quickly. I still will occasionally get one but usually it is when glutened. I also lived my whole life with a chronic bronchitis diagnosis and since about 6 months into the diet I have not even had the sniffles let alone a cough. And I am still a smoker. It has now been 5 years and I do still have a few insignificant enviromental allergies but before I was diagnosed the allergist who saved my life found that I was allergic to everything he tested me for except beech trees. He said my immune system was in hyperdrive and was reacting to everything in and around me including my own tissues. It is still amazing to me how much gluten can wreck every system we have without our doctors even being a little bit aware.

[Centa]

As to the hot flashes make sure if you are female that they check your hormone levels, my doctors refused to check and I turned out to have celiac related early menapause. Although my GYN told me that my periods might come back after I was finally diagnosed it was too late for me. My seemingly nonstop hot flashes did resolve gluten-free, and they did it pretty quickly. I still will occasionally get one but usually it is when glutened.

I had this hot flash-perimenopause/menopause-celiac intersection in my life, too, just like ravenwoodglass.

For me the thing that improved my hot flashes and night sweats was sleep (good nighttime rest)...but that ties right back to celiac. Exercise definitely helps me sleep deeper, but the real key to permanent change was gluten. I got through the last year or so of the cessation of menses without either flashes or night sweats, not eating gluten.

There's a forum on the connection between celiac and sleep on this site.

Ravenswoodglass, except for those white socks on the back feet, I had a kitty identical to the one in your avatar...right down to the chic meatloaf shape.

[ravenwoodglass]

Ravenswoodglass, except for those white socks on the back feet, I had a kitty identical to the one in your avatar...right down to the chic meatloaf shape.

Aren't our fur buddies wonderful, Big Boy certainly hasn't lost any weight since he went gluten free but like his 'Mom' his temperment has improved. We affectionately call him 'No Neck Malone' but never anywhere that he can hear.

[wowzer]

The hard part of the menopause for me is I have MRKH. I was born without a uterus, so have never had a period. I had an ovary removed as an infant. The one I have does still ovulate. It just did a couple of days ago. I should have my hormone levels checked and see where I'm at. I meant to ask him the last time I was in there and forgot.

[~alex~]

I can only speak for the asthma and I haven't found much improvement with my asthma since I was diagnosed and went gluten-free. My asthma has never been severe though.

Interestingly, my (non celiac) fiance eats gluten-free with me and has seen significant improvement is his asthma. We're still trying to figure out if it's wheat that bothers his asthma, or the eggs which we also eliminated. So I definitely think eating gluten can relate to asthma. Other foods can also be culprits I think.

Yeast infections can happen when your immune system is stressed as in untreated Celiac. I got them in my mouth/throat a few times while recovering.

[Cherry Tart]

Through my 20's I experienced terrible hot flashes at night (thought I was going through "the change" a little early). I had bronchitis on and off most of my life and lingering asthma (I would wheeze most of the time - even after a puff off my inhaler). I was diagnosed at 30. After going gluten-free for a year, I noticed a huge difference. I didn't need my inhaler anymore and the hot flashes vanished. In addition, I have not had bronchitis in 4 years!

Don't fret, there is hope!

[grayton]

I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis about seven years ago. It was with me almost constantly. The mornings were the worst for the coughing. And when I'd have a major coughing fit my temperature would go up suddenly and drastically. About two years ago I started having hot flashes. My period became extremely irregular and unpredictable and the doctor called it early menopause.

I was diagnosed last December with Celiacs. Once I stopped eating gluten the bronchitis almost entirely went away. It does come back with a vengeance when I'm accidentally glutened or eat something else I'm allergic to. Cold weather also tends to make it worse, but it is not nearly as bad as it was when I was eating gluten and all those other things I've since come to realize I was allergic to.

The early menopause is apparently here to stay however. But the hot flashes have significantly reduced in frequency and temperature since going off gluten, and while my period is still irregular, going as long as four months without a period, my cycle is no longer the crazy wild insane schedule it once was. I was also severely anemic by the time I was diagnosed which had an effect on my cycle.

I've also read that some Doctors believe untreated Celiac can bring on early menopause. Not that I mind, I was really done with the reproductive organs anyway, but it was making me feel old. Now that I have something I think I can blame early menopause on, I'm somehow comforted, go figure.

Violet

Early menopause seems to run on my mother's side... interestingly enough so does Celiac! The more I read on Celiac the more I am amazed! I haven't been dx'd but feel sure I have it. I am in the process of having my son checked for it. Me next. I am 43, but have had night sweats for 15+ years. I started having hot flashes about two months ago. I am also anemic and doctors can't figure out why. I have other symptoms as well... fatigue, anxiety, stomach problems, diahrrea, gas, infertility. I have asked the drs to test me but they tell me I don't have Celiac. I think it is due to ingorance on their part. If I do have it it will explain alot of the symptoms I have.

[dionnek]

grayton, you sound just like me. I am 34 now, but my night sweats started about 10 years ago, and 4 years ago I stopped having a period, got bronchitis for the first time 2 years ago, and then was finally dx with celiac 1 1/2 years ago. The night sweats have gone away for me, but I still sweat excessively during the day (it might be from the new med I'm taking). I also have Hashimotos, so my thyroid is all screwed up (plus I just had my second child, so I'm a mess!).

Anyway, I think you should definitely get tested. I went to 7 doctors before one finally thought to test me for celiac, and of course he was right!