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

Running Exacerbates Symptoms...?!


Lux

Recommended Posts

Lux Explorer

Hi,

I was wondering - has anyone had the experience wherein running, or any kind of high impact exercise has actually exacerbated their symptoms? I know this sounds strange, but it seems that after I work out, I feel great for about three hours - and then my bloating seems to come back with a vengeance (worse than prior to getting on the treadmill!)

I am so baffled by this. Other forms of (low impact) exercise, such as walking and yoga, don't appear to have the same effect.

Mind you, I have really only experienced several days gluten free at a time since being diagnosed. But I am absolutely certain it was not due to a dietary mishap (at least not the first time I had a symptom relapse).

I thought I was being so careful.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



sickchick Community Regular

No you aren't imagining things that happens to me and I exercize every day.

I am not sure what the specifics are as to WHY it happens, but it does :blink::P

NorthernElf Enthusiast

Hmm, I don't have this problem but then maybe it depends on what your symptoms are ? Mine are usually the aches & pains (which exercise helps), the sinus issues, and headache. I do get gut cramping and some bathroom issues, but usually a delayed reaction. I could certainly see that if you are one of those folks who must seek out a bathroom immediately, it could be a problem !

For me, exercise HELPS considerably when I've been glutened...but I am very careful what I eat so most of my glutenings are miniscule or cross contamination. Oh, and I run in the early am, before I even eat.

  • 3 weeks later...
blishter Newbie

Maybe this could be related to the famous 'runner's runs'? I just read an article regarding a study where they found that probiotics helped with those sorts of symptoms.

I've noticed myself that I sometimes have soft stools when I've had an intense workout, and wondered if it could be related to the above mentioned runner's problem - and recently increased my intake of yogurt to see if there's a change.

  • 1 month later...
Guest hightop girl

I have that problem after almost all runs, but not bike rides or swims. GI cramping, the runs etc. , bloating, and water retention, as well as sinus congestion are the end result wen I have gluten, which still happens because I am very new to this. I figured I was still eating something around lunch time that was bothering me... although I have no idea what it could be.

Guest hightop girl

I wonder if running before eating in the morning would keep this from happening. I do find if I am already bloated the running helps, but if I am not, it seems to bring it on. Weird!

Guest hightop girl

I have been thinking about this one, because I thought it was just something odd about me. It was one of my first symptoms, and continues to annoy me. I talked to my sis the other day. She does not have celiacs, but runs a lot. She said it happens to her if she runs more than about 15 miles. It happens to me if I run around the block. So... while running and bloating I thought of a couple of things:

1) Could this just be the bodies normal reaction to the blood being shunted to the extremeties while running, only with us it is more pronounced.

2) The runner's runs is a fact of life for most runners. It seems we adapt to certain distances, but always a threat. That is also just a normal biological function that somehow the motion of the hip flexors encourages peristolsis. Of course, the pounding of the pavement moves everything along as well. Once again, could it be that our diets that lack fiber contribute?

Whew! now that I got that out, I can think about something else while I run! :P


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



motif Contributor
Hi,

I was wondering - has anyone had the experience wherein running, or any kind of high impact exercise has actually exacerbated their symptoms? I know this sounds strange, but it seems that after I work out, I feel great for about three hours - and then my bloating seems to come back with a vengeance (worse than prior to getting on the treadmill!)

I am so baffled by this. Other forms of (low impact) exercise, such as walking and yoga, don't appear to have the same effect.

I have similar thing, only after run and like you few hours later I start to develop my symptoms.

Bloating, tingling and weakness in my case. None of these happens when swimming even long.

So it has to have something to do with that "jumping and hard landing" which is involved in running.

Guest hightop girl

the last few days I have cut out fruit too... that has really helped. I ran today and still needed to head to the bathroom after, but no bloating. I think it is easy to blame all the GI issues with our bodies on Gluten, but some amount of this is pretty normal for runners. Ever notice that the big marathon winners usually have a jacket wrapped around their waist. It isn't because their butts are cold. It is because they have the same issues and when big prize money is on the line they aren't going to stop just to visit the porta potty. TMI??? Running is jarring to the system. To be honest, because running naturally encourages the GI tract, I really think it speeds up the recovery after being glutened... but what do I know. I haven't done this for long, and have never been glutened and then not gone ahead and exercised. There have been times I probably should have stayed home, but I am way too obsessive.

billcorno Newbie

One of the reasons I got into running was because it shook up my system and I seemed to function better. "Gut geshuttelt" as the Germans say.

I had a problem with the Big C, things would just get stuck in there. If I ran, it came out sooner than later. When I went gluten-free, it was better, but I still had runners' runs, to a degree.

Now-a-days, I've healed enough so that I rarely get it (I think that's the reason.)

Oh, and the endorphins are another big plus for me. Free and legal high. What's not to want about it? (Except running shoes are getting more expensive.)

Not sure about the jacket for elite runners. I think they have the timing down pretty well, so that they're safe for their two+ hours. Me, I'm just past the 1/2 marathon!

the last few days I have cut out fruit too... that has really helped. I ran today and still needed to head to the bathroom after, but no bloating. I think it is easy to blame all the GI issues with our bodies on Gluten, but some amount of this is pretty normal for runners. Ever notice that the big marathon winners usually have a jacket wrapped around their waist. It isn't because their butts are cold. It is because they have the same issues and when big prize money is on the line they aren't going to stop just to visit the porta potty. TMI??? Running is jarring to the system. To be honest, because running naturally encourages the GI tract, I really think it speeds up the recovery after being glutened... but what do I know. I haven't done this for long, and have never been glutened and then not gone ahead and exercised. There have been times I probably should have stayed home, but I am way too obsessive.
  • 5 months later...
biomech-athlete Newbie

I have the same problems. I cannot eat anything for at least an hour before a workout because my stomach and GI get uncomfortable right afterward.

I have that problem after almost all runs, but not bike rides or swims. GI cramping, the runs etc. , bloating, and water retention, as well as sinus congestion are the end result wen I have gluten, which still happens because I am very new to this. I figured I was still eating something around lunch time that was bothering me... although I have no idea what it could be.

I think the reason a lot of us are having problems, especially with running, is that there is a lot more up and down motion with running than swimming or biking. I think the intestines jump around with the body's movement when impacting the ground. I started working out on an elliptical instead of a treadmill and and found I was able to longer and with less discomfort because of the lower impact and not as many jarring movements.

Happy Holly Apprentice

While working out, are you possibly drinking something that may have gluten in it?

There are several sports drinks that I cannot touch without getting sick.

Hi,

I was wondering - has anyone had the experience wherein running, or any kind of high impact exercise has actually exacerbated their symptoms? I know this sounds strange, but it seems that after I work out, I feel great for about three hours - and then my bloating seems to come back with a vengeance (worse than prior to getting on the treadmill!)

I am so baffled by this. Other forms of (low impact) exercise, such as walking and yoga, don't appear to have the same effect.

Mind you, I have really only experienced several days gluten free at a time since being diagnosed. But I am absolutely certain it was not due to a dietary mishap (at least not the first time I had a symptom relapse).

I thought I was being so careful.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,550
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.