Feeling Very Lethargic

[TFoxx]

I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. I have been feeling terribly lethargic, exhausted, and weak. I also keep getting mild headaches later on in the day. I have eliminated gluten, and eat alot of veggies, fruits, nuts, rice and chicken. Stomach problems have gotten a little better. I think I may be sensitive to soy, which I consume every now and then. Could this be causing this.. or?

[ShayFL]

I felt worse for the first 6 weeks....tired...hungry....irritable. It got better....much better!!

Hang in there!!

Soy is a problem for many. You could try eliminating it and see if that helps. Dairy is also one to give up for a little while too.

[missy'smom]

Gluten does quite a bit of damage to our intestines, varying per person, and causing us to not absorb and get the full benefits from the nutrients we ingest. Make sure you take a multivitamin. Many take a powder or liquid at first because it's more easly absorbed. It can take quite a while for the intestines to heal and for some to completely get over that exhaustion. You could get blood drawn to see if your deficient and test for things like anemia and thyroid and other problems that can cause fatigue. Hang in there. It can be frustrating but let your body rest if it needs to and make sure you're eating well and not skipping meals.

[Rosewynde]

It takes varying times for recovery. I got partly better in a week but it's taken me a lot longer to regain the rest. Dairy is definitely another thing to check out as that and Celiac disease often go hand in hand. I get similar reactions to glutening when I've tried dairy again.

Most Celiac symptoms are due to malabsorption, so a SAFE multivitamin should help. For me I found that i needed extra potasium, electrolytes, and iron, but everyone is different. Also check, double check, triple check everything! Medicines and vitamins can be dangerous as dairy and gluten are frequently a part of their makeup in the forms of lactose and food starchs. It may be worth paying extra just to get one that says "Gluten Free". Keep in mind that every time you have a whoops it sets you back some too ; )

[TFoxx]

Ill cut out dairy and soy and see if that helps. Thanks!

[trcn]

Ill cut out dairy and soy and see if that helps. Thanks!

When I cut out dairy and soy (at the same time, if that matters... I'm not sure) I was on the couch for 4 days of exhaustion, tremors and light-headedness. FYI! Good luck.

[ericjourney]

Yes, initial recovery is difficult for many. Stick with it and you'll begin to feel better.

I highly recommend taking a digestive enzyme with your food. This is especially important during the healing phase (the first few months of gluten-free diet). Extra enzymes will help to extract the full nutrient value of the food you eat.

I, too, was very sensitive to soy and dairy at first. I know it's difficult to give up so many foods at once, but it will certainly help in healing your intestines (and it may help with those headaches as well...I know that a small amount of dairy used to give me terrible headaches.)

The lethargy you report is common among celiacs. Although your intestines are healing now, they were not functioning well during the entire time you were eating gluten. You may still have a nutrient deficiency which requires supplementation. You could be low on iron. But iron overdose is toxic, and could lead to fatal poisoning, so have your iron or ferritin levels checked before you start taking iron at doses higher than 20mg daily.

B-vitamins is another supplement to consider. They're cheap and widely available (WalMart), and because they're water soluble, any excess is excreted in urine. B-vitamins are essential for metabolism and energy production, so this might help with lethargy.