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

Swollen Ankles And Feet


mirabella

Recommended Posts

mirabella Apprentice

with all my other symptoms there is one that stands out and that is swollen ankles and feet. I have heard this is due to malabsorbtion. Is this true? I also wake up in the middle of the night sometimes feeling sweaty.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Katsby Apprentice
with all my other symptoms there is one that stands out and that is swollen ankles and feet. I have heard this is due to malabsorbtion. Is this true? I also wake up in the middle of the night sometimes feeling sweaty.

My Dr. told me that can be from protein malabsorption.

GFinDC Veteran
My Dr. told me that can be from protein malabsorption.

I have read that swollen ankles / feet can be due to an allergic reaction to something. I have that problem often and especially if I have had gluten in something. A doctor once told me that it can be a sign of heart disease, due to poor circulation.. I think in my case it is allergic reactions/symptoms.

mirabella Apprentice
I have read that swollen ankles / feet can be due to an allergic reaction to something. I have that problem often and especially if I have had gluten in something. A doctor once told me that it can be a sign of heart disease, due to poor circulation.. I think in my case it is allergic reactions/symptoms.

Hopefully I will get my test results back the early part of this week. I ve been through all kinds of testing. The last test is Sprue. If this is negative than my dr wants to run tests on the heart. They swell so bad sometimes my shoes do not fit.

I have found that going out to eat is very hard. By the time I am done eating I have to run to the bathroom. Cooking at home is alot better.. But lately I havent felt like cooking. I get nauseated just smelling the food. Once I start eating it is not so bad.

GFinDC Veteran

I also wake up sweaty. I have a thyroid condition related to celiac called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I sometimes get sweaty after eating also. Anyway, you might want to ask your doc to do a thyroid panel..

mirabella Apprentice
I also wake up sweaty. I have a thyroid condition related to celiac called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I sometimes get sweaty after eating also. Anyway, you might want to ask your doc to do a thyroid panel..

alright, sounds like good advice.. Tonight my grandfather which is 81yrs old and doesnt look a day over 70 asked me to take him to golden corral which is a buffet. Reluctantly I took him and ate a salad with ranch dressing and a potato and green beans. 30 minutes later I bent my key in the door trying to get to my bathroom. At the time it wasn't funny but..ha I didnt think that would hurt, but it did.

Thanks for talking

GFinDC Veteran
alright, sounds like good advice.. Tonight my grandfather which is 81yrs old and doesnt look a day over 70 asked me to take him to golden corral which is a buffet. Reluctantly I took him and ate a salad with ranch dressing and a potato and green beans. 30 minutes later I bent my key in the door trying to get to my bathroom. At the time it wasn't funny but..ha I didnt think that would hurt, but it did.

Thanks for talking

Stupid flimsy keys! :P Well, it sure sounds like you had a reaction to something you ate. I used to have constant problems with digestion, before going gluten free. They say the blood tests need to be done prior to going off the gluten, or the results may be wrong. They can do a gene test for it also, although that only shows the possibility of having celiac, not everyone with the genes develops celiac. It was nice of you to go out with the granddad though. Maybe you can find a gluten-free friendly restaraunt next time. Like PF Chang's, or Outback Steak House. I hope you find out soon what the issue is, and start feeling better!.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



mirabella Apprentice
Stupid flimsy keys! :P Well, it sure sounds like you had a reaction to something you ate. I used to have constant problems with digestion, before going gluten free. They say the blood tests need to be done prior to going off the gluten, or the results may be wrong. They can do a gene test for it also, although that only shows the possibility of having celiac, not everyone with the genes develops celiac. It was nice of you to go out with the granddad though. Maybe you can find a gluten-free friendly restaraunt next time. Like PF Chang's, or Outback Steak House. I hope you find out soon what the issue is, and start feeling better!.

Same thing happen this morning when I had breakfast. I had eggs (2) and fruit. Got sick and I am starving and nauseated at the same time. doesnt make sense.

thanks for replying

GFinDC Veteran
Same thing happen this morning when I had breakfast. I had eggs (2) and fruit. Got sick and I am starving and nauseated at the same time. doesnt make sense.

thanks for replying

Maybe you aren't a fruit and eggs person eh? Just kidding. Well, nausea might be caused by gas. At times I have started eating and after a bite or 2 couldn't even swallow anymore, due to stomach gas going crazy. Sometimes I thought my stomach would explode or something equally gross and spectacular. Head popping off and shooting into space or something. So far it hasn't happened, at least not literally.

I am taking a tough look at yeast and sulfites right now. Taking some time off from any gluten-free beers, wines etc to see if my feet swelling reduces. So far it seems to help. If you get through with the docs and still don't have an answer, you might want to try an elimination diet.

mirabella Apprentice
Maybe you aren't a fruit and eggs person eh? Just kidding. Well, nausea might be caused by gas. At times I have started eating and after a bite or 2 couldn't even swallow anymore, due to stomach gas going crazy. Sometimes I thought my stomach would explode or something equally gross and spectacular. Head popping off and shooting into space or something. So far it hasn't happened, at least not literally.

I am taking a tough look at yeast and sulfites right now. Taking some time off from any gluten-free beers, wines etc to see if my feet swelling reduces. So far it seems to help. If you get through with the docs and still don't have an answer, you might want to try an elimination diet.

Maybe your right with the fresh fruit thing. All my limbs are swollen and I really havent eaten too much of anything the past two days. Gosh I sound like a chronic complainer. My grocery store has a whole section dedicated to gluten free stuff. I was totally oblivious to that aisle. Bought a crap (ha-ha) load of things to try. But like you said this might be something else.

A question: When you go out for breakfast, the scrambled eggs are definitely not shell eggs, they must be some kind of already mixed egg. Do you think that has weird ingredients in it? :unsure:

dadoffiveboys Rookie
with all my other symptoms there is one that stands out and that is swollen ankles and feet. I have heard this is due to malabsorbtion. Is this true? I also wake up in the middle of the night sometimes feeling sweaty.

My father has the same symptom you share above - it went away after MONTHS of Gluten free eating. In his case, swollen ankles and feet was caused by his kidney failing - free proteins in the bloodstream can cause nephritis in the kidneys. I would DEFINITELY recommend you getting checked out for kidney problems (if you haven't been checked for this - it is very very serious)!!! Since staying completely gluten free, my father's symptoms have subsided - it took MONTHS though to get better.

Swollen ankles/feet is a sign of fluid retention and usually have something to do with protein problems in the blood stream. The kidneys filter the proteins out of your blood and it makes them work extra hard. I would also check your protein intake and try to limit it and try more fruits/vegetables if you can. I would also highly recommend avoiding ALL Alcohol until you get your fluid retention problem under control because alcohol makes the problem worse - especially if it's your kidney which is having problems - i.e. alcohol stresses the kidney even more filtering it out of your blood too!

mirabella Apprentice
My father has the same symptom you share above - it went away after MONTHS of Gluten free eating. In his case, swollen ankles and feet was caused by his kidney failing - free proteins in the bloodstream can cause nephritis in the kidneys. I would DEFINITELY recommend you getting checked out for kidney problems (if you haven't been checked for this - it is very very serious)!!! Since staying completely gluten free, my father's symptoms have subsided - it took MONTHS though to get better.

Swollen ankles/feet is a sign of fluid retention and usually have something to do with protein problems in the blood stream. The kidneys filter the proteins out of your blood and it makes them work extra hard. I would also check your protein intake and try to limit it and try more fruits/vegetables if you can. I would also highly recommend avoiding ALL Alcohol until you get your fluid retention problem under control because alcohol makes the problem worse - especially if it's your kidney which is having problems - i.e. alcohol stresses the kidney even more filtering it out of your blood too!

Gosh, I've had so many different blood tests. Would the kidneys show up in a regular panel or should I ask for something particular? I very rarely drink alcohol. I had enough of that when I was younger. (too much trouble) Meats have really disgusted me lately. (nausea) Eggs are really the only thing protein wise I can tolerate.

Thanks for the advice I will ask my Dr.

lonewolf Collaborator
Gosh, I've had so many different blood tests. Would the kidneys show up in a regular panel or should I ask for something particular?

You should ask your doctor for a simple urine test to see if there is protein in it. If so, the doctor should know which tests to run next to test for kidney problems. My first sign of kidney disease was swollen feet, ankles and lower legs. I'm completely fine now though after being fanatically gluten-free.

mirabella Apprentice
You should ask your doctor for a simple urine test to see if there is protein in it. If so, the doctor should know which tests to run next to test for kidney problems. My first sign of kidney disease was swollen feet, ankles and lower legs. I'm completely fine now though after being fanatically gluten-free.

Thank you, I will ask my Dr. and hopefully she will allow the tests.

dadoffiveboys Rookie
Thank you, I will ask my Dr. and hopefully she will allow the tests.

If you are releasing alot of proteins in the urine, look when you urinate at it. Not to be too graphic, if you have 'proteinuria' then you will have excessive foaming of the urine when you go to the bathroom. You can look about this on the net and find out information. You still need a urine test but it's something you can do.

I have a similar problem as my dad but it wasn't bad enough to cause protein in my urine, it just caused my excruciating back pain. gluten-free and Casein free I've been completely free of any back pain!

mirabella Apprentice
If you are releasing alot of proteins in the urine, look when you urinate at it. Not to be too graphic, if you have 'proteinuria' then you will have excessive foaming of the urine when you go to the bathroom. You can look about this on the net and find out information. You still need a urine test but it's something you can do.

I have a similar problem as my dad but it wasn't bad enough to cause protein in my urine, it just caused my excruciating back pain. gluten-free and Casein free I've been completely free of any back pain!

Always looks fine but I will ask for the test. I am truly appreciative of all the great advice I am receiving.

GFinDC Veteran

I have heard that sometimes some places will put pancake batter in eggs. So that would be a possible source of gluten in scrambled eggs.. Heck, I used to do that myself at home. Mix pancake batter (Bixquick) in the eggs adn they fluff up much more when cooking omelettes.

Interesting info about the kidneys there. Thanks for that!

mirabella Apprentice
I have heard that sometimes some places will put pancake batter in eggs. So that would be a possible source of gluten in scrambled eggs.. Heck, I used to do that myself at home. Mix pancake batter (Bixquick) in the eggs adn they fluff up much more when cooking omelettes.

Interesting info about the kidneys there. Thanks for that!

That is interesting! They are probably alot better. Today all I had was a salad and again barely made it to the bathroom without getting sick. Nausea all day.

dadoffiveboys Rookie
That is interesting! They are probably alot better. Today all I had was a salad and again barely made it to the bathroom without getting sick. Nausea all day.

If you eat out and get salads - make sure they dont mix the salad in the same bowl they mixed salad's with CROUTONS. It would defeat the whole gluten free thing.

mirabella Apprentice
If you eat out and get salads - make sure they dont mix the salad in the same bowl they mixed salad's with CROUTONS. It would defeat the whole gluten free thing.

What about salad dressings. This salad didn't come with croutons. carrots spinach lettuce tomato bacon tbs ranch dressing

dadoffiveboys Rookie
What about salad dressings. This salad didn't come with croutons. carrots spinach lettuce tomato bacon tbs ranch dressing

You'd have to ask which Ranch dressing they used. 1/2 of the Ranch dressing contain gluten and I would bet that was where the problem was.....

You can also (maybe) carry your own salad dressing packets if you find the places you go to eat have salad dressing that you like that contains gluten.

mirabella Apprentice
You'd have to ask which Ranch dressing they used. 1/2 of the Ranch dressing contain gluten and I would bet that was where the problem was.....

You can also (maybe) carry your own salad dressing packets if you find the places you go to eat have salad dressing that you like that contains gluten.

I never think of that stuff. I wish I wasn't so ignorant about this gluten-free, it is all brand new.

\thanks

GFinDC Veteran

Hi Mirabella,

Yep, it probably was the salad dressing. I made that mistake a few weeks ago, myself. I am trying a yeast free diet now and see if that helps the swelling. So far it seems to be helping me. Lets see, gluten free, dairy free yeast free, GFCFYF. Maybe that's the ticket?

Here's a link to an article about baker's yeast antibodies showing up in Crohn's patients. My younger brother had Crohn's. Can't hurt to try it I guess. I am stopping my favorite snack which is peanuts because they are a goitrogen, plus the dry roasted ones have yeast added.

Open Original Shared Link

I hope you feel better soon. Did they get the test results back yet?

Cookie free, wine free, beer free, me, GFinDC

mirabella Apprentice
Hi Mirabella,

Yep, it probably was the salad dressing. I made that mistake a few weeks ago, myself. I am trying a yeast free diet now and see if that helps the swelling. So far it seems to be helping me. Lets see, gluten free, dairy free yeast free, GFCFYF. Maybe that's the ticket?

Here's a link to an article about baker's yeast antibodies showing up in Crohn's patients. My younger brother had Crohn's. Can't hurt to try it I guess. I am stopping my favorite snack which is peanuts because they are a goitrogen, plus the dry roasted ones have yeast added.

Open Original Shared Link

I hope you feel better soon. Did they get the test results back yet?

Cookie free, wine free, beer free, me, GFinDC

Yes the test results came back normal. Im waiting for them to send my results to me. So I can see if they did the correct one. I will post them on this forum when they come in. Today I ate a baked potato, cole slaw and got sick in about an hour. Later in the evening had laCaretta which is mexican and I am feeling fine. What is up with that??

RiceGuy Collaborator

I found that limiting proteins helped a lot to reduce the swollen ankles and such. Thankfully it's much better now than it was.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • 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.