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Withdrawal Symptoms


samcarter

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samcarter Contributor

So! I could probably just search on here for "withdrawal from gluten" but I would much rather whine about the constant headache behind my eyes I've had since cutting gluten out for good. My energy level is much better, and some horrible aches and pains that were getting bad are lessening. But the headache, oh my gosh. It's right behind my eyes and nose, and I've had a wee bit of drainage, but not much to speak of. It just feels like sinus inflammation, which I am all too familiar with--the kind that occasionally gets so bad it feels like you have a piano wire in there that somebody just plucked. Ow. :blink:

Anybody else have weird symptoms that showed up after you cut out gluten? Is there a withdrawal period, since the body was addicted to it?


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ravenwoodglass Mentor

There is often a withdrawl period and the effects are different for a lot of folks. If you feel the discomfort is due to inflammation an anti-inflammatory might help. I usually just take asprin. If the discharge you are having is yellow or greenish, if you have a fever, if you have a nasty taste in your mouth, or if the pain escalates do see a doctor. You may have a sinus infection that is completely independant of the gluten withdrawl.

irish daveyboy Community Regular
So! I could probably just search on here for "withdrawal from gluten" but I would much rather whine about the constant headache behind my eyes I've had since cutting gluten out for good. My energy level is much better, and some horrible aches and pains that were getting bad are lessening. But the headache, oh my gosh. It's right behind my eyes and nose, and I've had a wee bit of drainage, but not much to speak of. It just feels like sinus inflammation, which I am all too familiar with--the kind that occasionally gets so bad it feels like you have a piano wire in there that somebody just plucked. Ow. :blink:

Anybody else have weird symptoms that showed up after you cut out gluten? Is there a withdrawal period, since the body was addicted to it?

.

Hi Samcarter,

It's not unusual to feel 'Worse' before you feel better, here's an article,

a collection of other peoples experiences about going Gluten Free.

.

Open Original Shared Link

.

As regards feeling like you're going through a withdrawl, you're sooo right.

.

Open Original Shared Link

.

Hope this helps.

.

Best Regards,

David

samcarter Contributor

Well, the headache is finally gone--after a week. Looking back I think it was either one of a few things:

1) Too much coffee--I had taken to drinking coffee every morning due to my extreme fatigue, but since going off gluten the fatigue is much reduced. Maybe my body just can't tolerate coffee every day. I started drinking tea instead a few days ago. I had never been a coffee drinker.

2) Sinus infection--my husband said he was fighting something off (had a lot of blood come out of his nose, which for him is a sign that he's fighting an infection); he's better now.

3) Shrinking polyps. I was told that after my many sinus infections in high school that I had a "permanent" polyp in my left sinus (which was kind of where the headache was localized). I'm wondering if it's possible that going off the gluten is finally reducing the inflammation there--it certainly felt very weird, like something was pulling away or being squeezed in there.

In any case, I'm just glad to not have that nausea-inducing headache anymore!

poppins Newbie

Hi

Just thought i would add a comment to this thread. i went gluten-free from monday this week following positive blood test and awaiting biopsy result, but have found these past 4 days almost impossible to cope with, stomach pains and bloating just as bad, with a headache lasting days, seems to be easing now a little. im sure this must be some kind ofdetox reaction, ive tried today to really increase fluid intake to flush out toxins. sincerely hope it gets no worse.

Poppins

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