Feeling Worse - What Do I Eat?

[woolster]

Hi, I was diagnosed with coeliacs a month ago, and although I felt a bit better immediately, since then I've just felt worse and worse. My insides seem so sensitive and some days I really struggle to keep food in for very long! I am waiting to see a dietician but don't know what to eat in the meantime - I'm feeling really down and not really wanting to eating at all because it's just making me poorly. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I should be eating to settle my stomach? I have cut out gluton, dairy, soya, sugar, and anything remotely tasty!

Thanks!

[darlindeb25]

I never cut out dairy, in the beginning, I ate a lot of cottage cheese with some fruit stirred in, like peaches, pears, fruit cocktail..sometimes I stirred peas into it. Can I ask why you have given up so many foods in just a month?

Try to eat very bland, a baked potato, rice, chicken breast, cod...very simple. Stay away from heavy spices for now, and stay away from the gluten free crackers, breads, and such...sometimes these items are too much for a healing tummy to tolerate. Give yourself time to heal.

[woolster]

Thanks for the response and the advice...I have always had issues with dairy in the past, but when I was diagnosed with coeliacs I thought, well all my issues have been with gluton, so I must be able to eat it. So I have had a couple of dairy things in the last month but have had reactions within an hour. I read that new coeliacs can have sensitivity to dairy so figured I would cut it out for a bit. The soya I have always had issues with so I guess thats nothing new. And the sugar and alcohol I just figured it might be a good detox so I could see what was really happening with my energy levels. I have gradually been cutting out more and more as the month has progressed as my stomach has been getting more and more sensitive. Maybe I'll stick with chicken and rice for a few days and see what happens.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for the response and the advice...I have always had issues with dairy in the past, but when I was diagnosed with coeliacs I thought, well all my issues have been with gluton, so I must be able to eat it. So I have had a couple of dairy things in the last month but have had reactions within an hour. I read that new coeliacs can have sensitivity to dairy so figured I would cut it out for a bit. The soya I have always had issues with so I guess thats nothing new. And the sugar and alcohol I just figured it might be a good detox so I could see what was really happening with my energy levels. I have gradually been cutting out more and more as the month has progressed as my stomach has been getting more and more sensitive. Maybe I'll stick with chicken and rice for a few days and see what happens.

Are you on any meds? If so have you checked the gluten statis of those meds? Are you living in a gluten household? Many of us become more sensitive to small amounts after we have started the healing process. Be sure to check you toiletries like shampoo and lotions they can also be a source of CC.

You need to add to the chicken and rice with some veggies and fruits. You plate needs to have a variety of colors to ensure that you are getting the vitamins and nutrients you need. While you heal it may be best to make sure they are cooked well as they will be easier to digest that way. You might also consider dropping the rice for a bit, especially if it is processed white rice, and going with something like sweet potatoes and wild rice, potatoes or, if you have to have rice, an organic unfortified rice for a carb source.

It can take some time to heal and it can be very hard to ferret out all the hidden gluten at first. My biggest surprise was finding it in a lemonaide that was called ''simply lemonade' but you will get the hang of it.

[ShayFL]

You can also look into the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) which is gentle on the intestines and can help in the healing. I personally do not believe you would need to be on this diet forever. But if after 2 or 3 months of good results, you can start adding some of the things you like back in (except gluten and maybe dairy).

[woolster]

Are you on any meds? If so have you checked the gluten statis of those meds? Are you living in a gluten household? Many of us become more sensitive to small amounts after we have started the healing process. Be sure to check you toiletries like shampoo and lotions they can also be a source of CC.

I'm not on any meds so can rule that out, but I will check toiletries - thanks for the tip. My partner eats gluten so I guess I should look into separating out food and cooking utensils a bit better. I really hadn't realised I could be so sensitive to even small amounts of gluten! This is a steeper learning curve than I thought it would be!

You can also look into the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) which is gentle on the intestines and can help in the healing. I personally do not believe you would need to be on this diet forever. But if after 2 or 3 months of good results, you can start adding some of the things you like back in (except gluten and maybe dairy).

I haven't heard of the SCD - I'll look into it though. Is this something you tried?

Another question, since the gastroscopy I have developed asthma symptoms - tight chest and a bit of a cough. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't know whether it is something completely different and just a coincidence or whether it is related to cutting out the gluten.

Thanks all for your help!

[pele]

Hi, I was diagnosed with coeliacs a month ago, and although I felt a bit better immediately, since then I've just felt worse and worse. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I should be eating to settle my stomach? Thanks!

You may need probiotics. There is a strong relationship between celiac and the buildup of bad bacteria in the gut. Also, many people cannot produce adequate digestive enzymes until the small intestine heals. If you have not read "Celiac Disease: a Hidden Epidemic" by Dr. Peter Green, then try to find a copy. And I second Shay's advice about checking out the Specific Carohydrate Diet, and Deb's advice to stay away from heavy, spicy stuff for a while. Good luck. Things will get better.

[Janiney]

Hi, I was diagnosed with coeliacs a month ago, and although I felt a bit better immediately, since then I've just felt worse and worse. My insides seem so sensitive and some days I really struggle to keep food in for very long! I am waiting to see a dietician but don't know what to eat in the meantime - I'm feeling really down and not really wanting to eating at all because it's just making me poorly. Does anyone have any suggestions of what I should be eating to settle my stomach? I have cut out gluton, dairy, soya, sugar, and anything remotely tasty!

Thanks!

I'm in a very similar situation. Gluten free for almost 1 month. The constipation, which was one of my main issues, cleared up in the third week and I don't bloat up after eating like I used to. However, I still feel like my digestion is really sensitive! I can't eat on the move or when I'm busy/stressed as I'll feel really sick for a couple of hours afterwards.

Sometimes I'll get gassy, nauseous and dizzy and bad tempered but I can't seem to find the cause as I'm sure I've not been glutened by anything I've eaten... could I still be getting glutened by my shampoo or toiletries? How do I go about checking them? Do I have to check every single ingredient separately or should I try to ask the companies? I have a little boy of 20 months who isn't gluten-free, and I have to make his food so maybe I get CCed sometimes, though I'm quite careful... can a tiny amount really cause symptoms?

Also my DH has been a million times worse than it's ever been since going gluten-free, it's got more and more severe as the days go by. Any ideas?

I cut out gluten (obviously!) and all milk products as I'm severely lactose intolerent. I'm vegetarian so I eat eggs about 2/3 times a week for protein, plus peanut butter (gluten-free!), nuts and lots of beans/pulses. I make sure I get lots of fresh fruit and veg and don't eat processed foods, except organic salted popcorn (just salt and corn!) and plain tortilla chips (also gluten-free!). I don't eat soy, but have soy milk in tea, about 2/3 cups a day. Why do so many people cut out soy? Can it cause GI symptoms like the gluten ones? Should I think about cutting out the soy milk in my tea?

Sorry about all the questions. All the medical professionals I speak to seem to know absolutely zero and I drive myself nuts analysing everything I do all the time!

[woolster]

You may need probiotics. There is a strong relationship between celiac and the buildup of bad bacteria in the gut. Also, many people cannot produce adequate digestive enzymes until the small intestine heals. If you have not read "Celiac Disease: a Hidden Epidemic" by Dr. Peter Green, then try to find a copy. And I second Shay's advice about checking out the Specific Carohydrate Diet, and Deb's advice to stay away from heavy, spicy stuff for a while. Good luck. Things will get better.

I am seeing the dietician tomorrow (at last!) so will definitely ask about probiotics. Thanks for the tip. I have also found the book you refer to on Amazon so will get that ordered!

In response to Janiney - I am actually starting to feel better by the day so hopefully you might too! We have become a gluten-free household and I have really been watching what I eat - so nothing spicy, or too heavy, lots of rice, vegetables and white meat and fish. This is by no means advice because I am a complete novice, but being strict with myself and sticking to a plain diet for over a week now has seemed to help me. In terms of cosmetics, I read that you are okay with them as long as it is not going in your mouth - so check the ingredients of anything you are putting on your lips. I have stopped using a spray for my hair because it has wheat germ in it - I figured that I may breathe it in if it is airborne! You should be able to just check the list on the packaging. I have heard that a tiny amount of gluten can cause symptoms - it depends I guess on how sensitive you are to gluten.

In terms of soy, I realised I had a problem with soy a couple of years ago so haven't touched it since. It might be worth you trying cutting it out for a few days to see what happens? I use rice milk which I find okay.

Good luck with it!

[Janiney]

Thanks Woolster, I've had a horrible cold for the last week so I think that confused things a little. I also got my mouth ulcers back for the first time since going gluten free, and my legs have been really achy but I guess if my immune system was busy fighting the cold then it's understandable. I've checked my shampoos etc and everything seems okay and the only thing I use on my lips is vaseline.

I'm going to try cutting out soy for two weeks just to see if that makes any difference and I'm planning to be more vigilant with crumbs in the kitchen! Hope you continue to improve... Sometimes it's easy to feel like I'm not making any progress but I just try to remember how awful I felt at the beginning of the year and I realise I am getting better slowly but surely.

[ShayFL]

I am roughly on an SCD diet. I follow it about 85-90%. No grains. I think that is key.

[mftnchn]

I'm on the SCD now, and it is working quite well for me. What I notice about both of your situations is that you are eating a number of foods quite hard to digest.

I agree with Shay you might do fine doing SCD 2-3 months then adding to it. Some people though may need to do it much longer if their healing process is slower and they don't start making enzymes to digest carbs. (Lactase for lactose of course, but also other "ases" for carbs).