Awful Cattarh - Could It Be Detox?

[Bell]

I've been a couple of weeks on the gluten-free diet, with many little slips, but nothing too major. Apart from really beginning to crave the food I can't have, I have got dry and itchy dermatitis on my hands (I always get it there when I am run down) and awful, awful chronic cattarh, which means I'm constantly clearing my throat, blowing my nose, and worst of all, dealing with the thick snot in my sinuses and in the back of my nose. I'm always making those "sucking on a lemon" faces, trying to dislodge it, and then letting out that awful snorting noise by accident. Socially it's far far worse than a letting out a fart, because you are caught actually doing it on purpose. Maybe more akin to being caught picking your nose, and taking a moment to examine your prize.

But it's impossible to ignore! I've had this exactly as long as I've been gluten-free. First I thought it was because I ate lots of cheese to make up for the lack of bread (and because I like it, and craved it), and then maybe because the seasons are changing, and there is more central heating. But it's been a fair while now, and I am not developing an actual cough or cold as far as I can tell. It's really bugging me, and my throat is getting sore from all the "ahems".

Is this normal? Could I have a problem with milk too? I would find it impossible to give up my milky tea, and I'm scared of the phytoestrogens in soya. I'm also currently eating lots of yoghurt to try and heal a BV infection, because antibiotics don't seem to keep it away for long.

[DarkIvy]

I feel you... giving up gluten was easy compared to even the thought of giving up dairy, IMO. I love cheese and milky tea, too!

Last week I had a nasty stomach virus and my doctor had me on an all liquid diet, plus crackers and bland food. She made it very clear that I could not have dairy OR soy. She suggested rice milk, which I actually liked a lot, even in cereal and tea. Rice Dream is not gluten free, but several other brands, including the Whole Foods house brand are gluten-free. If you suspect dairy, you could always sub it with rice milk temporarily and just see how it goes.

Keep in mind that if you are newly on the gluten-free diet, it could take a while for your body to adjust and be able to digest dairy again. Even if it turns out that you are intolerant *now*, you may not be forever.

Also, instead of yogurt, you might try to find a dairy free probiotic. I take one, and I find that they help me feel a lot better a lot quicker when I do screw up and accidentally ingest gluten. It may help you get over the detox period a bit faster.

I know what you mean about the sinus gunk, too, though I'm not sure mine has anything at all to do with food. When I was younger, I had sinus infections constantly. THOSE have cleared up since going gluten-free, but I still get all kinds of gunk from time to time. Mine is the worst in the fall (so, right now) because my seasonal allergies are by far the worst in the fall. That's just how it is for me. Whenever it gets bad, I do a saline rinse to help clear stuff out, and it helps a LOT. My old allergist just had me do it in the shower, and gave me this big snot sucker looking thing to squirt the rinse in my sinuses with. He had me make my own rinse, which was essentially a bit of salt in a cup of warm water... I think it was 1/2 teaspoon or something to 8 ounces of water, but it may have been 1/4 teaspoon. I just eyeball it now. I don't even use the device anymore, I just kind of suck up the saline with one nostril while I hold the other shut out of a small plastic cup I keep in my bathroom. The neti pot is another way to do it, they usually sell them at health food stores.

[JNBunnie1]

I've been a couple of weeks on the gluten-free diet, with many little slips, but nothing too major. Apart from really beginning to crave the food I can't have, I have got dry and itchy dermatitis on my hands (I always get it there when I am run down) and awful, awful chronic cattarh, which means I'm constantly clearing my throat, blowing my nose, and worst of all, dealing with the thick snot in my sinuses and in the back of my nose. I'm always making those "sucking on a lemon" faces, trying to dislodge it, and then letting out that awful snorting noise by accident. Socially it's far far worse than a letting out a fart, because you are caught actually doing it on purpose. Maybe more akin to being caught picking your nose, and taking a moment to examine your prize.

But it's impossible to ignore! I've had this exactly as long as I've been gluten-free. First I thought it was because I ate lots of cheese to make up for the lack of bread (and because I like it, and craved it), and then maybe because the seasons are changing, and there is more central heating. But it's been a fair while now, and I am not developing an actual cough or cold as far as I can tell. It's really bugging me, and my throat is getting sore from all the "ahems".

Is this normal? Could I have a problem with milk too? I would find it impossible to give up my milky tea, and I'm scared of the phytoestrogens in soya. I'm also currently eating lots of yoghurt to try and heal a BV infection, because antibiotics don't seem to keep it away for long.

You may just be detoxing, it may be a new dairy thing. For now, try using a neti pot with sea salt warm water solution, it should help clear the passages quite well. You might think about an eyebright tincture from the store as well, helps clear mucus.