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Headaches


GlutenGuy36

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GlutenGuy36 Contributor

Is anyone having frequent headaches after being non the gulten free diet? I have been on it for almost 7 months and I have been having frequent headaches the last 2 months. I'm just wondering if anyone else was having similar issues.


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flourgirl Apprentice

Hi GlutenGuy! I've been on the gluten-free diet since Nov. 07. While many of my "issues" have cleared up, headaches is one that has not. Since I have many other issues, I'm going to see a Rhuematologist next month. I don't have any answers for you...wish I did! I wake up with them almost daily, sometimes just little naggers, sometimes full-blown knock-me-down-drag-me-out. I've come to the conclusion that they are not caused by Celiac.

I also want to say, that it took just about a year on the diet for many of my issues to clear up. Hopefully your headaches will go away as you heal. I'm sure others will chime in....I'm looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

Good luck to you....

lbd Rookie

While removing gluten from my diet got rid of most of my migraines, I found that when I cut out most of the casein in my diet (from dairy), the rest were completely resolved. If I do get some dairy (it is much more difficult for me to resist than gluten), I chance waking up with the typical migraine I got before going gluten-free and mostly CF. It was the Enterolab results that directed me to the casein connection.

I drink almond milk now and have reduced my other dairy intake of cheese to next to nothing. I can seem to get away with small amounts from time to time, but I try to avoid subsequent days of dairy intake because I can almost guarantee the return of a headache. I have a similar reaction to beans but I can do without them most of the time - I don't like them much anyway.

Having said that, I have never gotten the extreme kind of headache I used to get before going gluten-free.

Laurie

mellajane Explorer

Hello i have been gluten free since 2005 . For me i really feel like i get headaches when i may have been glutened. I work in a restraunt they are good at not glutennig me but when i eat from the grill which is contaminated a little bit i get headaches. I really was whatching it and that was the conclusion.. Its always the same kind of headache too. I am just now in the last 6 months starting to put weight on it takes your body quite awhile to adjust. Good luck

RiceGuy Collaborator

As was mentioned, you may need to also avoid dairy. Other top allergens may also be involved, including soy, corn, nuts, eggs, yeast, nightshades, etc. A common suggestion is to avoid all these things, and see if your symptoms are resolved. Once you are feeling better, add one of those foods back in, and give it a week or two. If you experience no problems, add the next.

Artificial flavors and colors can be troublesome too. It generally works best to stick to whole, unprocessed foods for awhile, at least until you heal.

In addition, you may find certain supplements to be most helpful. Deficiencies are common with Celiac, and often include one or more of the following: vitamin B12, magnesium, B-complex, vitamin D, zinc, potassium, calcium, iron, and EFAs. Often times, magnesium is recommended for migraine sufferers.

curiousgeorge Rookie

My almost constant headaches went away after about three weeks on the gluten-free diet. I get a wonker of a headache now if I get glutened. I was glutened at xmas and had the worst headache I've had in my life.

LuvMoosic4life Collaborator

I would definitly look into other foods. Maybe it could be a withdrawl symptom? I know I had this also off and on after going gluten-free. Kind of like when you are used to having caffiene for so long and then cut it out, some poeple get headaces.....at least for me that happened...


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RollingAlong Explorer

DH started to get headaches in the last year before he went gluten-free, but he's never really had any before that.

He had some doozies during his gluten challenge.

He hasn't had any since goingGF/CF except when he's had soy milk. He had never even suspected soy until the Enterolab tests.

My headaches are tons better since going on this diet with him. One thing that might help (perhaps it is the placebo effect) a hot bath with epsom salts.

good luck, headaches are the pits!

tgrahek Newbie

I went completely dairy free in October and my headaches and acne both disappeared!

angieInCA Apprentice

Since going Gluten Free in Oct, I have been Migraine free for the first time in 30 years.

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