Help With Recurring Symptoms

[mnelson]

Hi all, I am new on this board. I am self-diagnosed having had non-conclusive tests (I was tested after having been on Atkins and it was recommended to me not go back on gluten.) However, I have been gluten-free now for 2 years--very careful about labels, etc. and until recently was pretty well controlled with only occasional syptoms which usually could be related to eating in a restaurent, etc.

However, for the past month or so I've gotten much worse with returning symptoms of severe GERD and stomach pain, intestinal cramps, bloating etc. and of course the ever popular diahhrea. At first I attributed it to a virus but it is not obviously beyond that. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? The only thing I can correlate is that I have increased the amount of gluten-free products I am consuming, whereas before I was eating a mostly low carb diet except for rice cakes and the occasional tortilla or potato. Could I have a sensitivity to all carbs? (need to follow the SCD diet?)

Also, when one is in a phase such is mine, is there one food you can eat to stabilize on? Like bananas or something? I'm desperate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[dilettantesteph]

Some of those gluten free foods are a little higher in gluten than others. You might want to list some specific brands that you eat and people can respond if they find them problematic. Generally more sensitive people avoid anything processed in facilities that also process wheat. In other words, you might be getting some gluten contamination.

[ksymonds84]

Hello and welcome! Sounds like you have figured out the culprit in added gluten free foods but now which ingredient? I used to think it was xanthan gum but I can handle the food for life brown tortillas that have xanthan so I'm thinking guar gum or yeast. I too found out years ago when I went on a low carb diet that I felt fabulous. You could become a detective and try to figure it out by isolating the ingredients. Low carb and specific carbo diet would probably help but I am one of those that wants to figure it out even though it drives me bonkers! Hope you find your answer soon, awesome that you've had two years of success, I haven't had that yet but then I right away added the gluten free goodies.

[mnelson]

Thanks for responding! I had no idea that "Gluten Free Food" could have gluten in it! How trusting I am. I get sick with even one speck of crouton hidden in my salad. I have gone on a rice-only diet for present to see if that helps calm things down. If not I will try SCD I guess and then try to add ingredients one by one, or maybe product by product? I totally don't have to eat (gluten free) grain products though as I haven't for years anyway--I guess I was feeling so good I thought I could add in some of the things I've been missing--like gluten free cookies and muffins and pizza crust...

I'm glad I found this board!