Symptoms Coming Back...

[coltsfan18]

I have not been "officially" been diagnosed, but have had all of the symptoms and almost immediate relief with a gluten free diet. All of my "IBS" symptoms disappeared. I saw the gastroentrologist, my blood work came back inconclusive, and we decided not to pursue the endoscopy because I was doing so well on the diet. While I may not have an "official" diagnosis, all of my doctor's agree I have some level of gluten intolerance.

I have been gluten-free for about 6 weeks and have been struggling. I did, not so accidentily, gluten myself last Sunday (8 days ago) just to see what would happen and I was miserable. Couldn't even sleep I was in such pain. But, I haven't been feeling good since. My original symptom mainly was constipation followed by diarrhea, and that has come back. I have been very uncomfortable because I cannot pass my stools when I feel like I am going to get sick. I don't know what I have done to make myself feel so awful. I am even back to the awful mood/depression I was feeling before going gluten-free. My husband thinks it may be the all of the soy I have been recently drinking (I used to drink Lactaid, then just milk which made me sick, so I switched to soy).

It is so frustrating because I thought I had my answer and was doing so well, and then I feel like I am back to square one. I have to admit these symptoms aren't accompanied by all of the gas/bloating/cramps etc. I had when eating gluten, but it is no picnic. I even had to go back on my Miralax to see if I could get things going.

Any advice? Is this a normal part of adjusting? Maybe I haven't been so careful with the cross-contamination (my husband and I use the same peanut butter, utensils, etc.), but I would have felt bad before now. Maybe I am not eating enough fiber?

Without an official diagnosis I almost wonder if I am doing the right thing....

[Mrs. Smith]

You might want to research some vitamins and supplements. Same thing happened to me and I started taking many vitamins and that has helped even more. Remember it is a long road and sometimes frustrating, there will be set backs. Im 6mos gluten-free and still have symptoms a few days out of the month. I just had my 1st "normal" BM a week ago, since I was like 12 years old. (Im 30!) It takes up to 2 yrs to heal the intestine, average time. Try glutamine and slippery elm. Thats what Im taking in a smoothie every morning and it seems to be helping. Reserch celiacs and try some of the vitamins suggested as you may be defficient in some. B12 is a big one but there are many others. Are you taking probiotics? They are a MUST especially if your having D/C. Digestive enzymes with meals are awesome, too. Hope this helps. Hang in there and be positive. You spent all these years poisioning yourself with gluten, it may take a while for your body to rid itself of it.

[oceangirl]

I'd suspect all the soy-many people react to soy in a similar way to gluten. Maybe you should try rice milk or no "milk" for awhile. It is a LONG road with huge learning curves! I am working on 5 years in and it took at least 2 years to "get all the bugs out". At first, however, while healing I was gluten, soy, corn, legume, nightshade, egg and dairy free. I ate mist. But now, I have put dairy back in, corn, some nightshades and egg on occasion.

Keep a food log with symptoms- it is a GREAT help. Hang in there and good luck,

lisa

[ravenwoodglass]

I agree that you should drop soy for a while and see if it helps. It seems that many of us do have issues with it. Also make sure that you check all your meds, OTC and scripts for gluten and be careful of CC. In addition some of us have reactions to gluten that last for much longer than we would expect. It takes me about 3 weeks to fully recover from a heavy glutening. I hope that you are feeling better soon.