Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac Weight Gain And Thyroid


Sulevismom

Recommended Posts

Sulevismom Apprentice

Hi all,

I've been gluten free now for almost 3 months (except for the unfortunate accidents), after having received inconclusive biopsy results and negative blood work. In September last year, I dropped about ten pounds very quickly, and then started having more noticable bloating, cramps, anxiety, depression, etc, (the typical celiac symptoms). What seems strange to me is that as my symptoms got worse, I gained more and more weight, and I've had to work hard to keep it down to a comfortable level (whereas other celiacs seem to have the opposite problem). I'm also breast-feeding a one and a half year old, which you would think would make it fairly easy to stay slim. I've just been reading about hypo-thyroidism and wondering if I might have it, and if there might be a connection between a nutrient deficiency due to celiac disease. What do you all think?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



JesikaBeth Contributor

I was diagnosed as having Hashimotos Thyroiditis (Autoimmune Hypothyroidism) and shortly thereafter was diagnosed as having Celiac Disease. Apparently, they run in clusters and are very common in one another.

maile Newbie
Hi all,

I've been gluten free now for almost 3 months (except for the unfortunate accidents), after having received inconclusive biopsy results and negative blood work. In September last year, I dropped about ten pounds very quickly, and then started having more noticable bloating, cramps, anxiety, depression, etc, (the typical celiac symptoms). What seems strange to me is that as my symptoms got worse, I gained more and more weight, and I've had to work hard to keep it down to a comfortable level (whereas other celiacs seem to have the opposite problem). I'm also breast-feeding a one and a half year old, which you would think would make it fairly easy to stay slim. I've just been reading about hypo-thyroidism and wondering if I might have it, and if there might be a connection between a nutrient deficiency due to celiac disease. What do you all think?

Sulevismom, your story could be mine, except for the breastfeeding part my youngest is 7 ;) , last year dropped 25 lbs in short order (intentionally) but the neuropathy had started to show in February, tingling fingers, numb toes etc. D, anxiety, cramping, bloating and major abdominal pain showed up with their partner sudden, rapid weight gain in August. it has been so frustrating!!! I went to Hawaii ate and drank without too much care and did not gain an ounce!!

and then 2 weeks after returning as the celiac symptoms ramped up the weight gain began and always in 10-12 lb spurts over 3 days. By Mid October I was up 20lbs, and had lost 1 lb of muscle (conveniently had had 2 dexa scans, 1st in February, 2nd in October) despite increased exercise.

I've since put on another 15 lbs, my hair is thinning dramatically as well as falling out; after a bath my skin sheds like a snake, C has returned (despite taking myself of dairy), if I don't take an over the counter thyroid supplement I have very dry throat (to the point where it's difficult to speak) & have to get up in the middle of the night to take a hot bath just to warm up. I've dropped my calories to the 1000/day mark and reduced any grain exposure to 1-2 times per week just to maintain slow the weight gain. :blink:

my GP is finally sending me to an endocrinologist to see what's happening as all the conventional tests show I'm fine (low tsh etc) *sigh* I just hope s/he is able to figure something out.

Sulevismom Apprentice

Thanks for your responses!

Jessica: Did you also experience weight gain as a result of thyroid issues?

Maile: Good thing your doctor is finally listening to you. Good luck!

JesikaBeth Contributor
Thanks for your responses!

Jessica: Did you also experience weight gain as a result of thyroid issues?

Maile: Good thing your doctor is finally listening to you. Good luck!

Yes I did experience weight gain, my weight evened out but losing it has been nearly impossible <_<

pele Rookie

Check out this website:

Open Original Shared Link

It mentions low TSH and low t4 as symptoms of adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism.

Of course if you haven't aleady read

Open Original Shared Link

then you've got some reading to do! Good luck!

Sulevismom Apprentice
Yes I did experience weight gain, my weight evened out but losing it has been nearly impossible <_<

I had my thyroid tested, for hypo and hyper, but the results showed that I am completely normal. Maybe I just eat too much chocolate! ;)


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      1

      Natural remedies

    2. - Scott Adams replied to miguel54b's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Gluten and short-term memory.

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Suze046's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Reintroduction of Gluten

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

    5. - Scott Adams replied to Mykidzz3's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,369
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Nick H.
    Newest Member
    Nick H.
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living, particularly for managing systemic inflammation and its various symptoms, so sharing your story is valuable. Your observation that it may also be helping with bloating is fascinating, as that could point to an overall reduction in inflammation. Thank you for sharing what is working for you!
    • Scott Adams
      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sleep disruption, and digestive irregularity. It's a frustrating and often invisible effect that can make you feel unlike yourself, so that moment of clarity, though born from a tough dominoes match, is actually a powerful piece of self-knowledge. Identifying a specific culprit like that steak strip is a huge win, as it arms you with the information needed to avoid similar pitfalls in the future and protect your cognitive clarity. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this particular set of neurological and physical symptoms; it's a strong reminder of gluten's profound impact on the entire body, not just the digestive system. Supplementation may help you as well.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly consistent with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While a celiac reaction can be more immediate, a sensitivity reaction is often delayed, sometimes taking several days to manifest as your body's inflammatory response builds up; the fact that your symptoms returned a few days after reintroduction is a strong indicator that gluten is indeed the culprit, not a coincidence. Your doctor's advice to reintroduce it was necessary to confirm the diagnosis, as the initial negative celiac test and subsequent improvement on a gluten-free diet pointed strongly towards sensitivity. Many in this community have gone through this exact same process of elimination and challenging, and it's wise to reintroduce gently as you did. Given your clear reaction, the best course of action is likely to resume a strict gluten-free diet, as managing a sensitivity is the primary way to control those debilitating symptoms and allow your body to heal fully.
    • Scott Adams
      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained gluten-containing beer, contaminating your drink. The fact that you didn't react at a clean brewery suggests they may have had more meticulous practices or separate lines, but this is the exception, not the rule. Many in the community have had identical experiences, leading them to strictly avoid draft cider and opt for bottled or canned versions, which are poured directly from their sealed container and bypass the contaminated tap system entirely. Switching to bottles or cans is the safest strategy, and your plan to do so is a smart move to protect your health. PS - here are some articles on the topic:    
    • Scott Adams
      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and less processed, like rice, potatoes, beans, lentils, corn, eggs, and frozen fruits and vegetables—these are nutritional powerhouses that can form the basis of her meals. For the specialty items like bread and pasta, see if your local stores carry smaller, single-serving packages or allow returns if a product causes a reaction, as some companies understand this challenge. Regarding vitamins, that is an excellent next step; please ask her doctor to prescribe a high-quality gluten-free multivitamin, as insurance will often cover prescribed vitamins, making them much more affordable. Finally, connecting with a local celiac support group online can be a treasure trove of location-specific advice for finding the best and most affordable products in your area, saving you both time and money on the trial-and-error process. 
×
×
  • Create New...