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celiac disease & Water Retention

JillianLindsay

By JillianLindsay
in Sports and Fitness

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JillianLindsay Enthusiast
JillianLindsay
Posted

Hi all,

I just had a soccer practice and it's almost 30 degrees celcius today. By the end my hands were so swollen that I could hardly bend my fingers!

Recently I flew on a plane and my feet swelled up so bad they hurt in my sandles.

I've read about celiac disease and water retention and am wondering if others have the same experience, especially after playing sports.

Thanks :)

Jillian

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climbmtwhitney Apprentice
climbmtwhitney
Posted

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swell mainly in the legs--the whole leg--and sometimes in the hands--enough to make my rings a bit tight when they normally spin around. I actually won't get my rings tightened because I don't want them to hurt when I swell. It started about 12 years ago while on vacation in Mexico. My legs were so swollen one day that they were very painful to try and bend. I gained about 8 to 10 pounds that day in water. Just what every woman in a bikini wants, huh? :( Anyway, my parents were vacationing with us and my dad gave me some of his Lasix. What a relief! Since then I take Lasix and Potassium daily. It just got progressively worse after that first time in Mexico. The swelling never got as bad, but the frequency of episodes increased so that I ended up on daily meds. The doctors don't know why. So frustrating! I'm 5'10" and thin, so I feel like it's very noticeable. I actually have jeans in EUR size 26 or 27 for normal days and occassionally I need my 28's. I hate those days!

It does DEFINITELY get worse in the heat. I very seldom wear shorts because I'm self conscious about it. And when I exercise it's terrible. When I go hiking I retain all the water I drink (& don't sweat out) until I get home and take the Lasix. Then I'll pee all evening. Very annoying! I just recently took up running & started taking a very cold bath for 8 to 10 minutes after each run to see if that helps. I read that the blood vessels will constrict and swelling should reduce if you "ice" them. Brrrrrrrr, I hate doing it, but it does seem to help a bit. Can't wait for a warm shower afterward!

Curious, have you ever asked your doctor about it?

Jillian

JillianLindsay Enthusiast
JillianLindsay
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for sharing :) I pee a LOT in the evenings too (with no medications to cause it). My GI said it's probably because I'm retaining water in my ankles and then when I put my feet up the fluid returns into my system, is filtered into my kidneys and then my bladder :unsure:

I haven't mentioned these more serious bouts of water retention as it has only happened a couple of times. Is there a risk involved with fluid retention? Or is it just a part of celiac disease that one must contend with? I don't see my doc again until Dec *fingers crossed* (provided my health cooperates). Would it be worth booking an appointment to discuss? I'm not to worried about it, it's just a bit of a pain and not all that pretty to look at lol

Jillian (nice name ;) )

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swell mainly in the legs--the whole leg--and sometimes in the hands--enough to make my rings a bit tight when they normally spin around. I actually won't get my rings tightened because I don't want them to hurt when I swell. It started about 12 years ago while on vacation in Mexico. My legs were so swollen one day that they were very painful to try and bend. I gained about 8 to 10 pounds that day in water. Just what every woman in a bikini wants, huh? :( Anyway, my parents were vacationing with us and my dad gave me some of his Lasix. What a relief! Since then I take Lasix and Potassium daily. It just got progressively worse after that first time in Mexico. The swelling never got as bad, but the frequency of episodes increased so that I ended up on daily meds. The doctors don't know why. So frustrating! I'm 5'10" and thin, so I feel like it's very noticeable. I actually have jeans in EUR size 26 or 27 for normal days and occassionally I need my 28's. I hate those days!

It does DEFINITELY get worse in the heat. I very seldom wear shorts because I'm self conscious about it. And when I exercise it's terrible. When I go hiking I retain all the water I drink (& don't sweat out) until I get home and take the Lasix. Then I'll pee all evening. Very annoying! I just recently took up running & started taking a very cold bath for 8 to 10 minutes after each run to see if that helps. I read that the blood vessels will constrict and swelling should reduce if you "ice" them. Brrrrrrrr, I hate doing it, but it does seem to help a bit. Can't wait for a warm shower afterward!

Curious, have you ever asked your doctor about it?

Jillian

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I had that problem for years. Low sodium didn't help much and neither did diuretics prescribed by my doctor.

What has helped tremendously--actually eliminated it--is cutting sugar and grains. Not that I'm advocating that anyone do this, but I was shocked at how it helped my edema. Eating this way--for me--acts as a natural diuretic.

Amyleigh0007 Enthusiast
Amyleigh0007
Posted

I have noticed in the last few months that my feet and hands are swollen. I even talked to my mom about it. My dad has heart problems and one of the first symptoms he had was swelling so she naturally freaked out about my swelling. However, I'm only 34 so I don't think it's my heart. I think I might be dehydrated.

JillianLindsay Enthusiast
JillianLindsay
Posted
  • Author

I drink lots of water and don't have a high-sodium diet. I had a stress-test done and my heart was performing perfectly but I do get chest pains and sudden drops in my BP (syncope episodes). Perhaps I should discuss with my DR sooner rather than later. Thanks for the info :)

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

I agree about the grains and sugar. My swollen bouts have greatly reduced since I went that route. I know, I need to give up the last of the sugar. I need to try to cook with stevia. I had a bad bout of swelling last week when I ate some corn at a flower show. I was wondering if it was CC but I tend to think it was the grain. I didn't really have gluten symptoms.

I'm sure that's why my blood pressure has been coming down to normal levels.

I wanted to ask also, do either of you take magnesium? Getting proper levels of magnesium help to "dry out" my stools. I read that it makes better use of digestion by taking out more water from the waste so it can be used. It was part of the one-two punch that lowered my blood pressure.

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jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
I wanted to ask also, do either of you take magnesium? Getting proper levels of magnesium help to "dry out" my stools. I read that it makes better use of digestion by taking out more water from the waste so it can be used. It was part of the one-two punch that lowered my blood pressure.

I take only the amount of magnesium that is in my multi vitamin--I was leery about taking more since I'm prone to D and didn't want to risk it. I only began taking the multi recently, so I'm not sure if it's contributed or not but my blood pressure continues to hover around 114/68 or so every day now.

JillianLindsay Enthusiast
JillianLindsay
Posted
  • Author

Not sure if your question was directed at me... I take a Calcium-Magnesium-Vitamin D combo in the evenings with my Singulair (asthma medication). My blood pressure is usually low-normal and sometimes drops low when I'm glutened or due to syncope episodes. My edema does not seem related to diet as it only happens in extreme heat or high air pressure (airplane) situations. Those are pretty normal situations to get water retention, mine were just more extreme than the normal small amount one would expect, probably nothing to worry about, I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for the info everyone :)

Jillian

I agree about the grains and sugar. My swollen bouts have greatly reduced since I went that route. I know, I need to give up the last of the sugar. I need to try to cook with stevia. I had a bad bout of swelling last week when I ate some corn at a flower show. I was wondering if it was CC but I tend to think it was the grain. I didn't really have gluten symptoms.

I'm sure that's why my blood pressure has been coming down to normal levels.

I wanted to ask also, do either of you take magnesium? Getting proper levels of magnesium help to "dry out" my stools. I read that it makes better use of digestion by taking out more water from the waste so it can be used. It was part of the one-two punch that lowered my blood pressure.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted
I take only the amount of magnesium that is in my multi vitamin--I was leery about taking more since I'm prone to D and didn't want to risk it. I only began taking the multi recently, so I'm not sure if it's contributed or not but my blood pressure continues to hover around 114/68 or so every day now.

If you choose to increase your magnesium, there are a couple of ways to get it without taking more supplements. You are right, it can lead to D if you take more than your body can tolerate.

You can use magnesium oil. I haven't tried it but Dr. Carolyn Dean, the author of "The Magnesium Miracle", recommends it. Also you can soak in an epsom salt (magnesium) bath and you will absorb it.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted
Not sure if your question was directed at me... I take a Calcium-Magnesium-Vitamin D combo in the evenings with my Singulair (asthma medication). My blood pressure is usually low-normal and sometimes drops low when I'm glutened or due to syncope episodes. My edema does not seem related to diet as it only happens in extreme heat or high air pressure (airplane) situations. Those are pretty normal situations to get water retention, mine were just more extreme than the normal small amount one would expect, probably nothing to worry about, I was just curious about others' experiences.

Thanks for the info everyone :)

Jillian

The book I read that inspired me to use magnesium in the correct amounts for me, said that when your body is under extra stress such as a workout, you shoud have extra magnesium on those days.

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