Just Started Gluten Free Diet

[Gluteman]

I just started a gluten, dairy, and soy free diet about a month and 3 weeks ago. I got a blood test when I was a kid so I knew what I was intolerant to. For about the last 2-3 years I wasn't following a gluten free diet and my health suffered. Since I've been on this diet though, 2-3 days after I started, I began to get heart palpitations, fatigue, brain foginess, etc. The heart palpitations are very concerning. I'm am eating a very well balanced diet too. So my question is: why after almost 2 months am I still having these simptoms? Shouldn't they be gone by know? What am I doing wrong?

Things it could be: Zirtec, Zoloft, 2 cans of diet mountain dew a day, eating too fast, too big of portions.

I anybody has any ideas please let me know.

Take care,

Gluteman

[txplowgirl]

I just started a gluten, dairy, and soy free diet about a month and 3 weeks ago. I got a blood test when I was a kid so I knew what I was intolerant to. For about the last 2-3 years I wasn't following a gluten free diet and my health suffered. Since I've been on this diet though, 2-3 days after I started, I began to get heart palpitations, fatigue, brain foginess, etc. The heart palpitations are very concerning. I'm am eating a very well balanced diet too. So my question is: why after almost 2 months am I still having these simptoms? Shouldn't they be gone by know? What am I doing wrong?

Things it could be: Zirtec, Zoloft, 2 cans of diet mountain dew a day, eating too fast, too big of portions.

I anybody has any ideas please let me know.

Take care,

Gluteman

Welcome to the forum.

Now, first off take a deep breath and just relax. It could be a number of things. You may be going through what we call gluten withdrawal, some of us get them some don't. It will take time for some anywhere from a few days to a few months. I would suggest a food diary. Log what you eat and how you feel. I love diet mountain dew but it dosen't love me, actually through process of elimination I found out the aspertame was what was really bothering me.

Now, have you checked your meds? They can have gluten in them. Try to call and talk to the pharmacist or call the company that makes the meds and ask them. Also, if you have teflon pans with scratches that can contain gluten, need to replace them as well as your toaster and definetly all wooden utensils, cutting boards and collander. Also lotions, shampoos, and soaps. Nightshade vegetables, which are potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and all peppers can cause a lot of pain, fatigue and swelling. MSG will also cause some problems. Try to eliminate all of the top allergens. That is gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, etc. I am sure I am forgetting something but hopefully someone will give you more info. Hope you get to feeling better.

[Wolicki]

I just started a gluten, dairy, and soy free diet about a month and 3 weeks ago. I got a blood test when I was a kid so I knew what I was intolerant to. For about the last 2-3 years I wasn't following a gluten free diet and my health suffered. Since I've been on this diet though, 2-3 days after I started, I began to get heart palpitations, fatigue, brain foginess, etc. The heart palpitations are very concerning. I'm am eating a very well balanced diet too. So my question is: why after almost 2 months am I still having these simptoms? Shouldn't they be gone by know? What am I doing wrong?

Things it could be: Zirtec, Zoloft, 2 cans of diet mountain dew a day, eating too fast, too big of portions.

I anybody has any ideas please let me know.

Take care,

Gluteman

My guess would be some seconary food intolerance. Have you added anything new to your diet to replace the things you can no longer have? A food journal is a great idea. Start with a very limited number of foods that you know are safe,then expand from there, adding a new food no more often than 4 days. You should be able to figure it out. There's an awful lot of caffeine and bad chemicals in diet Mtn Dew. Maybe replace with water for a few days? Be prepared for caffeine withdrawal though!

[RiceGuy]

My first thought is that it could be a combination of gluten withdrawal and the meds you're taking. Many have found that they needed to lower or eliminate meds once they began to follow a gluten-free diet. After all, it is often the reactions to gluten which land people at the doctors office, and walking out with a prescription so they can put up with the symptoms.

So I'd suggest talking to your doctor about lowering and hopefully getting you off those meds. It would not surprise me one bit if you eventually don't need them whatsoever.

Also, I'd ditch the soft drinks. Whether it's sugar, aspartame, or any other artificial sweetener, your body doesn't need it. Aspartame does cause the kind of problems you've mentioned.

Lastly, some nutritional supplements can go a long way towards resolving the symptoms you've mentioned. If it were me, I'd start with a strong B-complex, separate methyl B12 sublingual lozenge, vitamin D3, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and probably some omega-3s.

It may also help if you give us an idea of the foods you're eating. Numerous members here have reported the very same symptoms after going gluten-free. If it's food-related, someone will probably be able to spot the culprit(s).

[Gluteman]

Great advice!! You all had great ideas. I'm gonna give 'em a try.