Jump to content

  • 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

Unusual Dreams, Heavy Sleep And Day Exhaustion

GReilly

By GReilly
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

GReilly Newbie
GReilly
Posted

This is my first post, so far so good on the gluten free diet but I'm still getting the hang of it.

Since going gluten free two weeks ago I've had both positive and negative changes in my sleep habits (which have been one of my main concerns). Firstly I've been sleeping more deeply, however I've also been experiencing unusual dreams every night where I am getting in car accidents or being followed by people I need to kill. They're waking me up in a cold sweat and I believe leaving me to be exhaused through out the following day. Has anyone else experienced dreams similar to these? Is there anything that can be done to aleviate these (eat less of something, more of something, vit. etc?) Thanks for your help!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


butterfl8 Rookie
butterfl8
Posted

I too noticed at first that I began to remember my dreams more when I went gluten free. My dreams didn't disturb me, so I just enjoyed them and went on my way, so to speak. Perhaps you will find that to be the case for you as well, as time goes on. I do take 250 mg magnesium when I go to bed, that helps me drop right off. I do wake up early, usually about 4-5 am most mornings. Then I have coffee!! Best of luck--let us know how you're doing!

-Daisy

Cranberry Newbie
Cranberry
Posted

I too noticed at first that I began to remember my dreams more when I went gluten free. My dreams didn't disturb me, so I just enjoyed them and went on my way, so to speak. Perhaps you will find that to be the case for you as well, as time goes on. I do take 250 mg magnesium when I go to bed, that helps me drop right off. I do wake up early, usually about 4-5 am most mornings. Then I have coffee!! Best of luck--let us know how you're doing!

-Daisy

Magnesium. Thats a good idea. I sometimes have problems dropping off but once im asleep im fine. I have always had weird dreams so I dont blame the diet for it... just my mind ;)

GReilly Newbie
GReilly
Posted
  • Author

Yeah, I've always had weird dream but not this consistently. It's a pain but hopefully they start to subside and just become more interesting rather than odd. Magnesium is a good idea, I'll have to try it! Thanks for the suggestions.

  • 2 months later...
MelissaBe123 Newbie
MelissaBe123
Posted

Before I started my gluten free diet, I was tired all day long. I also could never remember my dreams. And now that I have been on it for a few months, things have changed. At first, I wasn't tired at all during the day. Now, I remember my dreams and I am starting to become more tired.

Does anyone have anything like this?

conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

I sleep much much better than I used to. And I awake at about 5AM. I used to have 2 beers before bed, because I was under the notion that made me sleep better. But I sleep more soundly now. And dreams....notsomuch.

frogrun Apprentice
frogrun
Posted

Dreaming is good; however, excessive dreaming and/or crazy dreams might mean you are in rem rebound...meaning you were deprived for rem and are now getting too much, which can make you feel tired in the morning. I've heard of this happening while people are detoxing from gluten.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 3 weeks later...
gfreegirlie Rookie
gfreegirlie
Posted

Before I started my gluten free diet, I was tired all day long. I also could never remember my dreams. And now that I have been on it for a few months, things have changed. At first, I wasn't tired at all during the day. Now, I remember my dreams and I am starting to become more tired.

Does anyone have anything like this?

That sounds a lot like what I am going through. I have been on the gluten free diet for a while now but I am the only one in my family with it and I am not close to anyone with it so I haven't been doing it very well; until recently I was still eating things with MSG and maltodextrin in it. I just started to learn more and become more strict with my diet. I have been having crazy dreams everynight. I forget them pretty quickly but I know they are vivid. I wake up pretty alert but then after about 2 hours I start to get sleepy again. By like 10 or 12 hours of being awake I am exhausted already. I used to get B12 shots and then I had to stop so I connected it to that, but I just didn't think the gluten free diet could cause sleeping problems.

Julz33 Newbie
Julz33
Posted

That sounds a lot like what I am going through. I have been on the gluten free diet for a while now but I am the only one in my family with it and I am not close to anyone with it so I haven't been doing it very well; until recently I was still eating things with MSG and maltodextrin in it. I just started to learn more and become more strict with my diet. I have been having crazy dreams everynight. I forget them pretty quickly but I know they are vivid. I wake up pretty alert but then after about 2 hours I start to get sleepy again. By like 10 or 12 hours of being awake I am exhausted already. I used to get B12 shots and then I had to stop so I connected it to that, but I just didn't think the gluten free diet could cause sleeping problems.

I'm newly diagnosed and still learning where the gluten is hiding. I thought I had saw that MSG doesn't have gluten. Are you avoiding it because it does have it, or because you react to it aside from the gluten issue? The list of things to avoid seems to grow and grow everyday.

Thanks

  • 2 weeks later...
Aphreal Contributor
Aphreal
Posted

I am going through the exact same thing. I am sleeping very deep and wake up more rested now (usually... still detoxing) but my dreams are crazy. For me however, I notice this cycle when there is something big going on. I say going gluten-free is pretty big :) Wish my dreams were more pleasant but alas, they are pretty crummy. At least I can almost get through the day without having 2 naps now. That is such an improvement over just a few weeks ago where I could have slept all day and all night.

  • 4 weeks later...
starrytrekchic Apprentice
starrytrekchic
Posted

Low blood sugar could be culprit, especially if you're not replacing the carbs that have been cut from your diet.

Intense and disturbing dreams are frequently caused by low blood sugar--your brain's telling you it can't function right on the fuel it has. The disturbed sleep then leads to exhaustion during the day.

If this is the problem--it's easily solved. Eat something shortly before bed--like a piece of fruit--for several days in a row to see if it resolves.

  • 2 weeks later...
cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

I have been gluten-free for 5 months and for the past 6 weeks or so I have been having bad dreams at least once a week or more. My spouse has to wake me as I am yelping in my sleep. Usually someone chasing me & I am trying to escape. Also I am so exhausted during the day even after sleeping 9 or 10 hours. I am usually ready for bed around 4:00 - I make myself wait till 9 or so. !! The "Honey are you ready for bed" at 4 in the afternoon gets me The Look! lol

Gluten-Is-Icky Newbie
Gluten-Is-Icky
Posted

Yeah, it's been the same thing for me. Been gluten-free for over a year, but since going gluten-free I feel like I need a lot more sleep than I used to like, 8-10 hours just to function right. A couple of years ago I could go on around 6 hours a night for days at a time and be fine. Now I feel sick and super cranky when I haven't gotten enough sleep. I've been having a lot of bad dreams, especially in the last couple months. Nothing overly stressful seems to have happend so I'm not sure why.

Is there supposed to be a connection between gluten free diets and sleeping? I don't think I've run into it in my research so far..

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

my iron was low so dr put me on supplements. After 2 months am still really tired but was supposed to be retested for iron count in 3 weeks which I haven't done. We have been traveling in our rv for the past 2 mo so have the test scheduled for as soon as we get home. Maybe the iron is still too low.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

my iron was low so dr put me on supplements. After 2 months am still really tired but was supposed to be retested for iron count in 3 weeks which I haven't done. We have been traveling in our rv for the past 2 mo so have the test scheduled for as soon as we get home. Maybe the iron is still too low.

Are you taking B12? That helps the iron work better. Also, you should take the iron without eating 1 hour before & 2 hours after. Especially - coffee, dairy, grains.

I have a B vitamin complex with vit C which also helps the iron. Just take them with lunch, not with iron.

cap6 Enthusiast
cap6
Posted

Thanks ~ will give your suggestion a try. I'm "tired" of needing 10+ hours of sleep! Don't have time. lol

kbjoseph Newbie
kbjoseph
Posted

I too noticed at first that I began to remember my dreams more when I went gluten free. My dreams didn't disturb me, so I just enjoyed them and went on my way, so to speak. Perhaps you will find that to be the case for you as well, as time goes on. I do take 250 mg magnesium when I go to bed, that helps me drop right off. I do wake up early, usually about 4-5 am most mornings. Then I have coffee!! Best of luck--let us know how you're doing!

-Daisy

What type/brand of magnesium suppliment do you take? Can you get it at a normal pharmacy?

  • 4 weeks later...
baylissmeg Newbie
baylissmeg
Posted

Hi

My parnter is a Coeliac and I just thought it was him. But raeding these messages about unusual dreams, maybe there is more to it.

He will often be awake 1 minute and then the next in a deep sleep, jumping his body as if the bullets are being shot into his chest. Another recurrent dream is that he is screaming at someone who is about to kill him!

He forgets about it in the morning, but at the time when i've wopen him up, we have a little chat about it, to calm him down.

Any thoughts?

meg

  • 2 weeks later...
up late Newbie
up late
Posted

I have been gluten-free for 5 months and for the past 6 weeks or so I have been having bad dreams at least once a week or more. My spouse has to wake me as I am yelping in my sleep. Usually someone chasing me & I am trying to escape. Also I am so exhausted during the day even after sleeping 9 or 10 hours. I am usually ready for bed around 4:00 - I make myself wait till 9 or so. !! The "Honey are you ready for bed" at 4 in the afternoon gets me The Look! lol

Hi

My parnter is a Coeliac and I just thought it was him. But raeding these messages about unusual dreams, maybe there is more to it.

He will often be awake 1 minute and then the next in a deep sleep, jumping his body as if the bullets are being shot into his chest. Another recurrent dream is that he is screaming at someone who is about to kill him!

He forgets about it in the morning, but at the time when i've wopen him up, we have a little chat about it, to calm him down.

Any thoughts?

meg

I've been getting this for years, the nightmares, yelling, waking up, even sleepwalking, it's worse when I'm under stress or overtired. I got told I had PTSD :/ (combined with anxiety and odd sensations that went away gluten-free) I'm starting to think now it's not that at all.

  • 4 months later...
Melstar23 Apprentice
Melstar23
Posted

Since going gluten free I have been remembering my dreams much more than I used to. Mostly they are nightmares so I thought that was why they were sticking in my mind. I never thought to connect it with my diet.

waterlily- Explorer
waterlily-
Posted

huh with me I'm having less nightmares and remembering dreams less. I wonder why? Interesting stuff. :D

  • 2 weeks later...
RebeccaLynn Rookie
RebeccaLynn
Posted

Being a total newb to gluten-free living, I am SO happy to hear that is why my sleep is so messed up! I could sleep all day & night most days. I completely bonk at about 3:00pm and have to force myself to stay awake until 8 or 9. Though lately, I have gotten into the terrible habit of coma-crashing from 4-6pm. Then I am up until 1:00 am kicking myself and waking up super groggy in the morning. Not a good combination. I have just started taking B12 & Zinc and a multivitamin. I am hoping that my sleep levels out & I can get rested.

  • 3 weeks later...
sarawr Newbie
sarawr
Posted

Since going gluten free, i find it really hard to wake up! Not so much because i'm tired, but i get into such a deep sleep, i often dont hear my alarm go off, and i can easily fall back into a long sleep!

Also i can remember my dreams very clearly the next day, and they seem more vivid then they used too. Often things that have occurred from the day before get into my dreams. i remember having long conversations in my dreams that muddle me when i wake up, as to what happened in the dream and real life!

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Yes, it is often hard to figure out dreams from what actually happened. It is only when my dreams put two people together that I know would never have happened that I can say, Ahah!! a dream. But often the combinations are very interesting. My subconscious is much more creative than real life :o:lol:

sarawr Newbie
sarawr
Posted

I get this even worse after drinking alcohol, i feel fairly sober until i go to sleep and then i have continued conversations with people in my dreams. so i wake up feeling muddled, drunk and confused about what happened!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to SilkieFairy's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      IBS-D vs Celiac

      No coincidence. Recent revisions to gluten challenge guidelines call for the daily consumption of at least 10g of gluten (about the amount in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of 3 weeks. If possible, I would extend that two weeks to ensure valid testing.
    2. SilkieFairy
      - SilkieFairy replied to SilkieFairy's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      IBS-D vs Celiac

      Thank you both for the replies. I decided to bring back gluten so I can do the blood test. Today is Day #2 of the Challenge. Yesterday I had about 3 slices of whole wheat bread and I woke up with urgent diarrhea this morning. It was orange, sandy and had the distinctive smell that I did not have when I was briefly gluten free. I don't know if it's a...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    4. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,336
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jeffrey Yeres
    Newest Member
    Jeffrey Yeres
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      IBS-D vs Celiac

      By trents · Posted

      No coincidence. Recent revisions to gluten challenge guidelines call for the daily consumption of at least 10g of gluten (about the amount in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of 3 weeks. If possible, I would extend that two weeks to ensure valid testing.
    • SilkieFairy
      IBS-D vs Celiac

      By SilkieFairy · Posted

      Thank you both for the replies. I decided to bring back gluten so I can do the blood test. Today is Day #2 of the Challenge. Yesterday I had about 3 slices of whole wheat bread and I woke up with urgent diarrhea this morning. It was orange, sandy and had the distinctive smell that I did not have when I was briefly gluten free. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but the brain fog is back and I feel very tired.   
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.