Calcium

[Wandering Hermit]

Well it has been 6.5 weeks of gluten-free for me, and I cannot say that I am seeing much difference yet in my overall health, with the exception that:

1) I have not had any of the stabbing abdominal pains that I used to have, and

2) I have not had any D since going gluten-free.

I know that it may take months to get feeling really well, so I am being patient....

I still have BMs that do not sem quite right - they seem solid enough but once in the water they sort of disintegrate - there also seems to be mucus too.

Anyway, I stiil get some mild gut cramps, plus my bones and muscles always seem sore, and I am still lightheaded and often lethargic.

Something I had been trying for the muscles aches in the past was calcium, and it seemed to help. My wife turned me on to it. She swears by it. Apparently she used to have unbearable menstrual cramps, but she found they disappeared altogehter if she took calcium. Also, when we were in SE Asia and frequently suffering from gut maladies, she was taking it and says it usually relieved the pains.

It sort of makes sense to me, as I know that Ca2+ ions are used by all muscle cells as part of the activation process. Moreover I have read about calcium being used for severe muscle cramps.

Anyway, for a few months before my celiac disease diagnosis, I started taking 500mg a day, and it had a significant effect on my cramps. I went from cramps about 1/4 days to cramps about 1/10 days. But since my celiac disease diagnosis, I stopped taking it, because I was unsure if my tablets were gluten-free.

I found some gluten-free caclium pills last night and I am going to try them again. Also, since I now realize that the celiac disease was impeding my calcium absorbtion, I can see how this could lead to even worse cramps from celiac disease - the gluten itself caused reactions and cramps, and damaged the villi, reducing caluicum uptake, further making cramps worse....etc....

So I am taking 1000mg a day now, which is the RDA. Obvioulsy I will get more from other foods, etc, but since my guts are damaged, and my bones probably are too, I think it makes sense to exceed the RDA a little, for now.

Anyone else have any experience with this?

[PreOptMegs]

I am definately looking for a good gluten-free calcium supplement, especially since starting the specific carbohydrate diet, since it does not allow you to drink milk. It is a good idea to take the calcium, but like you said, who knows if it is gluten-free or not.

[Lesliean]

Glad the calcium helps with the cramps. Muscle cramps can also be caused by potassium deficiency. The villi tips that are damaged by celiac disease are where calcium is metabolized. 50 to 100 % of celiac disease patients have significant bone loss (which they regain, in part at least, quickly as they heal). I take Citracil because it can be metabolized on an empty or full stomach. I take 2000 mg. a day. Space them out because only 500mg. can be utilized at a time.

The bowel habits can take quite a while to change to reliably normal. Upwards of a year in many people. I was improved immediately but 4 months into a gluten-free lifestyle and I am still improving with some of the symptoms.

My neck pain, back pain at a fracture site, and elbow pain have gone away completely. Different than yours...

Leslie

[cdford]

The longer you are gluten-free, the more likely it will be that you will see "normality" in you gut and the other areas where you are affected. I have seen the muscle, nerve, and bone damage get much better over the last two years along with the gut.