Why Do My Symptoms Flare Up When I Excerise?

[tomtom009]

I've always only had one symptom, bloating. I've been gluten-free for almost 2 months and the bloating has improved, although I wouldn't say I'm 100%. But one of the problems I have ran into, no pun intended, is that after I run or do any kind of cardio exercise my symptom(s) flare up for days. I asked my doctor and he really had no clue, suggested it might be me swallowing air or something to do with my digestive system and eating too soon after working out. Last time I worked out I waited about an hour to eat and I made sure to eat really slow. Didn't seem to help.

anybody have a similar situation?

BTW I was never officially diagnosed celiac but it runs in my family (well 1 person has it out of like 50). The test came back negative BUT I had been gluten-free for about a month so that's probably why.

[lucia]

When I was dealing with the worst of my GI symptoms, the same thing happened to me. I limited my activity then, mostly because of an intense dizziness. But I thought I should get *some* exercise. So, I decided to walk 20 minutes to an appointment and 20 minutes back (normally a really easy walk for me, I'm actually a biker). I had horrible, painful, stomach cramps come on immediately afterwards.

I'd suggest - and I know this will be painful for you - that you drop back the intensity of your cardio. Instead of running, I'd suggest brisk walking, for now. Exercise is great for our bodies, but I think right now, your body needs to heal more before you push it. Your body has been through a lot.

I don't even have a theory about why this might be happening. It's all so mysterious. I just know we have to listen to our bodies, especially since medical science can't explain what's going on.

[Looking for answers]

This happens to me too . . . lots of bloating. This is just a guess but maybe it has something to do with an electrolyte imbalance. I know many people with gluten intolerance also have adrenal fatigue (me as well), which causes imbalances such as these. Maybe with the sweat and exertion, it exacerbates the problem.

[Mari]

I have had real problems when I did too much physical labor not even hard work. I didn't get any particular pain but the cramping and spasms in my abdomen would keep me awake all night and there was always gas and bloating. I think but can't be sure, that this has gotten better since I took herbal remedies for intestinal candida. I also become dehydrated rapidly and that would slow down the food going through my intestine allowing the gut bacteria to ferment the food and result in toxin formation and inflammation. It's possible that keeping well hydrated with a balanced electrolyte sports drink might help.

[dilettantesteph]

The same thing happened to me when I started exercising more vigorously. I found that when I rid my diet of more trace gluten, I could exercise even more vigorously without any more symptoms. Basically no processed foods. I figure it is probably best that I got my diet cleaned up.