Celiac Disease And Weight Loss

[mrsvicky]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 4 months ago after suffering with it for almost 3 years with no answers from any of the Dr's I seen. Finally went to Mayo clinic in Mn and got some answers and now that I have got on the gluten free diet I am only having maybe 1 or 2 attacks a month but Im still losing weight like crazy. Is this pretty common with the disease or something I need to be contacting my Dr about? For example: I have lost a pound and a half just since last night and I will go a week or two not losing anything and then bam I have lost 10lbs in 3 days. I weigh every morning first thing so I can keep track of my weight because it really bothers me how fast its coming off and I like to know exactly whats going on with my weight so I can tell the Dr if needed. Also I eat all the time so its not that I am not getting enough to eat. I am also not extremly active. I have 3 kids who are 4, 6, and 1 that I have to chase around but other then that I dont play any sports or do any regular exercise mostly cause I am scared it will just speed up the weight loss more. So what do you think is this normal or something else to be looked into? TIA

[jerseyangel]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 4 months ago after suffering with it for almost 3 years with no answers from any of the Dr's I seen. Finally went to Mayo clinic in Mn and got some answers and now that I have got on the gluten free diet I am only having maybe 1 or 2 attacks a month but Im still losing weight like crazy. Is this pretty common with the disease or something I need to be contacting my Dr about? For example: I have lost a pound and a half just since last night and I will go a week or two not losing anything and then bam I have lost 10lbs in 3 days. I weigh every morning first thing so I can keep track of my weight because it really bothers me how fast its coming off and I like to know exactly whats going on with my weight so I can tell the Dr if needed. Also I eat all the time so its not that I am not getting enough to eat. I am also not extremly active. I have 3 kids who are 4, 6, and 1 that I have to chase around but other then that I dont play any sports or do any regular exercise mostly cause I am scared it will just speed up the weight loss more. So what do you think is this normal or something else to be looked into? TIA

Hi and welcome! It can take time to feel better and begin to absorb your foods correctly. Do you eat a fairly balanced diet? 10 pounds in 3 days is something that I would definitely ask my doctor about.

[chasbari]

Lost scary weight very fast when I went gluten-free and then even more drastic when I went paleo.. the thing is the weight loss was body fat as I was gaining considerable strength back during that time. I lost 40 pounds in the first three months or so and most felt I didn't have any margin for weight loss in the first place. I knew differently though. I have never felt healthier, even though I still have endurance and recovery issues when I don't get enough protein. The body is busy healing and operating so the calories you need have to do double duty and if you have considerable gut damage you need to eat nutrients that the body can readily assimilate... simple foods as natural as can be. I found I couldn't handle raw veggies at first but now I prefer them as my gut can handle it. I am snacking on cauliflower and carrots presently. If I keep the protein intake high my appetite settles down. I thought I would pour on the raw fruits for a while but encountered way too many problems with bloating and discomfort. When I cut back and went with fruits that I don't consume the peel or rind... especially apples, strawberries and oranges.. (I would have a waxy residue chronically on my hand from peeling oranges and wondered if there was a gluten issue with that) sticking with bananas and fresh pineapple.. things settled down considerably. I took a trip to NYC and thought I had packed enough food for my two days.. lost ten pounds on that trip and am still trying to gain it back, so I sympathize with you.

[mareahf]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease about 4 months ago after suffering with it for almost 3 years with no answers from any of the Dr's I seen. Finally went to Mayo clinic in Mn and got some answers and now that I have got on the gluten free diet I am only having maybe 1 or 2 attacks a month but Im still losing weight like crazy. Is this pretty common with the disease or something I need to be contacting my Dr about? For example: I have lost a pound and a half just since last night and I will go a week or two not losing anything and then bam I have lost 10lbs in 3 days. I weigh every morning first thing so I can keep track of my weight because it really bothers me how fast its coming off and I like to know exactly whats going on with my weight so I can tell the Dr if needed. Also I eat all the time so its not that I am not getting enough to eat. I am also not extremly active. I have 3 kids who are 4, 6, and 1 that I have to chase around but other then that I dont play any sports or do any regular exercise mostly cause I am scared it will just speed up the weight loss more. So what do you think is this normal or something else to be looked into? TIA

Yes, I lose weight quickly too when I accidently eat gluten. Normally when I get sick I will lose around 5 lbs and I am skinny already. I find it very dishearting because I feel like I am wasting away. But when I am healthy on my strick gluten-free diet my weight slowly comes back. Your body is not absorbing what it needs so it takes it from the reserve. I would see your doctor about the rapid weight loss, maybe they can give you vitamins so at least you get some nutrients. Hang in there and stick to your diet.