Nausea?

[missceliac2010]

Hello all.

I have been gluten-free for about 2 weeks now, and something strange is happening. It might not be a celiac side effect but I thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else has experienced this. I have my tubes tied, so I'm not pregnant. Lol! I have been getting very nauseous a bite or two into my food. It's happened three times now, my last three meals. I take a few bites, and I feel sick. I stop eating. I have taken to drinking Ensures to make sure I keep up some semblance of good nutrition. I can handle the ensures/liquids just fine.

So what do you guys and gals think? Weird stomach bug, or some stage of healing from celiac disease?

Thanks!

[Mack the Knife]

I was diagnosed six months ago and haven't improved much on a gluten free diet. In fact, some things have gotten worse.

I've been getting low level nausea for months. It doesn't seem to be directly related to eating ie it doesn't just happen after I eat something. And it's not severe. In fact, I usually have the urge to eat something to try to settle my stomach. Green apples work well.

But the nausea has gotten worse this week along with numbness in my fingers and toes and a recurring rash on my scalp.

I'm actually sitting in a waiting room, as I type this, waiting to see a specialist. I'll let you know how I go.

[JBesnard]

Hello all.

I have been gluten-free for about 2 weeks now, and something strange is happening. It might not be a celiac side effect but I thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else has experienced this. I have my tubes tied, so I'm not pregnant. Lol! I have been getting very nauseous a bite or two into my food. It's happened three times now, my last three meals. I take a few bites, and I feel sick. I stop eating. I have taken to drinking Ensures to make sure I keep up some semblance of good nutrition. I can handle the ensures/liquids just fine.

So what do you guys and gals think? Weird stomach bug, or some stage of healing from celiac disease?

Thanks!

From personal experience I believe you are experiencing a normal reacation. Where Celiac causes your body not to absorb proper nutrients, your body has built up a lot of toxins in the tissues. Starting a gluten free diet will start to allow your body to absorb these nutrients and start to break free the toxins in your body and release them and then get rid of them. This is a painful and sometimes long process. It is a common misconception when we read about any detoxification process that we will immediately feel better. I snack on crystallized ginger when I have nausea and it seems to be very helpful. This should not contain gluten if bought from a health food store, but just in case you might want to search online for gluten free crystallized ginger. I hope this was helpful. Good Luck!

[missceliac2010]

I hope this was helpful. Good Luck!

Thanks! That is very helpful! I was fortunate in that my bodies response was initially very fast and miraculous almost. I will happily deal with some minor nausea while I continue down the path to healing. I bought some gluten free Ginger tea last night and it's helpful. I am sensitive to a lot of sugar, so candied (which I assume is another name for crystalized) might be problematic for me. I had gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago. But I'll do a google search and find out the details. But regardless, thank you so much! It's always helpful to have someone tell you that you are "normal!"

Thanks again!

[gary'sgirl]

Thanks! That is very helpful! I was fortunate in that my bodies response was initially very fast and miraculous almost. I will happily deal with some minor nausea while I continue down the path to healing. I bought some gluten free Ginger tea last night and it's helpful. I am sensitive to a lot of sugar, so candied (which I assume is another name for crystalized) might be problematic for me. I had gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago. But I'll do a google search and find out the details. But regardless, thank you so much! It's always helpful to have someone tell you that you are "normal!"

Thanks again!

Something interesting that one of my doctors happened to mention a couple of months ago when I was asking about B12 deficiency, was that usually you only see B12 deficiency in people who either drink a lot of alcohol and don't eat much, have some kind of health problem that involve the small intestines not absorbing nutrients properly (Celiac), or who have had gastric bypass surgery.

I know that one of the signs of B12 deficiency - which is common with Celiac Disease - is nausea. It might be something to look into and ask your doctor about because it sounds like you may have to separate issues that could contribute to having low B12.

Hope you feel better soon. Let us know.

~Sarah

[sandiz]

Thanks! That is very helpful! I was fortunate in that my bodies response was initially very fast and miraculous almost. I will happily deal with some minor nausea while I continue down the path to healing. I bought some gluten free Ginger tea last night and it's helpful. I am sensitive to a lot of sugar, so candied (which I assume is another name for crystalized) might be problematic for me. I had gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago. But I'll do a google search and find out the details. But regardless, thank you so much! It's always helpful to have someone tell you that you are "normal!"

Thanks again!

Try RAW SUGAR. I react to "white" sugar and the raw is fine.

[sunnybabi1986]

For whatever reason, Ensure made me very nauseous right after I went gluten free. It still does, actually. It is gluten free, so I'm not sure why, but I do know that as soon as I stopped drinking it I started feeling better and when I drank it again, I got sick to my stomach.

I drink Boost now with no problems whatsoever, maybe you're having a problem with Ensure?

Hope you feel better soon!

[missceliac2010]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I am feeling a bit better today, but I think I will still ask my doctor to take some blood and check all my nutrient levels. I'm supposed to have them checked every so often anyway because of the bypass surgery, but with celiac disease comlicating the issue it's especially important. For now the tea is working and I ate better today. My boyfriend also suggested another cause. I have been so anxious and downright scared about getting glutened, he thinks perhaps I am giving myself nausea from fear and anxiety that eating creates. It's an interesting theory, and I welcome and will try any one.

Again I can't thank you all enough for your suggestions. I don't know what I would do without "my board peeps!"

[Cheryl-C]

Just as an aside, when you begin going gluten-free, you are making a dramatic change in your diet. Even though your body rejects gluten, in a way it was "used to" it being there. Now you've removed in entirely, suddenly; your body might be in a bit of a shock.

Think of it like going cold-turkey on nicotine, alcohol or narcotics - even if it's harmful, removing it from your diet is going to be traumatic for your body.

Also, if you're replacing your previously gluten-y foods with gluten-free options, that might upset your stomach. A while ago I found this great-tasting white bean flour bread. It tasted great, and I was so happy to find good-tasting bread that was gluten-free. However, I didn't take into account the BEAN part...suddenly I was eating two slices of this bean bread a day...you can imagine the impact that had on my stomach.

Hang in there - I hope by now you're feeling better!

[jakeynogluten]

Hey,

I've been gluten free for about 3 weeks and I still feel a little nauseous at times. I'm taking vit b6, b12, calcium, vit D, Magnesium, Zinc, Fe, omega 3,6,9 and probiotics. Your body has been suffering malabsorption for some time and it will speed your recovery time to supplement with vitamins and minerals. Try and find options that are easily absorbed by your body, i.e. sublingual b12, liquid Fe (Vital F), etc. Your small intestine is still healing and can't absorb all the nutrients from your diet. My recovery is progressing very rapidly and I think it has been the combo of strict/balanced gluten free diet consisting of mostly raw organic whole foods (eliminating soy, dairy and nightshades also) and the nutritional supplementation. I still get some low grade nausea and so I feel your pain. We can't expect to feel 100% after being gluten free for such a short time although I'm impatient and just want to feel normal again. Best of luck in your journey.

Jake

[Marz]

I get nauseous 30 min after eating nightshades, but never as I'm about to eat/start eating.

Any other "stomach" symptoms like burping, stomach pain, acid reflux, heartburn? That would indicate an ulcer or something with the stomach getting physically irritated.

It may not be related to what you're eating when you feel ill, might be your previous meal or two that's causing issues.

Is it happening at every meal, or only at certain times (Like always lunch/supper), any pattern?

Ensure also doesn't agree with me - I think it's the soy, makes me pretty ill (more stabbing pain than nausea though).

Something you're taking before every meal? I was taking enzymes before a meal, and started getting nauseous from that (one of my glutening symptoms) - quickly realised the enzymes weren't gluten free or weren't agreeing with me. Vitamins on an empty stomach sometimes make me nauseous as well.

Give it some time, your gut might just still be healing?

[floral]

This note is to address Heather C. I also had a gastric bypass and have been recently diagnosed with celiac. My nausea has recently been uplifted and it took an entire 6 months since going gluten free. I hated feeling constantly nauseas and it reminded me of that horrible green feeling while pregnant. Remember how at 4 months or so you realized one day,...hey it's gone? It's kinda like that. Good luck. It seems I'm only a few steps in front of you.

[kareng]

This note is to address Heather C. I also had a gastric bypass and have been recently diagnosed with celiac. My nausea has recently been uplifted and it took an entire 6 months since going gluten free. I hated feeling constantly nauseas and it reminded me of that horrible green feeling while pregnant. Remember how at 4 months or so you realized one day,...hey it's gone? It's kinda like that. Good luck. It seems I'm only a few steps in front of you.

Just an FYI, Miss Celiac2010 hasn't been active in 2 years. She may not see this.

[Chaff]

Still, a good thread to revive. I'm a week and a few days off gluten, and the constant nausea after eating foods I am 100% sure are safe was driving me crazy. It's nice to know this is somewhat normal. It's a little easier to stop worrying and just accept it's going to slightly suck for a while. (Or maybe my B12 will start kicking in soon?)

Anyway, even if the original poster isn't around, this newbie is glad to have some more advice.

[angelynnb]

I agree Amelia, great thread!

I have been gluten-free for 3 months, and just 3 days ago started feeling nausea. When I am constantly on the lookout for being glutened, I have been so confused! I took 2 pregnancy tests bc it feels just like it did then.... I am thankful it might be just be getting out of my system.

I will say I am completely confused at which vitamins to take now....and I don't know how much.... A bit overwhelming

[Chaff]

I've heard B6 and B12 can help (celiacs are often deficient in B12 at diagnosis anyway), but honestly making ginger tea from scratch has helped me out a lot. Just google it for recipes (I just use a ton of grated ginger with a cinnamon stick in water simmering for 20 minutes). It may not help everybody, but it really seems to help me. So far, at least.

My friend is an OB-GYN and she recommends ginger, B vitamins, and pressure points (just below your thumb). The pressure point thing never worked for me, but some people like it.