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

Elimination Diet - Feel Like Crap!

JenniferLynn

Recommended Posts

JenniferLynn Newbie
JenniferLynn
Posted

Hi All!

I've had chronic constant and pretty severe headaches for three years that just started out of the blue one day. I've been to all the docs and have had all the tests done...and they all say I'm healthy...but I don't feel healthy. My nervous system is also out of wack and I get nervous very easily/anxious. I am seeing a chiropractor who specializes in headaches and who thought I might have a gluten intolerence. Well thanks to Enterolab, I do have a gluten intolerence along with soy, dairy, yeast, and eggs. I eliminated gluten and dairy from my diet about 5-6 weeks ago with NO relief. When the test results came back from Enterolab with the other intolerences, I cut those out this past Sunday. Monday and Tuesday I had even worse headaches than normal...and Weds the headache wasn barely any better. But today (Thursday) my head is KILLING me and I have sore gooky eyes and feel like CRAP. I'm sure this is a withdrawal symptom of some kind, but feel like my head will literally explode.

Does anyone else have a similar story? How long did you have to go off of gluten/other foods before you saw an improvement in your symptoms? I hear it can take 3-6 months for improvement. So far...I am skeptical that this is what's causing my headaches since I've been gluten-free for 5+ weeks.

Please share your stories with me so I don't think I'm the only one experiencing this stuff!

Thanks! - Jen

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gf-soph Apprentice
gf-soph
Posted

I've been on an elmination diet for 2 months now, and have just got well enough to start introducing things. I have been gluten-free for almost 2 years, but still had lots of problems, mostly GI but also a lot of brain fog/mood issues.

When you say elmination diet, have you just cut out the foods you mentioned, or are you right down to a very basic diet? There are so many things that could cause headaches. You may want to look at some of the other recent threads about elimination diets for an overview of the different approaches, and go from there.

For what it's worth, I definitely had worse headaches for the first week on the elimination diet, then found I got them from artificial sweeteners. I also found a horrible reaction to eggs, and a reaction to rice that affected my mood and concentration, though I suspect it's because I went overboad with the amounts.

The simpler the elmination diet is to start with the more likely it is that you will be able to pinpoint the culplrit foods.

Also, remember to keep enough nutrition in your diet to stay well. If you are unwell to start with cutting out the wrong foods could leave you feeling off as your body isn't getting the right nutrition. I am doing the diet under the supervision of a dietician, and have also used sustagen hospital formula to keep my general nutrients up. It's got dairy and corn in it so I know it wouldn't work for most people, but it's ok for me.

Food and chemical intolerances can build up over many days, and can take anywhere from a day to 2 weeks to die down. Don't start despairing for a while yet!

It's worth adding the standard question too - are you 100% strict about gluten? Have you replaced your non-stick cookware etc. Have you checked supplements, and even body products? If not, get super stict with the gluten, as if it's the problem you can be very sensitive to it.

Oh, and have you had any nutrient levels checked? I got horrible headaces when I was B12 deficient, and I think also some from when I was iron deficient.

Good luck!

lucia Enthusiast
lucia
Posted

Sounds like withdrawal to me, given the timeline. Just hang in there. If it is withdrawal, it will pass. (If not, you can look into other issues, but I don't think you'll need to.)

Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

Probably just withdrawal. Do you happen to drink diet soda? Many people get severe headsches from aspartame.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Are you taking anything for the headaches or were you taking something and then stopped when you started the elimination diet? If you were regularly taking something for them and then stopped suddenly you could be experiencing rebound headaches. If you are presently taking something script or over the counter make sure by calling the maker that it is gluten free. You may just be experiencing withdrawl in which case it should pass soon but if the headaches get more severe do talk to your doctor, especially if you have been on a script for them.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Also, are you getting enough food? When we eliminate a number of things, we may not get enough food (or eat a lot of things that bother us). For me, I have to watch that I get enough (and balanced enough) food to avoid the horrid low blood sugar headaches that accompany hypoglycemia.

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. Scott Adams
      0

      Celiac Diner Sues Olive Garden After Gluten Mix-Up Leads to Medical Emergency (+Video)

    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed. Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Fruits & Veggies

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better. Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor. PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12. Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1. There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine. In Thiamine deficiency, the body...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Inmate with Celiac Disease Wins $630,000 After Jail Denies Gluten-Free Food

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,040
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    marlee h
    Newest Member
    marlee h
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      26F!
×
×
  • 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.