Question From A Newbie, About Cravings

[undiagnosed2years]

Can any of you comment on this for me? I'm not diagnosed yet and I have some questions...

Do you have strange and ongoing cravings? I crave cheese constantly. Any kind and lots of it, on just about everything I eat. And the cheese is increasing. Now it's 2 or 3 slices on a sandwich, where it used to be 1. I crave drinking milk too. And sometimes I crave anything with lots of salt. This has been happening for almost a year and it's getting more intense.

(And in case this helps you comment... I've had diarrhea for 2 years, bloating, gas, pain in my left side and the newest addition is a swollen belly for the last week.)

[Lisa]

Can any of you comment on this for me? I'm not diagnosed yet and I have some questions...

Do you have strange and ongoing cravings? I crave cheese constantly. Any kind and lots of it, on just about everything I eat. And the cheese is increasing. Now it's 2 or 3 slices on a sandwich, where it used to be 1. I crave drinking milk too. And sometimes I crave anything with lots of salt. This has been happening for almost a year and it's getting more intense.

(And in case this helps you comment... I've had diarrhea for 2 years, bloating, gas, pain in my left side and the newest addition is a swollen belly for the last week.)

Having diarrhea for two years, I would certainly hope that you are under a doctors care. And while you're there get a Celiac Panel and get a full metabolic panel done. It will check for deficiencies needed for a healthy life....if you have not already done so.

[cassP]

what are you waiting for???? go to a doc- and like said above- get a complete celiac panel, and other basic tests.

you do not need to be feeling like this for 2 years... go get answers so you can get better!!!

[undiagnosed2years]

I have a doctor now. He's trying IBS meds, but after finding information about Celiac I will ask him for more tests.

But still, what about the cravings? Does that happen with Celiac's?

[Tidings]

"But still, what about the cravings?"

Maybe your "Better Nature" knows that some of those things you are craving are not good for you, whereas your "More Wicked Side" really really WANTS them! LOL. :-)

Seriously, I think something like that does go on. Our body "knows" even before our mind accepts. Sometimes we can start to get symptoms before we even ingest something, and I think it's our "intuition" trying to warn us to forego that particular "pleasure."

I've heard that the things we CRAVE or are ADDICTED TO are most likely the things we are ALLERGIC or REACTIVE to. (Think it was an allergy doctor who told me that about 30 years ago, when he said I'd have to give up wheat and corn, etc., to test for allergies, and I reacted with a shocked "But I LOVE CORN and could never give it up!" He answered immediately that we are often allergic to the things we love and therefore INDULGE IN OFTEN. At the time, I was not convinced... Now I wonder if I'd listened to him, if my whole life could have been a lot less stressful and a lot more healthy and fun!)

About the cheese/diarrhea thing... It is possible that you are having a similar thing going on that I had: Before I quit eating gluten, I was having diarrhea and terrible gas, especially when I ate cheese or milk. I quit gluten, but the problems continued; then I read that Celiac/gluten intolerance can damage the villi in our gut, and it is on the tips of the villi that the enzymes are that digest dairy. (Clumsy sentence, but sorry, had very little sleep last night and can't think clearly enough to recast that thought.) So if the villi are damaged, we cannot digest diary, and we have diarrhea, colitis, gas, etc. This seemed to be the case, because over time, my ability to have some milk and cheese now and then seems to be OK. I rarely have any gas and never have diarrhea any more, even if I eat dairy.

Some people have suggested that casein can still be hard to digest and I'm trying not to indulge in much dairy, to see if other problems subside. The key is probably that old adage about "moderation in all things." Right now, am watching spouse overindulging in white breads, sourdough, pastries, and Everything Gluten, and after a few initial attempts to persuade him to cut back on those, am just remaining quiet when he complains about stomach issues. Figure eventually his BODY will TELL HIM what to do. :-)

[cassP]

I have a doctor now. He's trying IBS meds, but after finding information about Celiac I will ask him for more tests.

But still, what about the cravings? Does that happen with Celiac's?

what kind of meds for IBS ?? steroids?? antiinflammatorys??

please get a complete Celiac panel now (while you're still eating gluten): Ttg Iga & Igg, Anti-gliadin Iga & Igg, Endomysial Antibodies, and Total Iga serum.

in europe, when someone has your complaints- they are tested for Celiac from the beginning.. but not in the U.S. the Pharmaceutical companies dont make any money off celiac (yet)- so the docs are not taught to look for it.

you have to be your own doc and ask for the tests. Celiacs very commonly develop Lactose Intolerance. Gluten usually gives me Constipation and leads to other BM disorders- but it was when i developed Lactose Intolerance that i had "D" everyday.

as far as CRAVINGS go-> they dont really have to do with Celiac necessarily. breads & cheeses can be very addicting and comforting- im pretty sure they "up" your seratonin.

cheeses also have opiate like qualities. there's also the possibility that you have Candida- which most of us have had to some degree. and that makes you crave more sugar & bread.

ive always been strongly addicted to food- for me, it's almost as hard as ciggarettes.

i have to tell you though- after going gluten free & carb lite- i am much more steady.. i dont feel imprisoned by food.. i feel normal. when i was in my teens & 20s- it was a huge addiction-> i was also "hungry" and "full" all day long... not a good feeling at all.

[Skylark]

This is a very interesting article about gluten and casein (milk protein) cravings. Basically, they act as natural narcotics in some people so you crave them.

Open Original Shared Link

Occasional salt cravings are really normal if you're not eating much salt or get a little dehydrated. A serious, long-term salt craving can be a sign of adrenal disease.

[Marz]

I have ridiculous craving for bready, doughy evil stuff It's actually not even funny, I just avoid bakeries full stop. This was both before and after going gluten free.

After gluten free, dairy started being a bit of a problem as well, and the cravings are there for any dairy as well - mainly milk, cheese and ice-cream.

Hmmm....