Episodic?

[Jenny Leigh]

When on a gluten filled diet, did you ever have symptoms that were episodic? I have a few, rather minor, but annoying problems when I have a stretch of good days... and then something will set me off. My last relapse/attack was due to eating 2 Chili's mini big mouth bites. I got extremely nauseated and then woke up the next day with vestibular symptoms, and of course the usual intense nausea, D, exhaustion. All of that led to a huge crash of my system (which is what is making me think I have some sort of autoimmune triggered by food). Weeks and 7 pounds lost later, I am going beginning to go through a "good" phase again. High fat restaurant food seem to do me in, along with wine and once chocolate.

I have not been diagnosed with Celiac, neither have I started a gluten free diet. I am waiting for test results and various other doctor's visits.

I'm just wondering if it is ever possible to have a sudden swing in symptoms with Celiac, and then a stretch of "okay" days? I've nearly nursed my stomach back from the brink and am feeling better (chicken and rice ftw)

I'm considering going on an elimination diet after all doctor's have ruled out other things. I have a previous post with my symptoms: I'll post doctor's result on that older thread. I want to check out casein, yeast, and fructose intolerances as well if I go on the elimination method.

[kitgordon]

My symptoms (GI) came and went over a period of years. At first, it was just once a month or less, got gradually more and more frequent - once it started being enough to interfere with my life, I realized it was "time". Most of the relatives on my mother's side are diagnosed with celiac, so I pretty much knew what it was and how to treat it. But not everyone with celiac is sick and in terrible pain all the time. For a long time my good days outnumbered my bad ones, but even when you feel OK, your body is still being damaged by gluten.

[jerseyangel]

When on a gluten filled diet, did you ever have symptoms that were episodic?

Oh my goodness, yes. I had years (20 at least) where I would get "sick" often with nausea, lightheadedness, fatigue, and just an overall ill feeling. Like a milder case of flu--but it happened a lot.

Back then, I had no idea it could be something I was eating, and the doctors were no help always diagnosing me with sinus infections or gastroenteritis (when I didn't have the classic symptoms) and prescribing antibiotics and later, steroids.

It wasn't until I had an actual bout of influenza in late 2003 that my symptoms got much worse and I began to get chronic diarrhea, tingling and numbness, weight loss, severe anxiety, worsening of my chronic anemia to the point where I couldn't stand for very long, and crushing fatigue.

Still, my doc had no clue--sent me for stool and blood testing. Even with the anemia, high bilirubin and borderline thyroid numbers she kind of threw up her hands and sent me in for cardiac testing which was all normal.

Luckily, I read an article in Prevention Magazine that mentioned Celiac (which I had never heard of) and how it wasn't as rare as was thought (this was in early 2005). I asked for a referral to a gastroenterologist and finally was tested.

All those years, I would have stretches of feeling well--of course I would "play it safe" by not eating breakfast if I had an important appointment or something so my stomach wouldn't "act up" but it wasn't any particular food I was avoiding, just food in general.

[shopgirl]

Absolutely. When I first started showing symptoms a few years before I was diagnosed, I was sleeping round the clock. As my symptoms got bad in the last year or so before diagnosis, I turned into an insomniac. My GI symptoms were episodic, too, alternating between D and C before finally settling on C (awesome!).

Celiac is a deeply irrational disorder.

[Jenny Leigh]

Well that is certainly a relief! I've swung from D to C in one day flat, and other than that feel temporarily cured. I know it is all a ruse and something will make me sick again eventually until I get this fixed.

[cassP]

Well that is certainly a relief! I've swung from D to C in one day flat, and other than that feel temporarily cured. I know it is all a ruse and something will make me sick again eventually until I get this fixed.

yes.... and dont be surprised if you ever swing from C to D in one sitting

sorry tmi..

[shopgirl]

yes.... and dont be surprised if you ever swing from C to D in one sitting

sorry tmi..

This made me laugh and cry a little bit...in one sitting.