"sick" From Giving Up Dairy, Weight Loss On Gluten-Free

[clock]

Hello There!

When I was younger, my sister got sick. As a result, she didn't get into the schools she should have. For a year, doctors told her she was depressed and anorexic. Only after major damage had been done and after my mom called her pediatrician from years earlier was she diagnosed with Lyme's Disease. I believe that this set off Celiac's, but I can't be sure.

Since then, every symptom she has (underweight, fatigue, osteoporosis, arthritis, Raynaud's, migraines, severe Vitamin D deficiency, and so forth) has been labeled Lyme's, depression, or an eating disorder. I believe that she has seen 50 doctors. I thought I would have to go to medical school to figure her our and make money to take care of her. When I started to get sick, however, I felt that my health problems could help me figure her out. I became deficient in a number of things, identified hypothyroidism (and got it treated), realized I was gluten and dairy sensitive, etc. She, however, is discouraged and disgusted with doctors. They still will not treat her hypothyroidism and still dismiss her. She gave up gluten and cannot eat it anymore without getting sick for days.

My sister told me that she tried to give up dairy and that it was "the worst two weeks" of her life. And her life, frankly, has sucked. I'm not kidding. My brother and sister have given up gluten, but I feel at a loss because although I believe in it, we are all underweight. My sister recently told my parents that she wished she had never given it up because she does not feel much better, she is losing weight, and it is socially difficult.

I need to find a way to gain weight so I can help my family. I think that will be the only way my sister will be willing to try going off of dairy for good. I think that is the only thing that will make her better. If any of you can help me help them, it would mean the world.

My questions are:

- Does anyone know how to gain weight on gluten/dairy free diet?

- Does anyone know why giving up dairy could cause such awful symptoms?

[Dixiebell]

- Does anyone know how to gain weight on gluten/dairy free diet?

Healthy fats- avocados, drizzle olive oil on your food, salmon and tuna, lean meats.

Snack on nuts and dried fruits like dates, apricots, raisins and nut butters.

- Does anyone know why giving up dairy could cause such awful symptoms?

It could be casein withdrawal. It can have a similar opiate withdrawal effect like gluten.

[starrytrekchic]

Why is she giving up dairy? For celiac disease, dairy might need to be limited at first, because large amounts are difficult for damaged intestines to digest, but giving it up entirely is seldom necessary.

What did she mean by worst week of her life? Could she have just meant she didn't feel like there was anything she could eat? It's possible she was glutened at the same time she gave up dairy, and the feeling bad was just coincidence.

[Cypressmyst]

What a kind and caring sibling you are.

Has she ever seen a functional medicine doctor? They tend to be way more up on things and knowledgable then the mainstream docs. Here is a link to a site that tells you more and helps you find them locally. They look at the whole you and use a combination of traditional medicine and holistic.

Open Original Shared Link

My guess is that she has beasties in her gut. Bacterial infections, parasites or amoebas who have taken advantage of her weakened state over the years. Until they are addressed she will not be able to heal and her whole system will remain out of wack.

I am currently taking care of an H-pylori and Vibrio infection that has been keeping me sick.

You can try to find a knowledgeable doc near you based on that website. Or if you are done messing around you can go straight to the doctors at Health Now Medical. That is what I did. They are in California but so very worth the trip and their weight in gold. Prices on office visits are extremely reasonable, especially when compared to mainstream docs and they care and will spend time with you to figure out the best course of action for you. You are not a number there.

They offer a free 30 minute phone consultation to see if they can help you or not, so you really have nothing to lose and so much to gain.

Open Original Shared Link

The doctors there literally wrote the book on Gluten Sensitivity. It doesn't get much more knowledgeable.

I do hope that this helps your sister.

[GFinDC]

If she is still eating soy, I'd say get her off that also, as well as the dairy. And then have her eat only whole foods, nothing processed for a few months at least. Eat chicken, beef, turkey, fish, avocadoes, nuts, brown rice, veggies, fruits etc.

Casein withdrawal is a possibility also. That's just something that would go away after a while though.

[GFshay]

I just gave up dairy (for now) and have lost weight with the gluten-free diet too (9 lb in 2 months...not good). I finally found a nutritionist who knew Celiac well, that is making a big difference. She said to focus on lots of protein and good fats, and to avoid soy if I'm still having GI distress. I'm basically pushing myself to eat meat, nut butter, and/or eggs every time I eat (she also recommended lots of snacking all day). Within the first day I realized how much I needed that extra food and especially protein. She pointed out that you need protein to build back damaged tissue (if there is still any for you or your sister). I think what's hard for lots of us is that we've gotten used to fasting whenever we're not feeling great because in the past, gluten in our food would make it worse. But if you're cooking your own food and know it's safe, eating should only help speed up the health-boosting process. Good luck! I'm there with you too!

[clock]

"Healthy fats- avocados, drizzle olive oil on your food, salmon and tuna, lean meats.

Snack on nuts and dried fruits like dates, apricots, raisins and nut butters."

Thank you - this is a great start!

"Why is she giving up dairy? For celiac disease, dairy might need to be limited at first, because large amounts are difficult for damaged intestines to digest, but giving it up entirely is seldom necessary."

She probably has been off of gluten for a year or so now and while she told me she felt a little more energetic at first and that eating gluten makes now her very sick for several days, she doesn't think that gluten free has made her feel better. I found that I did not feel 100% better until I gave up dairy, which eliminated what I thought were seasonal allergies, the last of my brain fog, improved digestion, energy, etc. Because milk sensitivity with allergic manifestations runs in the family, I have a feeling they are related, particularly with the similarity in gluten and casein proteins. In addition to getting "glutened," I also find I get "dairy-ed" as well (not limited to digestive).

"What did she mean by worst week of her life? Could she have just meant she didn't feel like there was anything she could eat? It's possible she was glutened at the same time she gave up dairy, and the feeling bad was just coincidence."

She is very, very careful about preparing her gluten-free food and therefore already feels like there isn't anything for her to eat. She always feels extremely tired, migranes, etc. In this case, when she gave up dairy for two weeks, she felt physically ill (far worse than usual) as a result of not eating dairy, which made me suspect the withdrawl others have mentioned or, while I know less well-received from a scientific standpoint, a yeast problem. I wouldn't doubt either, however, but hoped others might know the answer.

"Has she ever seen a functional medicine doctor? They tend to be way more up on things and knowledgable then the mainstream docs. Here is a link to a site that tells you more and helps you find them locally. They look at the whole you and use a combination of traditional medicine and holistic."

She hasn't (a natural doctor once, I think, but that was it) and I have to give her some hope before we go down that route. I have to find key answers that will make her feel better, as she has lost all will to see any more doctors and is starting to lose faith in me. She is sick of all the testing, visits, etc. I really need to find something to help her feel better so she has the energy to go to doctors. At that point, however, I'd be more than happy to check out this resource! The second suggestion of the free 30-minute may be something I could convince her to try if I catch her in the right mood.

"My guess is that she has beasties in her gut. Bacterial infections, parasites or amoebas who have taken advantage of her weakened state over the years. Until they are addressed she will not be able to heal and her whole system will remain out of wack."

I have been taking Syntol AMD and have considered getting it for her as well. I know she does not have the will or life in her to go through yet another round of testing. If that would be a good start, perhaps I can try that with her.

"If she is still eating soy, I'd say get her off that also, as well as the dairy. And then have her eat only whole foods, nothing processed for a few months at least. Eat chicken, beef, turkey, fish, avocadoes, nuts, brown rice, veggies, fruits etc."

She eats pretty clean, but refuses to give up dairy because of how awful it made her feel. I am hoping that next summer I can convince her to try one more time. I think I would need to be with her. This is all good advice, but in her case, I need to find a way to restore hope first, help her gain some weight, help her start to feel better.

"Casein withdrawal is a possibility also. That's just something that would go away after a while though."

Is there any way to ease such symptoms if that is the case?

"I just gave up dairy (for now) and have lost weight with the gluten-free diet too (9 lb in 2 >months...not good). I finally found a nutritionist who knew Celiac well, that is making a big >difference. She said to focus on lots of protein and good fats, and to avoid soy if I'm still >having GI distress. I'm basically pushing myself to eat meat, nut butter, and/or eggs every >time I eat (she also recommended lots of snacking all day). Within the first day I realized >how much I needed that extra food and especially protein. She pointed out that you need >protein to build back damaged tissue (if there is still any for you or your sister). I think >what's hard for lots of us is that we've gotten used to fasting whenever we're not feeling >great because in the past, gluten in our food would make it worse. But if you're cooking your >own food and know it's safe, eating should only help speed up the health-boosting process. Good luck! I'm there with you too!"

Thank you, these are great suggestions!

[GFinDC]

She eats pretty clean, but refuses to give up dairy because of how awful it made her feel. I am hoping that next summer I can convince her to try one more time. I think I would need to be with her. This is all good advice, but in her case, I need to find a way to restore hope first, help her gain some weight, help her start to feel better.

"Casein withdrawal is a possibility also. That's just something that would go away after a while though."

Is there any way to ease such symptoms if that is the case?

Hi,

I am not sure about easing the symptoms of casein withdrawal. Maybe it would help if she started using less dairy to begin with and eased into it before doing the total cutoff. She could drink hemp milk, there is a brand called Tempt, sold in a box that is GFSFCF. There is also an alt cheese called Daiya, that is soy free and dairy free an gluten-free. It comes in shreds and is sold in a white plastic bag. So maybe she could try getting used to dairy free products for a while before taking the plunge again.

Here is one of many articles about casein and it's opiate relation.

Open Original Shared Link