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Did It Get Worse For You Before It Got Better?

possiblyglutensensitive

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possiblyglutensensitive Explorer
possiblyglutensensitive
Posted

ok I have no idea about my test results but I am still gluten free, it,s been about 1 week.

My digestion is much much better, and my baked goods and bread cravings are gone. I feel so good about that.

I am PMSing , I am on the 27th day of my cycle. I have a history of depression and anxiety, especially pre-menstrual.

What I would like to know is, has it been worse for you guys before it got better? (all symptoms).

I am feeling very very depressed, irritable and tired. :(

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FooGirlsMom Rookie
FooGirlsMom
Posted

I've been gluten-free for 3 months now and the first month my cycle was really difficult. I was a bit late & my symptoms were like I was eating gluten again. Boy was I emotional and tired (emotional was not a normal part of my PMS, just fatigue, achiness, flu-like). Then month #2 I was on-time but I felt awful - again - emotional & tired. Here I am just a few days before my onset and I'm feeling really good. I have seen an overall improvement in my symptoms this month. I lived a primarily gluten-free lifestyle for years and 90% of the time had problem free PMS weeks. The past 2 years have been BAD. I also went from a 4 week cycle to a 3 wk 3 day cycle, which returned to 4 weeks last month after going gluten-free. So here's to hoping...

One thing I can tell you to feel better (and I did this even before gluten-free). Take a gluten-free vitamin B complex supplement in the PMS week, if not regularly. It really helps most women I know.

Hang in there. You're not alone. I was really surprised at how awful my first 2 cycles were after gluten-free. This month, so far, is much more ideal.

FooGirlsMom

Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted

Yeah, it sometimes takes a while to feel human again. I felt great for a few days, then all kinds of weird new things started like fluid retention, neuropathy and everything I ate turned on me :o

6 months into it, I felt like a kid again. Not a bad feat for being over 40, LOL. Hang in there!

possiblyglutensensitive Explorer
possiblyglutensensitive
Posted
  • Author

Thank you so much for your encouraging words.

I am dead set on remaining gluten free.... my digestion is so much better and being gluten free really does eliminate so much junk foods!! I have to make brown rice and veggies and salads with beans etc.... i cannot just grab a baguette and eat a bran muffin.

I meant BAKERY goods not baked goods in my original post BTW.. :)

the AMAZING thing is that within a few days, the cravings for bakery stuff and bread DISAPPEARED.

that is enough for me to remain gluten free. :)

Gluten Glutton Newbie
Gluten Glutton
Posted

It's so nice to hear that you're mostly feeling better!

I've been gluten-free for about three months. I had many classic celiac symptoms, including bowl/digestive issues, joint paint, anxiety and depression, to name a few. The first week was really tough; I was okay for a day or two, but then the aches came on strong. My body was wracked by these sharp, aching joint paints just about everywhere tissues connect. I had this for three days, followed by a couple of days of intense cravings.

Then one day I woke up and just felt... good. Great, actually. Like I had turned a corner and was out the other side. I still missed bread and bagels and all that good stuff, but had no desire to eat them. What I missed (and still miss every now and then) is the convenience of a gluten-inclusive diet. In the last couple of weeks, going down the bread aisle in the store makes me feel ill. The smell I used to love and long for is now one that makes me queasy. Go figure!

As far as anxiety/depression goes, it's inevitable that we women get a little more emotional around our periods. I see that across the board with every woman I know! But when our bodies are out of whack, things are bound to be worse. The gluten-free cycle was hard, but I find that I did better the second time and even better the third. My body is regulating itself, including its hormones. I'm hoping that means my cyclical ups and downs will get easier as time goes on. I hope yours do, too!

All the best,

Amanda

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
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