Gluten Free 15 Days

[glutenmik]

Hi, I am completely new to being gluten free and new to this board. I have been gluten free for 15 days now and although my constipation went away and I don't have to take heartburn medicine as often. I am wondering a few things. Why is my face still red around my chin. (I am using a gluten free face wash) Also the energy I felt the first few days has dissappeared and now I am wondering if it is more than gluten. I have a lot of back pain issues and I also get pain in my hips, legs, neck and shoulders. I thought these would start to go away after removing gluten. I am having these unusual (for me) craving for milk. My anxiety levels have also gone up a little. I am feeling a bit frustrated. I know this is good for me but wondering how long does it take to feel better?

Thank you for any help

Mikki

[Takala]

Welcome to your 3rd week of gluten free.

Try ditching soy and dairy and see what happens. You may be able to add some dairy back in, later.

Also, try taking a gluten free B complex vitamin, a multivitamin, and some calcium and magnesium with vit D. Cravings can be caused by the malnutrition caused by gut damage. As you become more in tune with your body, you will initially notice things that were being obscured before, by the overall auto immune reaction.

It will take a while for a consistent joint flare up reaction to go away, in my experience. I still have the arthritis but it is so much lessened now that it is really different - now I know that if I'm eating carefully a minor flare up due to exercise will go away on its own, with rest, within 12 to 23 hours, without medicating it. Gluten flares might take a bit longer. Regular exercise helps this.

[Fire Fairy]

Hello Mikki,

"Don't Panic" (old catch phrase). It takes time to heal. Takala is right you probably need some supplements and staying off dairy for a little while is probably very wise. My Dr told me to take Twin Labs Daily Two with Iron, Bluebonnet Ubiquinol 100mg, Bluebonnet Cal/Mag/D and Bluebonnet D. Be sure any vitamins/supplements are gluten free. A lot of people recommend a pro-biotic as well.

I'm sure you will get some more responses from some far more knowledgeable than I. I have only been gluten free since November. I feel much better than I did before going gluten free but I am now more sensitive to things that aren't right with my body.

PS forum search, it's a great way to get info, just check the dates because some information is outdated.

[possiblyglutensensitive]

I've been gluten free for about 3 weeks and I started to feel better by day 12 or so. The headache (had them for a few months) and nausea (which had become chronic since at least a year), went away. poof, the nausea was gone. The pains in neck and shoulder (had them for years), diminished by about 50%.

My digestion got better immediatelly.

When I got my period 2 days ago, things went downhill, the headaches and nausea and neck kinks were back. As usual the extreme fatigue, depression...

several people have said that the hormones need to regulate themselves the first 3 months or so (maybe longer?). Also, people who have been gluten free for years have said that there are ups and downs, generally speaking.

so let's hang in there.

[shopgirl]

so let's hang in there.

Good for you. You seem much more positive already.

[glutenmik]

Thank you all for replying. I am going to start taking some supplements. I guess I will work on cutting the dairy and soy also...ugh. I am a chocolate person so that will be hard. I just realized today that my hair gel has wheat in it, so maybe that is why my chin has redness. I noticed that my hair rubs against my chin a lot. Thank you for all of the support.

Mikki

[Takala]

Enjoy life chocolate chips don't have any bad things in them and can be used for things besides cookies.

[Financialman]

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in November 2009 so I am getting to be an ole pro at this. Unfortunately when you feel better will depend on how long you have been a celiac and if you follow the "correct" lifestyle. I said lifestyle because this is not a diet. Be patient with yourself and learn as much as you can about what you can and cannot eat and you will be just fine.

[mushroom]

Well, we will have to respectfully disagree about lifestyle/diet. This is not a lifestyle, because it is not a choice which "style" implies. This is actually a diet, because it is what we have to eat and not eat, thereby indicating lack of choice in non-gluten consumption. It is only not a "diet" if you are looking at the meaning of "diet" to lose weight or combat cellulite or some other reason that is entirely voluntary.

[eatmeat4good]

Well, the diet effects your whole lifestyle.

I think you are both right.

To the OP-

The chin redness could also be antibodies that have built up in your skin.

If you have had a rash there it could be DH.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis.

That isn't very fast to heal even if you are strictly gluten free and iodine free.

It takes the antibodies a long time to leave the skin.

It could be your hair products too, but I just wanted you to know that it might take a while to get better.

It becomes no man to nurse despair

But in the teeth of clenched antagonisms

To follow up the worthiest until he dies.

Hang in there

It gets better