Still Learning To Eat Gluten Free. Sleeping 10 -12 Hours. Related?

[farnickle]

I'm still very new to this, figuring out the signals my body has been sending. Low energy, depression, lethargy, weakness were definitely symptoms that lead me to stop eating gluten. I got a quick peak in energy, deeper sleep, and renewed happiness/vitality about a week after giving up gluten. Since then, quite honestly, I've been kind of dense about figuring out the food labeling system. I've used this site a good bit. I believe I've gotten glutened quite a few times. Since I don't have sharp stomach pains, I'm sometimes not sure if I've been glutened or not! I'm still figuring out my body awareness & figuring out what's "me" after these years of putting up with discomfort and low energy.

Probably TMI. Here's the point. I regularly go to bed between 10 and 11. For a couple of weeks I just can't get myself out of bed at all. My husband can bring me breakfast in bed, my dog can lick my face, my alarm can go off, and off, and off.... but I can't wake up until I've had 10 - 12 hours! I've slept past several important engagements (that I was looking forward to!).

Have y'all experienced this kind of sleep as you heal from gluten? Or as a symptom of accidentally consuming gluten? Any advice?

Again.. thanx for this amazing resource!!! I have learned so much on this site & forum. <3

[Dixiebell]

Welcome to the forum farnickle!

Are you taking any vitamins? Have you had your vitamin levels checked? It is recommended that you supplement your diet with them. A good multi, b-complex, fish oil and I'm sure others will have suggestions too.

[eatmeat4good]

I used to sleep like I was dead.

I couldn't hear the alarm, the phone, my son, nothing.

It was very scary.

I had no idea what had happened to me.

Once I slept for 20 hrs and didn't know what day it was.

Woke delirious and confused.

It went away in the second month gluten free.

The first month I still needed like 10 hrs a night.

Now I sleep normally and wake with no problems.

Hang in there.

It will get better.

[shopgirl]

If the doggie is eating food with gluten in it, it's not a good idea to let him or her lick your face. That's one way to get glutened.

[mom2three23]

I actually feel a bit more normal now. You have described me to a T. I also experienced the peak shortly after going gluten-free, and was very excited, but then the valley again. It is good to hear that it will get better! I had a vitamin D panel done and my D levels were bottomed out. I have been started on a good VD oil (health food store) and I do think it is helping! Maybe we can figure this out together (I am newly diagnosed and trying to find my way . . .)

[glutenfreesavvy]

Sleeping a lot could also be a healing response. I do require extra sleep after accidental glutening, in fact I'm completely exhausted at first & have to sleep it off, so to speak. The only way to know that you're not getting small amounts of gluten is to prepare all your food yourself, from scratch - no processed or prepared anything for a while, even if it's labeled gluten free, imho. I've been glutened more than once from "gluten free" foods. I've blogged about it, if you're interested in more details.

I wish you all the best while you're in the depths of figuring the whole gluten-free life out.

warmly,

Faydra

[rahga]

I had a similar experience. This lasted close to a year for me: sleeping 10 - 12 hours (sometimes more) with occasional bouts of insomnia. Vitamins (double dose) help, as do digestive enzyes and fiber. At least that has been my experience. I am 56 and was diagnosed in November of 2009. I was strict about my diet from day one and by October or November of this past year my energy was back to near normal levels. I still have an occasional day when my energy lags or when I cannot get to sleep. Most days, though, I feel terrific. My guess is that if you remain patient with this, life will slowly come back together for you.

I hope that helps.

  On 2/3/2011 at 9:24 PM, farnickle said:

I'm still very new to this, figuring out the signals my body has been sending. Low energy, depression, lethargy, weakness were definitely symptoms that lead me to stop eating gluten. I got a quick peak in energy, deeper sleep, and renewed happiness/vitality about a week after giving up gluten. Since then, quite honestly, I've been kind of dense about figuring out the food labeling system. I've used this site a good bit. I believe I've gotten glutened quite a few times. Since I don't have sharp stomach pains, I'm sometimes not sure if I've been glutened or not! I'm still figuring out my body awareness & figuring out what's "me" after these years of putting up with discomfort and low energy.

Probably TMI. Here's the point. I regularly go to bed between 10 and 11. For a couple of weeks I just can't get myself out of bed at all. My husband can bring me breakfast in bed, my dog can lick my face, my alarm can go off, and off, and off.... but I can't wake up until I've had 10 - 12 hours! I've slept past several important engagements (that I was looking forward to!).

Have y'all experienced this kind of sleep as you heal from gluten? Or as a symptom of accidentally consuming gluten? Any advice?

Again.. thanx for this amazing resource!!! I have learned so much on this site & forum. <3

[horseshoe]

Pretty much, farnickle, you described some of my problems near exactly. Up until this past year I was a normal 8 hours a night person with drive and energy to do things. Then, about six months ago, I started sleeping longer and longer and longer. Around this same time (6mo) I stopped having energy to exercise or motivation to do things because I was/am always tired and needed a nap after every meal (or so it seemed.)

I've only been gluten free for a couple of weeks (still get CC sometimes) but I can actually do my job and I wake up when my alarm goes off instead of turning it off and sleeping three more hours. I'm hoping I can slide past the setbacks that others have commented on having (fingers cross ).

[cyberprof]

  On 2/3/2011 at 11:45 PM, eatmeat4good said:

I used to sleep like I was dead.

I couldn't hear the alarm, the phone, my son, nothing.

It was very scary.

I had no idea what had happened to me.

Once I slept for 20 hrs and didn't know what day it was.

Woke delirious and confused.

It went away in the second month gluten free.

The first month I still needed like 10 hrs a night.

Now I sleep normally and wake with no problems.

Hang in there.

It will get better.

I'm so glad that I read this thread. This used to describe me when I was young (and on gluten) and describes my son now, even though he is gluten-free. However, he is not as strict as he could be. He's a gifted student and a good kid but he can't wake up. I was wondering how he'll be able to survive next year at college. I've convinced him to be really strict for a month or two to see if it helps.

[123bree7797]

I used to do the same thing it will go away in time

[cap6]

I was the same. My iron levels were very low. You might have that tested. You may also just need the healing sleep. I slept 10 to 12 hours a day for months & am just now at the point where I can get along on 9.

[Chiana]

I am 4 months in and I'm still really variable on how much sleep I need. Sometimes I have to nap for four hours in the middle of the day after 9 or 10 hours of sleep at night.

  On 3/1/2011 at 6:37 AM, cyberprof said:

I'm so glad that I read this thread. This used to describe me when I was young (and on gluten) and describes my son now, even though he is gluten-free. However, he is not as strict as he could be. He's a gifted student and a good kid but he can't wake up. I was wondering how he'll be able to survive next year at college. I've convinced him to be really strict for a month or two to see if it helps.

Actually, as long as he is smart about when he schedules his classes, he'll be ok. I don't schedule anything before noon unless I absolutely have to. (It was actually my terrible minimum-wage job that suffered.) Though, he may get more strict on his diet when he realizes that he could be out having fun instead of sleeping all the time.