Nightmares Connected To Gluten

[waterlily-]

I usually never get good sleep even though I'm asleep for 8 hours or more sometimes. I rarely get that perfect kind of sleep that there's no dreams and it's peaceful. I only get that when I've done a lot of moving about during the day and I'm more tired than usual. But anyways, in my first test of going gluten-free for two weeks I was amazed at how much more energy I had and how I felt better over all and sleeping was the best part of my day again. (what? I like soft places! lol) I actually had a 'nice' dream for once! haha

I was just wondering if anyone else has also suffered from night terrors and sleep paralysis or generally weird dreams to find that they have mostly subsided after going gluten-free?

[mushroom]

I used to dream nearly all night because I hardly ever got beyond rem sleep stage, and most of the dreams were pretty scarifying and exhausting and I would wake both limp and wired at the same time, in the morning. Now I am actually able to get beyond the dreaming and get some restorative sleep, and what a difference it makes. And I can now control my dreams to an extent (oh, no, I don't want to dream about that again ) and move on to something else and if the dream gets a bit scary I can usually redirect it to something less frightening (and more interesting ). They have been doing research stuff on 'directed dreaming' and I guess this is what I am doing. At any rate, sleep is lots better now, except when I get into some food that wires me up (like my head is plugged into an electrical outlet) and then anything is likely to happen if I do get to sleep

[waterlily-]

I used to dream nearly all night because I hardly ever got beyond rem sleep stage, and most of the dreams were pretty scarifying and exhausting and I would wake both limp and wired at the same time, in the morning. Now I am actually able to get beyond the dreaming and get some restorative sleep, and what a difference it makes. And I can now control my dreams to an extent (oh, no, I don't want to dream about that again ) and move on to something else and if the dream gets a bit scary I can usually redirect it to something less frightening (and more interesting ). They have been doing research stuff on 'directed dreaming' and I guess this is what I am doing. At any rate, sleep is lots better now, except when I get into some food that wires me up (like my head is plugged into an electrical outlet) and then anything is likely to happen if I do get to sleep

That sounds like lucid dreaming. ? I've only been able to do that once. haha

[IrishHeart]

I usually never get good sleep even though I'm asleep for 8 hours or more sometimes. I rarely get that perfect kind of sleep that there's no dreams and it's peaceful. I only get that when I've done a lot of moving about during the day and I'm more tired than usual. But anyways, in my first test of going gluten-free for two weeks I was amazed at how much more energy I had and how I felt better over all and sleeping was the best part of my day again. (what? I like soft places! lol) I actually had a 'nice' dream for once! haha

I was just wondering if anyone else has also suffered from night terrors and sleep paralysis or generally weird dreams to find that they have mostly subsided after going gluten-free?

YES--I have this kind of sleep "problem" (although I do not recall the last time I slept more than 6 hours total--maybe 3 years ago??) I am "tired" but "wired"... I hope it will improve!

Man, I have some major weird dreams. Always have had trouble sleeping through the night, even had a sleep study done but they couldn't tell me much. I dream VIVIDLY, in color, and all my senses are involved--I can feel textures, feel pain or pleasure:>), smell things...honest! It's exhausting. I awaken frequently. Sometimes I am terrified and sweating and they are very scary and seem REAL...I would loooove to be able to sleep peacefully. My Dad told me I couldn't even sleep well as a baby and he had to rock me for hours. Geesh, think it started back then?? :>)

A few months ago, I barely slept 2 or 3 hours a night, I was so "buzzed" and in pain. Hubby said I thrashed around like I was fighting someone and yelling. He woke me up a lot to get me to calm down.

I have to say, this has gotten less intense in the last 2 months, so maybe, just maybe it calms down as the gluten leaves.!! That would be awesome!

Hope your sleep improves!! I know I would love to take a nice nap and/or sleep through the night...ZZZZZZZ :>) Let me know if you continue to see improvement!

[waterlily-]

I dream VIVIDLY, in color, and all my senses are involved--I can feel textures, feel pain or pleasure:>), smell things...honest! It's exhausting. I awaken frequently. Sometimes I am terrified and sweating and they are very scary and seem REAL...I would loooove to be able to sleep peacefully.

Exactly!

[IrishHeart]

Exactly!

I thought everyone dreamed in color, textures,flavors :>) until I asked some friends & family and they said...uh, nope! Looked at me like I'm nuts:>)....some of my favorites have me flying and I can feel the wind on my face; I am eating a chocolate cupcake and it is awesome, I am talking with my Dad or someone else who has died and I can hear them, feel their arms around me, smell them plain as day, or smell something yummy cooking, I can FEEL a woolen scarf, or I'm petting a dog, having sex (yup, I said it :>) or I relive an entire happy occassion in full 3D color, sounds, music, whatever.....that kind of thing....but those are not the scary ones, of course...those are a whole 'nuther story. (shudder)

I cannot even lay down to take a nap. Not in 3 years, I am a wired- for- sound celiac apparently....cannot wait for things to chill out!

[waterlily-]

I thought everyone dreamed in color, textures,flavors :>) until I asked some friends & family and they said...uh, nope! Looked at me like I'm nuts:>)....some of my favorites have me flying and I can feel the wind on my face; I am eating a chocolate cupcake and it is awesome, I am talking with my Dad or someone else who has died and I can hear them, feel their arms around me, smell them plain as day, or smell something yummy cooking, I can FEEL a woolen scarf, or I'm petting a dog, having sex (yup, I said it :>) or I relive an entire happy occassion in full 3D color, sounds, music, whatever.....that kind of thing....but those are not the scary ones, of course...those are a whole 'nuther story. (shudder)

I cannot even lay down to take a nap. Not in 3 years, I am a wired- for- sound celiac apparently....cannot wait for things to chill out!

Dreaming varies from person to person. :]

[Marilyn R]

One of my chief complaints when I was trying to figure out what was wrong was insomnia. If I get glutened, I still have sleepless nights or trouble sleeping.

For months, days at a time, I dreamed of eating a hotdog bun (with hotdog, just off the grill) at a party. I'd just inadvertently pick up a hot dog with a big fluffy hotdog bun and eat it. Then it turns into the Hotdog Bun Nightmare. I wasn't big on hotdogs (or buns) before going gluten-free, so this nightmare is wierd.

All of a sudden those dreams stopped last month. Hope your sleem improves too...sweet dreams...

[IrishHeart]

One of my chief complaints when I was trying to figure out what was wrong was insomnia. If I get glutened, I still have sleepless nights or trouble sleeping.

For months, days at a time, I dreamed of eating a hotdog bun (with hotdog, just off the grill) at a party. I'd just inadvertently pick up a hot dog with a big fluffy hotdog bun and eat it. Then it turns into the Hotdog Bun Nightmare. I wasn't big on hotdogs (or buns) before going gluten-free, so this nightmare is wierd.

All of a sudden those dreams stopped last month. Hope your sleem improves too...sweet dreams...

Hot dogs, huh?? LOL Mine involve cupcakes...YUM

Thanks!! I appreciate hearing your story because it gives me hope and encouragement that things will improve in time. That's what I love so much about this site--everyone sharing their stories and giving hope to the rest of us!!I eagerly await improvement in my sleep--and all things---as I remain gluten-free and on the mend!! Some restorative sleep would be awesome!!!!!!!

[Marilyn R]

You have many better days to look forward to after you have btter nights (without cupcake nightmares). Plus your body will be absorbing the minerals and vitamins in the food you eat... things will get better. I'm not even tempted to eat foods with gluten, but I miss dairy products to bits.

[bigbird16]

Yes, most definitely. I used to have very vivid dreams every night and could remember them. I would tell my friends about them, and they told me they were so strange, that they'd never had dreams like these, and they could never remember so many details. I could feel the coldness of water, the roughness and dampness of mossy rocks, the slippery warmth of silk, the pain of being torn apart by a beast. The sicker I got, the more nightmarish they became. Within a week or two of going gluten free, they were gone. I only get vivd dreams if I've been cc'd. I don't remember anything about my dreams anymore. In a way it's a bit sad, because some of the places I went in those dreams were amazing; but I'd much rather be healthy and nightmare free. I feel much more rested after sleeping now; I guess that's since I'm not galavanting around jungles and mountains and deserts, etc. all night. Hmm, I'll have to see if I can find one of the e-mails I wrote to a friend about my dreams....

[IrishHeart]

Yes, most definitely. I used to have very vivid dreams every night and could remember them. I would tell my friends about them, and they told me they were so strange, that they'd never had dreams like these, and they could never remember so many details. I could feel the coldness of water, the roughness and dampness of mossy rocks, the slippery warmth of silk, the pain of being torn apart by a beast. The sicker I got, the more nightmarish they became. Within a week or two of going gluten free, they were gone. I only get vivd dreams if I've been cc'd. I don't remember anything about my dreams anymore. In a way it's a bit sad, because some of the places I went in those dreams were amazing; but I'd much rather be healthy and nightmare free. I feel much more rested after sleeping now; I guess that's since I'm not galavanting around jungles and mountains and deserts, etc. all night. Hmm, I'll have to see if I can find one of the e-mails I wrote to a friend about my dreams....

Aha! another 'round the world voyager!! Man, I get exhausted by some of the things I do in my sleep (does that make sense??) LOL When this was first "triggered" in me, I really had nightmares and several a night. Just awful!!

I CANNOT WAIT for the night I sleep through the night once more. Thanks for sharing. It helps to know I am not the only "night traveler"....

[IrishHeart]

You have many better days to look forward to after you have btter nights (without cupcake nightmares). Plus your body will be absorbing the minerals and vitamins in the food you eat... things will get better. I'm not even tempted to eat foods with gluten, but I miss dairy products to bits.

I agree! Who cares about gluten? It's the cheese, ice cream, and milk I wish for....sigh....

Thanks for the encouragement!! I really need it right now as I am feeling like I still have such a long road....

[Marilyn R]

Do you have a blender? I whip up some tasty fruit smoothies that satisfy, and I only use rice milk or coconut milk sometimes.

For instance, a quartered peeled chopped apple, spash of OJ, a peeled chopped kiwi, frozen berries or other frozen fruit (like mango) and about 5-6 ice cubes (from a regular tray of cubes...I don't have an icemaker connected to my refrigerator). Then I have a nice smoothie. (You can't really mess this up, whatever fruit you have on hand, ice, let it whirl.)

Sometimes I throw in peanut or almond butter if I'm doing this for breakfast (I have a Ninja, dont know if that works with a regular blender.) You can freeze over-ripe peeled bananas for smoothies. They're yummy. It's not going to stand up to dairy, but smoothies are pretty good, and you're getting a good source of vitamins and amino acids.

I like cranberry juice(not the kind with high fructose corn syrup), OJ and rice milk mixed together and served over ice too. (Don't need to use a blender for that.) It has that sweet/tart taste and smoothness from the rice milk. That pretty much wraps up my dessert options on this diet so far. It's been 10 months, and I can't get gung ho about baking. I feel better, sleep better, and function better though. Hope you do the same, and hope this helps. Good luck...are you sleeping better yet?

[IrishHeart]

Do you have a blender? I whip up some tasty fruit smoothies that satisfy, and I only use rice milk or coconut milk sometimes.

For instance, a quartered peeled chopped apple, spash of OJ, a peeled chopped kiwi, frozen berries or other frozen fruit (like mango) and about 5-6 ice cubes (from a regular tray of cubes...I don't have an icemaker connected to my refrigerator). Then I have a nice smoothie. (You can't really mess this up, whatever fruit you have on hand, ice, let it whirl.)

Sometimes I throw in peanut or almond butter if I'm doing this for breakfast (I have a Ninja, dont know if that works with a regular blender.) You can freeze over-ripe peeled bananas for smoothies. They're yummy. It's not going to stand up to dairy, but smoothies are pretty good, and you're getting a good source of vitamins and amino acids.

I like cranberry juice(not the kind with high fructose corn syrup), OJ and rice milk mixed together and served over ice too. (Don't need to use a blender for that.) It has that sweet/tart taste and smoothness from the rice milk. That pretty much wraps up my dessert options on this diet so far. It's been 10 months, and I can't get gung ho about baking. I feel better, sleep better, and function better though. Hope you do the same, and hope this helps. Good luck...are you sleeping better yet?

Marilyn!

This sounds great and I have made many smoothies in the past. I love them. However, right now JUICE hurts my tummy. Orange, cran, pineapple...ouch. Maybe I'll do it without the juice once my hemp protein comes.

My sleep has improved. I can get almost 6 now, which is better than the 3 or 4 hours where I thrashed around for many months! Progress...!

thanks!

[Marilyn R]

Marilyn!

This sounds great and I have made many smoothies in the past. I love them. However, right now JUICE hurts my tummy. Orange, cran, pineapple...ouch. Maybe I'll do it without the juice once my hemp protein comes.

My sleep has improved. I can get almost 6 now, which is better than the 3 or 4 hours where I thrashed around for many months! Progress...!

thanks!

[Marilyn R]

Oops. Was sent to gluten-free Mall while previewing my response and hit "send".

Six hours is an improvement, I think you'll see better days ahead.

I've read that pears are one of the least offending fruits. Can you tolerate pears?

I'd still try to put some fruit in your diet because of the amino acids and vitamins.

And inquirying minds want to know what you're going to do with the hemp protein...

Good luck, hope you get 8 hours tonight.

[IrishHeart]

Oops. Was sent to gluten-free Mall while previewing my response and hit "send".

Six hours is an improvement, I think you'll see better days ahead.

I've read that pears are one of the least offending fruits. Can you tolerate pears?

I'd still try to put some fruit in your diet because of the amino acids and vitamins.

And inquirying minds want to know what you're going to do with the hemp protein...

Good luck, hope you get 8 hours tonight.

Thanks for the suggestion!

I do eat pears and I love them! I eat bananas, grapes, apples, blueberries, strawberries,melon when it's in season. Well, I think I do not get enough protein (can't eat dairy or soy and eggs make me nauseous, tho I choke them down ), so I was going to make fruit smoothies with the hemp protein ( going with the suggestion of a few folks on here.)

I got 7 hours last night. whoohoo! (the muscle/joint pain wakes me up several times a night too, it is not just a gluten issue) I just keep hoping for more sack time! It will come to me. (says here in the directions!!LOL)

[Sharonnavarrette]

My Daughter has been sick since she was four and now she is almost 12. Blisters on the skin, dry skin, severe severe, I cannot say again severe eczema. She stayed tired all the time, redness around eyes. They found out finally at age 9 she had thyroid disorder. The medication helped her skin alot. But, severe stomach pains started, still dry skin, still very tired, and just saying, "Mom I don't feel good." Finally they say her proteins are high, been high for awhile. The specialist thinks its celiac, and after reading everything too, I think we will we told on the 10th it is. I'm upset that this went so long, but hopeful that my baby who lost her childhood may start feeling better. SHe finally started grwoing this pst year so I'm hopeful. But, if he has this I think I may have it. I started getting very sick my senior year would throw up every day, severe night terros, it was horrible. The nightmares are so bad that I could not decide whether it was real or not. My mom thought it was ghost in our house. Everyone who knows me knows not to bother me while sleeping I willhit them. Years later I still get bad stomach pains at time, tired, seizures and those started when I was 28. Doctors still not know why I started having them only that I do. I can't sleep well at all and when I do I do't ant to get up. I have numbness. I have migraines. I think after all these years we know the problem. If my daughter has it then I 'm also getting tested and trying the diet. It's hertbreaking to know we lost so much of our lives.

[IrishHeart]

My Daughter has been sick since she was four and now she is almost 12. Blisters on the skin, dry skin, severe severe, I cannot say again severe eczema. She stayed tired all the time, redness around eyes. They found out finally at age 9 she had thyroid disorder. The medication helped her skin alot. But, severe stomach pains started, still dry skin, still very tired, and just saying, "Mom I don't feel good." Finally they say her proteins are high, been high for awhile. The specialist thinks its celiac, and after reading everything too, I think we will we told on the 10th it is. I'm upset that this went so long, but hopeful that my baby who lost her childhood may start feeling better. SHe finally started grwoing this pst year so I'm hopeful. But, if he has this I think I may have it. I started getting very sick my senior year would throw up every day, severe night terros, it was horrible. The nightmares are so bad that I could not decide whether it was real or not. My mom thought it was ghost in our house. Everyone who knows me knows not to bother me while sleeping I willhit them. Years later I still get bad stomach pains at time, tired, seizures and those started when I was 28. Doctors still not know why I started having them only that I do. I can't sleep well at all and when I do I do't ant to get up. I have numbness. I have migraines. I think after all these years we know the problem. If my daughter has it then I 'm also getting tested and trying the diet. It's hertbreaking to know we lost so much of our lives.

Since thyroid problems and eczema often accompany celiac (as well as all the other symptoms you list for both of you) I would not be surprised if you find out you are both gluten intolerant.

Make sure you are both consuming gluten when tested--although realize there can be false negatives. Happens often.

The only thing to do is...try a strict gluten-free diet even if the results from the blood work and biopsy are negative and see how you both feel.

I had wicked nightmares and insomnia most of my life--and dozens of other symptoms before going gluten-free. Not so much anymore!

Many of us understand how you feel about "lost time" but once you adopt a gluten free diet and see improvements, try to focus on your daughter's healthy future! And yours!

Best wishes--hope you get answers and start feeling better--both of you!

[Goof]

I definitely sleep better now that I'm gluten-free. I used to have "scream dreams," where it would be a nightmare that I would be in the middle of it and then scream in real life. It was quite a disturbing way to wake up at 2 a.m.! Haven't had one of those, lately, though. It's a good thing I'm single, and don't have a wife to smack me when that would happen.

Also used to have nocturnal panic attacks - also gone since going gluten-free!

[IrishHeart]

I definitely sleep better now that I'm gluten-free. I used to have "scream dreams," where it would be a nightmare that I would be in the middle of it and then scream in real life. It was quite a disturbing way to wake up at 2 a.m.! Haven't had one of those, lately, though. It's a good thing I'm single, and don't have a wife to smack me when that would happen.

Also used to have nocturnal panic attacks - also gone since going gluten-free!

Aren't those scary??!

I started having nighttime anxiety a few years ago. I was told it was "hormonal"..ha!

and...Those scream dreams..man, I would be screaming in the dream and start to wake up, you know that half awake, half asleep twilight feeling...trying to rouse myself and poor hubby telling me "it's okay it's okay.. it's just a dream babe.." That happened A LOT the last few years I was really sick and I often dreaded going to bed.

Poor guy!!

Those really weird dreams have stopped. No screaming. Although I did have one last week where I was eating a sandwich..and I knew it was gluten and I was choking on it and telling myself" oh no now I am going to get sick"....that was strange.

ah well, a lot about this whole disease process is strange, yes?