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Gluten Free For A Few Days And Not Feeling Great

xxkristin

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xxkristin Apprentice
xxkristin
Posted

I was diagnosed with celiac disease a couple days ago and since then I've been eating gluten free, well to my knowledge at least. The past 2 days, I've been hungry constantly. Even after eating a meal, I'll still be hungry. And I get REALLY hungry and have stomach pains sometimes. I also feel a bit weak at times and nauseous, especially when I'm hungry. Is this normal after you cut out gluten? And if so, how long does it usually take to go away? I don't really like feeling hungry and nauseous all the time.

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eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

It is very normal. Many people have the extreme hunger and it is like your body is trying to make up for the malnutrition. I don't know how long it lasts, but mine took a few weeks to settle down. Hope you feel better soon. For now, eat as much as you like and can tolerate. Mostly whole foods, not packaged foods. The healing will take a while, but it should get easier. Welcome!

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

Definitely normal! I wasn't experiencing it as badly as you did, but after going gluten-free I started getting hungry many times a day and my stomach would actually GROWL. This was a huge step forward for me, since my primary symptoms were never feeling truly hungry, since my stomach emptied so slowly of undigested gluten, or being bloated/full alla time with acid reflux no matter how little I ate.

It should settle down after a while. For now, eat what you can, and make sure you get enough fat and protein, which should help keep you fuller longer.

Brigit Apprentice
Brigit
Posted

Hi,

I've only been gluten free for 3 weeks. And they have been rather rough. Some days, I've been incredibly tired and very sore, and also like you mentioned; nauseous and hungry. But in between those days I've had glimpses of what it's going to feel like to be better, to wake up with no tingling in my hands and have no dizziness during the day. And that's what you need to remind yourself about.

We need to put some hard work in now, emotionally and mentally to help our bodies through a difficult time. You're body is going through change, so it's not going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it.

And yes, eat lots of what you can. Fresh fruit and veggies. Nice fish and meat, nuts and seeds. There are quite a few lovely treats to snack on.

Stick it out, I've been told that you'll start feeling better around 2 or 4 months, that's not to far away. :)

T.H. Community Regular
T.H.
Posted

Hungry all the time - yeah, not uncommon symptom. Mine lasted about 8 weeks, and I was simply hungry every moment of the day. Yeah, that sucked. A lot. But it did go away.

Nausea - sometimes that can be hunger, but sometimes it can be due to intolerances, like dairy. Most of us are lactose intolerant until we've healed. The part of the villi that makes lactase is also the part that our gut attacks when we eat gluten. <_< But for most celiacs, this passes after you've healed, often around 6 months or so, I think?

Emma-Lee Rookie
Emma-Lee
Posted

When I went gluten free (3 weeks ago) I noticed the hunger right away. YES NORMAL. What I did was make sure I was packing myself plenty, I mean plenty of food for work. LOTS of snacks, I ate so much, but I didn't care because I hate being hungry and nauseous....3 weeks later I don't need as much. So I just recommend being accepting of yourself, and knowing that you need to eat more regularly and more often for a while. It was tough, but it takes time. Oh, and that gas can take months to clear. Your GI has to heal....it's been so frustrating for me, but I totally get yah....hang in there, it will pass.=)

AerinA Rookie
AerinA
Posted

For me the nausea turned out to be low blood sugar. I think it was withdrawal/body in starvation mode/"ohmygodwhereismygluten." I think our bodies are trying to make us eat gluten because that's what you're used to and a lot of people do have some form of withdrawal. I was actually hungry all the time PRE-gluten free diet and had vitamin deficiencies, after a few weeks on the diet I'm eating a much more normal diet, by choice, rather than having to force myself to wait for the next meal. Things get better all the time. I'm sure they will for you, too.

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      @tiffanygosci, Thiamine deficiency is a thing in pregnancy for "normal" people, so it's exponentially more important for those with celiac disease and malabsorption issues. I studied nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology because I was curious what the vitamins were doing inside the body.  See my blog.  Click on my name to go to my page, scroll to drop down menu "activities" and select blog.   So glad you're motivated to see the dietician!  We're always happy to help with questions.  Keep us posted on your progress! 
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      Thank you for sharing all of this, Knitty Kitty! I did just want someone to share some commonality with. I did not know This one Deficiency was a thing and that it's common for Celiac Disease. It makes sense since this is a disorder that causes malabsorption. I will have to keep this in mind for my next appointments. You also just spurred me on to make that Dietician appointment. There's a lot of information online but I do need to see a professional. There is too much to juggle on my own with this condition.<3
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