De-Swelling

[stellagogo]

i've been gluten free (and now dairy free) for about 2 weeks now. i have so many questions. sorry.

1. i havent lost much weight (gluten makes me gain) but i feel like i'm smaller, less swollen. has anyone experienced this?

2. i am more tired than i've ever been in my life. is this because my body is no longer pumping out large amounts of stress hormones to deal with the gluten? is it the elimination of the drug-like effect of gluten and dairy? (today i took a super-long nap -- i NEVER can nap -- im just SO fatigued. )

3. the elimination of dairy seems to be causing even more [what seem like] withdrawal symptoms. i thought the dairy thing was more about gas/bloating/digestive symptoms, but for me the fact that i craved it was a bad sign. can dairy cause the same effects as gluten...the symptoms that are not just digestive?

4. i feel like i'm fighting cravings a lot less. i'm eating much less (not really enough probably) and i think i'm hungry, but i kind of have to force myself to eat, rather than fight the cravings all day. anybody know what the heck i'm talking about?

i've been about 95% gluten-free for awhile, but being 100% gluten-free has caused a world of changes. it's overwhelming. a part of me feels really good, like there may be a light at the end of this tunnel, but i also feel like a depressed drug-detoxing zombie.

[AVR1962]

1. i havent lost much weight (gluten makes me gain) but i feel like i'm smaller, less swollen. has anyone experienced this?

2. i am more tired than i've ever been in my life. is this because my body is no longer pumping out large amounts of stress hormones to deal with the gluten? is it the elimination of the drug-like effect of gluten and dairy? (today i took a super-long nap -- i NEVER can nap -- im just SO fatigued. )

3. the elimination of dairy seems to be causing even more [what seem like] withdrawal symptoms. i thought the dairy thing was more about gas/bloating/digestive symptoms, but for me the fact that i craved it was a bad sign. can dairy cause the same effects as gluten...the symptoms that are not just digestive?

4. i feel like i'm fighting cravings a lot less. i'm eating much less (not really enough probably) and i think i'm hungry, but i kind of have to force myself to eat, rather than fight the cravings all day. anybody know what the heck i'm talking about?

Yes, I know what you are talking about....I also have not lost weight (gluten free since April) but my stomach has lost size, my hips fit in my pants better. I also went dairy free for 2 months....determined dairy was also a problem. I know the gluten and dairy digest differently and while dairy can cause the inmafmous digestive side effects much like a gluten intolerance it is my knowledge that it does not affect the cilia like glutens do. Continued consumption associated with diahrea could very well deplete the body of needed nutrients so in both situatiuons it is very important to protect your system. For me my gluten side effects were much more than digestive issues so there does seem to be a difference for me.

Because I was not replacing any of my glutens with gluten free products at first and was off both dairy and gluten I found myself hungry. I had to watch that I was not taking in too much meat as the meat if I took in more than about 6 oz would just sit on my stomach heavy. So I was eating alot of fruits and veggies til I understood what was safe and what was not. Trust me I had to get real creative with salads and cooked veggies.

I thought going off wheat was going to be hard for me but it amazingly was not. Sure every once and awhile I'll see someone with a slice of pizza and think that I wish I could have a slice but I know it will make me sick so that is a good deterent. I did crave cheese and at first when I started putting dairy back in my diet I went with vegan products, started on a daily supplement to protect the dairy intolerance (doubled up on it) and ate little bits. Oddly enough as much as I thought I'd miss ice cream I do not. I do eat cheese and with my pills I have no issue but I avoid dairy other than that. And I have experiemnted witgh baking and buying gluten free products and my system seems to be making the adjustments and I am feeling more comfortable. I did alot of experimenting to figure what would work for me.

[stellagogo]

Yes, I know what you are talking about....I also have not lost weight (gluten free since April) but my stomach has lost size, my hips fit in my pants better. I also went dairy free for 2 months....determined dairy was also a problem. I know the gluten and dairy digest differently and while dairy can cause the inmafmous digestive side effects much like a gluten intolerance it is my knowledge that it does not affect the cilia like glutens do. Continued consumption associated with diahrea could very well deplete the body of needed nutrients so in both situatiuons it is very important to protect your system. For me my gluten side effects were much more than digestive issues so there does seem to be a difference for me.

Because I was not replacing any of my glutens with gluten free products at first and was off both dairy and gluten I found myself hungry. I had to watch that I was not taking in too much meat as the meat if I took in more than about 6 oz would just sit on my stomach heavy. So I was eating alot of fruits and veggies til I understood what was safe and what was not. Trust me I had to get real creative with salads and cooked veggies.

I thought going off wheat was going to be hard for me but it amazingly was not. Sure every once and awhile I'll see someone with a slice of pizza and think that I wish I could have a slice but I know it will make me sick so that is a good deterent. I did crave cheese and at first when I started putting dairy back in my diet I went with vegan products, started on a daily supplement to protect the dairy intolerance (doubled up on it) and ate little bits. Oddly enough as much as I thought I'd miss ice cream I do not. I do eat cheese and with my pills I have no issue but I avoid dairy other than that. And I have experiemnted witgh baking and buying gluten free products and my system seems to be making the adjustments and I am feeling more comfortable. I did alot of experimenting to figure what would work for me.

avr

thank you for responding! you make me feel so much less nuts. i'm also doing this right now by eliminating all grains and sticking with lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts. and some dark chocolate. it feels good but i hope i can add back in some goat cheese, yogurt, gluten-free breads at some point. after about a week gluten-free i started to have some bellyaches (which, ironically, is unusual for me--my symptoms have been less of the typical digestive type), so that's why i eliminated dairy. plus i was thinking i was maybe reacting to it since i was craving it. maybe i'm just being overly cautious. i do wonder if dairy can cause "silent" reactions like the systemic inflammation gluten caused for me...so much less obvious than the digestive issues.

i've been mostly gluten free for almost a year, but totally eliminating it is making me feel so....weird.

it is kind of like an experiment, i guess.

[eatmeat4good]

casein in dairy can also have the opiate effect that gluten has...I resisted that thought in the beginning...I wanted to live on cheese if I couldn't live on bread but neither one are good for me at all. I sure do hope to be one of the ones who can add dairy back someday. I test it once in a while and every time with this result: Darn it. I hope you feel better soon. You are right to eat mostly meat, fruit, vegeatables and nuts....and oh yeah! Chocolate! Just be careful about the chocolate that it is also gluten free and not made on shared lines. That gets some people.

[AVR1962]

avr

thank you for responding! you make me feel so much less nuts. i'm also doing this right now by eliminating all grains and sticking with lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts. and some dark chocolate. it feels good but i hope i can add back in some goat cheese, yogurt, gluten-free breads at some point. i wonder if dairy can cause "silent" reactions like the systemic inflammation gluten caused for me...so much less obvious than the digestive issues. it is kind of like an experiment, i guess.

Yes, definately an experiment to see what works for you. If dairy is making your belly feel sick I think you are in the right track by taking it out for now. One thing I noticed too when I was eating mostly meat, veggies and fruit is that if I had too much meat (over 6 oz) my stomach would not feel well, almost like it was too much, too hard to digest or just was not wanting to move. So I really watched my portion sizes and because I was eating more meat I was afraid my chloresterol would go sky high so I added gluten-free flax seed to my diet. I don't know if dairy can cause inflammation like gltuens or not. I have had inflammation issues with glutens and found there's lots of inflamatory and anti-inflammatory foods I found thru searches. Changing some of my fruits and veggies made a big difference with that, like cutting down on the avocados and bananas and replacing it with pineapple and watermelon. You'd be surprised how good watermelon is for you.

[stellagogo]

you guys are awesome.

casein must have a similar opiate effect. i was feeling really good for the first week or so of gluten-free (i'd been MOSTLY gluten for awhile), but i have never been so depressed in my life since going dairy free.

i am just sitting staring at walls and sleeping.

i dont know what i'm gonna do if this doesnt get better.

[pricklypear1971]

I am so right there with you. I have been gluten-free for about 2 months. At first I gelt great (after the first week of raging ups and downs), except my rash (probably DH) isn't gone. I think I got glutened last week and it's been up and down every day. I slept for 12 hours (of course, I was sleeping 5 during gluteningand antibiotic reaction) last night and I want to crawl back in bed still. I am also starting to not want to eat, every timeI look at food I wonder "what's next?", even if it's something that should be safe.

This sucks. I'm at the point where I just want to eat a few pieces of meat, a few nuts, a piece of fruit, then crawl back in bed. And tons of water...I can't get enough water...

I am so sick of being in pain from that rash. I swear, it gives me chills when the blisters start popping. I have to crawl under blankets and I still shiver. The itch is that worst. The urge to scratch is unbelievable, and I swear the satisfaction from scratching it is up there with chocolate and sex.

I'm on supplements, and I know it helps. If you aren't on a multivitamin start one, that could help your energy.

[stellagogo]

prickly..

i am so sorry you are going thru this but it really makes me feel better to know i'm not alone. you sound just like me...i am annoyed with eating and nothing feels safe and it all just seems too difficult. ive been depressed all my life, but this is worse than i remember, ever. i went to sleep last night at 9:30 (i NEVER go to sleep that early but i just dont want to do anything but sleep) and got up this morning at 7:30 sick with a stomach bug (great). so being super sick all morning beat me up and i just feel that much more like i've been hit by a truck.

i dont know if this is depression, a grieving process, withdrawal...or what. but everything in its wake is being destroyed, including my relationship with my boyfriend. and i care and i'm scared but i cant even bring myself to do anything about it.

maybe it's all the anger from years of telling people and doctors there is something wrong with me and being told i'm just delusional.

i really feel like i've been hit by a truck.

sending you good thoughts...i hope we both feel better soon.

[stellagogo]

oh i wanted to mention also that i've come to recognize extreme thirst as a sign of glutening. i get this insatiable thirst that i can down glass after glass of water ... it's bizarre. and i retain it...i dont have to pee much...weird! i've never heard of anyone else with this symptom, but i am pretty sure it has to do with gluten, because since i've been strictly gluten-free, the thirst is gone, and i kinda have to force the fluids. anyway hopefully your body just needing the water for detoxing.

[pricklypear1971]

I was terribly depressed until I started thyroid supplementation, about 6 years ago. Do you have Hashoimotos antibodies? Gluten and thyroid problems are frequently linked; in Hashis its thought gluten causes Hashis. Of course, that was news to me recently.

Living with a chronic illness is very difficult, and I'm sure forging a relationship in the midst of all of it is more so. Stay off the gluten, moisturize like crazy, try to rest, and plan a short, easy date with your bf. Maybe a relaxing short date is what y'all need. I'm sure YOU could use tome enjoyment!

One side note - after my son was born he was milk and soy intolerant..since I was breast feeding so was I. The first 4 days were awful - I was in the bathroom with nonstop diarrhea. Smart people informed me I was detoxing. It sucked. Sometimes I think about it and want to pop him on the bottom .

[stellagogo]

I was terribly depressed until I started thyroid supplementation, about 6 years ago. Do you have Hashoimotos antibodies? Gluten and thyroid problems are frequently linked; in Hashis its thought gluten causes Hashis. Of course, that was news to me recently.

Living with a chronic illness is very difficult, and I'm sure forging a relationship in the midst of all of it is more so. Stay off the gluten, moisturize like crazy, try to rest, and plan a short, easy date with your bf. Maybe a relaxing short date is what y'all need. I'm sure YOU could use tome enjoyment!

One side note - after my son was born he was milk and soy intolerant..since I was breast feeding so was I. The first 4 days were awful - I was in the bathroom with nonstop diarrhea. Smart people informed me I was detoxing. It sucked. Sometimes I think about it and want to pop him on the bottom .

youre an angel. it's so nice to hear from someone who understands.

we are so much alike--i have hashimoto's too. i'm on a t4/t3 combination rx but my dr wants to see if my antibodies go down now that i'm gluten free (i'm surprised they were still as high as they were seeing as how i've been 98% gluten-free for awhile) before upping my medication. he wants my adrenals to heal so that my body can respond better to the medication.

i just feel like i've totally crashed since eliminating the dairy...it's so weird! i have never been a big milk drinker, but i do enjoy yogurt and cheese. i dont even want to think that i'll never be able to have these things again i wonder if casein has been keeping my antibodies high...if i'm having a strong reaction to it like gluten. i still dont understand how it all works. i thought it was just a matter of temporary dairy intolerance due to damaged villi from gluten. maybe it's more than that.

my bf doesnt understand...who could? i find myself feeling so worthless right now and i always push people away when i'm depressed. youre right though. i could REALLY use some distraction.

so i wonder if the diarrhea/vomiting i had this morning was detox? i cant believe how strongly i'm reacting.

hope youre feeling better, at least a little. i'm going back to bed. i cant keep these heavy eyes open.

[eatmeat4good]

I am so right there with you. I have been gluten-free for about 2 months. At first I gelt great (after the first week of raging ups and downs), except my rash (probably DH) isn't gone. I think I got glutened last week and it's been up and down every day. I slept for 12 hours (of course, I was sleeping 5 during gluteningand antibiotic reaction) last night and I want to crawl back in bed still. I am also starting to not want to eat, every timeI look at food I wonder "what's next?", even if it's something that should be safe.

This sucks. I'm at the point where I just want to eat a few pieces of meat, a few nuts, a piece of fruit, then crawl back in bed. And tons of water...I can't get enough water...

I am so sick of being in pain from that rash. I swear, it gives me chills when the blisters start popping. I have to crawl under blankets and I still shiver. The itch is that worst. The urge to scratch is unbelievable, and I swear the satisfaction from scratching it is up there with chocolate and sex.

I'm on supplements, and I know it helps. If you aren't on a multivitamin start one, that could help your energy.

be really careful with multi-vitaimin. Almost all multivitamins contain iodine and that may be what keeps your rash going. I had to limit iodine for a few months to get things to calm down. Salty foods, iodized salt and iodine in multi-vitamins and shellfish are all things that can aggravate the rash...sorry you feel so bad. I just wanted to mention the iodine in multi's in case you didn't know.

[pricklypear1971]

Of you feel like crap, and you know your thyroid meds relieve those symptoms, beat your doc over the head til s/he temporarily ups it.

Geez! Why make you miserable??

Make sure you're getting enough good food, and take a supplement! I am taking biogenesis adrenal support and professional botanicals female gland balance, and using progesterone cream, and vitanica Women's symmetry multis. I also take enzymedica digest gold and a probiotic.

My adrenals are shot, and my liver is operating sub optimally. The gland support/ adrenals are temporary and I will hopefully be off in 6 months. My hormones are suboptimal, also.

Evidently, the gluten has taken a toll, as well as the corticosteroids.

Oh yeah, stay off hard liquor. Apple cider and wine is ok for me right now but the hard stuff kills me.

Sleep well!

[pricklypear1971]

Thanks eatmeat4good, yes I read that. Mine is low iodine and I'm waiting to hear back from my dr. for a no-iodine reco. My rash went away last week, till I got glutened so I dont think I'm as sensitive as most...but I'm not eating other high iodine food just in case.

I really notice my energy drops if I don't take them...worth the risk right now.