Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Going gluten-free, Will Bloating Go Away? Withdrawals?

yumyummum

Recommended Posts

yumyummum Rookie
yumyummum
Posted

I am awaiting biopsy results but I was in so much upper abdomen pain and was SUPER bloated that I decided to just go gluten free and not wait. I felt really alert the first day! I was shocked! But I had really bad stomach pain for a few days still and decided to cut out dairy too as well as onions and beans for now to see if anything helped.

It has only barely a week and I haven't had pain. I am still bloated though, definately not AS bad but still really noticeable.

How long does it take before you know? Will I know?

I am already thinking about adding dairy back to see and because it is so hard doing both at once. I figure if it hurts I will stop. I don;t have a Drs appt until the 19th and that just seems sooo far away.

ALSO- I feel so hungry even after I eat, does it just take time to adjust? At first I was CRAVING sooo badly, like I felt like I was going through withdrawals!! Did anyone else feel like this?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

You are definitely not alone! Withdrawals are very common and often last for 2-4 weeks, so just hang in there, it will get better. Also, food cravings and hunger are common because your body has been starved of nutrients for so long and it will take a while to catch up. I hope your doc. will check you for nutrient deficiencies.

Don't add dairy back! Gluten causes damage to the part of the intestine that produces the enzyme that digests lactose. It will take a while for the intestine to heal and that part of the intestine (the villi ) which produces the enzyme to grow back. Until you are producing this enzyme again you will have problems with lactose (gas and bloating from the fermenting lactose). I know it is hard cutting out a lot of things at once, but it is even harder feeling sick :rolleyes:

The general bloating may last for a while as your intestine has to heal before you start digesting all your food properly. Many of us take probiotics and digestive enzymes when we go gluten free to (a) help in the healing process and (B) help our damaged intestines cope with the job of digestion. Gluten often has a negative impact on the pancreas and you may be deficient in some of the enzymes (in addition to lactase) needed for proper digestion.

You are so new to this -- it will take longer than you may expect to recover from the effects of gluten. It is a good sign :) that you are feeling better already.

Good luck in your healing.

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

My youngest son I think had withdrawl. He became extremely moody and he wanted to eat constantly. It started to subside for him after about a week. Now if he gets glutened he gets moody, tempertantrums start back (he is 6 1/2), feelings get hurt/cries easy and constipated. Fun Fun! :P

My oldest son is 10 1/2 (not diagnosed as everything is negative) and just started a gluten free trial. It has been almost a week and he has been really moody and nasty to be around. He has been having trouble sleeping. No spike in hunger for him though. I'm not sure though if it's coincidence or not.

I don't recall having gone through a withdrawl myself.

AVR1962 Collaborator
AVR1962
Posted

I am awaiting biopsy results but I was in so much upper abdomen pain and was SUPER bloated that I decided to just go gluten free and not wait. I felt really alert the first day! I was shocked! But I had really bad stomach pain for a few days still and decided to cut out dairy too as well as onions and beans for now to see if anything helped.

It has only barely a week and I haven't had pain. I am still bloated though, definately not AS bad but still really noticeable.

How long does it take before you know? Will I know?

I am already thinking about adding dairy back to see and because it is so hard doing both at once. I figure if it hurts I will stop. I don;t have a Drs appt until the 19th and that just seems sooo far away.

ALSO- I feel so hungry even after I eat, does it just take time to adjust? At first I was CRAVING sooo badly, like I felt like I was going through withdrawals!! Did anyone else feel like this?

Right now you porobably should be thinking as much as possible how you can protect your stomach and get the proper nutrients your body needs. That's the frame of mind I had to have that helped me and it is not easy. I also went off dairy and gluten. My stomach was burning so bad and I didn't know why. Doc gave me prescription for acid reflux, it didn't feel like acid reflux, it was more like my stomach wall had been stripped of its lining. I avoided all acidic foods as well. I took 2 prescrbed pills and 2 doses of pepto daily and slowly backed off as I felt better. The process took me about 5 months, I was in real bad shape though. I no longer take either and after 2 month off dairy I was able to slowly put cheese and yogurt back in, no milk.

My diet pretty much was veggies, meat and fruit and I had to get real creative with the veggies. The cravings will pass and the hunger will pass as you heal and become more comfortable with your diet. Remember this part of it is temporary and well worth it.

  • 3 months later...
SlackAttack Newbie
SlackAttack
Posted

I just want to quickly say thank you so much for posting this topic, and for your answers. I've been so confused about how to go about this. I'm about a month off gluten, but this past week has been awful with stomach pain, bloating, and honestly my intestines feeling like they can't totally handle processing food (since diahreah was a long term issue for me). I'm starting to think that maybe I should go off dairy as well (not sure I can handle it honestly). Does anyone have a general sense of the cycle, and when feeling crappy should really stop? Is it weird that I felt better before? Is the stomach pain my stomach healing itself? Thank you!

AMom2010 Explorer
AMom2010
Posted

I had very strong, painful bloating off and on the first two months I was gluten free, hang in there! I never gave up dairy, so that could have been the problem.

Kitagrl28 Newbie
Kitagrl28
Posted

Could you guys try lactose free instead of going completely dairy free? Hard cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella are also low lactose. I bought some Lactaid to try cooking with and stuff...I'm just beginning the process of finding out if I have a gluten intolerance.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

The only dairy I could not eat was milk, cream, ice cream and frozen yogurt. I tolerated all the others just fine (hate cottage cheese so didn't eat that) but cream cheese, sour cream, cheese and butter were fine with me. :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,777
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sandra Carter
    Newest Member
    Sandra Carter
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Colleen H
      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Hi all ! Can a celiac attack be so intense that it causes your entire body to work in reverse? Meaning really bad pain,  neuropathy and muscle,  jaw pain,  the stomach issues , Horrible anxiety and confusion??  I had a Tums and you would think I ate poison. My jaw and stomach did not like it . Not the norm for me. Things that are simple are just out of control. Anyone ever have this happen??  I'm trying to figure out what I ate or did to bring on a celiac like attack. I had an idea before but yesterday I didn't have any gluten unless it was in a medication ?! Any positive suggestions ??  Thank you 
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free stuff

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      The following two lists are very helpful for anyone who is gluten sensitive and needs to avoid gluten when shopping. It's very important to learn to read labels and understand sources of hidden gluten, and to know some general information about product labelling--for example in the USA if wheat is a possible allergen it must be declared on a product's ingredient label like this: Allergens: Wheat.      
    • trents
      Gluten free stuff

      By trents · Posted

      Tammy, in the food industry, "gluten free" doesn't mean the same thing as "no gluten". As Scott explained, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allows food companies to use the "gluten-free" label as long as the product does not contain more than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. This number is based on studies the FDA did years ago to determine the reaction threshold for those with celiac disease. And the 20 ppm figure works for the majority of celiacs. There are those who are more sensitive, however, who still react to that amount. There is another, stricter standard known as "Certified Gluten Free" which was developed by a third party organization known as GFCO which requires not more than 10 ppm of gluten. So, when you see "GFCO" or "Certified Gluten Free" labels on food items you know they are manufactured with a stricter standard concerning gluten content. Having said all that, even though you may read the disclaimer on a food item that says the spices may contain wheat, barley or rye (the gluten grains), you should be able to trust that the amount of gluten the spices may contain is so small it allows the total product to meet the requirements of gluten free or certified gluten free labeling. I hope this helps.
    • Tammy Pedler
      Gluten free stuff

      By Tammy Pedler · Posted

      As soon as I see gluten free I read the labels. I always find stuff that I cannot have on the products them selfs. Like spices, when the labels says  everything listed and then after like say garlic salt then the next thing is spices. When it says that that can contain wheat and other things I can’t have.. 
    • Scott Adams
      Do some people with Celiacs develop hypoglycemia?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While hypoglycemia isn't a direct, classic symptom of celiac disease, it's something that some individuals with well-managed celiac disease report, and there may be a few plausible explanations for why the two could be connected. The most common theory involves continued damage to the gut lining or nutrient deficiencies (like chromium or magnesium) that can impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, even after gluten is removed. Another possibility is delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or issues with the hormones that manage blood sugar release, like glucagon. Since your doctors are puzzled, it may be worth discussing these specific mechanisms with a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist. You are certainly not alone in experiencing this puzzling complication, and it highlights how celiac disease can have long-term metabolic effects beyond the digestive tract.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.