3 Years Gluten Free And Not Any Better

[CBare88]

Hello!

I am brand new to this forum but have been spending a lot of time lately browsing topics to hopefully find some help or at least someone in my same boat!

I was diagnosed with celiac 3 years ago and have been following a very strict gluten-free diet ever since. I finally hit my my wall yesterday. I feel so frustrated and exhausted with myself. I have ups and downs - some days I feel okay, others not so much. But always a constant is the size and discomfort of my stomach. I weighed 120 pounds when I was diagnosed. Ballooned to 138 a few months after my diagnosis. I am relatively thin and have been my whole life. I also have diabetes. And, I know that can play a huge role in my weight fluctuating. But over the past week I have gone from 126 to now a whopping 140. That is over 10 pounds in one week. My stomach is larger than ever and I constantly feel an uncomfortable pressure.

No - I am not pregnant. (Although, I am tired of people asking if I am!!) I don't know what I am doing wrong! I know I have not been mistakenly "glutened" because I am SO careful! I have scheduled two gastroenterology docotor's appointments. One next monday and the other a month later. So, I guess my question is if anyone else is having this issue and what could possibly be causing it? I want to be educated enough to have the right questions when I go to the doctor. I am convinced something else is wrong - but have no idea what.

Please help!

-Chelsea

[kareng]

If you have gained 10 lbs in one week, run, do not walk to the doctor! You are retaining a lot of water. That is dangerous to your heart! This may have nothing to do with your GI tract. Go to the regular doctor. Call & ask to speak to the nurse. Tell her you have gained 10 lbs in a week. They should get you in right away.

[CBare88]

If you have gained 10 lbs in one week, run, do not walk to the doctor! You are retaining a lot of water. That is dangerous to your heart! This may have nothing to do with your GI tract. Go to the regular doctor. Call & ask to speak to the nurse. Tell her you have gained 10 lbs in a week. They should get you in right away.

Okay - thank you. I feel like something is really off. Maybe I am overreacting - but it's better to know for sure. I will definitely call my doctor asap. Thanks again.

[dilettantesteph]

What have you been eating? Do you know that some celiacs get glutened by gluten free foods? Is your diet produce and meats?

[Reba32]

Yes, please let us know what you have been eating, we may be able to help a little better. I agree that an immediate trip to the doctor's office is in order, as it may be something related to your diabetes, rather than Celiac disease. How have your BG levels been? Are you managing that?

You may also have other food intolerances, like the usual suspects, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy. If you're eating a lot of packaged gluten free foods, you may also be getting way too many carbs for what is healthy for a diabetic (most packaged gluten-free foods derive from rice and potato flour, and don't have much fibre left in them after processing!).

Are you having regular bowel movements? If not, that can certainly add to weight and discomfort around the middle.