Symptoms Of Violent Coughing And Congestion-Anyone Else?

[Omma]

I've been gluten free for about 6 months, not diagnosed but severely sensitive to gluten. My daughter is as well. I have the fatigue, body aches, brain fog and sometimes a stomache ache, but my immediate symptom is violent coughing, chest congestion and an earache, the other things come later. This happens within minutes of eating even the smallest amount of gluten. (Just two days ago i fried a hamburger in someones non-stick pan and I'm still paying for it)the coughing usually last 10-20 minutes, sometimes longer. And it's so bad I almost throw up. The congestion lasts longer and the body aches, fatigue, nausea and fogginess lasts....I'm not sure,about a week. I haven't seen this symptom come up and I'm wondering if I'm the only one? My daughter has the stomach issues, no coughing.

[domesticactivist]

The coughing and congestion sounds more like a histamine (IgE) reaction to me. You could have both kinds of reaction.

[Omma]

The coughing and congestion sounds more like a histamine (IgE) reaction to me. You could have both kinds of reaction.

Hmmmm.....I never thought of that, maybe I'm allergic to...gluten? is that possible? or maybe just wheat? All of the coughing reactions have been to wheat, don't know if I do that with rye or barley. This reaction started after I went gluten-free. I might get up the nerve and try a kernel of barley and see if I cough or not. The last gluten I ate was rye flakes, I thought they were gluten-free, and I felt truly horrible, but I didn't cough. But then that was early on in my gluten-free journey.

Trying to put all the pieces together is difficult and frustrating! I so wish I would have been tested before going gluten free...but then, by what I'm seeing here, that's not always conclusive either.

By the saliva and stool tests I did have, the conclusion is I have Leaky Gut Syndrome, my total salivery SIgA was 8 (normal 25-60)

and the total Intestinal SIgA was 60 (normal 400-800). So, there's an obvious problem, but what caused it? Celiacs? Gluten Intolerance? Maybe it doesn't matter.

One more thing, since going gluten-free I'm loosing weight, not a good thing for me. I've been trying to gain some muscle, but instead getting skinnier and skinnier. Yikes!

[domesticactivist]

People can have IgE reactions to wheat or to gluten or other parts of the wheat. Wheat is one of the top 8 allergens recognized in the USA. You can be allergic to wheat but not other gluten-containing grains. However, you can be allergic and ALSO be gluten intolerant and/or celiac. From what you describe, it sounds as though you may have a wheat allergy combined with gluten intolerance. Of course I'm not a dr and haven't met you so this is in no way a diagnosis, but that's where I would start looking into things.

As for the weight loss... what else are you eating? Are you eating plenty of saturated fat, protein, and vegetables? Are you feeling full, or do you feel like you can't eat enough to feel full? Have you actually crossed the threshold into being underweight? Do you have energy?

If you feel fine and are not yet underweight, there is a possibility that you are just on your way to a new equilibrium. I dropped 20 lbs at an alarming rate right away, then stabilized just above the lowest possible normal body weight.

[domesticactivist]

Another thought with the weight loss... could you be eating something else that is preventing you from absorbing nutrition from the food you eat? For example, some people trying to bulk up on muscle sometimes eat protein powder shakes or similar foods that are full of highly processed ingredients that can be common problem foods, like soy, eggs, or dairy.

[Omma]

People can have IgE reactions to wheat or to gluten or other parts of the wheat. Wheat is one of the top 8 allergens recognized in the USA. You can be allergic to wheat but not other gluten-containing grains. However, you can be allergic and ALSO be gluten intolerant and/or celiac. From what you describe, it sounds as though you may have a wheat allergy combined with gluten intolerance. Of course I'm not a dr and haven't met you so this is in no way a diagnosis, but that's where I would start looking into things.

As for the weight loss... what else are you eating? Are you eating plenty of saturated fat, protein, and vegetables? Are you feeling full, or do you feel like you can't eat enough to feel full? Have you actually crossed the threshold into being underweight? Do you have energy?

If you feel fine and are not yet underweight, there is a possibility that you are just on your way to a new equilibrium. I dropped 20 lbs at an alarming rate right away, then stabilized just above the lowest possible normal body weight.

I've had adrenal fatigue and low thyroid in the past, so my energy level has been worse, but it still isn't the greatest. When I eat I feel full, but then hungry again in about an hour. I'm eating every two hours at this point, whole foods,lots of protein probably don't eat enough veggies as raw give me a stomache ache and it's hard to eat cooked veggies at work. I'm thinking I should start tracking what I'm eating and maybe that will give me a clue to what's going on.

I've been told I need to gain 10 lbs. of muscle, which I have very little of. I've been working out for a year now and can't seem to gain any muscle or weight. I've lifted weights in the past and had no trouble building muscle. Maybe because I'm older now? I'm 55.

Thanks for the good info!

[domesticactivist]

One thing that may help at work is to bring a thermos. We make a lot of soups and stews which are full of high fat meat and lots of well-cooked veggies (ala the GAPS diet). The thermoses we have stay hot for 7 hours, so they work very well. Good luck with your food diary! Sometimes they really can help sort out a problem.

[Omma]

One thing that may help at work is to bring a thermos. We make a lot of soups and stews which are full of high fat meat and lots of well-cooked veggies (ala the GAPS diet). The thermoses we have stay hot for 7 hours, so they work very well. Good luck with your food diary! Sometimes they really can help sort out a problem.

A thermos! Now why didn't I think of that? My mom used to send soup with me to school for my lunch. I'll try that. Thanks!

[Di2011]

Years ago I went to the doc because my coughing was so bad I couldn't even sleep. Totally exhausted. He said 'asthma' and I said something like 'No I don't have asthma' and he said "Yes. you do". I though asthma was constricted throat and wheezing which I didn't have.

My asthma treatment is one of the only medications I use despite all my other gluten problems. I usually only need it a few (maybe six to ten) times a year but when I need it I REALLY need it.

[Omma]

Years ago I went to the doc because my coughing was so bad I couldn't even sleep. Totally exhausted. He said 'asthma' and I said something like 'No I don't have asthma' and he said "Yes. you do". I though asthma was constricted throat and wheezing which I didn't have.

My asthma treatment is one of the only medications I use despite all my other gluten problems. I usually only need it a few (maybe six to ten) times a year but when I need it I REALLY need it.

I started to write that I only cough after eating gluten, but sometimes I cough all night long. I'll look into it. Thanks!