Gi Symptoms And Canker Sores After Going Gluten Free

[chi1968]

I was diagnosed by "accident" with Celiac. One of my sons had a test for Celiac disease during a routine screening for growth and development issues. When he was diagnosed, we were all tested. I, and one other child, came back positive. None of us had any symptoms, at least the "classic" GI symptoms.

Now, for years, I had canker sores, off and on, some years worse than others. But, I remember a particularly bad year when I had them maybe 4 times, probably after my 2nd son was born. My dentist told me it was a virus and prescribed Valtrex. Nothing seemed to work until I stopped using flouride toothpaste. Why this worked was a mystery to me since I also used a flouride mouth rinse with no issues. The theory that is was some sort of additive in the toothpaste.

Then, years later (recently), when I was looking into the symptoms of celiac and saw that canker sores were a symptom, I thought I had found the answer.

Well, I've been gluten-free for just over 3 weeks. Like others I've seen on the board, I experiences a few days of withdrawal symptoms, when I felt tired and had migraine-type headaches. But, after about 4-5 days, I felt better and the bonus was that I no longer felt tired when I woke up in the mornings. No longer did I feel like I hadn't slept a wink when I supposedly had gotten 8 hours of sleep. This, if anything, was probably my only noticeable celiac symptom (that I'm aware of so far).

About a week and a half ago, I ran out of my toothpaste and started using one we had around the house. Within a few days, I got three canker sores. I finally put two and two together and realized that it could be the toothpaste. I stopped using it, finally got my old brand back, but the canker sores just are not going away!

Also, like I said above, before going gluten free, I didn't have any noticeable GI symptoms. But, now, even though I don't have diarrhea, I have VERY loose stools. Sorry to be so gross. But, there is just no form at all. Why would this be? Is it from some other issue? Like before, eating gluten made me slightly constipated, but not really, enough to have more solid BMs, and now that I'm off, some other issue I have is causing them to be the opposite?

Sorry to be so gross.

But, I feel like I have reverse celiac or something. Like, I had no symptoms before going gluten-free (other than a positive blood test, confirmed biopsy, and maybe feeling tired). And, now that I'm off of gluten, the symptoms are all starting to appear. What gives?

[AVR1962]

I was diagnosed by "accident" with Celiac. One of my sons had a test for Celiac disease during a routine screening for growth and development issues. When he was diagnosed, we were all tested. I, and one other child, came back positive. None of us had any symptoms, at least the "classic" GI symptoms.

Now, for years, I had canker sores, off and on, some years worse than others. But, I remember a particularly bad year when I had them maybe 4 times, probably after my 2nd son was born. My dentist told me it was a virus and prescribed Valtrex. Nothing seemed to work until I stopped using flouride toothpaste. Why this worked was a mystery to me since I also used a flouride mouth rinse with no issues. The theory that is was some sort of additive in the toothpaste.

Then, years later (recently), when I was looking into the symptoms of celiac and saw that canker sores were a symptom, I thought I had found the answer.

Well, I've been gluten-free for just over 3 weeks. Like others I've seen on the board, I experiences a few days of withdrawal symptoms, when I felt tired and had migraine-type headaches. But, after about 4-5 days, I felt better and the bonus was that I no longer felt tired when I woke up in the mornings. No longer did I feel like I hadn't slept a wink when I supposedly had gotten 8 hours of sleep. This, if anything, was probably my only noticeable celiac symptom (that I'm aware of so far).

About a week and a half ago, I ran out of my toothpaste and started using one we had around the house. Within a few days, I got three canker sores. I finally put two and two together and realized that it could be the toothpaste. I stopped using it, finally got my old brand back, but the canker sores just are not going away!

Also, like I said above, before going gluten free, I didn't have any noticeable GI symptoms. But, now, even though I don't have diarrhea, I have VERY loose stools. Sorry to be so gross. But, there is just no form at all. Why would this be? Is it from some other issue? Like before, eating gluten made me slightly constipated, but not really, enough to have more solid BMs, and now that I'm off, some other issue I have is causing them to be the opposite?

Sorry to be so gross.

But, I feel like I have reverse celiac or something. Like, I had no symptoms before going gluten-free (other than a positive blood test, confirmed biopsy, and maybe feeling tired). And, now that I'm off of gluten, the symptoms are all starting to appear. What gives?

It was the same for me, have not really understood it myself. There were a few things that as I look back now I can relate but nothing was just obvious and evident. I was not the typical case that is printed in textbook with all the issues with the stomach. I was having issues for the last 3 years but they were mild, I was not losing weight, if anything I was gaining. Docs had no clue.

I had become so tired, sleeping 10+ hours a night and I finally decided to do a liver cleanse to see if maybe I could raise my metabolism. And that when my system went nuts. Docs felt I had reacted to the herbs but what was uncovered was my under-lying health issues. So the way I make since of this is it is like a pressure cooker in your body. We can hold this in our system and it can be inactive for a long long time but when it decides to flame you then finally have issues. I think for me, stress finally was the trigger.

It's been a year for me now since I got real sick, have been on a gluten-free diet for 10 months and while alot has gotten better, I am still putting out fires in my body, waiting for the day when this all settles and I can hopefully live without the constant attacks.

[chi1968]

What's weird is -- I eat pretty clean. A lot of protein (chicken and egg whites), veggies, salads, and I try to steer clear of gluten-free "substitutes" except in moderation. But, last night, I indulged on some gluten-free pretzels (about 20?), and my system was more normal today. You would think it would be the opposite. That my body would react differently if I ate a lot of the "bad for you" gluten-free junk.

Also, even though I had switched to non flouride toothpast, I was using a mint kind. Last night, I broke down and opened my normal cinammon one, also flouride-free. And, wouldn't you know? Today, I woke up and the canker sores were 80% gone!

Weird!!!