Circulation

[swittenauer]

This weekend, my husband & I went to the Nascar race in Bristol. This was our first adventure after being diagnosed with Celiac. He seems to do fine with finding foods that he can eat but for some reason he had trouble with walking & swelling in his lower legs & hands. His calves were so swollen that it looked like they were going to bust. He ached all over & the walking was so hard on him. We were wondering if this could be related to Celiac?

[Rachel--24]

Is it fluid retention causing the swelling? Last week I was eating alot of different foods...previously I'd only been eating meats and veggies. I have fluid retention anyway but adding all the new foods really made my legs swell and it was hurting to stand...thats never happened before. Not sure if it was just too much too soon or maybe too much sodium. I was eating some microwave dinners...they are high in sodium. I'm eating more simple again this week and the swelling in my legs is gone.....for now.

[ravenwoodglass]

It could be but usually the swelling doesn't go into the calfs, in most anyway. I would call the doctor tommorrow morning. Were his calves red or hot to the touch, has his discomfort been relieved at all by now? If his legs are hot or red and still real painful it might be prudent to call his doctor tonight for advice. If things have subsided a bit one of the things that helped me the most was I used to lay upside down on the bed with my legs straight up against the wall for a half hour or so each night about 2 hours before bed. If it is not painful for him you could gently massage down from the feet to help the fluid go back down. Might not be helpful but shouldn't hurt. I hope he feels better soon.

[swittenauer]

It could be the sodium. I'm not sure. He ate a massive amount of Lays Stacks this weekend. They seem to be a bit better but when he sits for long periods lately, his hands & feet swell. They weren't hot but just felt like they were going to burst they were so tight. I just thought that circulation problems could be related to Celiac.

[Guest gfinnebraska]

When I go for walks my hands swell. It usually goes away pretty quick after being home. Strange, huh?? I've never thought about it being celiac disease related, but it does happen all the time. Fun, fun...

[ravenwoodglass]

It could be the sodium.  I'm not sure.  He ate a massive amount of Lays Stacks this weekend. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Please be aware that while Lay's lists many of their foods as gluten-free there are real issues with crosscontamination. If he is newly diagnosed especially he needs to watch out for this. I have come to realize that I am playing with fire if I consume any of their products, sometimes they are fine other times I react big time. I know this isn't great news but I have found it better to stick with snack products that specify they are gluten-free. Good luck and hope he feels better soon.

[jenvan]

since he was eating the Lays Stacks specifically though...he should be okay. ...since they are made on a dedicated gluten-free line. but as mentioned, not all of their products are. i get similar hand swelling as Kimberly said. i when walking outside b/c of a combination of the heat and my hands swinging low at my sides, below heart level. i will try and pump them up, keep them elevated more when walking to help with this. this page may give you more ideas on the swelling. Open Original Shared Link Also ck out this page on edema--perhaps it is merely from doing a lot of walking, or edema from another cause: Open Original Shared Link

Sorry i can't be more help....

[Rachel--24]

Please be aware that while Lay's lists many of their foods as gluten-free there are real issues with crosscontamination. If he is newly diagnosed especially he needs to watch out for this. I have come to realize that I am playing with fire if I consume any of their products, sometimes they are fine other times I react big time. I know this isn't great news but I have found it better to stick with snack products that specify they are gluten-free. Good luck and hope he feels better soon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree with this last post. Being only recently diagnosed I think it might be better for your husbands recovery to eat more simple foods. I could be wrong but I thouht I'd read in previous posts that he is still eating out and at fast food chains daily. His risk for getting contaminated is pretty high. I'm finding I feel better if I don't go crazy trying to eat all kinds of different foods...even the ones that are labeled gluten-free cause me trouble right now. I think some healing has to take place first so I'll just stick to more veggies, fruit and meat for now. The more processed stuff I eat the more fluid I retain and its very uncomfortable...especially since I tend to accumulate it in my face/neck mainly. If I sit for long periods I start to swell more but I don't get that "ready to pop" look anymore cuz I'm not eating all that processed stuff with so much sodium.