I Got My Period!

[dani nero]

Without birth-control pills and without any medication! Only by being on a gluten-free diet! I was so worried that I was feeling anxiety yesterday.. I thought I was getting accidentally glutened, but it was actually my period!

I'm so happy + feeling period-crappy, but at least for the time, it's all natural period-crappy!

[UKGail]

Hey Dani - That is really great news. I am really happy for you. I think you said you had been without your periods for a very long time?

May I ask how long it is since you went gluten free?

[dani nero]

Hey Dani - That is really great news. I am really happy for you. I think you said you had been without your periods for a very long time?

May I ask how long it is since you went gluten free?

Thank you! Yes I've been on birth-control treatment to get periods for 20 years, but I stopped taking the pills a month ago and went completely gluten-free. I got accidentally glutened about two weeks ago though, so I thought I wasn't going to get a period this month, but I did :-)

[UKGail]

Yes, I know what you mean. I am still reacting at a lower level, so I keep thinking it may not happen next month. But it does...

For me, it is very light and short (well, at least compared to what I was used to earlier in life...). At this stage I don't know if it is because I am simply peri-menopausal, which is quite likely at my age of 47, or because I have not yet completely recovered. Time will tell.

I hope it goes well for you from now on. I would be interested to hear. PM me if you prefer. My rheumatologist was quite curious about this effect of going gluten free (he wasn't celiac-savvy), and he asked me to let him know how things progressed for me even though I am no longer actively under his care, as he wished to learn more. It would be really helpful if I could say that I am not the only one...

[dani nero]

Yes, I know what you mean. I am still reacting at a lower level, so I keep thinking it may not happen next month. But it does...

For me, it is very light and short (well, at least compared to what I was used to earlier in life...). At this stage I don't know if it is because I am simply peri-menopausal, which is quite likely at my age of 47, or because I have not yet completely recovered. Time will tell.

I hope it goes well for you from now on. I would be interested to hear. PM me if you prefer. My rheumatologist was quite curious about this effect of going gluten free (he wasn't celiac-savvy), and he asked me to let him know how things progressed for me even though I am no longer actively under his care, as he wished to learn more. It would be really helpful if I could say that I am not the only one...

Sure Gail I'll let you know :-) XOXO

[dilettantesteph]

Thanks for posting about this. This happened to someone I know and we hadn't connected it to gluten, but she was recently diagnosed and gluten free.

[bartfull]

Gail says: "My rheumatologist was quite curious about this effect of going gluten free (he wasn't celiac-savvy), and he asked me to let him know how things progressed for me even though I am no longer actively under his care, as he wished to learn more."

Now THAT is a good doctor!

[Krystal K.]

came across this and well , just saying ..Im 25 and for the past 6 years I have had little to no cycle ..like 4-6 periods a year.was on the pill came off the pill in oct...and since nov. I have gotten it each month AND been gluten free since Nov. too interesting

[dani nero]

came across this and well , just saying ..Im 25 and for the past 6 years I have had little to no cycle ..like 4-6 periods a year.was on the pill came off the pill in oct...and since nov. I have gotten it each month AND been gluten free since Nov. too interesting

Krystal do you know if you have Celiac or Non-Celiac gluten intolerance?

[dani nero]

I hope it goes well for you from now on. I would be interested to hear. PM me if you prefer. My rheumatologist was quite curious about this effect of going gluten free (he wasn't celiac-savvy), and he asked me to let him know how things progressed for me even though I am no longer actively under his care, as he wished to learn more. It would be really helpful if I could say that I am not the only one...

A little update: The period seems very standard so far, as if I were still taking treatment. I'll post again next month to confirm this is permanent and not just a one time thing (I hope!). I also hope things go well for you too XOXO

[kareng]

You know you have Celiac when.......

Everyone is so excited you are having a normal " crappy" period!

[Lisa]

Using birth control for extended years (20), will diminish your menstrual cycle down to nothing.

After going off the birth control, within several months you should restore your normal cycle (if nothing additional has developed since then).

Not too sure gluten plays a role here. It's pretty much hormone related. But, then I guess hormones could be out of wack due to deficiencies.

UKGail, I began Peri menopause at 35. A b%$@# long before my time. It lasted about ten years, until full onset menopause. But, then I have no family history as my mother died early. Probably just genetics.

I always get tickled with the word Men-0-Pause!

[IrishHeart]

Dani,

I believe late-onset menses, amenorrhea and early peri-menopause ARE celiac-related. There is much written about it. Many Pub Med articles, but here are a few. One study states:

"In two large case control studies, researchers examined the incidence of delayed menarche, amenorrhea (cessation of the menstrual cycle for short periods of time), and early menopause. Both studies enrolled women with celiac disease who were following the gluten-free diet or eating a gluten-containing diet.

They found that women who were not on the gluten-free diet started their menstrual cycle up to a year and a half later than women with celiac disease who were following the diet. In addition, researchers found that up to 39% of women not on the diet experienced periods of amenorrhea, compared to only nine percent of women who were on the gluten-free diet. As you would expect, women with celiac disease who were not on the gluten-free diet were found to enter menopause four to five years earlier than women with celiac disease who were on the diet."

Also: " Untreated women with celiac disease may have obstetric and gynecological problems. Amenorrhea and spontaneous abortions are reported more often for untreated women than for controls. Infertility was shown to be more common among untreated celiac women. Fertility and ability to carry an infant to term, returned when the women followed a gluten-free diet. (Molteni, N., Bardella, M., Bianchi, P.: Obstetric and Gynecological Problems in Women with Untreated Celiac Sprue. J Clin Gastroenterol 12(1):37, 1990.)

"Females with celiac disease tend to have gynecological problems, including a shortened reproductive period—delayed onset of menstruation and premature menopause--and irregular periods." Peter Green, Celiac Disease: The Hidden Epidemic

I had MANY GYN problems and a very early menopause (I was only in my late 30's) and a total hysterectomy by 47. Sadly, I could never carry to term, despite several pregnancies and then, infertility treatments. They did not test for celiac disease when exploring the causes of recurrent miscarriages back in the 90's.

I think that your periods returning to normalcy may well continue as you remain gluten free. Fingers crossed!

So, "congrats" on your news. only another celiac who had wonky, erratic and miserable periods too would understand why this is good news to you.

[Krystal K.]

Krystal do you know if you have Celiac or Non-Celiac gluten intolerance?

celiac but I have mostly neuro.symptoms.. its ataxia. idk if this makes any difference as far as cycles go but I have been dairy intolerant for years and recently learned gluten and also corn.

[Lisa]

IH has posted some good information and very appropriate for this thread. But, aside from any gluten or Celiac issues, extended use of birth control will diminish you menstrual cycle.

[dani nero]

IH has posted some good information and very appropriate for this thread. But, aside from any gluten or Celiac issues, extended use of birth control will diminish you menstrual cycle.

Hi Lisa! In my case the amenorrhea wasn't caused by the BC pills. I took them to induce periods. I got diagnosed with hypothalamic amenorrhea when I was 16. The first doctor was the one who diagnosed me, and prescribed BC pills (Diane 35) as treatment. The second told me there was no point in taking treatment because I was completely healthy, and "it is not even necessary to bleed every month".. I didn't listen to her. The third doctor diagnosed me with PMDD and put me on different BC pills (Yaz) + Paroxatin for the anxiety.

[IrishHeart]

IH has posted some good information and very appropriate for this thread. But, aside from any gluten or Celiac issues, extended use of birth control will diminish you menstrual cycle.

I agree. those articles were for the readers' interest and was not meant to exclude that fact about BC pills. I hope that did not come across that way, dear Lisa.

Despite many attempts to regulate my own cycles and control some nasty Peri-menopause symptoms with BC pills, it just made things worse.

I wonder if I had known about the celiac back then, how much easier all if it would have been.

[Lisa]

I hope that did not come across that way, dear Lisa.

Nope!

[IrishHeart]

Nope!

whew!

[dani nero]

Despite many attempts to regulate my own cycles and control some nasty Peri-menopause symptoms with BC pills, it just made things worse.

I wonder if I had known about the celiac back then, how much easier all if it would have been.

I wish you and UKGail all the best. The only thing we can do when we no longer have control to change the situation is accept life with it's imperfections, to be able to see the bright side of things, and focus on what's to come :-) My heart goes out to you. xoxo

[IrishHeart]

I wish you and UKGail all the best. The only thing we can do when we no longer have control to change the situation is accept life with it's imperfections, to be able to see the bright side of things, and focus on what's to come :-) My heart goes out to you. xoxo

Oh hon, I made peace with all that stuff a long time ago. What's done is done. Can't be undone. Just learned from.

Believe me,there is no one who is more of an optimist than I am.

After all I have been through, I'm still kicking and screaming and laughing .

My focus now is on TODAY and getting well and getting my life back.

Besides, there is no point in looking backwards, as that is not the direction we are headed.

Cheers,

IH

[dani nero]

Oh hon, I made peace with all that stuff a long time ago. What's done is done. Can't be undone. Just learned from.

Believe me,there is no one who is more of an optimist than I am.

After all I have been through, I'm still kicking and screaming and laughing .

My focus now is on TODAY and getting well and getting my life back.

Besides, there is no point in looking backwards, as that is not the direction we are headed.

Cheers,

IH

Good to hear that :-)

[UKGail]

IH, you have had a tough time. I really admire your positive, forward looking attitude!

Lisa - I understand your point about BC pills interfering with the natural cycle. I took them for about 10 years, and stopped when we started trying for a family. I was one of the lucky ones in that my periods returned straight away. It did take a year for me to fall pregnant though, and I do think that would have been due to 3 factors a) age over 30 b)adjustment after being on bc pills and c) maybe some influence from gluten intolerance.

Just an observation: the posters in this thread seem to have/have had mainly neurologic celiac symptoms. I am also sero-negative, and I think IH may also be? Anyone else? Any thoughts on this?

[IrishHeart]

IH, you have had a tough time. I really admire your positive, forward looking attitude!

Just an observation: the posters in this thread seem to have/have had mainly neurologic celiac symptoms. I am also sero-negative, and I think IH may also be? Anyone else? Any thoughts on this?

It's just the delirium from not being in GLUTEN HEAD HELL anymore.

Seriously, my symptoms were not mostly neurological. Those just manifested LAST and were the WORST.

They were symptoms of the blood system, cardiovascular system, digestive, dermatological, and integumentary systems, musculoskeletal, gynecological/reproductive, metabolic, pulmonary, sensory, glandular, and urinary systems. No body system on me was left unaffected.

It is also why I was seeing various dcotors throughout the years and being symptom-treated individually and never feeling well. I kept going down hill until I crashed.

If just ONE doctor had looked at the whole picture....and believe me, I gave them all my health history...but no one seemed to see the clues. I do not know why we bother to write those out AND fill out those damn forms when we go to their offices.

I put it together myself. 35+ years of symptoms--all from celiac. And that is why I am a very VOCAL crusader for celiac awareness and I don't give a flying fig if anyone finds me annoying.

But we should not "hijack" Dani's thread--this is her celebratory moment! If you wish to read more about neurological symptoms, check the Related Disorders section.

[dani nero]

I put it together myself. 35+ years of symptoms--all from celiac. And that is why I am a very VOCAL crusader for celiac awareness and I don't give a flying fig if anyone finds me annoying.

But we should not "hijack" Dani's thread--this is her celebratory moment! If you wish to read more about neurological symptoms, check the Related Disorders section.

You are not annoying and if anything being vocal is inspiring.. I feel very awful for my family who are not willing to let go of the poison they're eating (gluten), and I wish I was as vocal as you but I'm not that strong personality-wise.

I posted this thread out of joy to begin with but I think that providing others with information on different cases and symptoms is far more productive and helpful.