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Irritability?

Jetamio

By Jetamio
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Jetamio Apprentice
Jetamio
Posted

I'm new here and just started eliminating gluten the last few days. I did notice my sinus congestion was better this morning but my stomach and head hurts and I feel really grouchy and emotional today. Has anyone noticed anything similar when you first removed gluten from your diet? I'm focusing on simple, whole foods right now.

Thanks!

Jetamio

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Rachel85 Rookie
Rachel85
Posted

Yup. I had mega bad withdrawals when I went gluten-free. For me they kicked in after 4 or 5 days or so, and carried on for a couple of weeks. The only way I can describe it is that it was like having a big black cloud over my head. I was emotional, had the worst cravings, headache, slept all the time and had no idea what I was doing when I was awake. My poor boyfriend had no idea which 'me' he'd get from one minute to the next.

At times you may wonder why you've bothered going gluten-free, and it may seem like you've just replaced one set of symptoms for a whole bunch of others, but it does get better. Following the advice of others I found my 'crutch' which majorly helped. And stick with it, it will most definitely be worth it in the long run.

Jetamio Apprentice
Jetamio
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the response. I am glad to know that it will pass. I ate breakfast after I posted and felt better - not as emotional. I feel a little itchy today too and sort of keyed up.

ndw3363 Contributor
ndw3363
Posted

I've been feeling that way this week, but I know it's not gluten. I've been gluten-free for a year now - lately I've been having some problems with candida (my wine intake went up a bit over the holidays). This week I've been on a high protein, low carb/sugar diet and I am CRANKY!! But like everything else, I know it will pass. Whenever my body acts up like this, I know it's because I took something away from it that wasn't good for me. It reacts like a spoiled child...gimme sugar now!! Can't wait to get my energy back!

faithforlife Apprentice
faithforlife
Posted

I'm gluten-free only 5 months now and also trying a low carb diet to help with that.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

You're just having some withdrawal symptoms, it means you're healing :-) Everyone gets worse before feeling better, so think of them as a positive thing.

Fairy Dancer Contributor
Fairy Dancer
Posted

I am going back into withdrawal again at the moment but the symptoms are are hard to separate from the symptoms I was getting whilst eating gluten anyway.

I did come off it before and went onto a whole foods diet with no grains and limited dairy (modified paleo), had some improvement and was finally able to get out of bed most days (I was bed ridden most of the time prior to that). During that time I had some blood tests at the drs, one of which was for celiac (due to my having a family member with it). They all came back normal so I thought 'ok not that then' and went back to eating processed foods and gluten/grains/wheat again.

3 months later and I was bedridden once again, so regardless of what the blood test said I am going back paleo again...

I only just started in the last few days so at the moment any withdrawal symptoms are merging with my existing symptoms.

Hope your withdrawal passes quickly and you feel better soon.

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Jetamio Apprentice
Jetamio
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone. It makes sense when I think about it as a withdrawal. I felt cranky on and off this weekend and noticed that my blood sugar was a little more sensitive but my sinus congestion has been so much better already! Before, I would spend half the day not being able to breathe and the other half being able to breathe from one side or the other...LOL My stomach has been hurting a little but not as much as Friday and Saturday. I think I'm on the right path.

Mom-of-Two Contributor
Mom-of-Two
Posted

Very normal!! Hopefully better for you soon! I have been gluten-free 10 days now and am less irritable day by day, it takes time.

Hang in there!

Missandi Newbie
Missandi
Posted

I actually cried - like tears for no reason! Gluten was comfort food (even though it made me feel uncomfortable afterward - go figure!) Withdrawal is the perfect word. Your body WILL get used to it and adjust and thank you in the long run!! Don't think of it as "living without" - embrace it - gluten isn't good for anyone - you're smart and strong and you can do it! Find something you enjoy doing when you feel that way...I did two things. #1: searched for a yummy gluten-free recipe to try that day (took up time and got me excited vs. focusing on the emotional symptoms) #2: exercise - endorphines naturally boost your mood - use it as a time to give yourself a pep talk and make those natural happy hormones in your body come ALIVE!!! Best of wishes - you will do great!!

Jetamio Apprentice
Jetamio
Posted
  • Author

The irritability has started to get better. I noticed the oddest thing last night. I'm a yoga teacher and I also go to a lot of classes. Last night I was so tight and my endurance was terrible! My joints felt sore - not the achey thing they do that I think is from gluten - just really tight and sore. I made it through and have been trying to drink a lot of water. Perhaps its a detox thing.

I haven't been craving bread or wheat products. But, I am sort of craving meat. It's weird - I haven't eaten meat of any sort for a very long time. I'm watching my protein intake and I'm sure it will pass.

The more I read about gluten the more I feel like this is the missing link for me. My mother was diagnosed with IBS years ago and also has advanced MS and Fibromyalgia - I can't help but wonder if she doesn't have Celiac disease..

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

It seems that we crave protein after we go gluten free. I know I'm experiencing it. And we need it ~~~ more protein & fat, less carbs. Your blood sugar will thank you for it. It likely has something to do with our body trying to get the nourishment it has been deprived of while we were killing our villi with gluten.

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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