Day 6 Of gluten-free Diet

[ncteacher]

So, day 3 of my gluten-free journey felt miraculous! The pain in my gut was gone and it felt amazing being able to stand at work for 8 hours without doubling over.

Then, on day 6, I'm bloated and generally feel full and kind of gross. I've read and read to see if changing my gluten-filled diet to a gluten-free diet can cause stomach upset and bloat. Today, the culprit seemed to be a gluten-free, dairy-free muffin from a new celiac shop in town. It was pretty tasty, but it just hit me wrong. Is this familiar, or common?

Should I stay away from the pre-packaged gluten-free foods for a little while?

Thanks!

[squirmingitch]

A resounding YES! Whole foods only for a while. At least 3 months.

[Fairy Dancer]

I was feeling much better this week on my whole foods only paleo based diet, until I had some dairy (which I had previously mostly taken out for a while (apart from a bit of yoghurt) as I am trying to find the culprits that are upsetting my gut and triggering migraines). Anyway all I can say is the dairy didn't go down well at all...and it seems to be exiting as fast as it went in! Not to mention the flatulence that has surfaced lol.

I think I will pass on the dairy for a while.

I got away with a yoghurt a few days back but the cows milk has really got things moving in a not so good way. And I had just gotten that to settle too

Bloomin daft dairy.

[Mom-of-Two]

YES!! Go back to basics--- veggies, fruits, eggs, lean meats, rice. My changes have not been dramatic- they have been subtle things, that I notice like last night my hubby commented that I have not had many headaches lately- and it was then that I realized he was right, I don't think I have taken any pain reliever in at least a weeks time. I also found myself out walking with my 4yo on his bike the other day, when we had a bizarre 70 degree day in OH. I had actual energy and motivation to do so.

I am not trying to replace my foods, we simply took the approach that real foods are best- been doing the basics, and no boxed gluten-free foods or snacks yet. Nuts and fruit to snack on. I am not a milk drinker, but do drink almond milk for the calcium, and cheese does not bother my stomach. I have no known issues with dairy now, but had major lactose issues when younger so I just never learned to enjoy regular cows milk straight up as a beverage. I think the milk itself in that way upsets many, so if you drink it, maybe stay clear of that for awhile.

Are you taking probiotics?? If not, get yourself on plenty of those, to help repair the gut.

For ME, I have never had the gluten-free flours that are in many baked goods and packaged gluten-free foods. I had a gluten-free tortilla about a week ago, for a wrap at lunch time, and I felt "off" all that evening. I want to ease into those foods.

Are you careful with cross contamination? Have you ate out at all?

[Bubba's Mom]

So, day 3 of my gluten-free journey felt miraculous! The pain in my gut was gone and it felt amazing being able to stand at work for 8 hours without doubling over.

Then, on day 6, I'm bloated and generally feel full and kind of gross. I've read and read to see if changing my gluten-filled diet to a gluten-free diet can cause stomach upset and bloat. Today, the culprit seemed to be a gluten-free, dairy-free muffin from a new celiac shop in town. It was pretty tasty, but it just hit me wrong. Is this familiar, or common?

Should I stay away from the pre-packaged gluten-free foods for a little while?

Thanks!

Reacting to some of the alternate flours used in gluten-free baking causes reactions in a lot of us at first. They can be hard to digest, and some of the gums used can irritate as well. Try sticking with whole foods at first, and maybe have an occasional baked treat once you've done more healing?

There's a gluten-free bakery in our town. I tried a couple of their baked goods and had a bad reaction. They were using Bob's Red Mill products which *could* be cc with oats. I think that's what got me? I try to avoid BRM products. Not everyone reacts to them though.

[Jetamio]

You sound a lot like me. By day three I felt pretty good (a little grouchy) but then about a week in I felt sort of terrible for a couple of days. I started itching non-stop, my tummy was "off", I was starving all the time, craving odd things and just angry feeling. I had some soy in there too and I think that added to my discomfort. Yesterday, that started to pass and today (day 9), the itching almost gone and I don't hate the world. I think it may be part of the process of the body working things out of the tissues, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other "odd" symptoms as our bodies detox. Keep eating clean and drinking lots of water. I've been addind lemon to my water to thin the mucus in my body - don't know if you can tolerate citrus.

[Skylark]

Give it time. Healing takes months, not weeks.

[kitgordon]

I had a bloated stomach (looked like I was 6 months pregnant) for about 6 weeks after going gluten free. No other symptoms, but it was annoying. It went away on it's own. I did use prepackaged gluten-free foods from the start though - didn't know any better - so maybe that was the problem.

[IrishHeart]

Give it time. Healing takes months, not weeks.

I echo this...it takes months, not days...and sometimes, even years for some people.

It takes time to reverse damage. Take probiotics and try to be patient.

[shelleylyn]

After being diagnosed I started a gluten free diet 6 months ago. I felt better and then worse then better again off and on during this whole time. I am now feeling better most of the time. I know my body is still healing. And I also know that most of the times I get sick tend to be because I am still learning about food safety or because I got complacent. It may not have been the muffin after all- we live in a gluten filled world!

For now, if you really crave a baked good, make it yourself in your own, safe kitchen. And before you ask, you really do need to throw away or donate anything that could be holding even a microscopic amount of gluten... Old pans with any scratches-especially Teflon, plastic mixing bowls, cutting boards, wooden spoons, you name it. Donate the stuff to a local goodwill and enjoy the tax write-off!

[Catjb]

I had been gluten free for a few weeks and then made myself a loaf of gluten free bread. Had 2 slices for breafast and in late afternoon had severe cramps and diarrhea. After all was cleared out, i felt fine. Looking at the ingredients in the bread, I just think my body could not cope with the bean flour, flax and other stuff that it is not used to. Also had a bad spell recently with some gluten free corn bread that I made. I have discovered that, for now, I cannot eat corn: corn Chex, corn meal, corn chips and so forth. Hopefully in time I will heal up and all will be better, but I am taking the advice on this forum - plain whole foods.

[ncteacher]

Thanks for the great replies, everyone! Being new to this, it kind of sucks walking through a grocery store and trying to bravely walk past all the things I love. Every time I get brave and try something on the shelf labeled gluten-free, I pay for it all day.

I have not eaten out yet. I do share a household with non-celiacs and a baby who eats wheat-based foods. My family and I do our best to keep from cross-contaminating (my wife is SafeServ certified, which helps )

I will definitely follow the advice that whole foods must be my diet for quite a while.

Also, is it normal to feel stomach pain for awhile, even when I'm being good? Sometimes I just feel a deep ache below my ribs. Is this what healing feels like?

[squirmingitch]

We go through all kinds of weird feelings with this. I'm only about 4 mos. along myself & wonder ---"what's next?". I can't answer your question because mostly I didn't have much in the way of GI symptoms as I have dermatitis herpetiformis. But I have gone in & out of good feeling, yucky feeling & I understand it's par for the course. There is also a sort of gluten withdrawal thing. And just wait till your ravenous hunger kicks in. You will not be able to get full -- at least not for long --- eat, eat, eat, & more eat. A great desire for protein.

One thing I can say without a doubt is that everyone on here who has been gluten-free for any length of time says how great they feel NOW. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[IrishHeart]

I will definitely follow the advice that whole foods must be my diet for quite a while.

Also, is it normal to feel stomach pain for awhile, even when I'm being good? Sometimes I just feel a deep ache below my ribs. Is this what healing feels like?

Yes, it is slow progress and you may still feel pains in your ribs and abdomen. (I did)

Do not despair, but know in your heart that you are healing and that in time, this will be past you.

Believe me, I know how hard this is. I am a slow healer myself (as I was DXed late in life) and it is not easy to remain patient when you hurt. Focus on the fact that this is a process and your body is trying to "re-boot itself" so to speak.

I was deathly ill and in horrible pain, with dozens of crippling symptoms and now, I am having more normal days and less pain. I remain positive and hopeful...and you'll get there, too!

Best wishes, IH

[llama3]

Also, is it normal to feel stomach pain for awhile, even when I'm being good? Sometimes I just feel a deep ache below my ribs. Is this what healing feels like?

I have been getting pains just below my ribs, too. I keep wondering, why there? Never had pain there before going gluten free.

Patience is very difficult.

[IrishHeart]

Patience is very difficult.

Sigh...oh yeah, it surely is.

When I hear "be patient", I smile and nod--- but I envision a giant "think bubble" over my head that says "easy for you to say, you twit, you're not the one who's been sick and in pain for 4 years"... :lol: That makes me laugh and so when I give the same advice to newbies, I think...this is the LAST thing they want to hear, but the truth is: Healing takes time and we can't fast forward through it, no matter how much we would like that.

Hang in there, but if any of you have NEW pain or discomfort, bring it to your doctor's attention.