Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Advice On Adhd Symptoms And Gluten?

Ellie23

By Ellie23
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Ellie23 Newbie
Ellie23
Posted

I've been suffering for a long time with ADHD type symptoms, mostly lack of concentration and focus, tiredness, forgetfulness, zoning out, irritability and so on. Oh, and feeling like a hermit. Not wanting to go anywhere or see anyone... I recently became aware that these things could be caused by a gluten sensitivity, so I decided to try going gluten free to see if it helps.

I'd really like to hear from anyone who has had similar problems and has tried a gluten free diet... Did it help? Did you have to cut out other foods? I know some people have cut out dairy, but I'd really rather not go that far, I'm already fed up of trying to be gluten free! (and I love tea with milk in...) I'd love to hear how long it takes before people start to notice a difference with neurological symptoms - I know it's probably different for everyone, but it's always good to hear how it went for different people, it will help me decide whether to stick with this, or just give up! I've been gluten free since mid April this year, so for 5 or 6 weeks now. I'm just not sure whether I'm seeing any difference yet, it's kind of hard to tell. (There are some changes for the better, but my mum is sure they are attitude related, and not because of going gluten free..) If gluten is my problem, should I have seen a big change by now? Or does it happen very slowly? Is it worth my while to try a test, like having a day where I eat gluten and see if I notice a difference? I've never had any gut related symptoms, as far as I've noticed, and since I'm not even sure whether or not the diet is working, would I even notice a reaction if I ate loads of gluten for one day? Is it too soon for a test? Sorry for asking so many questions, I'm just feeling at a bit of a loss here, and don't really know what to do! I've just started an Open University course, and I really want to be able to concentrate on the work this time around.

(I'm also taking some vitamins to try and cover all the bases... B5, B12, D and Omega3 oil.)

Oh, one more question! I saw someone in another post mention that they thought eating gluten free bread and pasta was a bad idea, at least to begin with... Is that so? Why would that be? I've been eating the gluten free bread (from Genius) every day for breakfast... Is that bad?

Thanks in advance for any replies! :)

  • 2 weeks later...
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ellie23 Newbie
Ellie23
Posted
  • Author

Does no one have any advice at all? All I'm really looking for is a hint about how long it took people to start to notice a difference with a gluten free diet... I'm sure plenty of people have had issues with focus and concentration and have tried going gluten free to see if it helps... All I want to know is, did it help? Did you notice an immediate effect, or did it take a few weeks, or did it take several months?

I really hope someone can give me even a tiny bit of advice...

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted

My son sees an autism/adhd specialist here in town as his primary care doc. She says that in her practice her patients do see some improvement of autism/adhd symptoms on a gluten-free diet. She does not go so far as to say one is the cause of the other, just that she has seen improvement in children, even those that test negative for celiac disease and have no other celiac disease symptoms.

Personally, I have not seen this in myself. I have gone gluten-free for an extended period and it has not helped me one bit in this regard.

Ellie23 Newbie
Ellie23
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for your reply! It does help to know that, I'm not sure if I'm seeing any difference myself either, I just wasn't sure if I was being too impatient.

VydorScope Proficient
VydorScope
Posted

Thank you for your reply! It does help to know that, I'm not sure if I'm seeing any difference myself either, I just wasn't sure if I was being too impatient.

You are adhd, of course you are being too impatient. :lol:

It would likely take several weeks before you would notice things... and it will likely be a gradual change so you would have to pay careful attention. So umm, Good Luck! :D :D

Ellie23 Newbie
Ellie23
Posted
  • Author

You are adhd, of course you are being too impatient. :lol:

It would likely take several weeks before you would notice things... and it will likely be a gradual change so you would have to pay careful attention. So umm, Good Luck! :D :D

Thank you! :)

  • 3 weeks later...
Casifer Newbie
Casifer
Posted

I just started as well. I have ADHD and celiacs. I didn't notice a change until I slipped up and was glutened. That made me realize how much better I really was feeling. I had only been off gluten for 3 days, and it was a huge difference. And fyi it really really sucks the first time it happens, threw me out of whack completely shut down for a day now! Dont want you to make yourself sick, but it may help you see the change.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 3 months later...
xpaperbackwriterx Newbie
xpaperbackwriterx
Posted

I have never been formally diagnosed with celiac (largely due to the fact that I have been poked and prodded so much that it just isn't worth it. Yet. I don't have children). All my life I've had severe constipation, insomnia, ADHD, and severe nausea (which I was tested for many things because of but never diagnosed as a child, and we tried many solutions but never found one) . Towards my young adolescent years I developed migraines, I started having trouble with anxiety and panic attacks, and I started having episodes of vertigo. My doctor suggested that I might have celiac but I refused the biopsy, and so we just did a trial gluten free diet. All of my symptoms got better or went away--including the ADHD--and I was diagnosed formally with gluten intolerance. All I'm left with is occasional constipation if I don't drink enough water or eat too much red meat and occasional peripheral neuropathy which my doctor says is probably a residual effect of the nerve damage. I went from being a B student who was uninvolved in or invested in extracurriculars, who went to a psychologist each week for general anxiety disorder and ADHD coping (meds gave me migraines) to an A student, all-district horn player who lives a normal and happy life other than a severe phobia of vomiting that I'm coping with after all those years of nausea. I've been gluten free and happy for over two years now. About a week ago I accidentally got glutened (the first time in like a year). I've actually been really surprised at how quickly the ADHD set in. I thought I'd have to be on gluten long term for it to take affect but the difference is seriously like night and day. All this week I've been struggling to accomplish anything in a reasonable amount of time, even simple tasks, like getting ready in the mornings. I keep interrupting friends, my parents, and even teachers while they're talking. I try to read or memorize things, and just to comprehend what I'm reading it have to read it several times. So seriously--ADHD-like symptoms and other neuro symptoms are real symptoms of celiac. And even if you aren't get tested, if going gluten-free makes a difference, even if ADHD was your only symptom, DO. IT.

xpaperbackwriterx Newbie
xpaperbackwriterx
Posted

Also, it can take a gluten sensitive or celiac adult or adolescent anywhere from months to years to heal from a gluten eating diet completely. It took me about three months to even see a difference.

xpaperbackwriterx Newbie
xpaperbackwriterx
Posted

Oh, and eat all the gluten-free bread and gluten-free pasta you want ;) however, eat it within a healthy limit. I suggest either corn-and-rice or corn-and-quinoa (much less mushy than just rice) pasta, and Kinnickinnick soft white bread (its a new line. If your local store doesn't carry it, ORDER IT. NOW.) And Better batter is an amazing gluten-free flour substitute (though it's not cup for cup--no gluten-free flour is) and Nicole hunn on glutenfreeonashoestring.com has epic recipes. However, cutting simple carbs and sugar help ADHD as well, so just make sure you don't pig out on pasta and gluten-free baked goods ;)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,720
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Donna Spivey
    Newest Member
    Donna Spivey
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      @Scott Adams That's actually exactly what I ended up asking for— vodka tonic with Titos.  I saw on their website that Tito's is certified gluten-free (maybe many of the clear vodkas are, I don't know, I just happened to look up Tito's in advance). I should have actually specified the 'splash' though, because I think with the amount of tonic she put in there, it did still end up fairly sweet.  Anyway, I think I've almost got this drink order down!
    • Wends
      Inconclusive results

      By Wends · Posted

      Be interesting to see the effects of dairy reintroduction with gluten. As well as milk protein sensitivity in and of itself the casein part particularly has been shown to mimic gluten in about 50% of celiacs. Keep us posted!
    • deanna1ynne
      Inconclusive results

      By deanna1ynne · Posted

      She has been dairy free for six years, so she’d already been dairy free for two years at her last testing and was dairy free for the entire gluten challenge this year as well (that had positive results). However, now that we’re doing another biopsy in six weeks, we decided to do everything we can to try to “see” the effects, so we decided this past week to add back in dairy temporarily for breakfast (milk and cereal combo like you said).
    • Gigi2025
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By Gigi2025 · Posted

      Hi Christiana, Many thanks for your response.  Interestingly, I too cannot eat wheat in France without feeling effects (much less than in the US, but won't indulge nonetheless).  I also understand children are screened for celiac in Italy prior to starting their education. Wise idea as it seems my grandson has the beginning symptoms (several celiacs in his dad's family), but parents continue to think he's just being difficult.  Argh.  There's a test I took that diagnosed gluten sensitivity in 2014 via Entero Labs, and am planning on having done again.  Truth be told, I'm hoping it's the bromine/additives/preservatives as I miss breads and pastas terribly when home here in the states!  Be well and here's to our guts healing ❤️
    • Wends
      Inconclusive results

      By Wends · Posted

      Lol that’s so true! Hope you get clarity, it’s tough when there’s doubt. There’s so much known about celiac disease with all the scientific research that’s been done so far yet practically and clinically there’s also so much unknown, still. Out of curiosity what’s her dairy consumption like? Even compared to early years to now? Has that changed? Calcium is dependent in the mechanism of antigen presenting cells in the gut. High calcium foods with gluten grains can initiate inflammation greater.  This is why breakfast cereals and milk combo long term can be a ticking time bomb for genetically susceptible celiacs (not a scientific statement by any means but my current personal opinion based on reasoning at present). Milk and wheat are the top culprits for food sensitivity. Especially in childhood. There are also patient cases of antibodies normalising in celiac children who had milk protein intolerance/ delayed type allergy. Some asymptomatic. There were a couple of cases of suspected celiacs that turned out to have milk protein intolerance that normalised antibodies on a gluten containing diet. Then there were others that only normalised antibodies once gluten and milk was eliminated. Milk kept the antibodies positive. Celiac disease is complicated to say the least.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.