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

Numb Hands From A gluten-free Diet? Or Is It A Symptom?

LundqvistSaves

Recommended Posts

LundqvistSaves Rookie
LundqvistSaves
Posted

Hi all-

Been sick for a year now, gained 30lbs, heatburn, bloating 24/7, the works. Despite stumping two well-regarded gastros and enduring all procedures, they still can't figure me out. So I started going strictly gluten free 2 weeks ago.

A week in, I noticed a weird rash on my finger. Eventually went away the very next day. My stomach pain is still constant, everyday bloating and upper GI pain. Taking nexium right now. But the weirdest thing was I noticed my hands were a little numb. It started with my right pinky and ring finger getting numb and tingly on memorial day, since then it comes back from time to time, on my left hand now also. This has all never happened to me before (25 year old male in otherwise good health).

I looked it up on the forum and it seems like this is a common symptom for celiacs, but as I read more it looks like people were saying it was a reaction to a lack of nutrients (like B12) simply from a gluten free diet. I'm confused -- is it a sign that I am gluten intolerant, or is it just my body reacting from the diet that I'm on regardless of if I am a celiac or not? If anything, I was hoping it would be an indicator that I do, in fact, have some gluten allergy.

It's also weird how random my symptoms come on, including the numbness. One would think they flare up because I'm ingesting gluten, but I'm 99% certain that I am absolutely not taking in any gluten from anywhere. I'm on my third week, and my stomach is still a painful mess, but I'm hoping this works. The doctor said I can do a celiac sprue blood test, but doing that requires me to abandon all my progress already.

Anyone with any experience? Thanks.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

If you are already gluten free, don't bother going for a blood test.

Having a B12 defiency can be very common. Most gluten containing processed foods are fortified to have more vitamins and minerals. (most gluten free procesed products are not..Yet) The point is somehow your are not consuming enough or your gut is not absorbing enough. There is also a condition, Pernicious anemia, that is associated with Celiac. Very common for Celiacs to have Pernicious Anemia. The damaged gut lining does not have the intrinsic factor to process vitamin B12. So it would be safe for you to supplement vitamin B12, because there is no known toxic level for a body (it will be flushed out of your system before it reaches a toxic level).

Some vitamin and nutrient supplements need to be monitored closely by a doctor. ;)

frieze Community Regular
frieze
Posted

do you have any neck/shoulder problems, because it sounds more like TOS then carpal tunnel.

LundqvistSaves Rookie
LundqvistSaves
Posted
  • Author

do you have any neck/shoulder problems, because it sounds more like TOS then carpal tunnel.

I don't, it just seems to be some numbness in my hands now and again. No pain or anything like that.

LundqvistSaves Rookie
LundqvistSaves
Posted
  • Author

If you are already gluten free, don't bother going for a blood test.

Having a B12 defiency can be very common. Most gluten containing processed foods are fortified to have more vitamins and minerals. (most gluten free procesed products are not..Yet) The point is somehow your are not consuming enough or your gut is not absorbing enough. There is also a condition, Pernicious anemia, that is associated with Celiac. Very common for Celiacs to have Pernicious Anemia. The damaged gut lining does not have the intrinsic factor to process vitamin B12. So it would be safe for you to supplement vitamin B12, because there is no known toxic level for a body (it will be flushed out of your system before it reaches a toxic level).

Some vitamin and nutrient supplements need to be monitored closely by a doctor. ;)

Thank you for all of that great info. So basically, having that symptom is not always a deciding factor of a gluten allergy. I have a few symptoms and was hoping this would be the tell-all, but thanks for clarifying. ANy recommendations of how much B12 to take daily to start out with?

LundqvistSaves Rookie
LundqvistSaves
Posted
  • Author

If you are already gluten free, don't bother going for a blood test.

Having a B12 defiency can be very common. Most gluten containing processed foods are fortified to have more vitamins and minerals. (most gluten free procesed products are not..Yet) The point is somehow your are not consuming enough or your gut is not absorbing enough. There is also a condition, Pernicious anemia, that is associated with Celiac. Very common for Celiacs to have Pernicious Anemia. The damaged gut lining does not have the intrinsic factor to process vitamin B12. So it would be safe for you to supplement vitamin B12, because there is no known toxic level for a body (it will be flushed out of your system before it reaches a toxic level).

Some vitamin and nutrient supplements need to be monitored closely by a doctor. ;)

Thank you for all of that great info. So basically, having that symptom is not always a deciding factor of a gluten allergy. I have a few symptoms and was hoping this would be the tell-all, but thanks for clarifying. ANy recommendations of how much B12 to take daily to start out with?

mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

Celiac/gluten sensitivity/intolerance and DH can damage the gut lining and there is a known connection to Pernicious anemia. If you are having and issue with B12 being absorbed it could be a side affect from a gluten issue.

It would be best to get medical testing to see if and how low your B12 level is. The doctor can give you an injection. Sublingual B12 has shown to be as effective. If your body doesn't need the B12 you would just pass it out of your system. High amounts could cause the "D".

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


LundqvistSaves Rookie
LundqvistSaves
Posted
  • Author

Celiac/gluten sensitivity/intolerance and DH can damage the gut lining and there is a known connection to Pernicious anemia. If you are having and issue with B12 being absorbed it could be a side affect from a gluten issue.

It would be best to get medical testing to see if and how low your B12 level is. The doctor can give you an injection. Sublingual B12 has shown to be as effective. If your body doesn't need the B12 you would just pass it out of your system. High amounts could cause the "D".

Thanks for your reply. I've only been gluten free for two and a half weeks, so I'm not certain if that's enough time for a gluten-free diet alone to cause any B12 deficiencies. Also taking a gluten-free daily multivitamin. Was hoping for the possibility that a long-time misdiagnosis of a gluten allergy or intolerance would be the culprit, thus my other symptoms would finally have an explanation as well.

Thanks for your help!

Archived

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

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

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,325
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jaxon Reed
    Newest Member
    Jaxon Reed
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com communiuty, @Matthias! Yes, we have been aware that this can be an issue with mushrooms but as long as they are rinsed thoroughly it should not be a problem since the mushrooms don't actually incorporate the gluten into their cellular structure. For the same reason, one needs to be careful when buying aged cheeses and products containing yeast because of the fact that they are sometimes cultured on gluten-containing substrate.
    • Matthias
      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

      By Matthias · Posted

      The one kind of food I had been buying and eating without any worry for hidden gluten were unprocessed veggies. Well, yesterday I discovered yet another pitfall: cultivated mushrooms. I tried some new ones, Shimeji to be precise (used in many asian soup and rice dishes). Later, at home, I was taking a closer look at the product: the mushrooms were growing from a visible layer of shredded cereals that had not been removed. After a quick web research I learned that these mushrooms are commonly cultivated on a cereal-based medium like wheat bran. I hope that info his helpful to someone.
    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      I might suggest you consider buckwheat groats. https://www.amazon.com/Anthonys-Organic-Hulled-Buckwheat-Groats/dp/B0D15QDVW7/ref=sr_1_4_pp?crid=GOFG11A8ZUMU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bk-hCrXgLpHqKS8QJnfKJLKbKzm2BS9tIFv3P9HjJ5swL1-02C3V819UZ845_kAwnxTUM8Qa69hKl0DfHAucO827k_rh7ZclIOPtAA9KjvEEYtaeUV06FJQyCoi5dwcfXRt8dx3cJ6ctEn2VIPaaFd0nOye2TkASgSRtdtKgvXEEXknFVYURBjXen1Nc7EtAlJyJbU8EhB89ElCGFPRavEQkTFHv9V2Zh1EMAPRno7UajBpLCQ-1JfC5jKUyzfgsf7jN5L6yfZSgjhnwEbg6KKwWrKeghga8W_CAhEEw9N0.eDBrhYWsjgEFud6ZE03iun0-AEaGfNS1q4ILLjZz7Fs&dib_tag=se&keywords=buckwheat%2Bgroats&qid=1769980587&s=grocery&sprefix=buchwheat%2Bgroats%2Cgrocery%2C249&sr=1-4&th=1 Takes about 10 minutes to cook. Incidentally, I don't like quinoa either. Reminds me and smells to me like wet grass seed. When its not washed before cooking it makes me ill because of saponins in the seed coat. Yes, it can be difficult to get much dietary calcium without dairy. But in many cases, it's not the amount of calcium in the diet that is the problem but the poor uptake of it. And too much calcium supplementation can interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals in general because it raises gut pH.
    • Scott Adams
      IBS-D vs Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you’re describing really does not read like typical IBS-D. The dramatic, rapid normalization of stool frequency and form after removing wheat, along with improved tolerance of legumes and plant foods, is a classic pattern seen in gluten-driven disease rather than functional IBS. IBS usually worsens with fiber and beans, not improves. The fact that you carry HLA-DQ2.2 means celiac disease is absolutely possible, even if it’s less common than DQ2.5, and many people with DQ2.2 present later and are under-diagnosed. Your hesitation to reintroduce gluten is completely understandable — quality of life matters — and many people in your position choose to remain strictly gluten-free and treat it as medically necessary even without formal biopsy confirmation. If and when you’re ready, a physician can help you weigh options like limited gluten challenge, serology history, or documentation as “probable celiac.” What’s clear is that this wasn’t just random IBS — you identified the trigger, and your body has been very consistent in its response.
    • Scott Adams
      Question

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Here are some results from a search: Top Liquid Multivitamin Picks for Celiac Needs MaryRuth's Liquid Morning Multivitamin Essentials+ – Excellent daily choice with a broad vitamin/mineral profile, easy to absorb, gluten-free, vegan, and great overall value. MaryRuth's Liquid Morning Multivitamin – Classic, well-reviewed gluten-free liquid multivitamin with essential nutrients in a readily absorbable form. MaryRuth's Morning Multivitamin w/ Hair Growth – Adds beauty-supporting ingredients (biotin, B vitamins), also gluten-free and easy to take. New Chapter Liquid Multivitamin and New Chapter Liquid Multivitamin Orange Mango – Fermented liquid form with extra nutrients and good tolerability if you prefer a whole-food-based formula. Nature's Plus Source Of Life Gold Liquid – Premium option with a broad spectrum of vitamins and plant-based nutrients. Floradix Epresat Adult Liquid Multivitamin – Highly rated gluten-free German-made liquid, good choice if taste and natural ingredients matter. NOW Foods Liquid Multi Tropical Orange – Budget-friendly liquid multivitamin with solid nutrient coverage.
×
×
  • 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.