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

Periods

jdizzle

By jdizzle
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

jdizzle Apprentice
jdizzle
Posted

My periods seem to be way worse since I quit gluten. Or at least I think that's the connection.

The pain 'down there' has actually lessened, but I have a whole bunch of new horrible symptoms. I used to get one or two rough days, then plain sailing.

Now I get the full deal for 8 days, with lasting crunchy headache no painkiller will touch, I get feverish and sweaty, depressed, sleepless. I have PMS symptoms 7 days before, then I'm 'on' for 8 days, I'm basically unwell half the month.

Has this happened to anyone else after quitting gluten? it's the only change that coincides with this in my mind.

I heard they improved after quitting! Quite the contrary for me!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Razzle Dazzle Brazell Enthusiast
Razzle Dazzle Brazell
Posted

My periods seem to be way worse since I quit gluten. Or at least I think that's the connection.

The pain 'down there' has actually lessened, but I have a whole bunch of new horrible symptoms. I used to get one or two rough days, then plain sailing.

Now I get the full deal for 8 days, with lasting crunchy headache no painkiller will touch, I get feverish and sweaty, depressed, sleepless. I have PMS symptoms 7 days before, then I'm 'on' for 8 days, I'm basically unwell half the month.

Has this happened to anyone else after quitting gluten? it's the only change that coincides with this in my mind.

I heard they improved after quitting! Quite the contrary for me!

[/quote

Yeah that sounds pretty rough. I know i was anemic and when i went gluten free my period got twice as long...bummer. Anyway, i would totally not hesitate to speak with my physician or gynecologist. Also I would probably keep a diet journal to determine if it is caused by any of your diet changes or alternative foods and drinks you are now eating? How long were you gluten free? Are you using alternatives that your body just does not like? Have you changed any supplements or medicines?

Many things can effect that as im sure you know. As bad as your symptoms are I would say dont settle for torture. You're totally right thats not something that should be accepted as normal or something to just live with.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

After going gluten free my periods have stopped being regular. Until I changed my diet I could predict the timing within hours every month. Now it's every 2 1/2 to 5 weeks which is driving me up a wall. They're still as awful as they always were but nowhere as bad as yours. I don't really have any advice, just a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and to let you know you aren't alone on this one.

sharilee Rookie
sharilee
Posted

My periods seem to be way worse since I quit gluten. Or at least I think that's the connection.

The pain 'down there' has actually lessened, but I have a whole bunch of new horrible symptoms. I used to get one or two rough days, then plain sailing.

Now I get the full deal for 8 days, with lasting crunchy headache no painkiller will touch, I get feverish and sweaty, depressed, sleepless. I have PMS symptoms 7 days before, then I'm 'on' for 8 days, I'm basically unwell half the month.

Has this happened to anyone else after quitting gluten? it's the only change that coincides with this in my mind.

I heard they improved after quitting! Quite the contrary for me!

Both PMS and my periods got worse after quitting gluten. I haven't had gluten since late February 2012. Since then my periods are heavier, PMS is worse and lasts longer. I also noticed that during my period I am unable to tolerate soy and lactose which I can tolerate when I am not having my period. My doctor said it would get better with time as my body heals and my PMS and periods will get better.

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

Opposite for me. i used to have pains so bad i couldn't walk, and they'd start 3 days before my period did and stop 3 days after. so i was super irregular, but i always knew before my period came when it was due because my back would hurt like crazy for 3 days beforehand. now i'm super irregular still but i just start bleeding and i don't even notice until it starts. my periods are also a lot shorter, it seems.

although i'm pretty sure my period always gives me D. every time.

EDIT

try eliminating soy if you haven't already. soy has estrogen-like compounds in it which mess with hormones etc. whenever I eat soy, I become self-harmingly depressed within hours. I can't imagine what it would do for things like PMS or period-related symptoms.

sharilee Rookie
sharilee
Posted

Opposite for me. i used to have pains so bad i couldn't walk, and they'd start 3 days before my period did and stop 3 days after. so i was super irregular, but i always knew before my period came when it was due because my back would hurt like crazy for 3 days beforehand. now i'm super irregular still but i just start bleeding and i don't even notice until it starts. my periods are also a lot shorter, it seems.

although i'm pretty sure my period always gives me D. every time.

EDIT

try eliminating soy if you haven't already. soy has estrogen-like compounds in it which mess with hormones etc. whenever I eat soy, I become self-harmingly depressed within hours. I can't imagine what it would do for things like PMS or period-related symptoms.

I did not know that about soy. It would explain why I have so much trouble with it during PMS and my period.

WinterSong Community Regular
WinterSong
Posted

Since going gluten-free, mine have gotten much shorter and lighter (to the point where I actually got a little worried). But I'm on a birth control that is supposed to lighten your periods, so maybe now that I'm accepting more nutrients the birth control is working more effectively??? :huh:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ninja Contributor
Ninja
Posted

Since going gluten-free, mine have gotten much shorter and lighter (to the point where I actually got a little worried). But I'm on a birth control that is supposed to lighten your periods, so maybe now that I'm accepting more nutrients the birth control is working more effectively??? :huh:

I had this happen too! Not right away, but a few months after going gluten-free. I would still get bad cramps beforehand, which totally disappeared after eliminating gluten, along with a lighter period. Maybe it has something to do with the inflammation messing with the hormones??

jdizzle Apprentice
jdizzle
Posted
  • Author

That soy thing is really interesting to me, I feel totally sick right now even though I'm nearing the end of my period, in fact I feel sick most of the time, in my gut I mean, and I can never figure out what I've done wrong or what I've eaten that's bad. I felt okay for a while til I started eating this tuna again, and I noticed that it contains soy.

I'm worried cos it seems like everything makes me feel bad in some way, fruit makes my upper abdomen hurt, fatty food or spicy food makes me 'evacuate rapidly', lactose has all the gross effects associated with intolerance, I just ate celery with peanut butter and now feel I could throw up.

How can I be allergic to everything?!

I've been gluten free since february, so the worst symptoms are gone, like dragging abdominal pain, but I still just feel gross and tired nearly all the time.

Ninja Contributor
Ninja
Posted

It takes a long time for the body to heal from all the damage and inflammation gluten/Celiac has caused. It's like a giant wound

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

That soy thing is really interesting to me, I feel totally sick right now even though I'm nearing the end of my period, in fact I feel sick most of the time, in my gut I mean, and I can never figure out what I've done wrong or what I've eaten that's bad. I felt okay for a while til I started eating this tuna again, and I noticed that it contains soy.

I'm worried cos it seems like everything makes me feel bad in some way, fruit makes my upper abdomen hurt, fatty food or spicy food makes me 'evacuate rapidly', lactose has all the gross effects associated with intolerance, I just ate celery with peanut butter and now feel I could throw up.

How can I be allergic to everything?!

I've been gluten free since february, so the worst symptoms are gone, like dragging abdominal pain, but I still just feel gross and tired nearly all the time.

man, that sucks. i would suggest an elimination diet for that kind of problem.

but whatever you do, give up the soy for a few months. soy is evil.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

I didn't get periods at all when I was on gluten, and get them regularly with slightly less bleeding now that I'm gluten-free. The only thing I notice about my periods is that they are more painful if I had been glutened somewhere around their time. Sorry that I can't help any more :-( Hope you figure it out!

jdizzle Apprentice
jdizzle
Posted
  • Author

I have an update in case it means anything to anyone who can possibly advise me.

I just noticed an itchy rash on my neck. All I've eaten today is peanut butter and jam on bread, the bread is gluten, dairy and soy free. Then dairy and gluten free chocolates. And lunch was just butterbeans, cos I felt so sick by then I wanted something plain.

Any clue what could have caused the rash?? It may an important piece to the puzzle!

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

If you are sharing peanut butter or jam with someone who is a gluten eater, or if they are leftover from your gluten filled days it is quite possible they have crumbs in them. I for one can not resist the temptation to double dip.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

The rash on your neck can be DH (Dermatitis Herpetiformis). You could have been glutened from cross-contamination as Adalaide stated. Do you know though how soon your reactions start by the way? For some it's the same day, and for others it's the day after. I used to react after two days but not it's less. So it could have been something you've eaten yesterday too.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,902
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Patty6133
    Newest Member
    Patty6133
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

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



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.