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

Just Curious, Sleep Issues - How Long After Gluten?

benj

By benj
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

benj Newbie
benj
Posted

I discovered I was gluten sensitive in January. I've been gluten free for just over 5 months now.

I lost 35lb within the first 3 months. My joint pain vanished after 48 hours and has never returned. I used to take advil frequently for minor headaches but found I didn't need to any more.... I also had significant problems sleeping for the last 10 years of my life, probably averaging 7-10 nights per month and I noticed that completely went away. In 4 months I had 2 difficult nights and both of them had legitimate reasons behind them.

So I'm curious. Last week I had 3 troubled nights in a row. There was some reason behind 2 of the 3 (lightning with a scared child and pets) but the 3rd night I was awake at 3am for no reason at all. Interestingly some short time before that was also my first definite mistake with gluten. I ate 3 Twizzlers before reading the package to find bleached white flour at the top of the list.

I did not think too much of it at the time and I do not remember exactly when I ate them or when I started having this recent trouble sleeping but they must have been close. SO... I'm wondering if anyone has any idea if my gluten poisoning and sleep issue are related? Does gluten effects on the brain linger longer than other issues like joint pain? Could 3 Twizzlers give me sleeping issues for 3 days?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Gluten can cause ANY of your symptoms to return.

How long they last varies from person to person.

Yep, Twizzlers are a no no!!

I used love those.... :( In fact, when I was very ill (and before I knew I had celiac disease) I used have hubs get me bags and bags of those. Sometimes, it was all I could choke down. Those and sun chips. Little did I know those were keeping me awake all night and causing everything else, too.... :rolleyes:

Like you, I suffered from wicked insomnia for years. It is good to get sleep again, isn't it?

Sorry you got "hit". It will pass.

You are very fortunate your gluten-related symptoms resolved so quickly! Joint pain vanishing in 48 hours?---never happens that fast---not that I have heard anyway. :)

benj Newbie
benj
Posted
  • Author

You are very fortunate your gluten-related symptoms resolved so quickly! Joint pain vanishing in 48 hours?---never happens that fast---not that I have heard anyway. :)

Really? The joint pain was the main reason I decided to try gluten free. I had constant sharp pain in my knee for 4-5 weeks before seeing a doctor who looked at it for 30 seconds and told me I had arthritis... "you're kinda young for arthritis" he said, then told me all I could do was take Advil 4 times a day for the rest of my life.

I then researched gluten free diet for about a week and prepared myself. It was the holiday season so I waited until Jan 1st (seemed appropriate). Jan 2nd my knee felt significantly better and on the 3rd there was no pain at all, and none since. The weight loss and sleep was a bonus I was not expecting.

You know what really surprised me however? 3 months into the diet I was visiting my father and talking about it. He said to me "well that makes sense because you always had trouble with wheat when you were little." I had forgotten all about that but it was true! I felt sick after eating certain pancake mixes, dark wheat bread and certain cereals like wheat checks and wheaties.... even to this day I avoided them but never put two and two together.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I look back and my whole life makes sense. Every single problem is related to the celiac/gluten. I had to stop being angry about what happened to me and thinking "wish I had known sooner". I was very ill from celiac disease for many years and was slowly dying, but I'm getting better now.

I am so glad you are feeling better off gluten!

and oh, geesh....where are my manners? Welcome to the forum!! :)

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Have I got coeliac disease

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test. In...
    2. JudyLou
      - JudyLou replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covere...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to JudyLou's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced. Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well. Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside...
    4. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Mark Conway's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Have I got coeliac disease

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins...
    5. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Gluten tester

      I saw the thing for testing for gluten when at public places.I absolutely love but I wonder if they would come up with a bracelet or necklace that can detect gluten in the air.I would LOVE that, i know i get debilitating migraine from smelling gluten wheat what have you, all I know is when I go into places like Chevron- gluten Subway, migraine, Costco that...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,152
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    SinnamonToasty
    Newest Member
    SinnamonToasty
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By trents · Posted

      @Mark Conway, here is an article outlining the various tests that can be used to diagnose celiac disease. By far, the most popular one ordered by physicians is the tTG-IGA. But almost all of these tests are known by different names so the terminology will vary from place to place and lab to lab. The article gives common variant names for each test.  In addition to IGA tests there are IGG tests which are particularly useful in the case of IGA deficiency.  
    • JudyLou
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By JudyLou · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty! My feet aren’t dry or ashy and I don’t have a rash that gets scaly. It’s like very itchy/burning vesicles that are symmetrical - on both arms, both legs, etc. They actually feel better in direct sunlight as long as it isn’t really hot or I’m not exercising outside, but gets worse if I sweat (especially if the area is covered up). It’s not usually on the outside of my elbows and knees which seems more typical of dermatitis herpetiformis (unless it spreads there). It tends to first hit the inside of those areas. Interestingly, twice the rash broke out soon after eating an unhealthy meal and having an alcoholic drink (I only drink a few times a year, no more alcohol content than a glass of wine).  So I wonder if there is a connection. I’m halfway considering doing a gluten challenge for a few months to see what happens, knowing I can stop if I have any symptoms, and asking for a full celiac disease panel at the end. I really appreciate your thoughts! 
    • knitty kitty
      Seeking advice on potential gluten challenge

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome, @JudyLou, Your rash sounds very similar to the one I experienced.  Mine was due to a deficiency in Niacin B3, although I had deficiencies in other nutrients as well.  Celiac disease causes malabsorption of all the essential nutrients, but eating a poor diet, taking certain medications, or drinking alcohol can result in deficiency diseases outside of Celiac, too.  Symptoms can wax and wane depending on dietary intake.  I knew an alcoholic who had the "boots" of Pellagra, which would get worse when he was drinking more heavily, and improve when he was drinking less.   Niacin deficiency is called Pellagra.  Symptoms consist of dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death (the four D's).  A scaly rash on the feet and hands and arms are called the "boots" and "gloves" of Pellagra.  Darkened skin around the neck exposed to the sun is Casal's necklace.  Poor farmers with niacin deficient diets were called "red necks" because of this.    Does your rash get worse if you're in the sun?  Mine did.  Any skin exposed to the sun got blistered and scaly.  Arms, legs, neck, head.  Do you have dry, ashy skin on your feet?  The itchiness was not only from the rash, but neuropathy.   My doctors were clueless.  They didn't put all my symptoms together into the three D's.  But I did.  I'd learned about Pellagra at university.  But there weren't supposed to be deficiency diseases anymore in the developed world.  Doubtful it could be that simple, I started supplementing with Niacin and other essential nutrients.  I got better.   One of Niacinamide functions is to help stop mast cells from releasing histamine.  Your allergist gave you doxepin, an antihistamine which stops mast cells from releasing histamine.   Since you do have a Celiac gene, staying on the gluten free diet can prevent Celiac disease from being triggered again.   Interesting Reading: These case studies have pictures... Pellgra revisited.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228662/ Steroid-Resistant Rash With Neuropsychiatric Deterioration and Weight Loss: A Modern-Day Case of Pellagra https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12532421/#:~:text=Figure 2.,(right panel) upper limbs.&text=The distribution of the rash,patient's substantial response to treatment.   Cutaneous signs of nutritional disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8721081/#:~:text=Additional causes of yellow skin,the clinical features of Kwashiorkor.   Hello, @Staticgypsy, I would not recommend cutting so many nutritious foods out of ones diet.  Oxalates can cause problems like kidney stones, but our bodies can process oxalates out of our systems with certain vitamins like Vitamins A and D and Pyridoxine B 6.   People with Celiac disease are often low in fat soluble vitamins A and D, as well as the water soluble B vitamins like Pyridoxine B 6.  Focus on serving your granddaughter nutrient dense meals to ensure she gets essential vitamins and minerals that will help her grow. Micronutrient inadequacy and urinary stone disease: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976348/ Multivitamins co-intake can reduce the prevalence of kidney stones: a large-scale cross-sectional study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38564076/
    • Wheatwacked
      Have I got coeliac disease

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      This doctor is obviously under educated about Celiac Disease. Deficiencies that can cause oral thrush (Candidiasis) mouth ulcers: Thiamine B1 B12 Folate Zinc Vitamin C B2 B6 Iron Malabsorption Syndrome is often co-morbid with Celiac Disease causing multiple deficiencies of the essential vitamins and minerals.  Low or deficient  Vitamin D is almost always found in undiagnosed Celiac Disease. "Over 900 genes have been reported as regulated by vitamin D"  Possible Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease Onset  "The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 41.6%, with the highest rate seen in blacks (82.1%), followed by Hispanics (69.2%)."    Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults
    • Jmartes71
      Gluten tester

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      I saw the thing for testing for gluten when at public places.I absolutely love but I wonder if they would come up with a bracelet or necklace that can detect gluten in the air.I would LOVE that, i know i get debilitating migraine from smelling gluten wheat what have you, all I know is when I go into places like Chevron- gluten Subway, migraine, Costco that food smell of nasty gluten- migraine and same with Walmart subway.I absolutely HATE im that sensitive, my body reacts.Sadly medical hasn't taken core issue of celiac being an issue considering glutenfree ever since 1994 and in their eyes not because they didn't diagnose me. I am and wish I wasn't. If there was a detector of gluten in the air it would make a world of difference. 
×
×
  • 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.