Should I Stay On A Strict Gluten Free Diet?

[fanner]

Hello,

I think I may have a mild case of gluten sensitivity. My doctor recommended I try a few things out since I have had a mild headache all the time for the past 3 months. I tried a gluten free diet for almost 2 weeks, which did nothing for my headache, but I had to go to the bathroom less often. I usually went at least 4 times a day, but was not constipated or had diarrhea. When I went gluten free, I pooped 1-2 times a day. Should I be on a gluten free diet? Can I have a little gluten in my diet from asian sauces? Can I still take wheat grass? I read that wheat grass was good for you and stockpiled it for the summer since it has probiotics. For my headache, I am going to see a neurologist next month, if you were wondering.

Thanks

[fanner]

I left out some info. I am 29 years old. I did get tested for wheat/gluten allergy, which came back negative. When I have been gluten free, it seems the amount I poop is less for the day. I have been taking probiotics to help with my pooping. Sorry about talking about poop so much.

[GFinDC]

Hi Fanner,

Welcome to the site! If you are already gluten free it is too late to be tested for celiac disease. Unless you do a 3 month gluten challenge first and then you may have enough damage show up to be diagnosed. If you have NCGI ( non- celiac gluten intolerance ) though they are no tests for that currently. Either way, if you feel better off of gluten it is better not to eat it. It sounds like your body is reacting to not having gluten in your diet. Some people have no GI symptoms from celiac disease, so they don't feel sick from gluten. But they still have damage to their intestines going on. Nobody can tell you exactly what is happening to your system when you eat gluten, but it is possible there is something bad happening from your description. People sometimes go years without symptoms and then suddenly develop very bad GI symptoms and other autoimmune disease. I suppose there is some kind of a breaking point or accumulated damage that happens, not sure.

Anyway, the gluten-free diet is not hard after you stick with it for a while. It takes some time to adjust but that does happen. Ant then it is much easier and it can be a very healthy diet also.