Increased Sensitivity After 2 Months Gluten Free?

[Keshavdas]

Hi - I'm new to the forum. Found out by accident that I have celiac issues. My doctor (who is mostly useless) did a wide-spectrum panel of blood tests to see if he could come up with any reason why my chronic fatigue has re-appeared after 5 years - and one of the things that came up was that I had celiacs disease. Can't believe that after 20 years of complaining about how every little thing set off month-long bouts of terrible constipation that neither my doctor or any of the five other GI doctors who did colonoscopies - ever considered checking me for celiac issues!!!

I quit eating gluten right away and it's been months now with no bloating or constipation. Incredible. However - I have had a few minor "slips" about two weeks ago, a tortilla that wasn't corn after all, a bit of pie, nothing major... followed by diarrhea and nausea in the morning accompanied by crazy severe depression.

I never had severe reactions like this when I was eating bread, pizza, pasta etc? Anybody have similar experience?

I am in the meantime getting tested for parasites - because this combination of symptoms is exactly what I experienced last time I got sick in India.

Thanks,

KD

[1desperateladysaved]

I never had severe reactions like this when I was eating bread, pizza, pasta etc? Anybody have similar experience?

You may think you are getting worse. I think your body is now getting better enough to let you know what it doesn't like.

I hope you will look and find other posts on this theme. Yes, many of us have experienced new and different symptoms as we transition.

Best wishes and get well.

Diana

[GottaSki]

Yes, I think most of us become more sensitive and some become hyper sensitive -- we can get symptoms that you describe and worse from very small amounts of gluten - a whole flour tortilla - don't even want to think about what that would do to me

For me - I recall becoming more and more sensitive over the first 6 months which encouraged me to become that much more diligent in learning where all potential gluten sources were.

Hang in there!

[ccheri]

My family and I have been on the gluten-free diet for just over a year, now. My husband, basically, started the diet to support my son and I, in which, gluten has a drastic affect to us. My husband has had intestinal issues and the gluten-free diet has helped him considerably. Except now, whenever he eats gluten, he gets really sick as if he has celiacs disease. I'm concerned that going gluten-free can increase sensitivity. I suggest this diet for people to try if they have many health problems. Doctors say you should try it 2-3 weeks and see if it makes you feel better, if it helps continue it. I'm concerned with my 19 yr old daughter and knowing her pasts symptoms, that she should be on the diet. She says that she is afraid if she starts it, it will make her sensitive, like her step-dad. I don't have an argument for that,(we don't have health insurance because of another lengthy issue), so I'm interested in other people's experiences with it. Thanks.

[beachbirdie]

I'm about two months gluten free (with the exception of three or 4 mis-steps) and I'm noticing I am more reactive than I thought I'd be.

I was eating bread and all kinds of glutenous stuff and not feeling too badly, maybe some bloating and a little tenderness once in a while.

Now, if I get a little unexpected gluten I start hurting in a few hours, and hurt for a week.

[nvsmom]

I seem to be more sensitive now too... I think. It could be that I'm not used to the discomfort anymore but I don't think that's it entirely.

I ate out a few days ago, and ordered gluten-free from a gluten-free menu and something got me, I have no idea what. I was shocked at how obvious my reaction was with the belly ache, bloat and migraine... Quite disappointing.

[LauraB0927]

I never had GI symptoms and like you was diagnosed almost by accident. Now after only several months of eating gluten free I've found that I'm extremely sensitive - I could eat 3 slices of pizza and a bowl of pasta and NOTHING. Now today, I ate gluten free gummy bears but then saw on the package that it was made in a facility that also makes wheat products and not even an hour later my abdomen is rock hard and three times its normal size - fatigue has already set in and now I'm just waiting for my joints to flare up as well. After today I realize that I'm VERY sensitive, more sensitive than I thought. Other people on this forum seem to have the same experiences. I agree with the above comment, now our bodies are just becoming more advanced to let us know when we make a wrong turn....good luck and keep in touch!!

[Cara in Boston]

If you have a gluten sensitivity (celiac or intolerant) you will likely become more sensitive (more severe reactions) to even smaller amounts of gluten the longer you are gluten free. This is part of the healing process and your body is supposed to work like this. Here's how it was explained to me: Before gluten-free diet, your body was overwhelmed with the daily load of gluten. Since the gluten was constant, you may have had annoying symptoms off and on or not at all. That is the best your body could muster up. Now that your body is gluten free, it responds in a big way whenever gluten is reintroduced. Like it has been sitting around just waiting for gluten to mess with it.

My son's symptoms have changed (we see more symptoms and more severe) and he is sensitive to even the smallest amount (like from cross contamination) after a year of being gluten free. His symptoms are way worse than anything we experienced before he was diagnosed.

If you are not actually sensitive to gluten, going gluten-free will not MAKE you more sensitive. It just doesn't work like that. We have non-celiac members in our family who are mostly gluten free (except when they eat out) and there has been no change for them. If you are undiagnosed and find that after you start the gluten-free diet you become more sensitive or develop new symptoms when gluten is accidently ingested, YOU WERE ALREADY GLUTEN-SENSITIVE and you just didn't know it. Your reaction to the diet is your body telling you YOU SHOULD NOT BE EATING GLUTEN ANYWAY.

Cara