Eating Gluten Again?

[horsehandsss]

Hello All!

I am thinking to start weaning gluten back into my life. I went off it about a year ago (to help with intestinal issues) and 6 months ago my anxiety has sky rocketed almost to the point in which I do not leave my house. I also am tired all of the time. Vitamins do not work for me and I cant afford to keep supplementing all of the time anyways. (I'm 24 I live on my own putting myself through college). Prior to stopping gluten I did not have these issues. Just tummy issues.

I tried eating gluten a few weeks ago and I had a mini panic attack that I believe I caused. I tend to over analyze and freak out over every little thing. Especially lately with this heightened anxiety any little twitch in my body is looming death in my eyes.

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I can start reintroducing gluten into my everyday life without freaking out and making myself sick.

[rosetapper23]

Okay, let's look at this picture. Vitamins don't work for you. Your anxiety has skyrocketed. What might this mean? For starters, it could mean that you're not absorbing your nutrients properly because you may have celiac. You might also not be absorbing your hormones. When you can't absorb nutrients and hormones properly, you can begin to have major neurological and psychological problems. It sounds as though you need to heal your gut, NOT reintroduce a substance that probably caused you to have all these problems in the first place. Have you tried taking digestive enzymes, amino acids, and L-glutamine to heal your gut? Have you seen a doctor who is a specialist with these kinds of things? Have you eliminated other possible foods that may be inflaming your system (e.g., dairy, soy, nightshades, etc.)?

I think you're not thinking clearly at this time. You need to speak with someone who can help you--either a counselor, friend, or doctor. If you reintroduce gluten into your life, you may end up extremely ill. Please seek help!

[Skysmom03]

This is exactly why anyone who suspects Celiac should be thoroughly checked my doctor with both a blood test and endoscopy if the test is negative. Definite answers are important!!! Doctors can help you get your medical needs straightened out with regular blood testing.

[kwylee]

I don't think you'll get many tips here when it comes to reintroducing gluten but that's not because people don't care. They do and that decision to start putting gluten into your body again could be a major step backward for you. Before I say anything else I want to clarify that a negative test or biopsy for Celiac Disease does not mean your body is not reacting to gluten. All my tests were negative but doctors agree I am clearly reactive to gluten and soy, and to a lesser extent, dairy, and my symptoms of occasional cross contamination are part intestinal at times, but always neural, as yours seem to be. But I don't believe this because a doctor told me. I know this because of how stellar I feel when I do not ingest these things. Your body is screaming at you, please take a breath and listen to it.

The fact that you're still feeling poorly seems to indicate that there may be another intolerance. Or perhaps you are still being cross contaminating with gluten. Taking gluten out of the diet means all gluten in any trace. Your body wants to return to health, it's natural state. But you've got to give it a proper chance of success. If you have additional questions on how to maneuver the road ahead and trying to pinpoint what is causing your pain and anxiety, this forum is a great place to be. Ask now.

[SMDBill]

I'm not sure re-introducing gluten would remove fatigue even in a person with no issues with gluten. Removing gluten does not cause fatigue and proper supplementation should alleviate any issues, along with a proper diet and care to keep gluten out. What I wonder more, as mentioned already, is if you could also be lactose intolerant or have severe reactions to another food, product or something in the environment? Your physician can certainly help narrow down the possibilities, but reintroducing gluten to an intolerant person seems like a poor plan B. I'm not in any way trying to sound mean, but your body wants nothing more than to heal and it's telling you something is still harming it. Adding gluten won't remove that something and will only introduce another harmful thing to deal with, compounding an already bad problem.

[horsehandsss]

In response to possibly being lactose intolerant I went vegan for 6 months. I also cut soy out of my diet completely. Neither of those things seemed to help. Yes I do have hormonal imbalance (or so the bit of acne on my chin region is telling me). I have recently began eating eggs and cheese again (cannot afford fake cheese anymore) and it hasnt made it worse nor better. I'll try the digestive enzymes (again) and go pick up some good probiotics. Its hard for me to tell what my body is feeling alot of the time. I was anorexic/bulimic for 3 years. Once I stopped abusing my body though everything just kind of went to sh*t. Going gluten free stopped the stomach pains but I also quit smoking at the same time (I have ulcers) so its hard to tell sometimes.

[GFinDC]

HI,

I've had ulcers also. Here are some thigns that helped me. DGL (deglysterenized licorice) is good for ulcers. Also mastic gum. Take them both 3 times a day, and especially before bed. Also stop drinkig alcohol until you are better.

Eating gluten won't affect you either negatively or positivlly if you are not celiac or NCGI. If you had symmptoms devleop after stopping gluten it is problaby an indicater that you sholudn't be eating gluten. Gluten is not an essential vitamin or mineral. Gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms in some people. Read up on gluten ataxia to see one way gltuencan affect the brain, Or search on gluten and opiate.

[kwylee]

Horsehandsss, I felt dizzy and "off" for years before I stumbled onto the notion that what I was eating could have such a horrendous effect on not only my health, but my attitude, optimism and total feeling of well being. I never had a panic attack before I was 48, but I can vividly recall the intense feeling of dread that came upon me that day. I was luckily at home from work (dizzy and sick, as usual), and suddenly I felt like I was about to die and - nothing- could have convinced me otherwise. After about 15 minutes the initial feeling passed but I was sure I wouldn't leave the house ever again. After that I was dizzy for another 7 years or so before I put it all together, even though I was eating "healthy", no fast food, etc.

I'm a firm believer in food and/or environment as the direct cause for most human disease and bodily disorder. I don't know your level of expertise in pinpointing possible cross contamination or hidden ingredients in food labeling, nor your dedication to such things. I'm not sure from your posts what you are eating on a daily basis, what doctors you may be consulting, or medications you are taking, but anyone can gather from the tone of your emails that you are in angst. I know how it is to be sick and feel hopeless that you'll never figure things out. The good news is that if your health and well being woes are being caused by something you are ingesting, be it food, drink, or otherwise, and you truly have a desire to be well, then the solutions may take a bit of detective work on your part, but the answers are already existing and ready for you to uncover and implement.

[SMDBill]

My GI asked me to introduce gluten to be sure of his diagnosis of gluten sensitivity. It took me quite some time to feel symptoms and I failed to grasp as each came on that they were related, just like before my diagnosis. You may feel badly or it may take time, but if you are sensitive to it or celiac, you'll regret introducing it again (unless you're trying to prove it is an issue for you). I don't know your situation, but if you know gluten is an issue in any way, without a doubt, why introduce it back in your life? Surely your absorption won't improve if you do, and you're subjecting your body to lower absorption if you're celiac. I understand the supplementation, but what about improving the diet itself with healthier foods that you'll absorb more readily from anyhow? You'll also improve your body's pH at the same time because many processed foods and drinks are pH low, while fruits and veggies are pH high.

 

There are many reasons not to introduce gluten and the only reason to do it I can think of is because you are unsure if gluten is an issue for your body. If you already know it is, I see no possible good outcome from just tolerating feeling worse. Believe me, I am just 2 days into being gluten-free again because the effects crept back up on me after going back on a regular diet, but now they've gotten back to as bad as when I was diagnosed so I proved the diagnosis at the expense of my health. It just isn't worth it. I'd take the advice posted by others and seek the recommendations of a counselor or your GI or family doctor familiar with your gluten issues.

[Seifer]

I would not reintroduce gluten into your diet. That stuff is just plain bad and will damage you both mentally and physically. I have tried to do so myself and have always suffered for it in the end.