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

Headache

Mgyoung77

By Mgyoung77
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Mgyoung77 Apprentice
Mgyoung77
Posted

I was diagnosed with celiac November 15. Earlier that week, my OBGYN tested my iron and it was 5.4. After a few days of going gluten free, I could tell a huge difference. My stomach issues and headaches went away immediately. My energy level slowly started coming up. However right before Christmas I started getting headaches again. I thought my iron was dropping due to some female issues. However when I got it checked it had gone up to 10.5, and less than a week later 11. So that is not the cause of these headaches. I have had a headache for two weeks straight now. Medication only provides temporary relieve. Any ideas, suggestions, or similar experiences?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Monklady123 Collaborator
Monklady123
Posted

I was diagnosed with celiac November 15. Earlier that week, my OBGYN tested my iron and it was 5.4. After a few days of going gluten free, I could tell a huge difference. My stomach issues and headaches went away immediately. My energy level slowly started coming up. However right before Christmas I started getting headaches again. I thought my iron was dropping due to some female issues. However when I got it checked it had gone up to 10.5, and less than a week later 11. So that is not the cause of these headaches. I have had a headache for two weeks straight now. Medication only provides temporary relieve. Any ideas, suggestions, or similar experiences?

Are you 100% sure that you've been gluten free? For me the headache is the first sign that I've been glutened. I would suggest taking another look at everything -- your kitchen prep stuff (cutting boards, knives, etc.), toaster, toaster oven, foods you might not have thought of such as regular Rice Crispies which clearly have no wheat in them but are sweetened with barley malt. Stuff like that. Good luck. :)

cavernio Enthusiast
cavernio
Posted

Ditto on looking over everything and everywhere you eat for gluten.

I get headaches when I eat too much tyramine. It's high in cured meats, nuts, aged cheese and pickles and probably a few more things. Some people here follow a very strict low tyramine diet; I don't but my headaches have improved a fair bit and I know I should avoid eating all those foods in one day.

Either low zinc or magnesium can be a cause of headaches, (I forget and I learned about this from when I looked up why pms causes headaches and I remember those 2 minerals being involved) and if you're supplementing with iron your body might be absorbing more iron instead of either of those elements because apparently that's how metal absorption works, all of them using the same method of absorption or something.

KMMO320 Contributor
KMMO320
Posted

Besides stuttering and word slurring, headaches are the first indicator for me that I ate gluten. Tonight, in fact, I came home from the gym with such a headache, I had to lay down. Then the nausea.My husband kept asking me what did you eat? I said, just because I have a headache doesn't mean it's gluten! I ate good today ( I am still fairly newly diagnosed and have a bad day maybe once a month, hopefully never again though) I had yogurt and a banana, and then some gluten free chicken tenders and sweet potato fries. He was like well, maybe the chicken tenders are not really gluten-free. SO, to indulge him, I looked..well, they were certified gluten-free..but...I looked at the bag of sweet potato fries...Ore Ida..and there in the ingredients COntains; WHEAT! DOH!! I really feel stupid. I am so used to eating regular frozen fries with no problem, I just grabbed the sweet ones thinking they would be fine. I am so mad at my stupidity. I threw them right in the trash,because no one else will eat them, and here I sit achy, and sick :( SO, it could be non gluten related, or there could be traces you have not thought about :(

Mgyoung77 Apprentice
Mgyoung77
Posted
  • Author

I don't think it's from gluten. I can think of three occasions where I was glutened and all three times I had tummy troubles from it, not a headache. My husband made gluten free brownies using butter he had double dipped in to.make toast. It took the second time of eating them and getting sick to realize the mistake. The third time I got careless when we had hamburgers and hot dogs. I think some crumbs from everyone else's buns got on my plate somehow. I did eat some tastefully simple garlic 3 weeks ago. I realized after the fact that it was tastefully simple. None of their products are safe. It did not cause tummy troubles, but would it cause a headache to last 3 weeks?

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

My headaches were caused by muscle tension due to poor head posture. Chiropractic, massage, and a lot of work re-aligning my posture is the only thing that made them go away on a permanent basis. (These were chronic, debilitating migraines.)

cavernio Enthusiast
cavernio
Posted

You live in shared house and eat shared meals. Residual gluten could be more diffuse than you think. From what I've read of people's stories here, many people experience full-out attacks when they've eaten enough gluten beyond some sort of personal threshold, but will feel just a little of before that.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


KMMO320 Contributor
KMMO320
Posted

I don't think it's from gluten. I can think of three occasions where I was glutened and all three times I had tummy troubles from it, not a headache. My husband made gluten free brownies using butter he had double dipped in to.make toast. It took the second time of eating them and getting sick to realize the mistake. The third time I got careless when we had hamburgers and hot dogs. I think some crumbs from everyone else's buns got on my plate somehow. I did eat some tastefully simple garlic 3 weeks ago. I realized after the fact that it was tastefully simple. None of their products are safe. It did not cause tummy troubles, but would it cause a headache to last 3 weeks?

My biggest symptoms of glutening are headaches, which usually turn into full-on migraines. I get dizzy, and I start to stutter and slur my words. Then, I get nauseous, and then have stomach distress usually the next day.

alesusy Explorer
alesusy
Posted

MyYoung, I don't know if this can help. If drugs don't do much, they might be tension headaches. Tension should ease goin gluten free, but there are relaxation tecniques that can help anyway. I mention this because I was really scared after one continuous month of headaches, and I felt much relieved when my dentist showed me where it was coming from.

Is your headache mounting up from your neck, or is it around your eyes or one of your eyes, or around the temples or on the forehead? In all these cases it might come from tension in your jaws. Try touching the point on your cheeks where the lower and superior jaws meet, and press with your fingers. Aching?

(I don't have headaches any more now but my jaws are still aching if I press them like this).

alesusy

Mgyoung77 Apprentice
Mgyoung77
Posted
  • Author

MyYoung, I don't know if this can help. If drugs don't do much, they might be tension headaches. Tension should ease goin gluten free, but there are relaxation tecniques that can help anyway. I mention this because I was really scared after one continuous month of headaches, and I felt much relieved when my dentist showed me where it was coming from.

Is your headache mounting up from your neck, or is it around your eyes or one of your eyes, or around the temples or on the forehead? In all these cases it might come from tension in your jaws. Try touching the point on your cheeks where the lower and superior jaws meet, and press with your fingers. Aching?

(I don't have headaches any more now but my jaws are still aching if I press them like this).

alesusy

It is difficult to describe. When I first wake up or when it first starts later in the day, my head feels fuzzy inside. It starts out as a minor annoyance. If I do net take something it gradually turns into a very painful headache. It hurts on top of my head and my forehead. Medicine does give temporary relieve.

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 KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      New here

      @KathyR37, I would suspect that in addition to gluten intolerance, you have other food intolerances/sensitivities. This is very common in the celiac community. The most common offenders are oats, dairy, soy, corn and eggs with dairy and oats being the big two. Have you considered this? Have you tried keeping a food diary to detect patterns?
    2. Theresa2407
      - Theresa2407 replied to Theresa2407's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      Probiotics

      thank you for your advice. I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated. I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    3. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      New here

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      New here

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are fee...
    5. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      3

      New here

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,814
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ColbyBowlin
    Newest Member
    ColbyBowlin
    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 here

      By trents · Posted

      @KathyR37, I would suspect that in addition to gluten intolerance, you have other food intolerances/sensitivities. This is very common in the celiac community. The most common offenders are oats, dairy, soy, corn and eggs with dairy and oats being the big two. Have you considered this? Have you tried keeping a food diary to detect patterns?
    • Theresa2407
      Probiotics

      By Theresa2407 · Posted

      thank you for your advice.   I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated.  I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and  gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem I have is a gag reflex out of this world and if something doesn't taste good it is not going down. Most commercially made breads and such taste like old cardboard.Pastas are about the same. I did find one flour that I like and use it regularly, but it is so expensive! All gluten free food is way more expensive. I only eat twice a day because I cannot afford to buy all that. We live on a very low income so my food purchases are quite limited.
    • Scott Adams
      New here

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are feelings many in the community know all too well. Your question about whether you should just eat what you want and manage the symptoms is a heartbreaking one, born from years of frustration. It's crucial to know that the diarrhea is a sign of ongoing damage to your small intestine from gluten, and simply managing the symptom with Imodium doesn't stop that internal harm or the risk of other complications. The fact that you are still getting sick within an hour of eating, even while trying to be gluten-free, is a huge red flag that something isn't right. This could be due to cross-contamination in your kitchen (e.g., using a shared toaster, colander, or condiment jars), hidden gluten in foods, or the possibility of another concurrent condition like refractory celiac disease. Don't give up!  This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels and vomiting. All that just made me sicker. Eventually I chucked it all and went back to eating like I had all my life. Now I am from the south and biscuits and gravy are a big part of our food, as are breaded foods, pasta, and sandwich bread. Through the years I would try to do the gluten free thing again and am doing it now. It has not helped any. Within and hour of eating I have to run to the bathroom. I am now 75 and am wondering if I should just forget it and eat what I like, take Immodium and live the best I can. I cannot eat before going anywhere for fear of embarrassing myself. Family and church dinners are out of the question unless I eat and run straight home. I am so frustrated I just want to sit down and cry or throw something. Does everyone go through all this?
×
×
  • 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.