Gluten sensitivity

[Marco Polo]

I think I have a gluten sensitivity that I've been ignoring for years now. When I was younger I knew about it because I'd get bloated whenever I ate bread, pasta, wheat based cereals etc. So I stopped eating those things for a while, and when the bloating dissapeared I started encorporating these foods back into my diet.

Just recently I ate a bowl of wheat based cereals, and the bloating symptoms suddenly reappeared full force. My stomach was bulging so much you'd have guessed I was pregnant (if I were a woman that is).

Anyway, I'd be interested to know whether anyone here has a gluten sensitivity, or even full blown Celiac disease? If so, what symptoms does it cause for you? Bloating, stomach aches, bad sleep or what?

[Jennihul]

Supposedly, 1 in 33 people has a gluten or wheat sensitivity so you should statistically get many responses in your thread.

Fact is that the symptoms people feel with it are so ubiqitous now in life that they are ignored or assumed to be normal. Heartburn. Lethargy after a meal. Bloating. Gas. Unpredictable bowel activity. Memory loss. Even seizures. many more.

I have a friend with celiac who had only a rash inside her elbows and knees. Took years to diagnose properly and only with last ditch effort: a special biopsy of her affected skin.

I have another friend whose infant child had celiac and was labeled retarded because all the effects were neurological. Unfortunately, it took so long to diagnose, the child is actually affected permanently.

You can get tested and I would say that even if you are negative for celiac, your body is speaking to you. Quit wheat, as difficult as it is. It's a very recent addition to the human diet in terms of evolution and not many people statistically have the 'parts' to properly assilimate it. It bears no resemblance to the wheat that appeared in nature as it has been hybridized and genetically modified for centuries. The damage you feel is nothing compared to the damage that is unseen within.

Jennifer

[mikeschu]

I have Celiac disease. I found out when one evening I was on the floor in pain for an hour after eating three slices of pizza and consuming a beer. One week later I was getting blood drawn.

There are a couple of ways of finding out if you have Celiac or just a gluten insensitivity:

1. Get a "Celiac comprehensive" blood test. You'll need to eat products with gluten for at least a couple of weeks before taking the test so it registers on the system. They may ask for a biopsy depending on the results.

2. Do an elimination diet and completely eliminate gluten. This is not as hard as people think unless you live on a standard American diet or eat out a lot.

Best of luck.

[MasterD]

I suspect the same Marco, though have never been tested for it.

[Marco Polo]

I won't even waste my time getting it tested. I think I'll just do a 30 day trial or whatever, and see where that takes me. Just the last few days I've been without gluten, and I can already see a difference. My stomach started feeling better basically within a day, despite me eating lots of other food. Thats proof enough for me.

Now to find some yummy gluten-free recipes. Or I'll just get some Sushi... mikeschu what do you eat when you go out?

[searstower]

Marco,

I also am pretty sure I have a gluten sensitivity. I have a client I coach and she is a celiac and I've been helping her build this gluten free website for almost a year. Well, one day I spent 2 hours asking her questions about it and taping them (for website content to be transcribed later).

The next day I woke up with a ton of energy, worked out briefly, had a breakfast of 9 grain cereal, had to hurry to the bathroom and for the next 4 hours I was so fatigues I couldn't get off the couch.

When I sat down and starting looking at common gluten sensitivity symptoms, I realized that I have had many of them my whole life - but I thought they were normal because that's the way it had always been.

Sure, you see on fiber commercials that 'regular' is once a day, etc. But really, it's a commercial! Of course they want EVERYONE to need their product.


You asked for common symptoms, so here are some of mine.

Constantly stuffy nose
Constipation
Rash on arms and belly
Arthritis/joint pain in knees (I've had this since I was 18)
Fatigue, even after easy workout
indigestion
gas
dark circles under eyes
depression
trouble getting to sleep
trouble getting a deep enough breath
itchy flaky skin
get sick fairly often
fast, erratic heart beat (intolerance to milk is common in celiacs)
having to go right after eating
diarrhea

I have done 2 elimination tests, one without gluten and one without gluten & sugar (another one I suspect I have difficulty with).

I felt pretty good during the eliminations (contast joint pain went away - the biggest change).

Now that I know how much this affects me, even though it's a pain to make all my own food, I'm making this a permanent change. The trade off of happy knees, being able to focus at work and the amazing amount of energy I get without eating gluten is so worth it.

By the way, watch out for soy sauce with your sushi - it's fermented with wheat.

Rebecca

[Marco Polo]

Thanks Rebecca, I never knew there were so many symptoms. Interesting also that it affects neurology, as in Jennihuls example... I seriously need to research the science behind this.

[Michelle]

Just want to say the above describes me as well. The most noticeable ones for me have been the chronic stuffy nose and skin rash on my arms since I was a child but there have been others such as a heart that too often skips a beat. Because the symptoms for me "aren't that bad" though and I was "born that way" I never assumed something was truly wrong. Now, on a wheat and gluten free diet my nose is clear and my skin is healing.

As a vegetarian who is also lactose intolerant the choice of food just seems to get smaller and smaller though. So, slowly but surely my tendency toward a raw diet is growing (and with it my overall well being).

[Jennihul]

For the 100th time: good book that proves why this is a problem for some people...

Eat Right For Your Type, by Peter D'Adamo, ND


Jennifer

[Michelle]

According to that book I should be eating loads of meat and fish.

However, pretending animals are food is not an option for me.