Gluten allergies are relatively common. Some studies indicate that 1 in 167 apparently healthy children (0.6%) and 1 in 111 adults (0.9%) have a gluten allergy. When people with gastrointestinal complaints were studied, 1 in 40 children (2.5%) and 1 in 30 adults (3.3%) were found to have a gluten allergy. This makes a gluten allergy quite common, especially when people with chronically uncomfortable guts are considered.
Gluten allergy symptoms may be similar to the symptoms for celiac disease. In either case, management involved avoiding gluten. Still, I highly recommend you get a test for celiac to rule out this disease. If you have a gluten allergy, you don’t need to worry about tiny amounts of gluten in your diet as long as you feel OK.. On the other hand, if you have celiac disease, you must eliminate all gluten, even if you feel OK.
The only way to verify a gluten allergy is with a proper test, however you can use following symptoms as a guideline. If you have several of these symptoms, an allergy test for gluten is highly recommended. Insist on one even if you have a stubborn and ill-informed doctor!
Symptoms of a Gluten Allergy
- Upper repository tract problems (sustains, glue ear)
- Fatigue
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Mouth ulcers
- Anaemia
- Iron-deficiency anaemia
- Osteoporosis
- Weight loss
- Short stature in children
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal bloating
- Crohn’s disease
- Diverticulitis
- Depression
- Attention and behavioral problems (in children and adults)
- Autism
- Skin problems
- Keratosis pilaris
- Asthma
- Irritability
Please note several things when considering this list:
- Individual symptoms can vary tremendously. Someone with a gluten allergy will probably not have all of these symptoms, and may have other symptoms not listed here.
- Although some symptoms seem contradictory, it is possible to alternate between one symptom and another, for example between diarrhoea and constipation.
- Just because someone has one, some or all of these symptoms, does not mean to say they definitely have a gluten allergy. Other causes are possible.
Unless you have celiac, you can often decide whether to include gluten in your diet based on how you feel when you eat gluten. If eliminating gluten from your diet makes you feel better, and you find it is worth the effort, then that is enough reason to stop eating wheat, barley and rye.
For parents, it is a matter of observing your children’s behaviour as well as asking them how they feel.
Doctors often think they know better. If you feel better when you avoid gluten, follow what your body tells you.
Avoiding gluten can be the key to more energy and clear thinking for many people
Downloadable ebook and audio guide
There are tests to see if you have celiac disease or a type-I food sensitivity (classic allergy).
These are not the only root cause for a gluten sensitivity however. Many, if not most people who are effected by gluten will get negative test results.
This is why I strongly recommend an elimination diet, even if laboratory tests come up negative.
Gluten and Fatigue
One of my biggest complaints when I am suffering from my allergies is fatigue. Everything and anything seems like too much effort.
There are many reasons why you might feel fatigue. If you’ve looked into other causes and not come up with anything, I suggest you try cutting out wheat, rye, and barley, in other words gluten, from your diet for eight weeks and see if you get some, most or all of your energy back.
You can also get more information from GlutenExplained.com.
Internal Links
- Gluten-Free Diet Story by Ashley
- Gluten allergy
- Gluten Linked to Seizures and Epilepsy
- Celiac vs. Gluten
- Top 20 Food Allergies with Delayed Reactions
- Self-Testing for Food Allergies
- Allergy Symptoms
External Links
Gluten Allergies – What is Your Experience?
You are welcome to leave your comments below about living with a gluten-free diet, or your road towards discovery that you must eliminate gluten. Maybe you are on that road now? Tell us about it!
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
Gluten Allergy, diary allergy – just a food poisoning
I had the some problem as most of allergic people and I have find the solution. I have the simple solution, there is no allergy just a simple food poisoning by improper food procedures. I had a farm and I sell the milk for about 80 families with little babies – having diary allergy. From my milk no one of little babies has any allergic reaction. The similar situation is with gluten. I am making bread with high gluten contain and no one has gluten allergy reaction from our bread. I am looking for autorized laboratory to make the official test and publish the results. Or you can test our products.
Interesting Perspective
Thanks for your comment, Ladislav.
I know that farming is hard work, and that often problems in the food supply are blamed on the farmer.
This is not fair, and many if not most problems in the food supply have nothing to do with the farmer of the farm.
There is no doubt though, that some people react to certain foods and others don’t.
Some of what seem to be food allergy symptoms could be confused with food poisoning I suppose.
I have some questions for you about your farm:
What country is your farm in, and near what city?
Meanwhile, you might be interested in the article about allergies and food poisoning.
Possible
Thank you for posting this. I have always assumed that I had IBS, even my doctor has told me I probably have it. Yet I have noticed that when I eat anything with wheat in it, especially in the morning, I get so tired it’s an effort to talk. I have many of the symptoms listed above. I’m going to try going gluten-free for the time period specified, and see if I stop feeling so icky all the time.
Good luck with your gluten-free diet
Good luck with your gluten-free diet, Shannon.
One the one hand, I hope it works for you, so you stop feeling “icky” all the time (great way of putting it, that is a perfect word for how I feel when suffering from “wheat poisoning”).
On the other hand, it is challenging at first to stay off all wheat-free food; more challenging still to stay off gluten-free food (which includes wheat and other foods besides). It would be nice if you found something easier to be allergic to!
The fact is thought that no matter how restrictive your diet, it is well worth cutting out the foods that bother you in return for a clear mind and healthy body!
Feel free to leave a comment after you’ve been off gluten for a while and let us know how it goes.
Re: Weight gain
Hi … My name is Jane and I have ballooned in weight gain – i.e put on four stone in four years.
since 2004 I have have put on one stone every year!! 2004 I was 11 stone – Iam now 42 and 5ft 16 and am an incredible 16 stone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am an actress and my career is now suffering terribly – as is my mental health. I went to my doctor and he said it is age. I had a blood test and thryroid test but every thing was fine. I also have extremely bad anal itching which keeps me awake at night and is very pain full after going to toilet – number 2! I went to the doctor and said I want to be tested. He sent me for a colonoscopy and the results were fine.
I don’t eat alot and have regular excercise! I am now a size 18-20 – and putting on weight all the time!!!!
My doctors insists it just age! I have friends older than me that eat more and don’t excercise – yet there are not 5 stones overweight like me.
Please help me!!!!!!!!
Jane
p.s I live in New Malden, Kingston, Surrey
Allergy-related?
Hi Jane,
I wish I could help you. I’m not a doctor for one thing. For another, I’ve never heard of weight gain being associated with allergies (although I suppose it’s not impossible). Weight loss is a more common allergy symptom.
I do know that diet is important – not how much but what you eat.
Too much carbohydrates, sugar and alcohol are major causes of weight gain I believe.
Concentrate on a high-quality diet. A dietitian can help you with that. I don’t know what you eat but a lot of people do eat too much junk-food – over processed, full of low-quality fats, highly processed carbohydrates and sugar.
A good diet has high-quality fats (fats are absolutely necessary in your diet, but they have to be high-quality), whole grains, and a minimum of sugar. No sugar at all is fine as far as your diet goes, although it takes a while to get used to.
I hope this helps a bit. As I say, it isn’t really related to allergies as far as I know.
One more thing: chronic lack of sleep is also related to weight gain. If you are having trouble sleeping, check out http://www.asleepatlast.net
Weight gain
It sounds logical to me that people that are always tired would gain weight. The main reason being that they are burning fewer calories due to less physical activity. Since a gluten allergy is associated with fatigue, it seems logical that it would also be associated with weight gain.
Gluten allergy and weight gain
It could go either way.
Some people (especially for a celiac, which is not an allergy) can not absorb nutrients properly, and therefor loose weight.
Others gain weight for a variety of reasons.
RE: Allergy related?
Hello,
My friend was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease. She had weight gain, fatigue, numbness in feet and hands and also anal bleeding. One of her doctors sent her for a colonoscopy and when it was clean, basically said she was fine. She spent 2 years with the symptoms until her 3rd doctor listened to her and gave her the celiac disease test, for which she tested positive. If you can’t get the test and suspect that gluten could be the problem, try the diet that eliminates gluten and see if it helps. It wouldn’t hurt to try it! I hope you find relief and good health soon Jane.
Jane – Anal itching and unexplained weight gain can be a symptom of a tape worm or other parasite.
Hmmm…have you been tested
Hmmm…have you been tested for PCOS?
Sounds like you have a lot of the symptoms. Look it up online and see if you think this might be your problem.
POCS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
From Wikipedia:
Visit the Wikipedia article to read more …
Weight gain and gluten allergy
I also have a allergy to gluten, but got very ill before the doctors figuered it out. First I was told I was just depressed ( No duh… I was so tired it hurt to get out of bed!) Then I was told I had Fibromyalgia. Then I finally got a hold of a doctor that would listen to me. By this time I was putting on five to seven pounds a week! My hair was falling out by the handfuls! The fatigue was so severe that by noon each day I was done for and I was breaking out in sores all over my body. The good news is within days of going gluten free I lost 12 pounds, within two months… I lost over 30 pounds and felt like a new woman! I had energy, I could focus once more (gluten allergy gives you major brain fog!) I got my life back. It’s tough to do at first but trust me… it’s very much worth it. After awhile you don’t even miss all the gluten foods you use to eat!
re: weight gain
Hi,
I read your post on allergy-details.com and wanted to see if you found a solution to your problems. I, too, have experienced weight gain no matter how I diet, and my doctor tells me it is age (I am 36). But my main problem is the anal itching! I can’t stand it!! Let me know if you have found an answer. I am ready to eliminate gluten from my diet to see if that is the issue…
Melora Layne
Same issue
I have the same issue. I have even had anal bleeding. No mater how many calories I cut, I still gain weight. I am constantly gassy, sometimes red and itchy, I get headaches for no reason at all.
I have had a contrast CAT scan to make sure it was not diverticulitis. It’s not.
I am wondering if it might be the wheat gluten as well.
The odd part, I am also an actress with a suffering career, because I am at a size 18-20. I gained 17 lbs in a week. I don’t understand. I just want to find out what might be wrong with me!
-Sonshine Blakeslee
allergy to gluten
I have an allergy to gluten. I get fatigued, constipated/anal itching-hemoroids, have gained weight from this food allergy. There was a woman in the hospital at 300 lbs. The doctors finally figured out that she had celiac disease (gluten intollerance) and as soon as they changed her diet, she started feeling better and started loosing weight.
Gluten
I realize I am commenting on your post over a year after you’ve posted. Hopefully you have figured out that you DEFINITELY have a wheat allergy, and probably are even celiac.
I suffered all the same issues you described, bleeding, weight gain etc. After I was diagnosed and eliminated both wheat and dairy (you are probably allergic to this as well sorry to say) and two years later I am back to the weight I was in high school, and my immune system is impenetrable. No more itchy rashy skin, no more bleeding, bloating, no more dry skin, no more weight gain, no more mood swings, no more anxiety.
I’m hoping that you have figured this out and have been recovered for a year now, but I couldn’t risk the chance of you not figuring it out. Please do yourself a huge favor and eliminate all gluten and dairy from your diet. Give yourself a good 6-8 weeks to clean yourself out before you know that its working.
You won’t be sorry.
Candida
I am experiencing food allergies and other digestive and breathing symptoms, along with skin peeling, and I’m pretty convinced its from Candida, which is a strain of yeast that can overgrow inside you, caused by many things, perscription drugs like antibiotics, and other things, look into it if you think you are gluten intolerant becuase you could have an overgrowth of fungus inside you that needs to be controlled by a candida diet and natural antifungal remedies, look it up on the net, I’m a little better after a few days with straight veggis and some grain alternatives like buckwheat, no sugar, becuase it feeds candida….
Hi Guest,
I have been on a Candida for several months now as well as finding out I am gluten intolerant a month ago. I have been on both which has been challenging. The 2 top things that are in everything is sugar and wheat.
Was wondering how you are doing and if you have any recipes that you might have found to be Candida/Gluten safe?
Been baking my own cookies, but the bread has been the hard one. I cant eat any of the ones on the market because they either have sugar or vinegar in them.
Hope all is well with you.
Hi Kerri,
The two foods you mention are probably the most commonly avoided -and used- foods on the planet. Not that refined sugar really qualifies as a food.
On the bright side, avoiding these foods forces you to eat healthy!
There are gluten free recipes on this site. At the bottom of the page is a link that says “← Previous Entries” – click that to see more.
Yeast-free bread is a problem. I’ll keep an eye out for recipes. Most are make with yeast.
You can always check out Lori’s Yeast Free Cooking – apparently “Most recipes are wheat free, dairy free, gluten free, and casein free.”
I keep bringing Candida up to my doc and he says no but I am wondering from reading what you wrote if this is what is going on with me. Please read and help. I am miserable and getting worse! Thanks
I had a baby 3 years ago and started having chest pains, shortness of breath, and left arm pain. Had a complete heart workup. January of this year, I ate pizza about a 1/2 hour after I ate I started coughing and couldn’t breath. Husband called 911, they took me to ER where the told me I had acid reflux here’s a nexium follow up with your GI doc. So I did, he did an endoscope. Said I dont have acid reflux. I continued to have breathing problems in my diaphragm area and PCP said you have bronchitis. Gave me predisone, amoxicilian, breathing machine. Continued to have breathing problems and developed swallowing problems. So I called pulmonary doc, sent me to an ENT put a camera in my throat said I have LPR. Gave me nexium. I continued to have swallowing problems did a barium swallow it was normal. Eventually the globas feeling and swallowing got better but I eat the same things everyday. Was on nexium 2 x a day, didn’t eat anything that would give me acid reflux, drink only water, sleep sitting up. I am now to the point where I can eat boxed cooked pudding, graham crackers, banana’s, egg whites. I have started juicing. I was able to eat fish and veggies until 2 weeks ago I had another bad episode of the breathing, but luckily I controlled it doing a breathing treatment. Lungs are fine no asthma. GI stills ays it is not silent acid reflux. I just got a second opinion by another gI who said it is all anxiety related. I am stressed out but how can these symptoms be here 24 hours a day. I have good days and bad. If I have been sitting for awhile and stand up I have problems in my stomach, upper bowel diaphragm area, when I take a deep breath, expand my stomach it is hard to breath. Also after I have a bowel movement I have the same issue. When I eat or drink anything it feels like my food is just sitting there. I take kapidex now and ativan (as needed) still no improvement. What is going on with me. Does anyone have a clue. I am 35 years old, 5′4″, 98 lbs. I have lost about 15-20 lbs with all of this. I am so weak and with not being able to eat my fish, just juicing 2 x a day I am so weak, but can’t get anywhere with doc. PCP said try gluten free diet, I’ve tried, thats not it. She said I could see an allergist and if that doesnt work she will send me to Indiana University. I just want my life back and want to be able to eat and breath again. Can anyone help me?
You could try an Elimination Diet to see if one or more foods are a problem. Symptoms can vary over time, so keep careful records.
Also look for other environmental factors: new carpets, mold problems etc.
An allergy test might help narrow things down, but they are not all that accurate.
If you can find a doctor who practices environmental medicine to guide you, you will be much better off.
Hey Melora (and Sonshine),
The anal/rectal itching and weight gain are absolutely symptoms of gluten allergy/intolerance! In fact, I have the rectal itching thing, have had it for years, and that is one thing that has prompted me to do this gluten free diet. Have only been doing it a couple weeks, so it’s too soon to tell. But you are on the right track. I’d go for it! As one of the other posters said, the itching thing can also be parasites or candida overgrowth, too.
Food Intolerance Test
Dear Jane,
I see many people with a similar disposition as yours. All of which have proven to be food related. Please have a look at my web page and if you are interested in me helping you resolve your weight condition, please give me a call, or drop me line. I only live in Kingston.
Kind regards,
Sue
Weight Gain
Hi, Jane,
Anyway, my real point is that despite the fact I was too tired to eat much, I continued (at my doctor’s insistence) to walk about a mile a day – HUGE effort and I would often be so tired I’d want to just lay down on the path. Despite my walking and barely eating, I gained 35 pounds over the next four years. For one two-month period, I used every bit of my energy to either take a walk or use a treadmill for 45 minutes, 4-5 times a week- both to keep my muscles working and to try to lose weight. About all I could accomplish was to keep from gaining more. In fact, when I moved across country and couldn’t really walk daily as usual, I gained 10 pounds within 3 weeks! Nothing would stop the weight gain. About a year ago, I decided to start eating breakfast. Something I hadn’t done in years, because I just wasn’t hungry. It was amazing. In less than a year and doing absolutely nothing else, I have lost 45 pounds. At some points it seemed to be just melting away. And I wasn’t even eating ‘good’ stuff for breakfast – half a banana, a bowl of sugared cereal with milk, two cheese crackers, etc. It was like (as magazines and my family had been telling me for years) the act of chewing and swalling SOMETHING, within a few minutes of waking up–no matter what it was–was enough to jump start my metabolism. CRAZY!
I completely relate to what you are saying. I’m not sure what a “stone” is. Is it the same as a Kilo? Anyway, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome about 12 years ago, at the age of 39. At the time I weighed about 130 pounds. I became so tired it was an effort to even get up to go to the bathroom and I probably wouldn’t have except I knew it would take even more effort to clean it up later
I don’t know if it will be the same with you, but I hope so. I couldn’t help but respond to your comments because it sounded so much like my own story. Take care and love yourself no matter what your weight–God sees your inner beauty and loves it.
weight gained
Hi Jane,
It’s like you are describing me. I have been trying to lose weight for the last two years, since having my last child. The last time that I had to lose weight, I did a protein diet and dropped a ton of weight. Since my babies, i have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, so I am trying to eat more whole grains. I am fine when I eat rice, oats, and corn, but whenever I eat wheat I start to swell (I have gained three pounds in one night) and feel extremely tired and terrible. I am going to stay on phase I of the Fat Smash Diet, except add in a little more meat (chicken and fish). I recommend it. When I was on phase I, I dropped six pounds in two weeks. Since adding wheat back in, my weight loss has reversed. I have been consuming the same number of calories and exercising five days a week, so there is no reason for the weight gain – except wheat.
My doctor told me it was my age too, but it’s not. I even had the blisters on my elbow that’s associated with this allergy. The doctor just didn’t put it all together. Too bad we have to be our own doctors.
-Lisa
if you have high
if you have high cholesteral, remove meat and dairy from your diet – this can only help you lose weight and feel better.
these are the only things that have cholesteral in them, do not add more to your diet – remove them from your diet.
go vegan and feel and look amazing!
weight gain
Has your doctor checked your thyroid tpo level? Do not let them tell you that if your tsh comes back fine, you are not having a thyroid issue. I suspect I have had hashimotos disease for nearly 11 years before my diagnosis. Your level is supposed to be under 35 and mine was 877. Finding a really good endocrinologist is key to your health. Keep in mind, all my thyroid tests were normal except tpo antibody.
Another thing is you should be checked for pituitary tumor. Most are benign, but can wreak havoc on your body. There is a 24 hour urine test for these as well as mri.
Don’t listen to this doctor, find a new one! No one gains weight like that. I waited for years….I have only regret & weight I can’t take off!
I will pray for you Jane. Sincerely, Patty
jane,
you are not eating too
jane,
you are not eating too much, it is what you’re eating that’s causing you to gain weight. stop eating fattening foods like dairy, meat, oils, etc.
Pick up the book by kathy freston = 21 Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse. do the cleanse and see how different your body feels. you may realize you are having a reaction to gluten, etc. don’t look to doctors for your answers – you have control of your own health and weight.
So Many Possibilities My Head Is Spinning!
“I’m a biological oddity. (that’s the best explanation I’ve ever been given as to the why’s and how’s of the way I opperate!)
I am usually a fan of detailed writing and descriptions, but there is so much information and facts that I want to put down right now that I’m going to do more of a timeline and/or bullet points.
(by the end of this you will think to yourself “”"”THAT’s NOT detailed?!?!”"”")
After high school my weight started to increase. So did my alcohol consumption. (2001)
I gained 30 punds in one year. I ate healthier than I did in high shcool, but I drank more. I went from a healthy 130 pounds (5′4) and reached a high weight of at least 175 at one point.
My gyno comments on my weight gain but offered no suggestions. (2002)
He felt cysts on my ovaries and I had an ultra sound to back it up. They were indeed there, though not very revelant.
About a year later I end up in the ER due to non-stop vaginal bleeding. ( I had been bleeding for appx. 40 days straight, and it escelated to the point of needing to go to the ER.) (2003)
My gyno said “”"”let that be a lesson to never go off your birth control. I think it was at this time that he did another ultra-sound and this time found the “”"”string of pearls”"”" around my ovarie associated with PCOS. Again…no real suggestions were given. I switched to a different Gyno.
She put me on Metformin. The side effects of this medication were just ghastly to me. She also described the possible connection of PCOS to insulin resistance and directed me to go on a severly reduced carb intake. (processed carbs, she did not ask me to eliminate fruits and veggies). We tried a few different birth controls and I eventually landed on the NuvaRing due to it’s low hormone levels and affective means for the hormones reaching it’s destination minus orgal ingestion. She said when and if I never decide to get pregnant she would do her best to treat me withOUT fertility drugs. (by the by, my testosterone levels? ..always tested fine, even though my struggling with coarse black hairs on my face has never gone away, and my voice has gotten much deeper as the years have gone by.)
At the time I was placed on Metformin I was also placed back on anti-depressants and diagnosed with ADD (as an adult) and placed on medication for that as well. My appetite stopped. I lost 25 pounds. Yay. (though not the healthy way)
Now I’m going to skip ahead and be a bit more random.
I am allergic to milk. Over the years I kept “”"”fighting”"”" that by telling myself “”"”oh well, I’m going to eat ice cream when I want to”"”". Opps. THAT doesn’t work! My allergy now has greatly increased in sensitivity and even a little bit of chocolate or heavy milk products (i.e. heavy whipping cream) makes my breathing more difficult and my upper respitory symptoms flare up. As a result, I’m a soymilk gal. My mother’s warned me about the increased level of female hormones in soymilk and I try to fluctuate between soymilk and rice milk. (and now even almond milk) Having been working at Starbucks for the past year my soymilk intake has greatly increased b/c i have free access to all the coffee and soy drinks I want!
In January of 2007 I gave up alcohol. 100% alcohol-free since. *note: I did not see any weight loss
My diagnosis as a ‘depressive’ changed to one of being bi-polar and I was given a mood-stabilizer.
I now swing back and forth between weighing 140-150 pounds. I’m naturally a muscular person. (I’m assuming that’s a genetic thing) I do not regularly workout but am more active than a LOT of people I know. (my jobs have always required me to be and now my new dogs requires a lot of activity on my behalf as well)
About two weeks ago I decided to give the “”"”gluten free”"”" thing a try. I really do think I’m more addicted to carbs than I was/am to alcohol b/c it surprises me that I have a VERY difficult tiome fighting my cravings for breads and pastires and the likes there of. I haven’t regretted a day that I’ve been alcohol free but every time I get to work it takes every thing in me not to shove a pastry in my mouth.
For some reason, gluten-free is easier for me than going “”"”no more pastas, pastries, and breads free”"”". (at least I can still have a pasta-replacement, gluten free granola, and corn chips!!
I realize now I should have gotten tested BEFORE I started this gluten-free diet. While I’m pretty sure I am not a celiac, I figured that a trial effort would not hurt me and it would be a good way to see how I felt off gluten. I just recelty read though that it’s important to know whether you have a gulten allergy or are a celiac b/c being a cleiac means you need to avoid all gluten, even if you feel fine. :-/
This is a lot of imformation huh!!! I AGREE!!! My mind is spinning trying to find all the friggin connections between everything that’s aparantly going on in my body!! ADD! Bi-polar! Fatigue! PCOS! Skin problems! Irritability! Depression! Milk allergy! Gluten allergy! Alcohol free! Drug (recreational) free! IBS!!!
Are you kidding me? How do I even begin to answer all the questions that I have about what’s going on.
Am I just adding to my problems by going gluten free?
I just want to know what it’s like to be at a healthy weight again, have the ability to concentrate and accomplish tasks appropriately, have energy, not have acne, not have polycystic ovaries, etc.
I’m at a loss, and very frustrated. ANY words of wisdom???
“
I know how u feel,it took 7
I know how u feel,it took 7 years, 8 mri’s and 4 mis-diagnosis before i found out i have fibromyalgia you have a lot of the symptoms that i have check with your doctor. Best wishes stay strong!
Bipolar
I, too, am bipolar. Many symptoms you discuss sound like problems associated w/ this disease. I hope you are on bipolar meds. (Bummer, one med side effect is weight gain.)
Have you tried a gluten-free diet?
Hi Cb,
Have you tried a wheat-free or gluten-free diet?
I’m not suggesting this instead of meds.
I am wondering if such a diet might help with your condition.
There seems to be evidence that wheat and/or gluten can make bipolar symptoms worse.
Please share your experience if you have tired this.
So Many Possibilities My Head Is Spinning!
Hi Gretchen,
Wow, that is a lot of information and sounds a lot like me. Let me give you a little information on me. I am 27 years old; I am 5′3 and now weigh between 140-145 pounds. In a little over one year I gained 30 pounds. It drives me crazy that people say well you’re getting older like that’s the only reason, I know my body and how I’m supposed to look and feel and this isn’t it.
All my life since I was a little girl, I have had troubles with mainly constipation, it’s like whenever I want to go to the bathroom I can’t, and then when I would it would be diarrhea. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 and was on birth control since my diagnosis until I was about 19. I had never been overweight in my life; I come from a small family, short and small body frame. If anything at times I was underweight. I went off birth control when I was 19 because I was a smoker. At that time I was put on an anti depressant by my family doctor. I was then in a relationship for 4 years where I gradually put on weight each year, mostly because I was drinking a lot of beer and eating poorly and sitting on my ass. (I was acting like my boyfriend), after I had put on this weight I started getting bloated and staying that way, it seemed my belly never deflated. The gas I would pass was almost unbearable for me and I felt bad for anyone who got a whiff. After I broke up with this man, I started going out all the time, I was drinking a lot, to the point of blacking out most of the time, and eating a lot of garbage, but I ended up losing weight and feeling like I did in high school. My self esteem was boosted; I had a lot more energy and was generally happy. In 2007 I started a new office job. I was happy in this job until I started having issues with my boss, then I dreaded coming to work. I started to get depressed and that’s when I started to gain weight again, in 2007 when I started working at this job I weighed 115 pounds by the beginning of 2008 I weighed 135 pounds and my family doctor said I had IBS because I was always bloated always felt full had horrible gas and barely ever went to the bathroom the weight just started piling on. After all my issues at work I took a temporary leave and started seeking diagnoses and treatment. My psychiatrist diagnosed me as bi-polar with ADHD and chronic anxiety and I also was diagnosed with mild Tourette syndrome by a neurologist. The medication that I was put on for bi-polar made me gain more weight and I stopped taking it. I still can’t loose the weight. I was even going to the gym everyday and doing an hour of cardio and weights and had a personal trainer and I still did not lose weight. I had a colonoscopy and it came back clean, my uncle died of colon cancer and my older brother and my mom have both had polyps removed and I thought this was my problem.
I have been doing a lot of research on my symptoms, it keeps coming back to IBS, PCOS (my dad is diabetic so I’m thinking the metformin could help), depression, gallbladder issues (my mother had hers removed). Now my bf and his family are suggestion gluten intolerance. I am so tired of feeling like crap and feel like even though I am going to the doctors I am not receiving any help. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?
PCOS, Gluten and chronic inflammation
I have PCOS, Metabolic syndrome, ovarian cysts, fattty liver, poor circulation, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides and depression along with thinning hair and obesity…I was told today that I have to avoid gluten for the rest of my life because gluten causes a toxic reaction in everyone with metabolic syndrome….it’s said to cause chronic systemic inflammation in the body…I googled PCOS and inflammation and there is a link to the both. Plus, every time I get that inflammation blood work done, it’s extremely high CRP I think it’s called.
My alternative medicine doc told me that in a normal body gluten is digested in 2 days where as in mine it takes 9 months to be eliminated and that before it does, it causes and endless number of problems in the body and blood. Wow!! I didn’t know any of this and it all makes sense now. I have to start a gluten-free diet for the rest of my life and I feel overwhelmed but I also feel excited that I may have found somethiing to help me keep all my health problems under control. yippieeeeeeeeeeeeee
You’ve got the right attitude!
Starting a gluten-free diet can seem overwhelming.
You are absolutely right though, once you find the cause of your health problems, avoiding a food, even a common food like gluten, is entirely possible and well worth it.
You might want to check out Gluten Explained to help reduce the overwhelm factor.
is this me?
well, this article has been enlightening. i’m wondering if i should try a gluten-free diet for a week or two and see how it turns out.
i’m 25, and ever since i had my (second) abdominal surgery at 18 (for a twisted bowel…the first at 16 was for appendicitis/peritonitis and left a lot of scar tissue that caused in part the twisted bowel), i’ve had a recurring mystery illness. every 4-6 months, i’d spend a night and a day doubled up in pain from my stomach, sometimes with vomiting, and then it would take a few days to get my digestive tract moving again. at first, we mistook it for an MSG sensitivity. then i started getting sick from things that i KNOW did not have MSG in them. over all this time, i started slowly gaining weight, and i’ve had a HECK of time trying to get it off. every time i make some headway, i get sick again and throw off my momentum. anyway, since i started working finally last spring, i’ve gotten sick EVERY MONTH except september. and i’ve also had another development. 5-6 times a week, i’ll eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and then i blow up like a balloon. gassy, uncomfortable, bloated, sometimes diarrhea, ALWAYS running to the bathroom once an hour. it’s such a pain, not to mention embarrassing (i’m sure my coworkers have noticed me getting up to go to the bathroom so frequently). i’ve always been tired, and was told by our occupational health doctor that i should get checked with a family doctor for anemia because my red count was low when i was tested during my HAZMAT exam, my lung function was borderline asthmatic, and so i could get a referral to a proper gastroenterologist. i haven’t managed to do any of those things just yet because we have some other bills we want to pay down first, but it will be done soon.
i was talking to my mom this weekend, and she mentioned that maybe i have a wheat or gluten allergy. a google search of “gluten allergy” brought me to this site. i just have a couple of questions. is it possible for a gluten allergy to spontaneously develop as an adult, or possibly to only be mild but become more severe in a relatively short period of time (like a few months)? is it possible for a gluten allergy to cause you to seemingly randomly get sick? (i suppose the fact that wheat- and gluten-containing products are so common in my diet that it would be hard to narrow down the cause of an illness by food alone, which i’ve had no success doing.) is it possible that an allergy that didn’t exist before could develop because of an “abused” bowel (as mine has been)? also, i had some problems that i barely remember as a child…is it possible to grow out of the allergy and have it redevelop as an adult?
thanks for posting this article.
Try cutting out gluten – and milk
It seems that one reason we can develop food sensitivities and allergies is due to a damaged gut. What you describe is more obvious damage than other causes – that could be the root of your problems.
Certainly you should try cutting out gluten. Do it religiously for at least a month.
Milk is also a common cause of stomach upset. Gluten intolerance (especially celiac) and milk sensitivity (allergy or inability to digest lactose) often go together.
Also, look at your stress level. An increase in stress adds to the stress of having an allergy. With a mild allergy or sensitivity, the symptoms may be minor until other stresses (at work for example) add to them and you get sick.
It could be that you suddenly developed allergies, or that the symptoms were minor, you got used to them, and never really noticed until they got bad enough. That’s more or less what happened to me.
Anaemia and gluten sensitivity could point to celiac disease – which is much more common than many doctors suppose. Definitely get tested for that, with our without your doctor’s support. Not only does celiac cause symptoms similar to what you describe, it also causes long-term complications.
If cutting out wheat solves your problem, you could assume you have celiac and follow a completely wheat-free and gluten-free diet. If you find this difficult and lapse, then get tested so you know if it is just the immediate symptoms you want to avoid, or major health issues later.
Good luck. You will feel so much better when you find out what is making you sick!
just got diagnosed
Im a little freaked and relieved at the same time. I have been tired, irritable, depressed, and sick to my stomache for years. I was throwing up blood which prompted my doctor to go into my stomach and small intestines with a camera and have biopsies done. I just got the good news- gluten disease. This explains why no matter what I seem to eat- I throw up! I thought I was going to die because no matter what I did, I would throw up. I had been diagnosed with Bulimia as a teen, but as an adult it kept coming back to haunt me. No matter how many times I would tell my doctor “Im not throwing up because I think Im fat, Im throwing up because I dont feel good and I cant tolerate it!” Im not going to lie, Im scared about the changes I have to make ahead of me, but yet Im glad because now I can lose weight. This also explains why the Attkins meat only diet worked so well for me- how silly is this?
diagnosis
My blood test came back negative, but I had so many symptoms shown on several sites, that I decided to try the gluten-free diet. It’s not that difficult, really. There are gluten-free breads, mixes and already baked, gluten-free crackers (really good!) and just about anything gluten-free that you want to eat. You just have to look carefully at ingredients, and some stores offer gluten-free product lists, or have stickers that mark gluten free products, or entire gluten-free sections. Since I have started the diet, I’ve gotten rid of several very annoying symptoms, and have more energy, and a clearer mind. I’ve also started loosing some weight. Try it! See what happens! Adkins had worked well for me too, years ago, but I never made the connection either.
Autism ???
is it temporary or does it become permanent??
What do you mean, is it
What do you mean, is it temporary???? Do you mean gluten allergy or autism? (I sure hope you didn’t mean Autism… of course not, it’s a life-long condition, you are born with it and you die with it!)…. Anyways, I had an operation a year ago and was asked to lose as much weight as I could beforehand. I was already slim but said ok, no prob. So I cut all carbs out (except in fruit & veg) and of course I lost nearly a stone in a month. Problem is, since then I have been diagnosed with IBS, because of the multiple symptoms I suffer from. So, for the last 6 months I tried to have as much of a stress free existence as possible and avoid anything that might upset my tummy. Well, it hasn’t worked and it got worse.
So then I started thinking that either I suffered some complication that has led to this (I had a mini tummy tuck to remove excess skin after a c-section) or I developed a gluten intolerance. Is any of this related though, the surgery, the diet before that??? Well, I decided to give it a go and the nasty carbs off the diet about 2 weeks ago and I’m starting to feel much better already (no lots of trips to toilet, no trapped wind, sleeping better and less fatigued).
But I would still like some opinions about the possible connection to my surgery or weight loss diet, please!
biopsy test results
I will be tested next Thursday for Celiac’s disease. I have already been following a gluten free diet for a few weeks to relieve symptoms. Could this cause a false negative in the testing? I have received conflicting answers from different sources. Blood will also be taken for antibody testing. Should I go back on glutens beforehand to avoid a false negative?
I appreciate a quick answer if possible. Thank-you.
tested for ceolics, do not cut out gluten b4 test
Hi,
Im due for a coeliacs blood test on tuesday. Ive been diagnosed with IBS but have just recently developed urticaria and dr just wants to rule out coeliacs. Of course like a mad person Im researching coeliacs online, and in all cases and from the main UK coeliacs website it says DO NOT cut out gluten before any test, only when ceoliacs is confirmed you will be seen by a dietician and advise given on a gluten free diet. If you are coeliac then when eating gluten antibodies will be present, if however you cut out gluten before the test the antibodies disappear and will therefore give a negative test.
If your test comes back clear and you want to try cutting out gluten and this makes you feel better it could be that you have a gluten allergy or intolerance which is completely different from coeliacs.
If my test comes back clear, Im gonna cut out gluten to see if its that causing my ab pain, constipation, nausea and nettle rash. Cos I believe IBS is caused because of allergies or intolerance to certain foods.
Hope this helps,
Shell.
child with possible gluten allergy
I have a 4.5 year old that has quite a few of the symptoms on the list. He is having problems at school and at home. We have recently started with all kinds of testing with a developmental specialist, a sensory specialist, occupational therapy and a play therapist. But no one has mentioned anything about gluten. Where do I find a doctor that will test my child and what do I need to ask? Please help me and my family.
Stephanie
Gluten Test
Hi Stephanie,
The most definitive test is to completely remove gluten from your child’s diet.
If he gets better, you have a strong indication that gluten is the problem.
The main challenge of this method is that it is hard to be sure a child is sticking to the diet when at school or at a friend’s house.
Tests are not 100% accurate, and do not necessarily cover every type of gluten sensitivity, which is why an gluten elimination diet is the best test, if you can eliminate 100% of gluten from his diet for 3 to 8 weeks.
To get a celiac test, you could visit an internist and get a biopsy. This is no longer considered to be the best test.
Many experts recommend https://www.enterolab.com/Home.htm
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Dont wait for test
Hi, I have same problem with my now 7 year old. He was diagnosted with ADHD, and soposed to take pils for it-they need to find the right pils, and that should take 6 months.
I found online, that gluten may cost the ADHD so I did take him back to doctor and have done the test. One is negative, other positive and one is on bord of both( they do 3 tests in the one test). The doctor said no gluten alergie and we need to start do pils. I said not yet . Then my sons teacher told me she heard about gluten free diet, so I did try do it. In 2 days he was so diferent – not perfect, but diferent. He look at me with not runing around, he listen what I was saying, he never make noise as usualy he was. I did feel like I am talking to diferent child. I am so happy now. He still argue, and is not perfect, but there is big big diferent. Also I did feel sorry and gave him one day bread to eat, wont do it again. In 2 hours he start to run from side to side, could not sit…but at night he was fine again. So I do believe gluten can mess up alot!!!
diagnosed with possible UC, could be gluten/wheat intolerance ?
I was diagnosed with “possible” UC back in 2006…I say possible because I never had a full colonoscopy…just sigmoidoscopy, CAT scans, etc. My symptoms began after a few weeks of eating these whole wheat english muffins religiously for breakfast…*to be fair, they were sooo good!* I began having D, with some blood and cramping. So began the nightmare of taking Asacol, which is an anti inflammatory drug for ppl with Crohns and UC, everyday. I’ve been to the hospital a couple of times from my symptoms and was told repeatedly by doctors that my diet is not a main factor; my immune system is. But I always thought that the immune system can react to food IN the gut, so they’re related! So now I am thinking if I cut out wheat/gluten foods, maybe ill get better. Maybe it was a food allergy that I had all along, developed slowly, or maybe from those &^$ english muffins…anyway, thanks for the info on this site! Much appreciative.
Food has a major effect on the immune system
What you eat has a big effect on your immune system. Some foods improve your immune system, others make it less effective (sugar for example).
You may also find Epicor to be of considerable help for your immune system.
Check out Allergy-Boster.com for more details about Epicor.
Gluten Allergy Symptoms
I was just wondering if any of you had heard of people getting sort of emotional as a symptom of a gluten allergy or sensitivity?
Gluten and emotional symptoms
Yes, people can certainly can certainly experience becoming hyper-emotional as a symptom of gluten sensitivity.
ok…so I have also had a
ok…so I have also had a problem with fatigue, weight gain, irritability, very emotional, stressed, nautious, lower abdominal pain, etc. The nautious feeling is even worse after drinking milk or icecream. The other problems are constant. My asthma has also became much worse recently. The only thing that doesn’t match up with the symptoms everyone else is stating is that I am constantly constipated instead of having the diarrhea symptom. Is it possible my problem can be a gluten allergy???
Gluten allergy symptoms vary
You should definitely see if you have a gluten allergy.
A sensitivity to gluten can cause constipation or diarrhea. Or one, then the other (which is what I experienced).
There are other possible causes of the symptoms you listed. Gluten problems are definetly on the top of the list so try cutting out all gluten-containing food and see what happens.
If a gluten-free diet makes you feel better, then stick to it.
Even if it does not solve all of your problems, stick to it (if it helps) and look for other problems as well such as milk (looks like you have that problem), yeast, dust, mold etc.
Good luck!
Allergic to milk
Dear MCH
It sounds more like you should cut out milk. Many people have problems digesting milk proteine (casein or BCM-7). It varies how much BCM-7 there is in different milk products – the ones that contains the most is milk and ice cream….
People having trouble with milk often have trouble with wheat or gluten in general
;O)
Henriette
I too have had a lot of the
I too have had a lot of the symptoms that everyone has mentioned but no one has spoken about the possibility of Candida. Try looking it up and check out the book “The Allergy and Asthma Cure: A Complete 8-Step Nutritional Program by Fred Pescatore M.D.” Food and nutrition is the only way. I’ve been an allergy and asthma sufferer for years and no medicine can fix a lot of these symptoms, they only make them worse. Most doctors are at a loss and only prescribe more medicine. It’s not easy but I’ve had to learn the hard way that you have to take charge of your own health and listen to your body.
Gluten Allergy
I have been diagnosed with gluten allergy. I started having the symptoms around 9 months ago.I have many of these symptoms listed here. The doctors I have been seeing have not been able to link them to any one thing. I have been itching and having a rash. Also diarrhea, constipation, extreme bloating of my stomach, cramping, anal itching. I went through all of the antihistamines, some of them with a lot of bad side effects. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I suffer from migraines and bipolar as well. Those two I have had for over 15 years. I am very sensitive to many chemicals, smells, sounds, colors. I tried to get my doctors attention with the diarrhea, over 25 times a day! I could get no help at all from them. I started talking to people on social networking sites, and researching on my own. I finally discovered celiac disease and the gluten rash. I was seeing a dermatologist but even he would not look at the rash I was having and would just throw antihistamines at me. Antihistamines do not work for gluten allergy. I finally got to see a different dermatologist who actually has the gluten thing and we talked about the symptoms I have been having, she looked at the rash I have and she told me that I needed to cut gluten from my diet. After about 8 weeks of no gluten, I feel much better. I can tell when I eat something with gluten in it, I get very itchy, my feet go numb, I get very nauseous, cramping, it depends on the amount I ingest. Gluten is hidden in so many things. I found it in the pain medication I take. Also hidden in “natural flavoring”. I have to cook from scratch, knowing where everything comes from, and what is in the foods, medications, drinks I consume. I also break out in an itchy rash in water of any type. Bathing is a chore. I have just become very sensitive to my environment and no one can figure out why. Even foods that say they are gluten free, can contain gluten, processed on the same things as gluten containing foods. Following a gluten free diet is very hard, very restrictive, but my body is responding in positive ways that I am very pleased about. I no longer spend days at a time itching like crazy feeling like i am going insane. No more painful rash that I have to take steroids for. I may stumble across gluten in some of the foods and medications that I have no idea about but it is few and far between now.
ataxia
i have been tested for all the sca. spinal cereblem ataxia. all negative. i meet a lot of these symtoms.
what do you think!
george
/
Try gluten free diet, see if it helps
Hi George,
From your short comment, I assume you have many of the gluten allergy symptoms listed in the main article, plus you have ataxia.
You can certainly try a gluten free diet and see if it helps.
Let us know how that goes for you.
Good luck!
Interesting
I have always had stomach and digestive issues, always assumed it was a form of IBS, but recently started hearing more about gluten allergies and am looking into trying to cut out gluten and see if it helps.
Thanks for the article.
Allergic Rhinitis?
Has anyone also had allergic rhinitis along with these symptoms? From what I am reading, blood tests are non-conclusive? I want to try a gluten-free diet. How long should I try this diet before I notice any improvement of symptoms?
How long to try a gluten-free diet
I can give you an answer to your last question.
Try a gluten-free diet for at least eight weeks.
You may notice an improvement quite quickly, or it might take longer.
It took me 3 weeks to notice a difference, then it was like night and day.
It is important that you eliminate ALL GLUTEN from your diet or you won’t know if its working or not. Every time you make a mistake and eat some gluten, you have to start over from the beginning again.
Good luck with it. Let us know how it goes.
Doctor Difficulties
Hey all, many people seem to have troubles figuring out if they have a gluten allergy. I do have an allergy to gluten, and maybe my story can help some others figure their allergies out. As well as bring up some difficulties there are…
When I was little, I used to eat soup, bread, and Cheez-its religiously. Now if I even smell bread I can feel a brain fog coming on.
…
Ashley talks about the problems she had and how cutting out gluten helped.
She also explains the battle she had with doctors who did not understand that she has a gluten allergy.
Read all of this comment and add your response here: Gluten-Free Diet Story
I watched a DVD entitled
I watched a DVD entitled “unlocking the mystery of wheat and gluten intolerance”. I have been dealing with diverticulitis flares for the last year. In October removed all gluten from my diet. For me, it has nothing to do with my diverticulitis – still had a flare. What has happened is that I no longer itched all over, bloating disappeared and seemed to come out of a mental for that I had no idea I was in! Long story short about a week ago I started occasionally eating wheat. I got all my symptoms back. Interesting………………….
Good gluten-free results
Thank you for sharing your story.
This should be helpful to others who are wondering about removing gluten from their diet.
For those interested in the DVD, here is the link to Amazon where you can buy it:
Unlocking the Mystery of Wheat and Gluten Intolerance
Good luck with keeping gluten out of your diet in the future.
Flem in throat
I have what seems like a build up of flem at the back of my throat which I cannot cough up or get rid of particularly at night and when in bed. I am in excellent health and it is not painful but it is irritating that I keep having to try to clear my throat at night especially. I eat only wholemeal bread and have skimmed milk and sweetners in my tea. It was suggested the problem may caused by the bread, milk or sweetner. Could that be possible? Thank you in anticipation of yopur reply.
Milk causes phlegm
Hi Tony,
If your only problem if phlegm, it could be the milk, depending on how much you drink. Milk can cause phlegm.
As for wheat, gluten or the sweetener (sugar or artificial by the way?), you could try cutting them out and see what happens.
Phlegm
Hi.
Yes phlegm is my only problem. I will follow your suggestion and cut out bread and sweetners – I don’t drink milk other than the small amout of dried skimmed milk I use in my tea but I did suspect as a dairy product it could be the problem.
I will substitute lemon for milk and see how it goes and let you know in a couple of weeks time.
Thank you very much for your help.
Tony Murray
Dairy products cause phlegm
When I said “milk can cause phlegm”, I really should have said “dairy products can cause phlegm”.
Don’t forget other dairy products such as cheese, ice cream etc.
can a gluten allergy cause
can a gluten allergy cause the lymph nodes to swell in the groin. I had one side swell a little for about a year now, then the other day I noticed the other one is large, very large. I’ve been tested for all the infections… nothing. I have ibs, gas all the other symptoms too. I also get large pimples all over mostly on my back…very large ones.
Any coments welcome!
Living Free!
I have struggled with many health issues that popped up after having my 1st child in 2005. I gained an incredible 85 lbs with her. After delivery, I started the mission to get the weight off but even with hiring a personal trainer was only a few pounds lighter. Being a runner, I hopped on the treadmill and joined Weight Watchers, excited to know change was coming. I started gaining weight and was always tired. Like the kind of tired that some days, I’d get a shower and have to get back into bed. The symptoms got worse and two doctors said I just needed to eat less and exercise more. More than 1 1/2 hours a day and Weight Watchers wasn’t enough?! Long story short and after my 3rd doctor was convinced to give me the thyroid test, sure enough it was hypothyroid. I was relieved to know my road to feeling better was around the corner. That was in 2005, although some symptoms got better, the weight issue, and fatigue stuck around. I tried Weight Watchers again, and then Jenny Craig. My husband started searching the internet himself out of frustration with the medical field not listening to me and I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant living with my disatisfaction or the cost of our efforts on programs that weren’t working. FINALLY, he came across a website that talked about gluten allergies and the symptoms were exactly what I have been dealing with. No wonder the diet programs weren’t working – they both allow gluten!!! Since October 2009, I have lost 50 lbs and 1/2 weigh to my goal. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 16. What really has convinced me is that now that I am gluten free, I KNOW when gluten creeps into my meal. We went on vacation, I thought I did pretty good, stayed away from the usual vacation treats but when we got home had gained 8 lbs. I cried, sometimes it just doesn’t seem fair. But, then I think of all the great things my body has done for me, like going through two pregnancies, if this is what I have to do to feel free in my skin again, it’s worth the sacrifice. Someone said I shouldn’t have gone gluten-free until getting tested for Celiac disease because now the test will come back negative. I’m not going to get tested, this seems to be working and I went long enough not being diagnosed and it’s probably just an intolerance anyway. Good luck to all that are on this website – may your journey be one of finding peace and answers. We have to be our own advocates. I’ve taken a lesson away from all of this. We know ourselves better than anyone else. Just because a doctor says nothing is wrong, doesn’t mean we should stop looking for our answers – they are out there.
If anyone is condsdering going on a elimation diet. I would strongly reccommed it. Docotrs could not dianogize me, But we where able to find out thourgh a elimation diet.
I had a weird allergy develop on my torso everytime I tried to run. I was told to take medications but who wants to medicate before going jogging. I decided to begin to take foods out of my system and test my own theories. Dairy was ok. I took out gluten and voila! not more running allergies and hives! It’s been two months and I do not miss it, although the first two weeks were bad.
Typical doctor’s response: problem -> prescription.
Your approach is much better.
As usual, each person can have specific, unique symptoms to the relatively common problem of gluten sensitivity.