Gluten free

Izabella22 · March 2011

So for the 2nd time my OMT guy has requested I try gluten free, at least for a couple of weeks to see if it helps w/ my recurrent headaches. I've gotten this request from 2 physical therapists in the past but blew it off. He said that if I'm gluten sensitive it could also be contributing to my losses. Given that my body is completely out of whack right now, I'm game to give it a whirl, but its a huge change. Just wondered if anyone here is gluten free or has had a doc recommend it? I have been tested for celiac disease and it came up negative, so after talking about it w/ my primary she agreed it seemed silly to make such a huge change, but now I'm hearing it from another MD and he is helping my headaches so I'm trying to take him at his word.

tdmd09 · March 2011

My stepmom went gluten free for similar reasons, actually. She says gluten gives her bad headaches. She's been gluten free for about 2 years and she thinks it has helped tremendously. Every once in a while she will eat something with gluten in it (like a friend's birthday cake) and every time, she gets a headache and feels awful.

I will say that there are some good gluten-free products and some really crummy ones, so you may have to shop around some, but gluten-free is definitely gaining popularity. I would do some research to see what kinds of ingredients to keep an eye out for, because they sneak gluten into almost everything anymore.

I hope it works for you!

jilld23 · March 2011

I started working with a nutritionist to lose weight before we started TTC. I lost nearly 50 pounds in a little over 4 months but I was doing gluten, dairy and sugar free except for one cheat meal every two weeks.

Gluten free is really a great option. Now that I lost the baby, I am back on gluten, dairy and sugar free. I love it because I feel so much more regular and health. It makes me less tired and cranky and moody. I find it interesting that a doctor told you it could contribute to your loss because when I got pregnant, I started cheating more (due to cravings and the morning sickness). I would eat crackers and occasionally a chocolate bar if I got a headache.

If you have any other questions, just let me know.

1220winterbride · March 2011

i have heard it recommended for infetility and miscarriage prevention but i never tried.

i might later. at this point i think grains are important. you could read some on the website naturally knocked up.

https://www.naturallyknockedup.com/table-of-contents/

MusicalMegan · March 2011

I went Gluten Free, and I mean Gluten FREE for 2 and a half years following over a month of nonstop vomiting and losing weight. (sorry for TMI) It literally added up to a pound a day lost! I ended up finding out there's gluten in freakin EVERYTHING, the shampoo and conditioner I used, the lotion I had...it was overwhelming at first but there are soo many tools out there now to help people. I'm back now to fully eating gluten and not getting sick (I'm some kind of medical mystery) but my sister discovered through all of my suffering that she has celiac disease. I found the easiest thing to do was to try and just eat "whole" foods. I avoided a lot of sauces and things unless they were marked Gluten Free, ofcourse after 2 years I pretty much knew everything that had gluten and all that....Now theres those Duncan Hines mixes (my DH actually prefers their GF brownies over the other boxes) Bisquick has come out with a GF mix and a lot of products and restaurants are marking things so if you don't mind it too much it might be not as bad as it would've been before and it could help. Idk how much research you've done on any of it but I did a lot of reading and found out that a lot of people who have it still don't have a postive blood test for celiac disease. I ended up getting a biopsy done of my intestine to be totally sure since my reaction was so bad and I had lactose intolerance anytime I had gluten. SO if you have lactose intolerance as well I would look into it further otherwise a blood test should be fine. If you want any recipes or have any questions abou it I seriously know more than any person w/out Gluten intolerance should! It helps that my sister talks to me about the new products all the time and whats good or bad. It can get expensive if you get into the rice flours and all. GL! Sorry for my long response. I don't even know if I really was helpful! I hope so!

Manderlin923 · March 2011

(siggy)

(and this will be long, just to warn you)

ME! I have been gluten free for about 6 weeks. I first started researching thyroid disease (Hoshimoto) because it runs in my family. Then I got tested and it was negative. By that time I had already read more about autoimmune disorders linked to it- one of which was Celiac disease. The more I researched, the more I knew I had some form of gluten intolerance (or at least suspected it). My symptoms were (tmi coming up)

-really gassy, pretty much every evening

-really bloated- like grossly bloated belly by the end of the day

-diarhea about once a month for a couple days- I always thought, "Oh, it looks like I have the flu yet AGAIN"

-anxiety

-red bumps on my arms (keritosis pilaris (sp?))

-and of course two miscarriages.

My OBGYN said the studies linking GI and m/c are few and far between but the GI specialist I saw said there is definitely a link. From what I've read online (and I've googled till I thought my eyeballs would bleed) there IS a link between untreated Celiac/GI and miscarriage/infertility. Basically when you have a sensitivity to gluten your body will attack itself. Some people get digestive problems like me (and are misdiagnosed as IBS) and others get headaches, achy bones, anxiety, depression, skin problems, etc... there are blood tests you can do (antibodies, gene test) and there's also an intestinal biopspy. I only got 1 blood test done and it was negative. I didn't want to pay 1,000+ bucks for mroe testing so I just decided to go gluten free to see if my symptoms improved.

Within a week I had some improvement in my gas at night. My DH used to tease me and call me a "one woman band" with the noises I'd make every night lol. Now, I never have gas unless we eat something like broccoli. The bumps on my arms are still there but have really improved and lessened. I am not bloated anymore. I feel my anxiety has lessened a bit and I haven't had the big D except one night when I got "glutened" accidentally. That same night I was gassy and bloated as well. I am convinced I have some kind of GI or Celiac. I don't know which and I don't really care. I am mostly content on the gluten free diet. I like to cook and have even made gluten free yellow cake (w/ chocolate frosting), carrot cake, muffins, bread, pizza crust and this weekend I'm going to do homemade croissants. Some gluten free food is expensive but it's mostly the junk food that is pricey, imo. I still eat dairy and veggies and fruits and fish (I'm already not a meat eater) and I just have to watch ingredients for things. If you are going to try it you have to commit 100% because unless you get all the gluten out of your system your symptoms won't go away. I find I can tell when I accidentally eat something with gluten in it because I will get SO sick- like for three days- cramps and D and it is truly terrible. I think I'm much more sensitive to it now that I'm off it.

Please let me know if anyone has questions. I know something like 99% of people with GI don't know they have it. I am so grateful I found out what was wrong with me. I also have read it is linked to Endometriosis (which I have) so that's something to keep in mind. Of course, if you have no symptoms while on gluten, it isn't a problem. But for those people that do, it can really f up your body. Here's some good websites I've been relying on but you can find many more if you search.

https://www.glutenfreebeat.blogspot.com/

https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/

https://www.celiac.com/

https://members.cox.net/harold.kraus/gluten/anno_symptoms_files/birth.htm

Manderlin923 · March 2011

(siggy)

I also wanted to echo what pp said about hidden ingredients (in things like caramel color, thickeners, even MSG can create a gluten like reaction- no more Hidden Valley Ranch for me- boooo) and also sometimes people test negative but really do have it.

I think the biggest difference in Celiac vs. GI is that some people with GI can add it back in their diets with no problem after awhile (like pp) but people that have Celiac actually have an autoimmune disorder and it can do major damage to them. I will probably try adding it back in at some point, after a pregnancy and healthy baby is born (fingers crossed) but until then I'm gluten free and happy

(I have some awesome recipes so if anyone is interested let me know!)

ETA- I agree that whole grains are important but I think I get plenty of fiber from my gf diet- brown rice, brown rice pasta, beans, fruits & veggies, etc.

mrs.gee · March 2011

I went GF for about 7 months at the request (demand!) of an acupuncturist. I have an ovarian cyst that may be an endometrioma and she was convinced that I had endometriosis. There is apparently a link between gluten and endo, and some people with endo find relief from the pain by going GF. As others have said, gluten can be inflammatory.

I lost weight and felt really healthy on the diet. I basically didn't eat the GF alternatives to "normal" foods because I couldn't stand them. That meant a lot of meat, fish, veg and fruits. That said, I didn't feel any different on the diet and it was a *major* pain, especially at family events and out with friends. And because I didn't really buy into the endo diagnosis, it was hard to justify to myself and therefore hard to stand up for myself when everyone wanted to go for pizza and I was the sad sack in the corner eating carrots. I think if I really believed the diet was for a valid purpose, it would have felt less like self-flagellation.

I think there is more research to be done on gluten. Clearly some people find enormous relief when they've eliminated it from their diet. It's certainly worth a try. But, I also think it's become a bit of a fad - not everything is caused by a gluten sensitivity, but it seems to be thrown around a lot as a cure-all lately.

Manderlin923 · March 2011

mrs.gee:

I went GF for about 7 months at the request (demand!) of an acupuncturist. I have an ovarian cyst that may be an endometrioma and she was convinced that I had endometriosis. There is apparently a link between gluten and endo, and some people with endo find relief from the pain by going GF. As others have said, gluten can be inflammatory.

I lost weight and felt really healthy on the diet. I basically didn't eat the GF alternatives to "normal" foods because I couldn't stand them. That meant a lot of meat, fish, veg and fruits. That said, I didn't feel any different on the diet and it was a *major* pain, especially at family events and out with friends. And because I didn't really buy into the endo diagnosis, it was hard to justify to myself and therefore hard to stand up for myself when everyone wanted to go for pizza and I was the sad sack in the corner eating carrots. I think if I really believed the diet was for a valid purpose, it would have felt less like self-flagellation.

I think there is more research to be done on gluten. Clearly some people find enormous relief when they've eliminated it from their diet. It's certainly worth a try. But, I also think it's become a bit of a fad - not everything is caused by a gluten sensitivity, but it seems to be thrown around a lot as a cure-all lately.

I think it depends on where you live, for one thing. There aren't gluten free alternatives at restaurants around me, it is probably more in bigger cities and I feel it is most likely done as a "diet" to lose weight (and it can have the opposite effect on some) than as a medical diet, i.e the next "atkins" or "south beach" ETA- I agree with you that it sounds like it's becoming a fad diet which is a shame because it downplays the real negative effect on so many people.

I would also venture to say it is one of the MOST undiagnosed diseases out there, Dr. Oz did a show yesterday about it and said 99% of people with it don't even know and I know it takes the average Celiac something like 20 years to get a proper diagnosis.

Did that Dr actually do a laparoscopy for you or did she just "guess" that you had endo? Just curious- I had a lap done a few years ago and I thought that was the only way to know for sure. Sounds like you're not certain you even had/have it. But that is crappy of her to push it on you if it wasn't the issue, kwim?

mrs.gee · March 2011

Manderlin923:
mrs.gee:

I went GF for about 7 months at the request (demand!) of an acupuncturist. I have an ovarian cyst that may be an endometrioma and she was convinced that I had endometriosis. There is apparently a link between gluten and endo, and some people with endo find relief from the pain by going GF. As others have said, gluten can be inflammatory.

I lost weight and felt really healthy on the diet. I basically didn't eat the GF alternatives to "normal" foods because I couldn't stand them. That meant a lot of meat, fish, veg and fruits. That said, I didn't feel any different on the diet and it was a *major* pain, especially at family events and out with friends. And because I didn't really buy into the endo diagnosis, it was hard to justify to myself and therefore hard to stand up for myself when everyone wanted to go for pizza and I was the sad sack in the corner eating carrots. I think if I really believed the diet was for a valid purpose, it would have felt less like self-flagellation.

I think there is more research to be done on gluten. Clearly some people find enormous relief when they've eliminated it from their diet. It's certainly worth a try. But, I also think it's become a bit of a fad - not everything is caused by a gluten sensitivity, but it seems to be thrown around a lot as a cure-all lately.

I think it depends on where you live, for one thing. There aren't gluten free alternatives at restaurants around me, it is probably more in bigger cities and I feel it is most likely done as a "diet" to lose weight (and it can have the opposite effect on some) than as a medical diet, i.e the next "atkins" or "south beach" ETA- I agree with you that it sounds like it's becoming a fad diet which is a shame because it downplays the real negative effect on so many people.

I would also venture to say it is one of the MOST undiagnosed diseases out there, Dr. Oz did a show yesterday about it and said 99% of people with it don't even know and I know it takes the average Celiac something like 20 years to get a proper diagnosis.

Did that Dr actually do a laparoscopy for you or did she just "guess" that you had endo? Just curious- I had a lap done a few years ago and I thought that was the only way to know for sure. Sounds like you're not certain you even had/have it. But that is crappy of her to push it on you if it wasn't the issue, kwim?

I totally agree with everything you said. I felt like it was being "prescribed" to me as a fad, and with no real reason. That kind of cheapens the fact that it's really and truly beneficial to Celiacs and that gluten sensitivity is under-diagnosed and under-treated. I just don't think it's my issue. I actually live in NY so there are tons of GF options available, but of course they are just not the same.

I haven't had a laproscopy (and yes, it is the only way to know for sure) and have no other obvious symptoms of endo. In fact, when I asked my doctor about my acupuncturist's diagnosis he gave me the big side-eye. Of course, she caused me a lot of stress and hand-wringing wondering if I had it or not. I still don't really think I do, but I have that niggling worry!

Carolee · March 2011

I am, although just temporarily. My RE is having me cut it out for a month, and then I can eat it 3-4 times a week after that. My mom has celiac, and I've been tested once but the test came back negative. I have heard that you can get false negatives on the test, so it could be possible that you have it.

Izabella22 · March 2011

Thanks ladies for all the responses! Lots of research to do! I'm definitely going to give it a whirl but argh... its amazing how much stuff has it in it! Its definitely going to curb my eating habits and it certainly seems expensive... but I look at the list of symptoms it can cause and it seems to fit. Certainly it can't hurt to try it (and its not like I couldn't afford to eat healthier and lose some weight) so I guess tonight was my last hurrah w/ the gluten for a couple of weeks. It'll be interesting, I've never been on any kind of diet in my life so... very intresting!

I had read that you can be sensitive but get a negative b/c you don't actually have celiac, but still get inflammatory response from the wheat. I have some cousins that cut out gluten and they both swear it was life changing so... worth a try!

Manderlin923 · March 2011

Izabella22:

Thanks ladies for all the responses! Lots of research to do! I'm definitely going to give it a whirl but argh... its amazing how much stuff has it in it! Its definitely going to curb my eating habits and it certainly seems expensive... but I look at the list of symptoms it can cause and it seems to fit. Certainly it can't hurt to try it (and its not like I couldn't afford to eat healthier and lose some weight) so I guess tonight was my last hurrah w/ the gluten for a couple of weeks. It'll be interesting, I've never been on any kind of diet in my life so... very intresting!

I had read that you can be sensitive but get a negative b/c you don't actually have celiac, but still get inflammatory response from the wheat. I have some cousins that cut out gluten and they both swear it was life changing so... worth a try!

Well good luck! Please let me know if you have any questions or need some recipes. It is HARD at first (not gonna lie) but you get used to it. One tip is to make sure you have some kind of "treat" on hand so you don't feel deprived, kwim? My DH would eat a big piece of pie or something and I'd feel sooo sorry for myself. Now, I know I can have some chocolate or some kinds of ice cream (just a little!)

You have to plan ahead. And yes, you will most likely loose weight if you replace the gluten-filled foods (cookies, pretzels, bagels, bread, etc) with healthy options. I am just 9 pounds away from my goal weight- the smallest I've been in about 8 years!

JPS · March 2011

Good luck! I've been gluten free for the past month or so just while TTC since my m/c. I did it when I got pregnant the last time, but this time I plan on sticking with it through at least the first trimester. To be perfectly honest, I'm only doing it because my sister's friend recommended it, and she's a fertility acupuncturist. But I have to admit, I feel really good while gf, so maybe I'll keep it up.

A lot of the gluten free replacements (cookies, pretzels...) are really expensive, so I try to avoid most of them. I buy brown rice pasta and eat a lot of brown rice and quinoa. If I really need a cracker or something, I'll eat rice crackers or the multi-grain crackers by Crunchmaster (Costco sells them and they're delicious!) I love to bake, so I bought "The Gluten Free Baking Classics" cookbook (see link below). It got great reviews and it looks amazing. Plus it didn't require as many fancy, expensive flours. I can't wait for my xanthan gum to arrive so I can start baking (I ordered it on ebay to save money!). If you look online, there are a ton of recipes, websites, and blogs about gf. Heck, this weekend I'm trying my hand at vegan, gluten free chocolate cupcakes with mint icing (one of my friends is vegan, not me Smile )

Let me know if you need any good recipes or need a gf buddy for some moral support!

https://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Baking-Classics-Annalise-Roberts/dp/1572840994/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301023113&sr=8-1

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