Can we talk about gluten sensitivity? UPDATE

After reading countless posts here about gluten-free diets, and being lectured by my sister and several friends about gluten sensitivity (not Celiac), I finally decided to try going gluten free this weekend. This came about because while I think I'm doing alright bowel-wise, I've had a few really unpleasant days in the last month that I cannot blame on menstruation or "trigger foods" or stress. I have complained here about my gut just being really slow, and then having a day full of crampy bms....this was what was going on, but the crampy bms were turning into diarrhea (which I haven't had for years) and the next day I would just be doubled over with gas pains.


I eat a pretty healthy diet, but it's heavy on the carb side and light on protein. I just don't like, or can't tolerate, a lot of meat in my diet, and I'm lactose intolerant, and beans...well, if you're on this website you know about beans, LOL, so there you go. I do get most of my protein from dairy (lactose free milk & yogurt), some from nuts and beans, but a significant amount of my protein was coming from whole grain breads and flours.



Anyway, Sunday I just stopped eating all the wheat and oat products present in my life. We went to many parties this weekend and I wasn't even tempted by the cakes and cookies. That was weird. And here is is Tuesday, and I still have no desire at all for any gluten-filled product. I went and got special gluten-free oatmeal (Bob's Red Mill) and had that for breakfast and I feel....pretty darn good.



Today was threatening to be a crampy day full of bms, but so far no D. Some gas, but not anything like what I had for the past 4 weeks. I'm pretty excited about this. So what do you think is a reasonable trial period - 3 weeks? A month?

Been on the GF diet for the past 11 yrs. Seems the only time I flare is when I go off of it (aside from this past month). Not sayin it's a sure thing, but it's definitely helped me out. And now you can pretty much find whatever you're looking for in GF form anyway. Even a mainstream GF beer out now. When I went on it 11 yrs ago, it was hard to find anything, and what was out there was pretty bad. Now you've got a lot more options, that aren't that far from the real thing. Honestly at this point, I don't think I'd go back if I could. I think it's definitely worth a shot. Good luck to ya.

I'm with Kiwi, went off fodmap a tiny bit the other night and blew up like a balloon. No party, though. I also dislike meat but have very few alternatives for protein so eat a little every other day. Kazburn, how is your daughter feeling lately?

So glad she feels better!

I actually went mad yesterday and had a yummy flaky pastry double beef pie then blew up like a balloon and felt rotten - ahhh it was almost worth it though! This morning I have gone down and just feel tired - typical reaction for me when I have some foods like wheat!

Nice to know big betty is like me and goes off the straight and narrow occasionally <grin>

Oh, I've been there so many times too, kaz.

It's been 3 weeks of a gluten free diet, including five days of a work conference where I prepared none of the food myself, and I am here to report that I am a full-on, completely converted gluten free person. My bowels are doing much better and the most interesting thing of all is that my cogitation is significantly better. I'm able to concentrate! My energy levels are much higher. That was completely unexpected but totally welcomed.

My GI pulled me off all my meds 10 days ago because I had bad tinnitus (one of the potential side effects of Pentasa). I am somewhat concerned about a flare, but so far so good. My wrists and knees are getting a bit achy. I may put the sulfasalazine back in my plan if they get worse.

Congratulations on your success. Problems with gluten are very common, those who are intolerant or at least sensitive to gluten can affect almost one in seven people. I have always suspected that one reason why SCD works for so many is that it is a gluten-free diet. I think everyone with chronic gastro problems whether Crohn's, UC, IBS, or whatever, should avoid gluten for a few days to see if there is any connection.

Too bad President Kennedy’s physicians were not familiar with Celiac disease. He could have avoided many of his health issues. A recent review of the biopsies taken during his illness indicate that he had severe gluten intolerance:
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