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Has anyone tried going gluten free?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/12/2012 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
I keep seeing gluten pop up as contributing to different health problems and causing leaky gut symptoms. Some things I read suggest gluten sensitivity may play a bigger role in health problems and may be overlooked as a cause. Wondering if anyone has tried a gluten-free diet and noticed any help, even in non-abdominal symptoms like joint pain or fatigue?
Posted 1/12/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I briefly tried gluten free and in doing so ate a lot of whole grains. BIG mistake! It made me bleed like no other! Now I am doing the SCD diet and going on it full time slowly so I have not yet fully eliminated gluten. I know a lot of people benefit from cutting out gluten, though. Personally, with our disease, it seems like trying different diets is far more appealing than trying to attack all the symptoms with medicine alone, so I say go for it! Just avoid whole grains!!
Posted 1/12/2012 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed a vast improvement since eating foods without gluten. I believe one reason why the SCD diet is so effective for so many is because it is gluten free. Tests for Celiac disease may tell you if you are gluten intolerant, but will not indicate if you are gluten sensitive. And sensitivity to gluten is much more common than gluten intolerance and can cause gastro symptoms.

A good test is to avoid gluten foods for 2-3 weeks and see if there is a noticeable improvement.
Posted 1/12/2012 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
I adopted a gluten free diet at the end of May, 2011.  Within 2 weeks, my "brain fog" had lifted.  Within 3 weeks, all remnants of soft stool were gone.  Within 6 months, my chronic knee pain had disappeared.

My rheumatologist tested me for celiac disease years ago and told me I did not have it.  He was surprised to hear that I've had such good results.  My GI was very supportive.

Posted 1/12/2012 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
dropping wheat made a huge difference to the IBS side of my crohns and when I removed FODMAP foods it got even better. from bloating and multiple bowel movements to pretty much normal but it took about three months and symptoms come back if I go back on those foods.

I am not celiac but I certainly have a major intolerance to wheat as well as a few other key foods.

worth a try in my book :)

Posted 1/12/2012 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
I went gluten free (as well as dairy, soy, egg, sugar) for 6 weeks. I only got worse. I added things back slowly and did not notice a difference. It didn't work for me, unfortunately.
Posted 1/13/2012 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have been off and on the Specific carbohydrate diet for the last 3 or 4 years and when I stick to it I feel amazing. The problem for me is I start to feel good and then start eating bad foods again until I feel bad then start the diet and feel great again. I would recommend the book breaking the vicious cycle. It really changed my life as far as dealing with my crohns disease. I don't like to take medication so I began looking for natural alternatives to treat my crohns and this book was the thing that worked for me. I felt so good when I was eating healthy. No stomach aches, gas, and I actually had formed stool. I am actually going to be getting back on it. I think it is the way everyone should eat, even people without stomach issues. Good luck. Its hard to stick with at first but just think of all the healthy things you are eating and not the things you cant eat.
Posted 1/13/2012 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
I went gluten-free for a few weeks and felt no difference whatsoever. My pocketbook, however, was much lighter . . . man, that GF stuff is expensive.
Posted 1/13/2012 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I just started Jan. 1st. I can't see a change yet but will continue for a few months just to see if it makes any difference at all. I'm in the middle of a flare so it make take a while to see if there's a difference anyway. It's not as hard as I thought it'd be.
Posted 1/13/2012 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
I went gluten free in december, 5 weeks ago. I had immediately symptom improvements, and haven't had any hip pain for weeks. Stools are formed and I have to go only once a day.

I think many of us with gut issues will benefit from going gluten free. I started by making my own gluten free buns, put them in the freezer and take out what I need for breakfast every morning. Have always fresh bread now, and they are soooo tasty!!
I cook all my food, and make delicious dinners and lunches. No added wheat, when you cook from scratch, you are your own chef.

I bought a cook book with gluten free receipes, but there's also a lot to find online.

If gluten free diets won't help you, you should consider the SCD, it's more restrictive, because you also avoid sugar, rice, and a lot of other starches when on the SCD. But maybe some is doing fine by gluten free diets, and other need harder guns like the SCD.

I am also on LDN, low dose naltrexone, which has helped me for more than 4 years. LDN is my only medicine and is known to give the same remission grade as the biologics remicade and humira.

The SCD has been trialled in a pilot recently, here's the result: 100 % remission rate. The SCD and LDN in a combination is a no brainer!!

http://crohnsdad.wordpress.com/author/crohnsdad/
Posted 1/14/2012 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
I personnaly don't believe at all that gluten and lactose can be responsable.. I absolutly see no difference with or without them. I didn't try for a long period, but my symptoms are mild at base.. If I wouldn't had a DX I would probably don't I'm ''sick''.If it would matter to everybody, I think, I'd be worse. It depends of each case, but what I know is you can developp a intolerence of those thise (Not sure for the gluten) to lactose if you stop taking it for an enough length time, so if it don't seem to particulary bother you know, don't stop them, you could find yourself really incapable of digest them afterward.
My opignon.
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