Reintroducing Gluten

I went 6 months gluten free to see if it would have any positive effects on my autonomic neuropathy (pots/fatigue… no perceived benefit) and as a challenge to myself since I’ve never really done any major diet changes longer than 3 weeks before (success!). I did feel more energetic after the 3rd week but since then I haven’t really noticed anything beneficial. Anyways, this weekend I decided it’s time to reintroduce gluten and was curious if anyone out there had any experiences to share with gluten reintroduction.

I am not celiac nor did I have any sensitivity beforehand. I believe I should start slow so yesterday I had 2 small pieces of Italian bread toast and today I had a piece of cheesecake. Yesterday I did note a sharp headache for a few hours in the afternoon but I am also recovering from a setback 3 weeks ago where I had a vasovagal response to all the herbs, supplements, and Bicillin I was taking and am working my way back to baseline (got rid of all anti microbials and kept the wonderful Bicillin every 5 days).

It could have been the gluten, or it could have been an immune response from the Bicillin shot I had on Friday night, impossible to distinguish at this point. I did not have any GI discomfort, bloating, or intestinal distress. My plan is to have some gluten every day and increase the amount over the next week or two before resuming eating as I please.

I have been treating for a while. When I first started I didn't know any significant difference from removing gluten. Maybe because I had so much else going on it wasn't obvious.

At this point (11 years later) I find I can tolerate some gluten - like having 1 piece of cake or eating the muffin on a "egg mcffun". However if I get it day after day, I have a problem.

For instance I am now on a "taking my life back" phase. So I am drinking some beer. If I had paid attention I would have realized that on day 3 of 1 beer at night, I was having issues. Last night - day 4 - I was miserable. My feet were so hot. Eventually headache, muscle ache and toxic feeling.

For me it isnt a food sensitivity such that if I reitroduce it slowly I will eventually be able to consure it. It is more that my body will tolerate an input level over some duration in time and then it complains.