I have been doing the gluten-free diet for almost a year now. I have had accidental incidents with gluten (including McDonalds FF, which i still dont understand if they are gluten-free or not.... but anyway!). But since i've been on the diet and trying to control this illness i seem to get sick way easier! in the past year ive had about 3 colds, stomach flu, bronchitis, sinus infections. I always just have an overall sick feeling in my body. I get real weak, shakey, still have some reoccuring nausea. I do feel better since starting the diet. Not 100% better, but better. It's just these weird other things are happening that i never had before, when i wasnt gluten-free. These things are interfering with my everyday life. Has anyone else had anything similar happen?

Yes!!! I have been sicker this year then in my whole life! I have been gluten free for a year in the beginning of May. It is so frustrating. I don't understand it. I am starting to wonder what is wrong with me. I just got over having the flu. I was the only one in my family that didn't get a flu shot, but was the only one to get the flu in my house and I have three kids under six. I am sick more then they are and when I get a cold now, I get a cough for like a month. I have had some cold virus going on every month since October. The doctor says it is because I have kids, but the kids aren't even sick as much as me. I am at my whits end. I try and stay healthy and eat right, etc., but I don't know. I have had accidental gluttenings too and don't know if this has to do with it or what.
Maybe someone else will have some answers, but I can totally relate and I don't know what is causing it.
Monica

My experience has been quite different. In the 5.5 years that I have had celiac, I haven't gotten (NON CS) sick at all. Not a single cold, flu, cough, ache/pain, sneeze, sniffle or anything. I know I've been exposed because my wife gets colds alot. I had started a similar post to this about six weeks ago and there were a couple of other people who hadn't been sick either.

May I ask what you are doing to not get sick?? I want to know, because I am tired of being sick all the time.
Monica

Me too! Although I've only been gluten-free for 9 months. I did not get sick with a cold or virus at all this winter--even when someone else in the house had one. This was also the first Christmas season that I didn't get sick--I would always manage to catch something then. I'm not doing anything special--just eating gluten-free and taking a multivitamin every day.

I'm not doing anything. I don't take vitamins or have a very balanced diet. I'm a really busy grad student so I don't even have time to work out. In otherwords, I don't have a healthy life style. Maybe something developing celiac triggered a gene or something. I'm not really sure. I can't figure it out. My wife has had all sorts of things including strep throat and light mono. But I didn't get it. Good luck.

The only time I get sick is when being glutened. I find just the opposite, everyone at work has been sick many times over and I have not got the flu at all. Howevr, I do keep getting a reoccuring eye infection and everytime I go to the doctor it disappears. However if it is not gone this time when I see him then he can see it, he figures it could be shingles which Celiacs seem to be more susceptible than other people.

I was getting sick for a long while but the "Olay Energy Pack" vitamins...even says gluten-free on the box...seems to have helped a huge amount. Plus the "Culturelle" probiotics Patti got me on say they will help boost immune system. Maybe this things will help others too. Just to double check I called Culturelle (put out by my fave company ConAgra and you can get them at CVS) they are gluten free and won't interact with any medications.
Hugs
Bridget

Yes, but I know it's not the diet for me, because I've been on the diet for two and a half years, and it's just been the past six months or so of extreme unhealthiness - constant migraines and colds every three weeks or so. It's probably because we've moved out of state to a colder climate, started new jobs, and bought a house, but it sucks all the same. Having to drastically alter your idea of what you should be able to accomplish in a day/week/month and what you are/do... yeah. It sucks.

The germs and viruses have most likely mutated into something you have not built up immunity to, and that is why you are sick so much this year. Your body is building immunities now, and you will probably not be sick next year.

Tiffany, your moving to a new state means being exposed to a new set of germs, and your body needs time to acclimate. This would happen every time a new child came into day care with a different set of germs.

I feel like my body has been bashed into pieces and cant handle any germs at all. Im on week #4 of my sinus infection & bronchitis. I got my 3rd antibiotic today, and was sent for a chest x-ray. And i noticed i seem to get all the side effects from any medication i get prescribed. I feel like my body cant take much more of this... I have been taking vitamins, just in hopes that maybe in some point in time theyll make a difference!

Are you taking a probiotic with your antibiotics? Otherwise you're going to wipe out the good bacteria in your gut, and that will make you more suspectible to other bugs again.

Pauliina

Tiffany,
It may be just a phase for you. We had friends move here to TN from California and they were sick alot for like six months. I think it is getting used to the germs in your area.
THen for me, I don't know what my problem is, but I am hoping this will pass.
Monica

i did just start taking probiotics a little over a week ago.
i just dont know how much longer i can take this. this sick feeling 24/7 is realllly getting to me. im 21, i have a 1 year old son. i never go out b/c i feel so sick. i feel like i cant take care of my son. all my friends are going out and having a good time, and im at home b/c i havent eaten in a day, or im sick to my stomach. this is so hard to deal with...

Rache--I just want to say that I hope you get some relief from all of this soon. I can remember when my boys were very young and it was all I could do to take care of them. When they napped, I rested. I know that's no way for a young person to live--I understand and I will keep a good thought for you

Thanks Patti, i really appreciate it

YES! I have many symptoms still and n/v/d still. It is very strange. I feel that I have more symptoms now then I did BEFORE I was diagnosed. Sometimes I wish I had my old body back.

This part of it sounds like hypoglycemia to me. There is another thread on that right now. You might try eating every few hours and see if that makes you feel better. The best diet I have found for it is at www.glycemicindex.com. It seems like a lot of us with Celiac have hypoglycemia as well.

My other thought is, are you sure that you don't have any other food allergies/intolerances? If you don't feel 100% on the diet, you still may be eating things that don't agree with you. If your body is constantly dealing with bad food, it may stress your immune system and make you more susceptible to other illnesses. Just a thought. I am going through this right now. I think there are other things I can't eat and I'm trying hard to figure them out.

Hope you feel better soon

Now im even more worried. I had gone to the hospital for a chest x-ray b/c ive been sick for 4 weeks now. Thr nurse from my Dr office called and said that the x-ray came back fine, but she then said the Dr wanted to know if i was having any stomach pain. I said yes, actually lately i have had it worse than normal. And she said the Dr wanted me to go back yesterday ASAP for a stomach x-ray... Being that yesterday was Friday, im assuming i wont hear anything till Monday. I asked why she thought i needed one, but the nurse said she didnt know. I'm a little nervous as to why the Dr thought i would need an x-ray of my stomach... Guess i'll have to wait until Monday and see if i hear anything back!

Oh Rache--try not to worry. I know it is hard not to. Quite possibly the doctor has an idea why you've been so sick--at least that way you'll know and can begin to get better. Please let me know what they say on Monday--still keeping those good thoughts coming your way

I encourage all of you to contact Biohealth Diagnostics....www.biohealthinfo.com You're suffering needlessly and they're experts in treat causes rather than symptoms. If you have sinus infections you should not be taking antibiotics, you sound be taking antifungals...98 percent of sinus infections are caused by fungus according to the Mayo Clinic... ALL people with celiac have underlying infections that need to be treated or total health can't be restored...

I had a very different experience - initially. I used to get 2-3 colds per year, and after going gluten-free, for a long time I never got sick at all. It was one of things that really proved to me that the diet was really helping. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case over the last four months or so - in that time, I have had a stomach virus 3 times, and 2 or 3 colds. However, we have a lot of circumstances that I think contribute - we just moved to a new state, we have a toddler in day care, my wife works in a hospital, and last, and I think probably most importantly, we have gone for a significant length of time (2+ years) with a ton of stress and no significant downtime. I think after having to burn the candle at both ends for a while, you start to lose your resistance. Something to think about anyway.

Chris

the dr office called me back today with my abdominal xray results. they said there was no blockages. but i have a lot of extra air moving around inside. i have definately been SO bloated lately. i feel like i could be popped with a pin. i swear nothing inside of me is moving. i eat food, and im not sure where it goes... i have felt horrible the last couple of days. im not sure why. right now i feel so sick, nauseated... yuck. this is horrible. i wish it could just be over

Rache,
I am sorry you are feeling so sick! Hopefully they can find some answers to your stomach problems. Do you have C or D still? Thinking of you and hoping you get some relief very soon. I take dramamine when I am nauseated and it seems to help me.
Hugs,
Monica

Rache--I have the same problems with gas. My GI, when I mentioned it to him, told me to take Phazyme--I find it helps. If you want to try it, keep in mind that the softgels are gluten-free. The fast acting ones are NOT. My gas can cause nausea, too--especially while eating for some reason. Feel better

i suffer from a mix of C & D. I get bad stomach aches, cramps. I can usually feel gas gurgling around inside, but it doesnt go anywhere. i think the constant nausea is what bothers me the most. the Dr. prescribed me Zelnorm about 3 weeks ago. Don't notice any difference yet.

hhhh

i reallllly do try my hardest to be 100% gluten free. i eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, fresh things!!! i have a whole cabinet foods that are gluten free (in my area you cant buy a lot of stuff at the stores, so i order online). i kept a food diary for months at the begining. i quit doing it because i always eat the same foods, fruits, vegetables, etc. i swear each week i repeat the same meals over and over again, which gets so boring! but im sure everything is gluten free. ive hadan episode where ive been glutened, and that was NOT pleasant. way more sick than i am on a daily basis, and that lasted about a week. im really running out of ideas. im finding it hard to get out of bed every day. im sick of going to the doctor, no one seems to really want to help! it took me 4 yrs just to get diagnosed with celiac disease. this stuff just gets me down all the time. i just feel that i shouldnt have to live like this... im 21! i have a baby to take care of! i just wish i could carry on a somewhat "regular" lifestyle, without being sick ALL the time.

Rache,
I am SO sorry you are feeling so bad lately. I have been feeling the same way for weeks. Very depressing. I was unknowingly getting gluten though by CC and I think that is why my body has been so sick for six months. I had gotten gluttened so many times, I am SO hoping this was the problem. Just the past two days I am feeling better. I hope it isn't a fluke, but my IBS-C is dying down on it's own and I am pretty sure that I haven't had any cc issues in two weeks. I know for four months I felt 100% better at first, so I think I got more sensitive as time went on and I started reacting to even very small amounts of gluten. THe thing is, is that when I am gluttened badly, I know it, but when it is just CC I just get moodier and have IBS-C. WHen it is severe I have D for a day and then returns to C.
I really don't know your situation and what you are eating. I think if you are having bloating and nausea though, it definitely sounds as if you could be getting gluten somewhere.
Maybe if you run all your products shampoos, conditioners, lipstick, foods. Do you cook other food with gluten in for someone in your family??
I don't eat out anymore, minus one place that I get a baked potatoe and that is it.
I know it is hard when you have kids and don't want to get out of bed. This has been a very recent experience for me too. My husband has been telling me though, that it will get better and when he says that it always gives me strength and makes me feel better. Just knowing that this can't last forever and it isn't the rest of my life makes me feel a bit better. It can be VERY depressing to feel sick everyday!! I will keep you in my prayers and you can email me anytime you are feeling down and want someone to listen!
HUGS<
Monica

rache, have you tried cutting dairy for a couple of weeks? Dairy allergies can cause digestive upset along with respiratory problems. I was sick a lot before dx. Since dx I have not been sick yet. I take vitamins (and probiotics when I remember). I took Zelnorm before dx when I still thought it was IBS - the only thing it really helped with was going to the bathroom when I couldn't. I don't remember it really helping much with pain or bloating. I didn't have illnesses or respiratory problems after going gluten-free, but I did still feel weak and shaky, sore a lot, and had a lot of bloating, discomfort. Going dairy free has helped me out a lot. It probably wouldn't solve everything, even if you are allergic - takes our bodies a while to adjust and get the bad stuff out - I still feel weak and sore sometimes. But I do hope it's just dairy - it's worth a shot and free to try anyway.

Just remember, it's not just no milk - it's no butter and no cheese! And no eating out while you are testing to see if that's it because there is butter everywhere! If you need butter-type stuff at home - Flieschman's stick margarine is ok if it's the kind that says Lactose Free on it. Double check the ingredients - but it should be totally dairy free because it is probably casein, not lactose, that is bugging you.

Yeah i get sick a lot more and lot easier since being gluten-free. Even tho i follow it very strict now, it seems to be making my immune system weaker. I didnt even bother going for a flu-shot this year, because I got one last year for the first time, and I ended up sick more than when i DONT get the shot!

Its a big pain in the butt if you ask me

~lisa~

[quote name='rache' post='116844' date='Mar 21 2006, 03:07 PM']
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