Are there any here who were diagnosed with fibromyalgia and later diagnosed with celiac who actually became pain free after going gluten free? If so how long until the pain subsideded?

there are also those who had fibro and were treated for depression, and the fibro magically dissapeared. imo fibro seems like IBS, they know somethings wrong, but they just leave it at a blanket statement because they're not sure why you're in pain with no blood work showing anything.

I have a lot of digestive issues is why I ask. Hearturn, gas, constipation. The doctors do not sem to know a whole lot and have not been able to help me. I am not depressed. If going to a psyciatrist would help then I would ve all for it but it is hrd for me to belive that depression can cause nerve pain so bad.

I have miserable muscle and joint pain. It's gotton real bad for about the last 5 years or so. I have days I can barely walk around. I take a lot of ibuprophen just to get through the day. I have been truely gluten free for 20 years now. Even personal care products! I didn't hurt like this 20 years ago! I don't think it has anything to do with gluten at all! It may possibly from having celiac, but being gluten-free doesn't help it at all.

In the past 10 years, my dad died, my son had 3 brain surgeries, and my dh became a bad diabetic. Maybe that's the problem. I don't know. I am almost 54. Maybe it's just old age. lol

Fibro was one of my many (mis-)diagnoses in the months leading up to my Celiac/gluten diagnosis. Before my diagnosis, my muscle and bone pain was so horrendous that my dr. told me that I would end up in a wheelchair within a few years. I was 23.

I went gluten free, and my issues resolved. My Celiac symptoms (including the fibromyalgia/muscle pain) return when I consume even small amounts of gluten.

I don't think that *every* case of fibro is Celiac, of course, but I bet there are others who don't have fibro (have the pain, of course) but have pain because of Celiac.

Best of luck.

NeeSee
Have you ever cut nightshades out of your diet? They have been implicated in joint and muscle pain. These include tomatoes,potatoes,eggplant and peppers. Also I would look into candida overgrowth as well.

I was dx with it at age 23 and told I would probably be in a wheel chair by 25 as mine acted like RA. I could hardly move and if I sat still I would need help getting up. COuldn't sleep, hurt everywhere, couldn't stand to be touched. Put on low dose anti-depressants to act like muscle relaxers. It got the worst of the pain under control but didn't do anything for the joint stiffness. 5 years later, I had children and had to quit the pain pills. I then quit my job, lowered my stress activities, and learned to take naps everyday and learned to schedule my life with a high activity one day and no activity for several days.

Enter 3 rd child who can't eat wheat/gluten but isn't dx as a Celiac. I went gluten-free with her mostly to make sure her food tasted good and low and behold joint pain and stiffness has completely disappeared after 4 weeks. I can sit and get up without shooting pains up my legs, I haven't had my legs give way and make me fall and the biggy .... I put my coat on and had not one ounce of pain at all and can raise my arms above my head without any pain, stiffness, soreness afterward, or weakness. I'm not dx as Celiac but I don't care since being pain free for the first time in the last 15 years is enough for me to remain gluten-free.

Interesting that dairy cause a very mild leg and knee ache. I'm removing it as well.

I've had runny tummy problems since age 14 and it has always been declared "stress". When we did the gluten challenge with the baby and we all were eating heavy gluten meals, I was in horrible pain and was back to the point of needing some drugs to get thru the day. It is amazing it is gone and I feel fine. Even in the mornings getting out of bed. No pain.
Stacie

I don't eat a lot of nightshades, so I don't think that's the problem. I do eat a lot of sugar however, and my blood sugar is now in the pre diebetic stage. I should cut out the sweets I guess. I really don't think it'll help the aches and pains, but then again you never know. It's worth a try.

neesee

HI
You might want to ck out this thread from a previous post.

http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=38564

There is so much info in here.
You'll just need to read and pull out what applies to you.

I have found such a connection to the fibro pain that returned after being gluten-free for over 2 1/2 years.
When I cut the diary and foods high In oxalate's out I'm mostly free of fibro pain.
i have found swimming in a warm therapeutic pool helps me so much.
Judy

actually, there are some theories that suggest, chemically, what is going on with fibromyalgia that make it nothing like IBS in the "wastebasket syndrome" category. CSS (central sensitivity syndrome) diagnoses share some commonalities when it comes to brain chemistry, particularly in the reduced functionality in the parasympathetic nervous system. at least one theory suggests this is because the sympathetic nervous system is running so "hot" for so long (due to the excessive non-physical stresses that we put on our body, in comparison to the sum total of stresses that our body used to deal with tens of thousands of years ago) that we've burnt out our parasympathetic nervous system, to a certain degree. (we end up producing insufficient quantities of dopamine and seratonin, for starters.)

the problem is that the chemicals that are affected are very difficult to test for in the general blood system, and going in and testing chemical levels in the brain is too invasive of a diagnostic test for every day use. additionally, they're still studying fibro patients to find out what the differences are in general. hence the lack - so far - of standard laboratory tests.

as for the original question, I'm one of the opposites. I had been gluten free for four years, and casein free for three (and soy light for two or so), and was diagnosed with fibro early last year. were pretty sure we caught it rather early, and it's quite likely that it's stress induced in a very "classic" way. but you may find that it was a mis-dx for you; the only way to know is to try the diet and see how you do! good luck!

For people that are in pain, I suggest a grain free diet, if you have already gotten rid of the other common food intolerances, like gluten, soy, dairy, nightshades, going grain free should get rid of all your pain. Most all those gluten-free grains have some level of cross contamination, plus you could just be reacting to that grain. I have learned if I have a symptom, I look for the food that caused it. I now have no symptoms & feel wonderful!!!!

This is a blanket statement that does not apply to many, many people. There are various reasons why people are in pain, and for many, taking out all grains does not provide a solution. There may be a significant medical reason besides food-related problems.

totally agree Laura......hi by the way
it's a complicated medical issue for sure
you photo is fantastic ............i can't believe the progress you have made over the year
i'm so happy for you
judy

I have celiac and fibromyalgia. When I realized that I had a problem with gluten (long before the doctor realized it) I went gluten free. My pain and fatigue reduced by 50%. I still have fibromyalgia but it has lessened significantly and is much easier to deal with.

I am going to be short and simple, I never in a million years expected my celiac diagnosis to relieve my fibro and arthritis. Both have been in total remission since less than six months after I went gluten free. After over 40 years of living with daily pain and now going on 5 years pain free, totally.

Although I did not seek a doctor's advice, I believe I was having enough pain to be labeled with something like fibro, or worse.

Thankfully though, I no longer have such pains. What worked for me is magnesium and B12. The transformation is nothing short of miraculous to me. I still can hardly believe the difference, and you can bet I wish I knew ahead of time. Of course, I wish I knew about gluten ahead of time too.

I'm still trying supplements here and there though, as I research out various nutrients and how a lack thereof effects the body. Zinc may be another good one to try.

Short reply, I also find removing all foods with artificial colors, additives, preservatives, etc.... seem to help. mostly pain free after 6 mo's on gluten-free diet .

I sure hope that more of my fibro and arthitis symptoms go away now that I know I have celiac and continue eating totally gluten free (I wasn't as careful when I thought that I just had an intolerance). Wouldn't that be nice?