I have talked about this before in previous blogs, sometimes wishing I had given my self a chance to try a gluten free diet before having my surgery to see if perhaps my thyroid would shrink to normal levels. I remember someone telling me, try it or you might regret it. I thought me regret it,nah I will defeat this. Well guess what, sometimes I have a slight regret and this week has been one of those weeks for me.
I have noticed this dough girl feeling in the past, but I think even more so now that I have been having so many issues with my stomach and I have been trying to figure out what my triggers are. Some of my triggers I know, and some I know and choose to pretend there is nothing wrong, and some I am not sure. For example, I love cheese I mean not love it's more like LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, cheese is not exactly the healthiest thing, not to mention I think somewhere deep deep down I know that it does a number on my stomach but I refuse to believe that such a glorious thing could make my stomach angry. After all everything taste better with cheese!!!! Lately, though I have been trying to cut back on cheese, and have noticed that after I ate a flour tortilla, ouch, after I ate a piece of wheat bread indigestion, spaghetti well I have always attributed the sauce to giving me indigestion but could it be the pasta?? Today, I ate pancakes and along came to dough girl sensation. I don't know if it's in my head, or is it possible that perhaps I do have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance. I mean after all both Celiac and Hashimotos are autoimmune disorders and I have read that they can be linked. I am not sure that I have celic because I don't always get reactions or maybe I do and just attribute to other things, or maybe it is the other things.
So with all that, what question popped into my head.. Is indigestion a sign of gluten intolerance/sensitivity? Well guess what it is. As a matter of fact, I picked up a book today called the Wheat Belly cookbook http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/ , and low and behold what did I magically turn to.......................... the page about gluten and how it affects people with and without Celiac (acid reflux, heartburn, gas,....). It also mentioned what I have read time and time again wheat and Hashimoto's, amongst other disease and it's worsening of these diseases. If that wasn't enough as if in bold print, the word inflammation sticks out to me. Inflammation, my dough girl feeling, hmm so maybe there is something to this madness. Maybe I am not crazy, or maybe I am either way I will be going to the gastro soon and I have decided that even if he tells me that I am not gluten sensitive or intolerance I am still going to cut back. Basically because from what I have read it seems lots of people get false negatives and still suffer. Now of course, this doesn't mean I am going to run out and buy every single gluten free thing out there because some of those things are very healthy either, I think it just means that I need to be more diligent and see if I too can get rid of my dough girl feeling or wheat belly, or whatever it is you want to call it. Now of course, I also realize that this has also become a "fad" diet for some, but it does raise my curiosity.
In case you are curious here are some symptoms of gluten intolerance/sensitivity and more information. I happened to come across this website and it seems like it has some good information. if you scroll down it talks about the symptoms. Unfortunately, I think what makes it confusing is that so many symptoms overlap so it's always hard to know.
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/gluten-sensitivity-intolerance-self-test/
Here are some other websites that may be helpful
http://www.gluten.net/default.aspx
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/symptoms-of-gluten-sensitivity-and-celiac-disease.html
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/features/gluten-intolerance-against-grain
No, you're not crazy! I've been GF for almost a year now and feel so different without gluten in my diet. I can tell when I've been "glutened" and can identify with the feeling you described. It's not easy, but it is getting better. From what my doctor thinks, it's probably a gluten sensitivity/intolerance as opposed to celiac disease, and she said if I feel better without gluten, then don't eat it. I could feel a difference after about 3 weeks. Lost some weight too! I don't see it as a fad because I know how awful I feel for a few days after eating something with gluten, so I think there is something to the thyroid/gluten connection. Try it and see if the dough feeling goes away? Good luck, and hang in there!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments! And for making me feel like I am not crazy. I really think there is something there. I think like you said even if it doesn't show up I am going to eliminate it anyways, I figure it won't hurt to try it!
DeletePS I think there was an inappropriate picture on my post that I did not post I have deleted it. My apologizes to everyone out there :)
ReplyDeleteWould love ton know how this is going on. I could probably stand to cut out some stuff.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you commented, because I got so busy I forgot to come back and do an update. I will do one this week, while I am off of work. I have been playing around with it a little bit and am still trying to figure it out basically.
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