CELIAC Archives

Celiac/Coeliac Wheat/Gluten-Free List

CELIAC@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Perrianne Lurie <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 7 Jul 1998 08:49:16 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (189 lines)
<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I received 15 responses to my original post. Several reported similar
problems (diarrhea, gas, cramps) with their periods. One reported
constipation. Several had heavier periods, or worsened menstrual cramps.

>This sounds like me, Perrianne.  I have no remedies (this should not be
>discouraging; I just haven't tried much).


>I would suggest that lots of things are going to be screwed up with your
>body systems for awhile if you just went gluten free.  It takes awhile for
>the body to heal and get its nutrition status together.  I have been gf for
>5 years (biopsy diagnosed).  I had/have lots of problems with my gynecology
>system.  You should see a gyn. specialist and probably a nutritionist.


>YES, YES YES!!!! Just this morning I've been about doubled-over with what I
>think are menstrual cramps (but then again, sometimes it's hard to tell
>exactly what is going on in my abdominal cavity - it basically feels like
>someone went in and tied everything in a big granny knot and pulls in the
>wrong place.) And I do know I have endometriosis - diagnosed in
>laparoscopy.
>
>BTW, Tylenol is GF, if you're looking for a safe pain reliever. On the
>other hand, it might cause inflammation in the intestine. What's a woman to
>do???
>
>After years of dealing with this, I still don't have answers. I wish there
>were such a thing as emergency acupuncture, because I know it would help in
>such a situation. Deep breathing and meditation do help somewhat.


>Yes this past month I became a diagnosed Celiac and I was very
>uncomfortable and I only had energy enough to lay in bed when I got my
>period a week and a half ago.  I am also severely anemiac so my
>menstruation took its toll taking most of my iron with it. The doctor put
>me on birth control pills so that I can rebuild my iron levels. Perhaps
>you have a problem with iron too. I am taking iron and calcium pills to
>build that up. Talk to your doctor first before doing anything though.


>Within 2 months of being gf my normally very light periods became heavy
>(actually normal) with cramping, gas and sometimes a loose stool the first
>day. I figure I'm finally able to have a more normal cycle because I'm
>getting my nutrients, and that I'm just experiencing what many women do. I'm
>curious as to what you discover.


>I know my periods are more uncomfortable when I've made a mistake with my
>diet; but,  I also take it on faith that those symptoms can be triggered
>by any sufficient stress.
>
>That aside, the symptoms you describe were ones I considered "normal" for
>me for years. Does it have to do with the intolerance or with something
>else? I don't know. My GYN and I attributed it to other factors when we
>discussed it, but that was long before I was aware of celiac, etc. I
>doubt the GYN was aware of celiac, aside from whatever cursory coverage
>they gave it in her general medicine training, in which I'm sure they
>preached the old party line about it being extremely rare in the US.
>
>When I had those problems, my GYN advised, and I found it very helpful,
>to take the ibuprofen well BEFORE  the worst symptoms hit. I found I
>could kind of feel it coming, take a big dose of ibuprofen (or aleve or
>other NSA), and if I started early enough I could avoid pretty much all
>of it except the weakness and fatigue. It was also important to take the
>NSA consistantly and not miss any doses, regardless of how much better I
>was feeling, until the period was completely over.
>
>I also found that eating enough was helpful. If I got enough, especially
>of protien and fat,   it helped lots. However, as you know all too well,
>that's hard to do once your digestive system is upset.


>I have been a diagnosed celiac for 2 years.  Especially in the beginning I
>would tend to get mild diarrea right around my period.  As time has passed and
>I have recovered my good health, I have had less trouble with this.  I have
>never had nausea or cramps in any case.  I think it really does take a while
>to truly get the gluten out of your diet, it is hidden everywhere.  The longer
>you have been ill the longer it will take for things to heal and balance.  My
>full recovery took the better part of two years.


>Carlton Freericks (the grandaddy of nutrionists) told me to do 2
>things
>1. take 1 gram of balanced calcium a day.  If the body does not have
>enough, cramping occurs.  If crams occur, take an additional 500 mg of
>calcium.  Usually, pain will go away in 15 min.
>2. Make sure you take at least 50mg of all B vitamins --at eat meal for
>several weeks--then drop to 50 or 100 a day.  He said that when you are
>anemic you bleed more, when you bleed more, you grow more anemic--a
>vicious circle.
>They worked for me!


>Part of your problem may be the increase of prostaglandins during your
>cycle.  I would also question the Ibuprofen (directly from the manufacturer)
>since your gf symptoms are worse (during your period when you are using
>Ibuprofen).  People who do not know our disease are quick to affirm there is
>no gluten in a product, mainly because they don't know what we are talking
>about.
>
>If this does not help, you might want to see a gynecologist for help.  If
>possible, try to find one who knows about Celiac Disease or is willing to
>find out.
[I did check the Ibuprofen with a pharmacist at the corporate office and was
assured that the one I'm taking IS gluten-free.]


>I have the complete opposite problem.  The few days prior and few days
>into menstruation I get constipated.


>I have had various menstrual problems which have worsened considerably
>since going GF.  My problems include debilitating cramps (emergency room
>variety) from my ribcage to my knees, fierce >nausea, irregular flow,
>mid-month spotting, etc.
>Ibuprofen?  A joke.  It didn't make a dent.  My gynecologist tried several
>prescription cramp blockers.  I was supposed to take these preventively but I
>didn't because I don't like taking all those medications for days.  So I
>would get the cramps and then take the medication and then it would take a
>lot of the
>medicine to cut the cramps.  Meanwhile, I could not walk or concentrate while
>waiting for the medication to work.  My gyn then put me on birth control pills
>which solved the problem.  I get very faint cramps on the first day and then no
>pain.  I still get diarrhea, as I have since I began menstruating, but
>nothing out of the ordinary.  I hope this helps... maybe you can try BCPs.


>I have noticed that I have had an increase in menstrual pains as well...with
>very uncomfortable pains, but I am not sure if it at all related.



Comments about Ibuprofen:
>In regard to your recent posting, I would suspect that Ibuprofin may not be
>GF because it is not listed by the Stokes Pharmacy in their internal
>analgesic and antipyretic products section.
["Ibuprofen" is the generic (chemical) name for a variety of brand-name
products.  The brand I bought is not in the Stokes guide, but is gluten-free
according to the manufacturer.]

About other possible problems:
>It could be uterus fibroids. Fibroids can cause some horrible pain.
>
>My fibroids developed due to the lack of FSH (female sex hormones).
>This was caused from the small intestines not being able to absorb
>vitamins and minerals that produce the FSH.  So my Gyno put me on some
>FSH (the Pill) to break down the fibroids.  I also take one gram of
>Evening Primose Oil daily for PMS symptoms.  That's one 500 mg capsule
>at breakfast and one at lunch with food.  It was recommended by my Gyno
>and I have had very little symptoms since building up the Evening
>Primose Oil in my body after a couple of months.  It works!   Just make
>sure you get a GF brand.
>
>Or it could be GI reflux, a hiatal hernia or an ulcer.  Some
>medications like ibuprofen are pretty hard on celiac stomachs.


>There may or may not be a connection, but you might want to have yourself
>tested for endometriosis.  There is a prescription pill that works to
>releive the pain that is called Annaprox (sp?)  or on the pill bottle is APO
>NAPRO NA DS 550 MG.  It is a superstrength antiinflamatory and pain releiver
>that helps with endometriosis symptoms and painful menstruation.  I don't
>know if it is GF for sure.

Miscellaneous response:
>This may be way off base, but I do know that in some people, going on a
>healthier diet (even a GF diet if that is healthier for them) can cause the
>body to "clear" itself.  For example, I went on a very strict elimination
>diet, lost about 50 lbs in the process, and after a few months of this got
>such a strong period that I thought I had a miscarriage.  I have never had
>pain that bad.  But, voila, two months later, after my body had prepared a
>"fresh" lining in my uterus, I was pregnant.  This after 3 years of
>constant trying.  Now I am pregnant again, and sure enough, two months
>before, I had another "hard" period.
>
>This is not to say you're going to get pregnant - :) but to explain maybe
>why this has happened.  My sister was also told that after going off the
>pill, this can happen, to ready the body for a pregnancy.


Thanks for all your input.  I'm not sure what the answer is, but it looks
like I'm not alone in my symptoms.

                -Perrianne Lurie
                 Annapolis, MD, USA
                 [log in to unmask]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2