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Hello everyone,

I received several responses to my fibromyalgia posting.  It is a common
problem which seems to affect women mostly.  Some people said that they
didn't think there was a connection to celiac disease and fibromyalgia, but
other people said they also became pain free after trying a gluten free
diet.  I've included some of the comments below.  I haven't heard from
Psychology Today about my letter, and I'll be surprised if they print it
because I don't have any medical backup to verify my claim that a gluten
free diet was the cure for fibromyalgia in my case.  Some people questioned
whether my problem was really fibromyalgia.  I don't have a medical
diagnosis, but I think the symptoms of chronic muscle pain that kept my
awake at night in my legs and arms fits the descriptions I've read about it.
It's gone now, but comes make if I eat gluten.

Suzanne

>Excellent.  That is exactly my experience!
>
>
>Ditto.  In fact the other symptoms (not
>gastrointestinal) were worse!  I'd been diagnosed
>with irritable bowel so the diarrhea had an
>explanation.  The other symtpoms did not.  A
>rheumatologist diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia!
>Then I went gf and the rest is history!
>
>
>I have had Fibromyalgia for many years. I have only been a Celiac for two
>years. Yes, the symptoms are bad and uncomfortable but they are controllable.
>I will start watching more closely to see if my symptoms get worse when I
>have a gluten accident. I honestly have not felt that the fibromyalgia was
>better since going gluten free. I am 62 y o, however, and it took awhile to
>get here and may take a while to clear up. (smile)
>Thanks for listening. God Bless.
>
>
>Fibromyalgia (along with fatigue) was my worst symptom also. I too am
>undiagnosed, but my aches and pains of several years disappeared totally on
>gf diet.
>They are the first thing to come back if I "cheat" or make a diet mistake. I
>don't know how strong the connection is with CD--how many other causes there
>may be. I read somewhere that Dr. Murray has felt that there is a high
>correlation between the two......
>
>
>i'd be interested in knowing what kinds of responses you get. The link
>between celiac, CFS, and FMS is interesting to me and very important I think.
>I only wish the doctors were making the connection.
>
>
>I would be so interested in knowing more about your fibromyalgia symptoms.
>I have had knee, back, ankle problems so much the last 2 yrs.  Any help
>would be appreciated.
>
>
>I just read your post about being gf and having FM.  I have FM also,
>but my hubby is the one that has DH.  I've been gf for about three
>months now, eating more protein, and less carbs, and have felt the best
>I have in a long time.
>
>I was wondering if I could post what you wrote to the FM list to which
>I belong?  I believe that there are a lot of things we do to our bodies
>that can create problems -- not that we cause FM, but we can certainly
>exacerbate the situation with the foods we eat.  I consider food a drug
>since it can do so many weird things to me if I eat certain foods.
>
>Hope this finds you well and pain-free today.

>
>Suzanne, I developed fibromyalgia in 1986, way before anyone was talking
>about it. In fact, it took four years before I was given a diagnosis. In
>1997 I was diagnosed with celiac sprue after being very ill for two and a
>half years. The only way it was diagnosed was through antibody tests, and
>then it was only one antibody that was out of the normal range. I elected
>to go on the diet without having a biopsy done. (Wish, in hindsight, I'd
>gone ahead an had the endoscope). Since being on the gluten free diet, I
>am so much better as far as fibro goes. I can do some race walking again,
>which I really missed. Don't know if there's a connection between these
>two diseases. I think they are both autoimmune, even though they do not
>classify fibromyalgia in that way. There is something going on with
>wheat/gluten free and the health of the body, however.