<<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]