Celiac Disease Support Group

Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder of the digestive system that occurs in genetically-predisposed individuals. It is characterised by damage or flattening to all or part of the villi lining the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients. This damage is caused by eating anything with gluten (gliadin), a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley...

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MSM24 03/19/2009

First, I want to say that I have never been tested for Celiac Disease, but I have had dehabilitating migraines my entire life but within the last two years after I got really ill, they have been really bad and often. I had one a few months ago that lasted a week with no relief and then when I found some meds that worked it would take the migraines away but they came back within a few hours and I was getting them 3 or 4 times a day. A friend approached me (she is a Celiac) with the info and she had a similar experience so she told me I should try a gluten-free diet. I was desperate for relief so I tried it! I have been abiding by it for a month and haven't had even one migraine.

My problem is that my stomach seems to not tolerate things it has always tolorated. I mean the other day I had a quesadilla made from corn tortillas (which I have read are GF) and this made me severely ill. I was throwing up for a whole day. I have had this experience twice. I'm not sure what is doing it? Does this have anything to do with the gluten-free diet?

The diet is a "miracle" when it comes to my migraines but it seems like I'm more sensitive to other foods. (haven't been able to figure this out yet.) I of course am not even considering quitting the diet just trying to figure it out.

Thanks,
Mel

deleted_user 03/19/2009

What else was in your quesadilla? All of the corn tortillas that I've seen are gluten free, so maybe it was something else.

MSM24 03/19/2009

chicken fajita and cheese.

Jem123 03/20/2009

Are you lactose intollerant? Cheese maybe the issue here.

MSM24 03/22/2009

not that I know of. I will cut out the milk products and see if that helps. Thanks

deleted_user 03/22/2009

I was tested for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth,and the doctoe ruled out celiac...but I have to wonder if he is wrong because I seem to have more problems after eating carbs and sugars.Does this sound like celiac to anyone?If so...what can I eat?

deleted_user 03/22/2009

Also...I have been a migraine sufferer for about 30 years.

Jem123 03/28/2009

Your first step should be to get tested for celiac disease. Please use a lab like Prometheus Labs that are specialized in celiac testing. Also, the golden diagnosis is an upper endoscopy. Make sure your doctor takes at least 10 - 15 biopsies in the small intestines to check for flattened villi.

Do not go on a GF diet until these tests are performed. Going GF before testing for celiac disease will throw off your results. You may not have celiac disease you may be gluten intollerant which will give you the same symptoms as celiac disease.

Until you get tested to rule out certain diseases you will never know what's bothering you. Other food allergies may be a factor here.

Jem123 03/28/2009

I also forgot to add that not all corn tortillas are GF. The ingredients may be naturally GF but, it is important to find out the manufacturing practices, especially if the package does not specify GF on it.

Vincent13 03/29/2009

Its so confusing trying to diagnose other peoples symptoms, and trying everything, sounds frustrating to me. What are doctors for? what a are labs for. I dont mean to demean the information shared on here as its too valuable for that, as a start to finding root causes of health problems. However, in relation to migrains, there really is no understanding of the causes of them.
Green apples gives a friend of mine migrains while chocolate and red wine others. Recently another friend was put on a total salt free diet and she has had remarkable relief for sometime now. The Tablets she is waiting for, as back up is Immagrin. 2 pills that are 140 bucks. Long lasting and effective but yes very expensive. THe other thing with doctors i find, I,m not allowed to suggest whats wrong with me, and the tests i may feel i may need, I get a hard time about. Doctors are the trained ones and I clash with em for this reason. It's my body and i,ll ask for whatever i feel i need as well as follow their expertise and advise. I am 50-50... Alternate and Western medicine. I like western for the tests, but alternative for the overall treatment, which then treats the whole body, not just the symptoms.
So really its a trial and error paper chase when it comes to allergies maladies and finding relief from debilitating unusual health problems.
ONce detected its mostly elementary to treat.
Ironically, i've just finished 3 weeks of extensive blood testing, X-rays, Catt Scans and Sugar diabetes test and nothing was found and I still have what I went to the doctor for, after all that carry on, not to mention the worry and expense. What a laff.
Good luck and I hope you get to the bottom of your problems soon. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.
Tc
Rgards, Vincent13

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