Think gluten detox isn’t real? Think again. Check out this post for gluten intolerance symptoms, what to expect when you’re going through a gluten detox, how to detox from gluten, how long gluten stays in your system, and how to get rid of gluten detox symptoms quickly.
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Here’s the truth: Gluten detox is real.
Back when I was in nutrition school and training to become a health coach, I was first introduced to the idea of detoxing.
I’d heard the concept thrown around before that your body would rid itself of toxins when it was healing from the inside out.
That it would purge all the icky stuff that didn’t serve it any longer to make space for all the fresh turned-a-new-leaf cells that would help your body thrive in a healthy way.
The term detox is thrown around these days as a fancy word for depriving yourself of real food and expecting to feel miserable in order to lose a few pounds.
It’s a nice way of saying starve yourself to lose some weight to many many people. Ick.
But the truth is that food detox is a real thing. Just ask any sugar fiend. Or caffeine junkie. Or me. Boy, do I have detox stories.
Like when I had a headache and strange head tingling in the right side of my head for 5 days after cutting gluten out of my diet the first time and then thinking, “Wow, I must really need to be eating gluten or I feel TERRIBLE.”
So I ate it again hoping it would solve all my problems only to realize that eating it made my headache WORSE. I had to cut it again and start all over with the 5 days of detox headaches.
Cutting yourself off at the source isn’t pretty. Detox can be brutal and it often means life will suck before you start to feel better. Its just the truth of healing yourself from the inside out.
So when people ask me Is gluten detox actually real? I simply smile and say “you have no idea.” In this post, I want to take you through some of the most common questions – and my take on the answers all about gluten withdrawal and gluten detox.
There are many symptoms and side effects of gluten detox and gluten withdrawal.
Detoxing looks different for everyone. Detoxing from different things looks different for everyone.
Here are just a few symptoms and side effects you might experience as you are coming off of gluten and experiencing gluten detox and gluten withdrawal:
- Feeling tired, sluggish, lethargic
- Trouble concentrating and staying focused
- Headaches
- Unusual tingling sensations
- Joint pain
- Susceptibility to catching colds & viruses
- Trouble sleeping
- Bad breath
- Unpleasant body odor
- Frequent gas, bloating or indigestion
- Allergies and/or food sensitivities
- Skin problems especially acne and eczema
- Constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upset
- Feeling depressed
- Anxiety and anxious feelings
- Irritability and crankiness
- Back pain
- Mood changes
- Hemorrhoids
- Sinus congestion
Remember that just because you don’t experience ALL of these gluten detox symptoms, doesn’t mean that you aren’t detoxing. Your experience will vary from mine or anyone else’s.
You could have one or two of these withdrawal symptoms and it’s still important for you to give your body a break while it heals itself.
In addition to these being a sign of gluten detox, many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other food intolerances too.
If you feel like there may be more going on in your body than just gluten detox, you might consider doing an elimination diet to chart what’s going on in your body and how you feel. This food journal is a great resource for getting started with that.
And if the idea of doing an elimination diet overwhelms you, then maybe consider starting with a food sensitivity test kit that can help point you in the right direction of which foods to start eliminating.
I recommend the EverlyWell Food Sensitivity Test Kit, because you can test your intolerance to 96 different foods all without leaving your house. Check out the demo video I created below.
Now that you know what’s going on – and maybe have a little validation that you’re not the only one who’s experiencing these things from gluten detox, let’s talk about how to handle some of these symptoms.
The biggest gluten withdrawal symptoms that I hear about are bloating and digestive upset (aka diarrhea). Here’s what you can do about it.
Bloating and digestive upset is often uncomfortable and you likely will hate wearing anything form-fitting and feel like you’re popping out of your own skin – let alone your skinny jeans. That’s been my experience anyway.
Any changes in your digestion is simply your body’s way of letting you know something isn’t right. It isn’t digesting, absorbing nutrients, and assimilating the food into your body properly.
The fact that everything is just uncomfortable inside and out is a sign that you need to take a step back and let your digestive system rest.
So what can you do about the bloating and digestion in the meantime? Here are 5 things you can do:
1. Flush with TONS of water
Gluten will stay in your body for as long as it stays in your body. Duh, right? But you can speed it along by flushing as much water through your system as quickly as possible.
Give your body all the hydration it needs to keep things flowing. If you have diarrhea at all, the water will keep you from dehydrating.
Dealing with dehydration after going through any kind of gluten detox would frankly would be awful after already having such an uncomfortable experience.
Do yourself a favor and drink up! If it helps, grab a water bottle and take it with you everywhere you go. This is my favorite water bottle and I keep it with me both in and out of the house.
2. Pull back on sugar, caffeine and alcohol
When gluten is sitting in your digestive tract, the proteins are struggling to break down, allowing the bad bacteria to multiply, and causing excess gas.
This is where the crazy bloating unpleasant bathroom trips come from. What makes this problem worse? Anything with sugar.
Cut back on sugar, caffeine and alcohol in your diet to ease up on the work your digestive system has to do. This also includes carb-heavy foods that will immediately convert to sugar in the body as well.
You can introduce them back in slowly. You can even take digestive enzymes (these are the ones I use) to help break foods down during this time, if literally everything is giving you an upset stomach.
I will also add these digestive enzymes into my diet for a short time if I’m struggling with everything I eat. These are taken before a meal, whereas the papaya enzymes are taken after.
If you’re super super addicted to caffeine, I would not pull completely back on it 100% because you’re going to have withdrawal symptoms there and potentially low blood pressure issues.
That’s not a good idea. Just pull back a little bit on it. Like I said, it doesn’t have to be completely. You’re going to feel a lot better if you don’t add more fuel to the fire when you’re already feeling bad.
3. Skip the dairy
Dairy can be hard work for your digestive system to process, so give your body a little bit of a break until you start feeling better to bring it back in if you happen to include dairy in your regular diet.
Or if you’re like me and intolerant to both gluten AND dairy, this might be an easy step for you.
Either way, double down on making sure your diet is dairy-free to ease the digestion process and let your gut get some rest and healing time.
Want an easy resource to help you identify gluten and dairy ingredients?
Check out my GFDF Take-Along Cards!
4. Skip processed foods and eat whole foods
Now isn’t the time to stress your body out further with more processed foods or more gluten-free friendly options you find at the store. Return to fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and protein sources.
Not only will you give your body a break, but you’ll be amping up the amount of nutrients you’re giving your body allowing it to heal even more quickly.
Again, flush out the bad with tons of the good. Smoothies are a must and my blender gets more use than at any other time when I’m detoxing.
If feeling good is the goal, eat good-for-you food to get you there.
Read on: What foods are naturally gluten and dairy-free?
5. Get on a good probiotic supplement.
Probiotics help to not only get rid of the gluten from your gut, but also help to replace some of that bad bacteria which is probably thriving in your gut at this point with some good bacteria. Out with the bad, in with the good probiotics!
Look for probiotics with L. acidophilus, B. longum, and B. bifidum and that come in opaque packaging so the bacteria can stay alive while you store them before taking them.
You also want to make sure to check expiration dates before purchasing so you don’t spend money on probiotics that are essentially dead and useless once ingested.
Click here to find out the best selling probiotics on Amazon.
Find gluten and dairy-free probiotics on Thrive Market.
If you aren’t familiar with Thrive Market, they have amazing gluten and dairy-free foods, as well as supplements and probiotics.
You can check out all the great things I have to say about this service, AND get a 30% off your first order AND a free gift (up to $24 value) when you sign up for either their monthly or annual plan.
Now that you know some things you can do to start feeling better quickly, you’re probably wondering how long this whole detox phase will all last.
How long does gluten stay in your system?
Gluten detox and gluten withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
When you experience gluten detox, you can expect to feel off for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
Many health experts say that it can take years for you to actually rid your body completely of gluten in the digestive tract. But glaringly obvious (and annoying) gluten detox symptoms should fade within about a week.
You very likely might feel worse before you start feeling better. Thats the non-sugar coated truth you might not want to hear.
If things don’t start clearing up for you, definitely chat with your doctor about other health issues that could be causing your symptoms. Also, you may consider an elimination diet to test for other food intolerances.
How to get gluten out of your system fast
You might be thinking “well, isn’t there anything I can do to detox from gluten faster?”
I’m often asked if there’s anything you can do to speed up the gluten detoxing process or if there’s some special supplement or pill you can take. Or (heaven forbid) a colonic to flush things through.
Let me be super clear about this: I believe that your body knows what its doing and unless you are in really bad shape and are seeing a doctor for a specific condition, these things aren’t necessary.
You can speed things up by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, drinking loads of water, getting more-than-enough sleep, and allowing yourself to rest until you feel good again.
It’s really and truly the only way that I recommend detoxing with whole real foods. Not supplements or having areas of your body flushed that don’t see the light of day.
That said, if you want something tangible to help you along, here’s what I can share that may help with speed up your gluten detox symptoms and get you feeling better overall as quickly as possible:
Extra sleep and rest
One of the major things that gluten does to your body is slow you down. For me, one of the things that comes up whenever I have gluten is I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. I get super exhausted, and my body has had enough pretty much right away.
With gluten in your body, your immune system is going haywire trying to fight off the gluten proteins that are already wreaking havoc inside your gut. Give yourself a break, tone down the heavy workouts and let your body just cope with working overtime.
Getting extra sleep is really important because it helps your body fight off that gluten. It’s helping it process along to get it out as quickly as possible.
Give yourself a chance to rest and get that extra sleep if possible. It really does make a difference in how you feel and how you feel better more quickly.
There is no magic number on hours, so just get sleep when you need to. Take a nap during the day or go to bed early. Wake up a little later if you can afford the time in your morning schedule.
Take Epsom salt baths
Soak in an Epsom salts bath. Epsom salts are inexpensive at any grocery or drug store, and the magnesium in the salts help to pull out toxins out of your body.
This is a really nice feel good idea, especially if you have achy joints as a symptom of eating gluten.
Soaking in a hot bath always makes me feel better when I’m having not a great day, but also when I have had gluten and my body just needs a little extra TLC.
This is the Epsom salt soak that I use and love.
Take activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is a supplement you can take right after consuming gluten to help bind with the gluten and other toxins to prevent them from being absorbed in the intestines.
You can take this right after consuming gluten and once the day after, although this shouldn’t be a free ticket to consume gluten if you know it affects you negatively.
Of course, just like any other supplement, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure this is a healthy and wise choice for you if you have any medical conditions or issues that may react with it.
I use and trust this brand of activated charcoal.
Make and drink bone broth
Bone broth is great for detoxing from gluten, because it contains gelatin and collagen which helps to seal up your gut lining. This is particularly useful if you have a gluten intolerance and want to start healing your leaky gut.
You can now buy bone broth in stores and online, but the easiest and best way to enjoy bone broth is by making your own at home using bones, water, and a little apple cider vinegar to draw out the minerals.
Stick all that in a stockpot and let it go for 24 hours or better yet, you can pop it all in your crockpot.
Plus, there’s nothing better than homemade chicken broth or beef broth to perk you up when you arent feeling your best.
Here’s a great resource for making your own bone broth at home.
Stay positive
Now, this might seem silly, but Ive really found that my attitude is everything when it comes to healing and feeling better.
Instead of getting totally down and mopey when I make a mistake and eat gluten knowing full well of my gluten intolerance, now I just try to remember that it’s a reminder lesson from my body to treat it right.
Your body knows what you need, so listen to it!
Consider it a blessing that your body can send you signals that it knows what it loves and what it doesn’t. So try to keep a positive mindset while you’re healing from gluten detox.
One idea that helps me when I’m feeling down and going through health issues is turning back to gratitude. Pull out a journal and write a gratitude list.
A great idea when you’re trying to heal is to write the things you’re grateful for about your body or your health.
I know it seems a little woo-woo but there’s a power of healing in a positive mindset.
If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this short video I put together all about these 10 tips on detoxing from gluten:
It’s not always easy to get through the dark days of gluten detox, but its more than worth it to get to the other side and feel even more vibrant and healthy in your body.
So the bottom line is this: It is VERY normal to feel worse before you feel better when you cut gluten out of your diet for good.
Plus it takes persistence and patience to get to the other side of that feeling. But once you do cut the gluten out for good you’ll feel a million times better than you did before.
If you’re interested in learning more about getting started with a gluten and dairy-free diet, grab a copy of my ebook The Gluten and Dairy-free Diet: A Beginner’s Guide.
Now its your turn tell me: what has your experience been with gluten detox? Leave a comment below to let me know!
Kristin says
All of those symptoms you described, I already was experiencing before I stopped gluten. I had such bad joint pain all over my body that my doctor was sure it was RA except that my blood work looked normal. I had a handicap pass at 42yrs old and thought I would be in a wheelchair by 43.
Thank God my Dr finally figured out I was having a serious allergic reaction to gluten when only prednisone would give me relief.
I started to feel relief after about 3 weeks of GF and now have been GF for about 15 mos.
my sister has celiacs and my mom also found out she has a major wheat allergy so hereditary traits play a roll. I didn’t have the usual food allergy symptoms so I suffered for a long time before we figured out what was going on.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m so glad you’ve found something to provide relief so that you can feel good every day, Kristin!! It really makes so much of a difference, doesn’t it?
Barbara Bunce says
I can’t believe it, but you are telling MY story exactly except that I was
already walking with a cane at 35 and didn’t discover my wheat allergy until I was 42! I avoid all wheat like the poison it is for my body!
Harriet says
My gluten intolerance surfaced at age 70! My daughter also had many symptoms including the joint pain and swelling, and went gluten free in her early thirties. Her pain stopped. Speaking for myself, I felt better right away, after stopping all gluten. Within 6 weeks, I was no longer lactose intolerant, a problem which had bothered me for about 15 years. Gradually, I was able to eat raw vegetables, corn on the cob, and small amounts of nuts again, after giving them up in the 8 or 9 months prior to giving up gluten. I spent my childhood with stomach aches, and as an adult, age 29, I stopped eating fruit because it caused so much pain in my stomach. After 2 and a half gluten free years, I gradually tried fruit, not counting bananas which I have always been able to eat. I still can’t eat much fruit because I feel nauseous several hours later, but I can enjoy one glass of a light wine, or a small serving of apple crisp or apple pie. At 73, I have hopes that I will continue to heal and be able to eat more fruit. I really miss my wonderful home- made bread as well as good craft beers, but I don’t even try to cheat because I finally am free of stomach aches, loose bowels, and a lot of digestive gas. I took probiotics during the first year without gluten, with my doctor’s permission, and that may have helped the healing process. What a treat to feel better at 73 than I did as a child. For people with symptoms, stay off gluten for at least several months without a break, and see how you feel. Don’t cheat! You may be surprised at how well you can feel!
Christie Haggard says
Diagnosed with Celiac recently and I thought I was crazy because of some of these symptoms… Now, If I could kick this sugar habit!
Donna Bales says
I had an ongoing sinus infection for 11 months that only Prednisone worked! Endoscopic sinus surgery September 15, it didn’t do any good at all. Finally saw a new allergist and discovered I am very seriously allergic to wheat (not glutin). So now I have been GF… I am in my 4th week. Hoping symptoms have gone away and I get Larangytus! Ahhhhhhhhh!
Debbie says
I had many of the withdrawal symptoms when I was eating a wheat based diet, too, and my doc was convinced it was RA. When I went gluten free my life changed for the better almost immediately. No brain fog, incredible energy, greatly reduced digestive problems, and the joint pain disappeared in just days (I’d had it for about 8 years!!). I didn’t have ANY withdrawal symptoms when I quit. Just a HUGE improvement in my quality of life.
If you are considering going off gluten, DO IT! Don’t be overly concerned about possible withdrawal. You may have none.
Susan b Ohren says
Thank you . I liked you comment.
Liz says
I’m currently detoxing for an experiment in my nutrition class. I have already cut out most dairy, so I figured gluten was worth a try to solve my IBS symptoms. It’s been 4 almost 5 weeks and I’ve gone through so much in the beginning and on week 3 I had some real pizza with some friends because I felt pressured to not look “weird” and it has sent me into a tail spin of pain. All the symptoms you wrote about I have but because I was already detoxing the symptoms seem worse? I’m detoxing again and I’m on day 2 of week 5. I’m gonna keep trying until it works. I’ve noticed some coconut oil helps with my fatigue and head aches. Thank you for writing this if helps a lot!
Caroline says
When you’ve been off gluten for between 5 days and a few weeks you’re at your most sensitive, so no wonder you reacted so badly. You should have seen my reaction to a glass of milk after 5 days dairy free – Immediately my nose and eyes started streaming. My nose was blocked for the next 5 days and I was totally depressed for that time. Since then I’ve been gluten free and dairy free for more than 25 years, and I can now have a little gluten or dairy occasionally without noticeable symptoms, but it’s usually easier to just avoid them altogether.
Donna Bales says
I can’t wait to be able to say that. I am in week 4 of my detoxing. I have lost all cravings, thankfully. But now I have Larangytus! My first week, I didn’t drink any water ( BC my water had wheat in it). Things are better now. I find there are foods I can eat that seem more normal. It is just a complete change of eating like none other. People say just eat white. White is still wheat… Unless you have a true allergy, it’s hard to understand.
Kathy says
Do you eat, drink the coconut oil or massage it in?
Marie says
Coconut oil? Comsome it or apply it? I’m in week one of GF…flu like symtoms,feel awful..please help
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Consume it! You can use it in place of olive oil with veggies or stir it into your morning coffee. So many uses!
Christiane says
Since a couple of years now, my doctor found out I had irritable bowel syndrome, I also had severe headaches wish needed medicines and had a lot of insomnia…until my friend, who’s celiac, told me to try and go gluten free just to see if it would help me…it took about 3 weeks to start to feel better but now I feel a lot better, no more irritable bowel syndrome, no more need of migraine pills and I sleep a lot better….I can’t believe the big difference…I saw my doctor this week and she told me how surprise she was of my health condition, my health problems are almost all solved since I’m gluten free, she told me to continu that way. What I find hard in going gluten free is the people around me judging, thinking that the results are not because of the g.f diet… but I try not to mind what the say, that’s my life, I can do whatever I want….and if they find it to hard to eat diner with me, then I won’t go out for diner with them no more!!!! I bake a lot of g.f food and even my husband and kids love it, I don’t always feed them with g.f but sometimes and they don’t see the difference!!! Thanks for your article, it’s very interesting!!!!
A says
I also was diagnosed with IBS…. about 6 years ago the first time I went vegetarian for 3 years. That’s how we found the issue I was in so much pain and couldn’t figure out what was causing it ulcers, crohns, etc. Everything checked out but I was still having the same level of excruciating pain forcing me to almost go to the ER. Tried holistic doctors even I was so focused at finding the cause not an excuse since it seemed like every doctor just wanted to put me on more and more medicine that wasn’t helping the cause just masking the feeling of the pain. So eventually I started eating poultry since I was loosing so much weight and so sick. It took me 2 years and 2 surgeries to finally figure it out. So one told a family member about my symptoms and asked if I ever tried removing bread from my diet as it was a huge diet fad then anyways that grew into the whole gluten awareness phase. So within days of removing it I felt better. Over the years I’ve cheated her and there AND paid terribly for days. Just recently I have chose to go all in for the sake that celiac disease can burn wholes in your intestines and cause even worse results than what I was feeling. Now that I’ve done both eliminate meat and any cheating….I have been experiencing those symptoms! Among many others, I’ve had hives for a month now and can’t figure out what I’m using that I’m allergic to and why they keep coming back….and now reading this article it all makes sense to me! Thank you!
Samuella says
I don’t know if anyone else experienced this but I for about six months I was starving. I couldn’t get enough to eat. I am by nature a protein eater. I gained 40 lbs. Finally it leveled out after I added real butter.
Leslie says
Me! I’ve gained about 20, and have blamed it on not being able to exercise due to foot problems that started a few months after being diagnosed with celiac. My 8 yr old grandson was diagnosed, so I had my dr test me. I had never heard of celiac, but had joint aches, migraines, etc, along with being on strong stomach meds since I was a teenager.
Meg says
I had a few of those symptoms before cutting gluten out of my diet. I felt awful before I cut it out and I felt even worse for about a month after I cut gluten out of my diet. I was honestly afraid that having celiacs would make me feel awful for the rest of my life. I feel amazing now though. I’m no longer tired all the time. I’m not as moody as I was nor am I crying at the drop of a hat like I was. I also don’t have the tingling sensation in my hands anymore.
Jaclyn says
I started getting really sick towards the end of high school but nobody really knew why. I got tested for Chrons, colitis, eventually got diagnosed with IBS and prescribed medication but it never helped. When I was 20, I was home for Thanksgiving and my parent’s new next door neighbor happened to be a Lower GI specialist. We got to talking over the fence and he asked if I had been tested for celiac. I hadn’t, never even had heard of it, so he told me to do some research on eating gluten free and try a strict gluten-free diet for a month. That was 9 years ago and I’ve never gone back to gluten, there have been a few times over the years that something had been cross contaminated and man have I suffered for it. I have a 20 month old and she eats gluten-free too.
Susan McCoy says
My allergy started 15 years before being diagnosed. My blood sugar wouldn’t get above 125 no matter what I ate or drank. I was starving all the time and eating about every 3 hours. When I finally went to my Dr about it, he thought I was fine. His P.A. saw me and ordered a new round of blood tests, one of which was for celiac. I went glutenfree the next day and waited for my test results. Inside of 5 days I felt like I was awake and energetic for the first time in at least 5 years. I don’t have celiac but I found when I eat gluten, I bloat, get really gassy and then for about 4 days I’m almost to tired to function. I get extremely dehydrated and constipated. Nice side effects of being off gluten, 149lbs before, 126lbs now. I eat 3 times a day and about 1/3 of what I did before.
kari says
Wow. Your experience is so similar to mine. It took me about 10 days of gf diet and my mind was so clear, I had a ton of energy, I felt better than I had in years, and the nagging “eczema” rash on my legs had cleared up. I wasnt nearly as hungry anymore either. After three weeks,.I suddenly has amorous feelings that had been pretty darn quiet for years. I knew then that gf was worth it. Then I realized that my headaches and stomach issues were gone too. It has been great since.
Anne Marie says
Hello
My battle with gluten intolerance has been decades in the making. I’ve been to various docs including an internist after my unbiblical hernia because I just couldn’t stomach food the way I had in the past. He told me to eat smaller meals and I’d be just fine. This clearly didn’t help and it took a conversation with a cousin I’d met for the first time that is now in her late 70’s asked me how I felt after eating. HORRIBLE I told her. From that moment on all the pieces of my digestive issues fell into place. With blood cousins with celiac and gluten intolerance plevelant I quit gluten immediately along with all grains and have never looked back. Your list is how I felt when I was eating gluten and the relief I felt was instantaneous. My body is forever grateful.
Amy says
Those symptoms stopped for me when I stooped gluten. I felt remakably better within 24 hours.
Jennifer says
The weirdest symptom I had is that my fingernails flaked and peeled for a few weeks. It took about 3 weeks for all my symptoms to go away. It was hard, and sometimes still is, to not eat gluten containing foods I love, but I feel SO MUCH better ALL the time without it!
Donna Bales says
It is hard. Yesterday, I was watching a commercial for pizza and it looked to yummy! But I know I can’t. I have worked to hard to give up.
Riekie says
When reading Rachael’s experience, I thought I was the luckiest “becoming a GF” person alive as I had no such simptoms. Then reading Jennifer’s comment, I realised my nails also flaked and peeled. After 16 months I’m still having this problem. I used to end up in hospital almost yearly with either sinus-related bronchitis and/or pneumonia. Being GF means no more sinus which results in no more hospitalization. The other big plus was that I lost a wopping 27 kg and dropped 5 dress sizes.
margot says
Gas! No shortage of gas here. Lol! I’m 51 with arthritis in my neck and back. For me joint and back pain are the new normal so I have no idea if the pain and swelling in these areas is related to gluten detox. But, gas is in abundance. I noticed that eating organic root vegetables like beets and carrots helps reduce the gas. If I do eat something with gluten then I get an overwhelming sense of physical exhaustion. However, if I do some physical activity that seems to combat the lethargy.
Bonnie says
I gave up gluten 3 months ago because I have fibromyalgia and spondyl arthritis. I was always so tired and in so much pain I decided to try it for 2 weeks to see if it would help. Within 3 days I fealt FANTASTIC! The only bad symptom I had was constipation. But within a week my pain diminished dramatically and I was able to get back to my life. My Rhumatologist couldn’t believe the change in me in just 3 months. I guess after reading your article I’m lucky that I didn’t have any of those other detox symptoms.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
It affects everyone differently – I’m glad for you too!
Amy says
I can’t believe so many people have had problems with joint pain. I took a healthy living class at my church and they challenged us to give up gluten for a week. I was amazed at how quickly all my joint pain, backaches and difficulty walking went away, and I never went back to eating gluten. I have been gluten free for almost 2 years now, but people always scoff and say that they never heard of joint pain and swelling from gluten. Sorry to hear that I’m not the only person to go through it, but glad to hear that I’m not just imagining that as a gluten related symptom.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m glad you’re feeling better now, Amy! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Vickie says
So I came across this after the holidays and indulging in all things gluten. I should had known better. Now here I am feeling horrible and riding out the detox. I went through a year of test a ways back being diagnosed with irritable bowel,spastic colon., but this was before gluten intolerance had been a diagnoses. I actually chose to try gluten free to get my blood sugar under control to avoid medication. Worked like a charm having felt better then ever over a year. I’m kicking myself for thinking I could enjoy some old favorites. Won’t make that mistake again
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m sorry, Vickie! I hope you feel better. In the meantime, here’s a few tips for getting back to your old self: http://www.rachaelroehmholdt.com/ive-been-glutened-and-6-things-to-do-after-being-glutened/
Sharon says
I had a blood test and was told I have celiac disease, so going on 3 years and I have off and on cheated but I know I feel better off the gluten. I was told that eating gluten for a celiac causes cancer in the colon. Does it really take years to get it out of the colon and if you cross contaminate does it take years to clean it out again? I don’t get a lot of symptoms when I eat gluten, just a ughh don’t feel to good feeling. How much damage is gluten doing to the colon?
Rachael Roehmholdt says
There are a number of resources that you can check out on this topic. The book Wheat Belly is one of them: http://amzn.to/1SGA5t5
CeliacDisease.org is another great resource to help you get some answers to these questions.
Nathalie Figadere says
Somobody told me that if i eat organic wheat i will not have allergies to gluten. Apparently pesticides combined with gluten are causing these allergies. How true is that?
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Opinions are a dime a dozen. I have no idea what causes allergies or intolerances except that gut health is 100% a critical role in the equation. Pesticides getting into our bodies isn’t a great thing regardless of whether you’re trying to avoid wheat or gluten allergies. And they aren’t great for your overall health or gut health. I say avoid pesticides, but I wouldn’t count on it reversing your allergy.
nathalie figadere says
Thank you so much !!!
Dianne says
Please help. My husband’s detox from gluten seems excessive. He developed an intense skin rash/hives and insomnia (probably due to the itching) almost 5 weeks ago. Nothing seems to help for more than a brief time – coconut oil, lavender, ACV, epsom salt, clay – trying all suggestions. It started across his belly then to back, arms and calves.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I highly recommend getting in touch with a naturopathic doctor in your area to see if they can provide any support. This is what I did when I couldn’t get my symptoms under control – came to find out that I was intolerant and allergic to more than just gluten. Good luck to your husband – I know it’s rough when you don’t feel good!
Pam says
my son recently drastically changed his diet because of health issues & had some major problems due to detoxing. We saw activated charcoal suggested to help the detox symptoms. Apparently the toxins bind to the charcoal which then remove them from the body. My son claims it is a miracle worker. He immediately began feeling better. Perhaps it would help your husband.
Chantel says
I’m on week 3 of terrible hives…just wondering how long it took to go away or what helped? Thanks for any advice!
Sue Hoyle says
I’m about to embark on gf diet in an attempt to rid myself of an intensely itchy skin that I’ve suffered with for over 20 years now. Insomnia is of course a major issue because of it. Also bloating and fatigue. My joints are beginning to ache now too. I’m 43. My dermatologists have says it’s not food related but I’m no longer convinced as they’ve no other answers! It’s good to know to expect side effects as I come off it. Thank you. I hope your husbands rash gets better… I feel his pain.
Steffi says
Hi im a healthy 39yr old female but since being 14yrs ive suffered with my skin. I now wonder how long ive been gluten intolerant….
During the slower pace of lockdown i made some symptom connections… food exiting very fast & worried about nutrition, i also noticed when this happened i had a skin flare up. I began a mental log of what i was eating & how i felt. I didn’t believe it to be gluten at first, however one day id had a cooked breakfast & the slice of toast made me feel uncomfortable all day. Then i noticed extremely deep ridges in my nails….that was it i had to try some changes, it was slow & steady & i felt great! Until i had gravy or yorkshire puds…
Then an emergency arose & i had to stay overnight to look after gdad. It was gluten everywhere & nothing else… ive been paying for it the last 3wks & it seems its sent me in to a detox as I’ve dropped all gluten. I know it will pass & why its happening now after your article thankyou, i tjought i was going crazy…
I do however wonder how long ive had this as i suffered with M.E as a teen im now wondering if there’s connections as both autoimmune disorders…. but onward & upward finding tasty things to eat…. you can do it! X
Valerie says
I went to a doctor in Santa Fe on a whim with my freind. He is a chiropracter and muscle tester so when he ask why I was there I told him aching joints, constantly stuffy nose, and depression. I had the blues and would cry at a moments notice. Don’t get me wrong I have a terribly stessful job and I had recently lost my husband, so I chalked it up to life. When I disclosed that I had a craving for protein and could not possibly be a vegeterian he laughed and told me he had a good idea what was wrong, and yes it was a gluten intolerance. In 8 weeks, not changing my diet except for gluten, eating cheese tortilla chips as my snacks I lost 35 lbs. and I had so much energy it was scary! Snuffy nose went away and the best part was no blues and no aches. I was 50 lbs overweight so it really helped.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Wow, that’s an incredible story, Valerie! Thank you so much for sharing this! So many women can probably relate to this in carrying the extra weight and making that one small change of taking food that makes you ill out of your diet and seeing such a massive shift in your body. I’m really proud of you!
Cydni says
About a week after I was diagnosed as Celiac, I went gluten free cold turkey. Boy was I blind-sided by the detox. I didn’t even get a heads up from my doctor, so I had no clue what was happening. It is still the most I’ve ever stayed home from work. I was sick and anxious, could not sleep. Also, starving! I had gone off of dairy at the same time, as well (that didn’t last). During the detox I had allergic reactions to things that normally did not cause issues. No problems now, though. Even my friends were worried by how sick it made me.
I ate very very clean for about a month. The sickness from the detox only lasted about a week and a half, but was it was brutal. The only thing I found relief from, especially for sleep, was a very small dosage of a Xanax. I stayed strong though and I am a little over a year gluten free. No slip ups unless by accident. I feel much better but it has been a huge adjustment and still have a hard time. Not all my symptoms have completely gone away yet, though they have lessened.
It is funny how people in the dark about Celiac are shocked to hear about the detox. I definitely had/have a new respect for people’s food choices. Thanks for your write up!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Cydni, I’m sorry to hear that your gluten detox were so intense. I can certainly relate! I’m glad you’re feeling much better now – I’d love to get an update as to how it’s going these days!
Beverly Williams says
Rachael i was reading this and my doctor said i have a low thyroid and celiac disease and i needed to eat gluten-free which i dont have a lot of clue about. Is this why i feel so fatigued day and night plus my memory isn’t the best please help me understand whats going on
Rachael Roehmholdt says
It certainly could be! Low thyroid on its own can lead to fatigue, but Celiac’s disease combined with eating gluten likely isn’t helping any! I hope that by taking gluten out of your diet, you come to some of your own conclusions as to whether gluten was the big culprit of your fatigue and memory issues. I’d love for you to check back and let us know how you get on!
RuthAnn says
My husband was finally diagnosed after 2 1/2 years of being extremely sick with diarrhea. We are both going gluten free now and I had the detox headache and tingling in my face. Scared me because of brain surgery I had…wish I’d known this sooner. My husband was told it would/could take a year for his system to get back to “regular”.
I am so glad I found this site to help me. It is more common today but we are still left on our own to learn about this condition and to help well meaning friends understand. Thank you for your help.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m glad you found me too, RuthAnn! It certainly depends on the person and how their body responds to gluten as to how long it will take to ‘return to normal.’ The symptoms certainly aren’t fun, but once they’re gone… you feel like a new person! So glad you’re finally feeling better! xo, Rachael
Julie says
My daughter suffered with stomach pain for most of her childhood. I had taken her to pediatric specialists with no relief. I decided to try my own doctor and with only one visit she nailed it – gluten intolerance. Within the first week, she could feel the difference. Fortunately, she did not seem to have any detox issues. Now I’m trying the gluten-free diet and feel great! It’s funny how many people scoff at it, but I don’t care. It’s working for us and that’s all that matters.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
That’s ALL that matters, Julie! I’m proud of you for taking this head-on with your daughter. I’m sure it means the world to her that she’s not alone in this lifestyle.
KW says
I went gluten free and dairy free as a result of some allergy testing I had done. Funny thing is, I wasn’t really sure I had an allergy, I was basically ruling it out. I had joint pain, weight gain, migrains, and really hadn’t done a lot of research on food allergies, but thought getting tested would be a good idea. Turns out I had quite a few!! As soon as I eliminated, I felt better instantaneously (within 48 hrs.). My congestion cleared up. I didn’t even realize how congested I was because I was just so used to it!! Body odor lessened a lot! Headaches gone!! Energy way up, brain fog lessened, etc. Sometimes I miss these food items, but I have such great motivation to continue on this path, I don’t see myself ever going back. I can see similar issues in my sister and my friend. Hope I can talk them in to getting tested. Why go on in ill health and discomfort if you don’t have to!!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
So excited for you! It’s amazing that your body can give you a million clues as to what it needs, but we sometimes can’t read those clues? Then once we finally “get it” the whole world seems to make sense? Wishing you luck with helping your friends on their journeys too!
Janis Kiehl Harrison says
My IBS symptoms began in the mid-60s and gradually worsened. I had arthritis in my hands so severely I couldn’t knit or do needlework, even hand-writing was painful. Over the years casual opinions about my IBS ranged from indigestion to “nerves.” I had gotten to the point that the first thing I did when entering a store, etc, was to locate the bathroom, and I was very proud of my self-designed “bathroom emergency kit” (it fits in a 1-quart zippy bag) that always went with me.
Then in 2014 I read a popular “wheat is your enemy” book, written by a doctor who doesn’t have a line of supplements for sale, and his list of symptoms included all of mine. By that point my doctor was considering testing me for Crohn’s, etc. So I asked myself “what would happen if I just didn’t eat wheat for 4 weeks?” The answer was phenomenal good things! No more IBS. Arthritis is in remission — I can sew and knit again. My blood sugars dropped significantly, so that my daily total insulin dosage is reduced by a third. And that mid-section bloat is gone.
My conclusion is that I’m not allergic to gluten, or celiac . I am wheat intolerant. I stay away from wheat and wheat foods, and I gravitate to the “gluten free” stuff because that way I can be sure it’s wheat free. I do miss many wheat foods, but it’s worth the boredom to be free of the pain.
Janis Kiehl Harrison says
Shoot! I forgot to mention that I did NOT experience detox symptoms or withdrawal problems. My only problem was boredom with my newly limited food choices. But I’ve learned to work around them and have learned some new recipes and ingredients.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for sharing your story, Janis! I’m so glad you’re feeling better now! xo, Rachael
Trish says
It has only been 3 weeks but I have already noticed a significant difference in joint pain. My stomach still hasn’t settled but thanks to reading this I now know that I just have to give it more time and be patient. Thank you.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m so glad you’ve noticed a difference! Yes, ride out the discomfort and once you’re on the other side, you’ll be so proud of yourself – AND feel ten times better!
sierra says
WOW! I’ve been Gluten free for 72 hours and my experience is the exact opposite. Ive never been told my a doctor that i may have a gluten sensitivity but i believe i do. I went gluten free to see if cleared up my skin and helped with bloating…i get severe bloating. after just 24 hours….no bloating and i lost 3 pounds. I woke up feeling like a brand new person it was the strangest feeling. I’m definitely going to keep up on it!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
That is so exciting, Sierra! Congrats on finding a new lifestyle that supports you and makes you feel amazing. I hope this is just the beginning of feeling your best for a long time!
Maranda Hayes says
I just began my son on a GF diet this week to see if it would help with ADHD and ODD. He didn’t have anything with gluten Tuesday or Wednesday all day. Wednesday night at church he was given a cookie, despite my requests not to. When I picked him up from his class, I immediately knew he had eaten something by the redness around his mouth and the splotchy red places on his cheeks. He was also bouncing off the walls. That night was horrible. It took a while for him to settle and go to bed. Yesterday, Thursday, was not a good day for him at school. He immediately broke out with a red, hot to the touch, itchy rash on his face after eating. A few hours later it finally went away and he was back to his normal self. Last night my husband gave him pizza, not thinking, and we immediately seen his face begin to turn red around his mouth and cheeks. I gave him an epsom salt bath lastnight and nothing containing gluten since the pizza at 7 PM lastnight. Today was a terrible day at school. He had a complete fit today at lunch. His principal described it as it was almost like someone else took over his mental capability and regardless as to how hard he tried to regain control, he couldn’t. When he finally did get calm she tried to get him to tell her what happened and it was almost like he had no idea what she was talking about. Could this be a withdrawal symptom? Before going GF, a lot of the things he ate did contain gluten. I will also add that he has told me each morning this week that he felt “sick” and his tummy was queasy.
Thank you so much.
Maranda Hayes says
I should add that he has always broken out with mysterious blister like rashes that the doctor could not pinpoint. We have had him tested by an allergist twice. Once as a baby and once a year and a half ago and everything came back negative. We had blood tests ran last month because he has been crazy tired with bags under his eyes, not eating well, sinus issues, joint pain, and paleness. All CBC’s and other tests came back fine other than maybe he had a virus at the time. That had been going on for over 3 months and is still present. The only two days he hasn’t been tired after school were the two days that he was GF (until wednesday night after church).
His iron levels have always been a bit low. We have been using Emulsified Cod Liver Oil each night and morning until today also. I ran out last night :-(. I wonder if the lack of that caused the withdrawal symptoms to be even worse today?
Thank you again!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Maranda,
Gosh, I’m sorry to hear your son is going through this! It’s hard to say what’s going on with all those different symptoms going on. But I’d say that you’re likely on the right track with eliminating gluten and watching his reactions. It sounds like with those kinds of behavioral and rash symptoms that cutting gluten from his diet could do some good.
Honestly, I’m not a doctor so I don’t know what’s going on – or what the right course of action is. Have you had him tested for Celiac’s disease by chance? What I did when I started getting symptoms I couldn’t pinpoint and needed someone to validate that I knew something was up with me was finding a recommended naturopathic doctor in my area. Many times naturopathic doctors look at the the all-up holistic picture of your health instead of just trying to treat symptoms, which are the after-effect of whatever the issue at hand is. So that’s my two cents – find a naturopathic doctor who has your son’s best interests at heart. And keep testing cutting gluten out if you notice a significant improvement in his demeanor and his overall wellbeing.
Wishing you the very best!!
Tammy O. says
I had horrible itching for a couple of years. Literally anything that came into contact with my skin would leave red raised welts. For the longest time, I thought it was stress from my job. Then my cholesterol started to go up, like 50 points in one year up. I finally went to the Dr. who encouraged me to do blood allergy testing gluten and cows milk came back high. So have been gluten AND dairy free for 4 months now I probably feel a little better cholesterol is down to normal limits after two months, I still itch but can take an allergy pill every other day now. But I have to admit, I’m still waiting for that angels singing moment where I realize how miraculous I feel. I have yet to feel that. The dietician I saw who happens to have Celiac, said it can take up to two years, which strangely made me feel better because I hadn’t had that moment where I felt miraculous, and people kept asking me, “Do you feel SO much better?”, I started to feel like I was doing something wrong, but having the dietitian tell me it could take so long made me realize I have to be in it for the long haul. I have to say as challenging as being gluten free is, dairy is far far worse. Milk, cream, ice cream, butter, cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, lactose, casein… it’s in absolutely everything and it makes me sad because I love milk.
Mary Beth says
I have Hashimotos- thyroiditis, and adrenal fatigue. It took me 4-5 months to start to feel better, and I would have glimmers of focus, they would last about 20 minutes Eventually, my focus and motivation were back, but it was a slow process. I really had to read labels though. I was surprised to learn that many products with soy have gluten, and that my favorite packet salad dressing had gluten. It was worth it though.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
I’m so glad you’re feeling better! It does take time to get used to reading ingredient lists and labels, but it’s totally worth knowing that information so you can make sure you’re as healthy as you can be all the time. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Mary Beth!
Whitney says
For the last three years I have experienced severe hives, brought on my direct sunlight, heat, excursive… even something as simple as vacuuming my living room. (This happened after giving birth to my second child.) Four different doctors told me I was allergic to my sweat. I went to a new OBGYN and had a Food Antibody Assessment done and sure enough… I have a severe sensitivity to dairy and gluten. It was hard to believe since I’ve been an avid pasta eater and milk drinker my entire life. But that day I just wanted answers to my problems.
Now… Eight days later… I’ve been extremely discouraged. I feel like I can’t get enough to eat, like my depression is outrageous, my headaches seem to have gotten worse and I cannot adequately explain how badly I want a cheeseburger with real bread and cheese and a stinking cupcake.
That being said… Your blog literally came at a perfect time. I have tears in my eyes right now because reading some of your posts make me feel so much better. (Especially now that I know these are symptoms of gluten detoxing.)
I’m so excited to have stumbled across you in my internet search for how to appropriately stock my kitchen! (My husband and children will most likely be thanking you in the future as well since they won’t be eating spaghetti and tacos (the only gluten free meals I currently have mastered) every other night! Lol.)
Really, I just wanted to say thanks for being a blogger. Thanks for helping and sharing such an amazing message.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hey Whitney,
I’m so glad you found this post too! It’s so hard those first few days. I remember CRAVING cinnamon rolls like no other food (I don’t think I had eaten one in years before that) while I was “detoxing” from gluten. Once this phase passes, you’ll feel so much better, I promise. One great thing to do… read through the comments on this post! There are SO MANY other women who have gone through the same thing – and that’s proof enough that it’s not all in your head. Haha
Yes, be sure to look through some of the archives to find some tips on how to get started with this diet and lifestyle.
Thanks for commenting and sharing a piece of your journey with us!
Vicki D says
Hi! Great stuff about detox. Let me say that I have a severe gluten allergy, plus allergy to so many other things, but do not have celiacs. I had a pumlonologist ask me to go gluten free back in October 2016, so I did, since I’d been having so much trouble with my lungs. Let me say that for 1 1/2 weeks, I couldn’t move from my sofa. I cannot ever remember feeling so horrible! But, that finally went away..Thank God! I was a label reading fool from that point, or so I thought! I was add that cross-contamination is horrible, after the initial detox. Here I was, drinking the WalMart brand of Crystal Lite mixes…cuz I didn’t read the box, and after having 1 packet, I felt bad….but who was thinking it was this drink packet. So I continued drinking my WalMart drink mix….after 10 packets, I wished I was dead, but never thought the drink mix. So I spoke with a Celiac friend of mine, telling him what I was going thru, and he asked me to check the drink box. Low and behold, the dreaded words: “Processed in a facility that also processes…and wheat”! Holy Moly! This detox tore me apart! Even to the point that my teeth ached, as well as my nails peeling, and all the typical joint pain, etc. Now I am a label freak! And I will add that most WalMart brand products have that same notation on their packages…. “processed in a facility that also processes x, y, z and wheat”. Guess where I no longer shop? It’s a horrible thing to go thru, gluten detox, and I will not risk going thru it ever again.
Lisa says
This almost brought me to tears! I feel like I’m going crazy. I’ve been GF for about 3-4 weeks. No “official diagnosis” since celiac and wheat allergy tests were negative, but I got tingling in my arm, and had difficulty breathing after eating (before I cut out gluten) among other things. Going GF these went away for a while, but then they would pop up every now and again with cross contamination, but not nearly as bad as before. But the past few days, I’ve had non stop tingling and my back has started to hurt. I even scheduled a visit with a Chiropractor tomorrow to rule out that because I feel like I’m going crazy. I hope to rule out any nerve damage and hope it’s just gluten withdraw (which I hadn’t thought of until now).
Julie says
About three months ago I started getting severe hives after a trip to Hawaii. I was under a lot of stress at the time so the doctor attributed it to stress, but it has continued. Blood tests for Celiac and gluten intolerance came back negative, but I have noticed that the outbreaks are much worse when I eat gluten so I have tried to cut it from my diet. I have been almost totally gluten free for a week now and I have noticed that I’m extremely anxious, crabby, unable to concentrate, and I’m ravenously hungry all. The. Time!!! Allergist is booked until October so I’m just trying to survive until then. I know it will get worse before it gets better and I just have to hang in there, but wow! It’s such a relief to know this is normal and I’m not alone.
Kendra says
Hi Rachael,
I’m so happy I found your post. I was gluten free for about two months in the beginning of summer and felt so much better. I had some blood tests come back that showed low Vit D and also a low white blood count (it has been consistently low during the past year). I also often am low in iron (been taking iron supplements since I was in my teens, I’m now 32). My cousin (a nurse practitioner) recommended I get tested for Celiac because of the absorption issues that come along with Celiac. As I had been off gluten for two months, I started a gluten challenge before getting tested. I was able to make it through 12 days – but felt miserable the entire time and had mega migraines on the last day and I just decided NO MORE! I was able to get the Celiac lab test the next day. It came back as negative (vit D levels were back in normal range after taking a mega dose for 2 months). Today is day 12 of being off gluten and I have the most wicked sinus infection I’ve had in ages! I had a tiny bit of gluten three days ago, along with a tiny bit of dairy and some wine (I try to avoid dairy, alcohol, and soy, in addition to the gluten). I felt super congested immediately afterwards and have felt off since then, but yesterday it started to get really bad, and today I’m just miserable! I think my body got pretty cleaned out during those two months of GF, but then 12 days of eating gluten has made it so confused! Detox is real (and it sucks!). Just hoping it doesn’t last too much longer – I felt pretty decent after about a week after stopping gluten, but now it’s just this insane roller coaster.
Kim says
This is EXACTLY what I have been going through! My iron has been ridiculously low for the last eight months. I was tested for celiac and it was negative. I’ve been gluten free for a week but haven’t really noticed any changes. I’m going to stick it out though!
Gary says
Hi Rachael, and everyone. I’m posting in the hope that I can possibly offer a glimmer of hope to anyone in a similar position to myself. Apologies for the long comment but I’m very excited to share my story. Anyone who is considering going gf should definitely try it, because it worked amazingly for me just as I was right at the end of my tether…
I’m 32 and have been a full time rock singer for 10 years. About 8 years ago I started to lose my vocal range and my voice began to get really hoarse, crackly and deep. My doctor put me on PPI blockers to treat acid reflux. I kept going back saying it wasn’t working and was actually getting worse but he just kept upping the dosage, even after having a few very uncomfortable endoscopy’s.
My reflux got so bad over the last 4 or 5 years that every single time I lie down to sleep, my eosphagus almost instantly filled with stomach acid, which only seemed to be remedied by using alcohol (beer and/or bourbon mostly) as a pain killer and sedative which began a seriously vicious cycle. Obviously this was never going to help my voice but at least it helped me sleep at night, and performing 5-6 shows a week I was almost in tears as I found myself lying awake in pain for hours trying to get to sleep through it.
About 3 years ago I gave up completely on the useless medication and started to take the matter into my own hands by researching my problem online. This resulted in trying an endless variety of herbal remedies, diets, weird excercises and cutting out everything I loved to eat and drink, all to no avail.
Finally I took the plunge and did a 5 day water fast which was seriously tough, this led to a 10 day juice fast. My overall health and energy increased 10 fold, and through a painstaking process of trial and error with reintroducing various foods and drinks, about a month ago I discovered coeliac disease and decided to try going strictly gluten free. The last fortnight has been the best my voice has sounded in years. I have increased range, smoother tone, 90% reduction in bed time reflux pain and best of all, I haven’t actually found the diet to be difficult to stick to at all. GF pasta and bread rolls don’t taste much different to me. I’m enjoying cooking healthy whole foods from scratch and combining the meals with smoothies and juices (mean green being the most effective I’ve found), plus the added benefit of living in Glasgow city centre there are lots of restaurants which cater to the gf diet. Switched to drinking cider and gf beer, and I no longer need any alcohol to get a good sleep.
I feel like I’ve kicked open the door to a whole new life, socially, professionally and best of all mentally. Thanks to everyone for posting your own encouraging stories, hopefully sites like this can help the thousands of other people who are stuck in the medication cycle, completely oblivious to their sensitivity to the sneaky culprit gluten!
Thanks for reading. Any questions I can help with feel free to comment! Gary
Jen Hulme says
Hi all! I’m just 3 days into a gluten free diet, and I’ve had near constant headaches, hunger, some insomnia, and fatigue. Sounds like these are all normal detox symptoms, but that it might take 3 weeks to a month to feel better? Any suggestions for helping spead up the process? Thank you!!
Rin says
nutrition is a passionate personal interest I study as a hobby. I stopped eating gluten after just 5 days: lots of mucus and sweaty hands. except it’s weird and sticky feeling sweat and doesn’t just rub off on ur jeans. feel like I’m washing my hands every hour and they get sticky all over again in a few minutes. the daily morning routine of waking up and experiencing a continuous lingering feeling of a burning in the top of my stomach as if morning sick has subsided within the week.
downside: I’m hungry ALL the time right now after years of just guessing if and when I am hungry. before I didn’t really get hungry. always assumed the sick was dairy probably but i feel fine when eating dairy and I was told I’m perfectly lactose tolerant years ago.
Brian says
I don’t have an exact count on the weeks since I stopped eating gluten and dairy, but i think I’m in like week six. The withdrawal symptoms I have had include: intense itching (even in my ear canals itched), whelps, eczema, irritability, body temperature fluctuations, insomnia, headache, extreme weight loss to the point that that I am now at my recommended target weight.
I now pretty much only eat cooked or raw vegetables (carrots, green peas, chicken, turkey, sweet potatoes, beets and some brown rice. I supplement my meals with fresh and frozen onions, fresh garlic, garlic and onion powders, turmeric, cumin, some fresh cilantro and parsley. That’s a big change in diet for someone who consumed red meat regularly and loves Mexican food and I LOVE bread!!!
I have pretty much cut out all high fructose corn syrup (which hinders my addiction to Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Ginger Ale). No more spicy foods for me either (I’m a Mexican food lover … the spicier the better), as I have battled psoriasis for some time now. I went off my prescribed biologic prescription because of nasty side effects (which caused a pretty bad flare up within 5 months … so that’s why I decided to stop eating gluten).
To make things worse I found I am also histamine intolerant, when I drank raw organic apple cider vinegar and later ate organic sour kraut. So double trouble trying to eat histamine free and gluten free.
Good side effects have been weight loss, I feel I have more energy, my joints don’t hurt any more and my psoriasis seems to be improving. as for the joint pain going away, it was in the first two or so weeks that the pain disappeared. I have always been physically active (sports, martial arts, jogging, etc. The joint pain was so bad I quit working out and could barely do five push-ups or five pull-ups). I’m now starting back with weight training.
I found that soaking in Epsom salts and Dead Sea salts relieves itching, and supposedly pulls toxins out of the body (plus it is stress reducing). Eczema is starting to subside, which is very promising, because from my understanding, the rash is your body pushing toxins out through the skin. Also, I try to drink a LOT of water. Hope this helps others. I’m no expert, however, it is my personal experience.
Brian says
Forgot to mention, I also had sever foot pain before I stopped eating gluten. It felt like I was walking on thumbtacks. That has cleared up to a large degree, to about 75% decrease of episodes.
Lisa says
I first noticed a problem with wheat/bread 20 years ago. My stomach would bloat to 5 months pregnant from just one sandwich , I remember beer bothered me, muffins etc. Over the years i have suffered from brain fog tiredness occasionally joint pain sensitivity to light. Bloated stomach stuffed up nose to the point I was taking daily reactine every day. In the last 5+ years I didn’t even buy bread anymore would just eat a sandwich from the deli once a week. I knew now for the second time when I had my blood tested for celiac that it would be negative againas I don’t eat major gluten sources on a daily basis. I do know a first cousin of mine is celiac. My gluten intolerance got worse in last year after going through major stress of taking care of a disabled dog for a year. I decided to cut out gluten before talking to a naturopath dr first boy oh boy what a mistake. Although I will add the positives. Within the first week all my nasal symptoms had cleared have not breathed this well in 10+ years. All my eczema disappeared that’s been there for a few years. All my brain fog completely gone. First week of bad symptoms were lots of gas and multiple bowel movements. The second week I had itchy skin and itchy joints. A few sore joints and skin eruptions. Then into the third week it hit. Overwhelming Anxiety that came out of nowhere Anxiousness. Shakiness nausea. A few hypoglycemia attacks also a bloated stomach to which I then started probiotics which gave immediate relief. My symptoms the first week were so severe. Second week better less nausea but waves of symptoms would come and go. Now I’m just past the third week point of detox symptoms and as I got glutened on vacation last night and by Listerine a few days ago I am now recovering once again. This worst part is the extreme hunger and always making sure I am eating a protein with a carb. I had a full physical at my DRS office two weeks prior to my cutting out gluten entirely and everything was fine. I’ve never had a blood sugar problem in my life ever I get my blood tested every year. I am trying to stay strong and ride this out as I away from home for a week. I would never have started this gluten free diet if I knew the detox symptoms would have been this severe and knowing I had this trip coming up!!This is the worst I have ever felt in my life :(. Can’t wait til I see the nature path dr once I get home. Everyone’s comments and stores have helped me so much. Thank you
Francesca says
It’s so encouraging to hear all your comments and experiences. Thank you! My gluten free journey started about 3 months ago when I suddenly started feeling horrible and I didn’t know why. Just an overall “off” feeling, like I didn’t know if I would keel over a any time, weird tingle sensations, and stomach bloating to boot. I went to the hospital when it wouldn’t go away after nearly 48 hours, and it was diagnosed magnesium and potassium deficiency.
I changed what I was eating (no more lean cuisines or too many wine coolers on the weekend) and was taking a supplement, but I started feeling strange again. Long story short, I visited the follow up doctor twice, had multiple blood tests during that time.. and according to my blood I was super healthy.. so why did I keep have these recurring bouts of feeling horrible?
Luckily my sister, who I called after the most recent bout of horribleness, came to my rescue. She had always been the one with allergies and issues growing up and over the past few years totally overhauled her diet to help her health and I knew went GF. I had always been the healthy sister, but now at 52, this thing hit me. So I told her my symptoms, and we realized that before she went GF she had many of the identical ones (rash at back of hairline,sinus issues, etc..). It really hit me when I tried to describe a “shifting” inside my digestive track when the horrible feeling was on me, not a painful one, but like something was moving down in there. The doctor had stared at me blankly, and to my surprise, my sister knew exactly what I was talking about! So I had nearly went gluten free by accident after the mineral deficiency, but it turns out the day I called her, I had run out of yogurt and instead had a fiberone cookie for breakfast, and we think that’s what sank me that day.
I’m now totally reading labels and going to make sure I avoid all gluten…and fingers crossed! I’m very hopeful, especially after reading everyone’s stories here. 🙂
Veronica says
Hi! I am new to the gluten intolerance. I see an allergist but they don’t think I am gluten free I have been to the doctors often and constantly getting sinus infections. I am finally starting a gluten free diet, and already on day 2 I feel worse than actually eating gluten. How can you tell if it is an intolerance and if it is flu like?
Veronica says
Anyone going to reply?
Chris says
I went GF March 21st 2017. My reasons for doing it were because of a few things; first of all I saw a video on youtube by an MD in California that specialized in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (which I have) and he HIGHLY recommended that any woman with PCOS be GF. I’ve had infertility issues for 5 years, so I figured, why not! I will try it. After 3 months of being GF; for the first time in my LIFE I had a regular cycle without medication… AMAZING! Unfortunately I haven’t conceived yet; but I am still holding out on taking any kind of “magic pill” to help. Just the fact that my PCOS symptoms cleared up in a few months convinced me GF lifestyle was beneficial to my health.
The other reason I went gluten free; after much research before diving into the GF lifestyle, was that my mother had 5 different autoimmune diseases before passing away in 2011. Research I read suggests that gluten intolerances cause auto immune diseases to manifest. I’ve had DAILY fevers (99.5-101) and inflammation show up in my blood work for years. 3 doctors and one specialist are not able to tell me what is wrong with me just from my blood work. I haven’t been tested for Celiac or sensitivities; but I noticed 6 months in when I “cheated” or was “glutened” I got bloated within an hour of eating it and had other GI distress.
Which brings me to now; one year from when I started my GF life, and I’ve eaten gluten foods consecutively for the last 3 weeks since going to Iowa to see family. I didn’t want to be “that person” who couldn’t eat what the rest of the family was eating, I was a guest in their home.. Ive not eaten gluten in the last 2 days; and feel awful, (detoxing). But it reminds me why I started this journey, and I don’t need a diagnosis to know that gluten is bad for me.
In the prime of my GF lifestyle I felt the best I had ever felt. My cycles regulated, no back pain, energetic, happy… I cant wait to finish detoxing and getting back to being GF. It was fun though eating pizza, burgers, cinnabon… oh boy I will miss cinnabon.. (all the unhealthy stuff) but I know I will feel better in a few weeks again.
On top of everything I’ve lost 50 lbs in the last year, slowly, and healthily. I hope I don’t have another gluten bender again; I think ive learned my lesson. =)
Debby says
I am 58 years old and just recently cut out dairy and gluten due to excessive diarrhea. I am seeing a doctor and doing a lot of reading about gluten and celiac. I have not been confirmed for celiac yet but now that I’ve cut out the gluten I am feeling better. Yes I miss the breads. But there are gluten free alternatives out there. I am constantly amazed though at the other symptoms of gluten intolerance. I experience brain fog, psoriasis on my face, I had bloating to the point that I looked very pregnant, irritable, depressed, gassy, cold sores……
But I’m heading in that direction of being healthy and as much as I miss certain foods, it isn’t worth it to cheat. I did try dairy again after a few weeks but mostly to confirm to myself that I was on the right track. Thank you for the insight.
Sharon C says
Long pathetic story gluten, dairy, soy free – most ppl have covered my points. Past year very sick lots of symptoms like my pre gluten free days, some others one in particular new. Had sworn I had checked my vits for soy missed it somehow in the gel forms of Vit D and magnesium.
Went from a house refurb project on feet and ladder 8-10 hrs a day to being laid out on couch. About 20 symptoms have cleared in past 6 weeks-vascular skin issue improving, gas is bad at times (when no hits hardly have any gas), back pain comes and goes, some days great energy (about 80-85% of baseline) other days not so great. I am grateful my brain is almost completely back. When things were really bad I had trouble focusing while driving.
When I went gluten free my kidney function tests returned to normal. I have had decreasing kidney function that doctors can’t figure out as all other related tests including BP are fine. Fingers crossed that like the gluten the soy was causing this. Will let you know when I have testing.
Gail Noll says
blood test showed gluten intolerance, I have had no symptoms but decided to go GF. First week was fine, then I had 10 days of joint and muscle pain, then back ache, acne on face, now diarrhea. I am wondering if the last 4-5 weeks will be worth it. I hope I have not screwed myself up because it sure feels like it especially when I had no symptoms to begin with. I’m on day two of severe diarrhea. UGH!! I did the blood test on my own so I have not seen my dr. do you think I should??
Cherry says
I will go GF again tomorrow. Been there before and got rid of my eczema and acne on my face but it is a little bit hard to stay away from gluten because my boyfriend buys home products with gluten which I also eat because it is hard to resist. But it’s not worth all the symptomes I have eating gluten. Besides eczema and acne I have a lot of migranes and headaches, bloating, gas, stomach pain, brain foginess, problems sleeping and fatigue. I also grind my teeth at night and I suspect that can be because of gluten as well.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Let us know how it goes for you once you go back to gluten-free, Cherry! So sorry you’re feeling icky today. Feel better!
Crystal D says
Hi Rachael,
I’m 31 and just started my GF journey 4 days ago due to unexplained health issues/blood work that doctors seem to have no suggestions for. Yesterday I started feeling nauseous with a headache and overall fatigued, my husband asked if it could be some type of detox from going GF and I hadn’t even considered that. I would describe the overall feeing as mildly flu-ish but the nausea comes in waves, and no, definitely not pregnant. I haven’t read that very many experience nausea, do you know if anyone else has dealt with this? Maybe my body is just weird… lol! In any case I hope it passes soon, I’m miserable. Thanks for any input you may have!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hey Crystal, so sorry you’re having these issues! I’m not 100% certain about your specific symptoms or what you’re feeling, but I would say that it isn’t unlikely to have nausea, flu-like symptoms, or any other strange symptoms from gluten detox. I know for certain flu-like feelings and being weak and extremely exhausted are present for me when I’ve gone through it. But it really can vary from one person to the next.
If it doesn’t pass in a couple days to a week, definitely get in touch with your doctor to see if anything else is going on. I hope you start feeling better and get some relief soon!
Brandy Stauffer says
Crying. Crying when there’s no reason to cry. Achy. Tired. 2-hour naps. I feel better though. I’ve been taking vitamins and supplements prescribed by my doctor because I’ve been suffering from vitamin b and other vitamin deficiencies and adrenal gland upset and a lowered immune system. I’m recovering. I didn’t realize I was in such bad shape until I had several blood tests performed that revealed a lot. I think the best thing to do is to get a lot of blood work done. I wish I had done it sooner. I would have felt better much sooner. Having a really knowledgeable PCP is essential. It has changed my life. I would have never known that I have a wheat and dairy sensitivity without him. I think paying attention to your bodies cries for help (ie. headaches, burning and tingling sensations in the legs, feet, head, arms, hands, etc…) is of the utmost importance. Thank you, Rachael, for this very nice and informative website!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for sharing, Brandy! Yes, I totally remember the roller coaster of emotions and wondering where in the heck they came from! Great tip to share with everyone about getting blood work done – if it feels right, that’s definitely a good idea.
Cheryl says
This is all a bunch of hoowee!! I have had Celiac disease my whole life and one thing is for sure if you don’t have Celiac or gluten intolerance there’s no need for you to do without gluten! I never had any “withdrawal” symptoms because the symptoms were caused from the gluten! If you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and note I’m no doctor, but maybe you should see your doctor.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for being here and sharing your thoughts, Cheryl. It’s great to have different perspectives on this. As you can see, many folks have experienced symptoms while coming off gluten, so I disagree that it’s hoowee. It’s possible detox isn’t the right word for it, but clearly we’ve all had similar experiences enough to relate to one another. I think the community is more important than the wording. Best wishes to you!
BeStrong says
I also have had Fibromyalgia for over 20 yrs. So I don’t recognize the body ache etc because t already have all that
My withdrawal symptoms as of 15 days:
Still having crushing headaches, major dizziness, nausea, vomiting (just returned from a Sprint to the bathroom), no energy, someone sugvtCoke® to help the opiod withdraw (that didn’t stay for more than 5 minutes), I actually was in ER 5 days ago. They thought I was having Heart issues because I had chest tightness, dizzy, cold extremadies, night sweats, etc and some other things. I can feel everything hit my stomach (it feels like).
This Soo sucks. I can’t wait till it’s over and I can move on. Good luck to others going through this terrible detox!!
Channin says
I started the Fast Metabolism Diet by Hailey Pomroy in February of 2017 to try to rid my self of my excess over 40 weight. Part of the diet consists of purging all processed foods. I did not go cold turkey omitting the gluten, but the gluten I was consuming was sprouted wheat. It was in very small quantities. I do not recall having any withdrawal symptoms at all. Being premenopausal then, I did have a cycle within one week of starting the diet and my knee pain subsided for the first time in 10 years. My “sensitive” stomach was almost no longer an issue. I felt so much better and I lost the last 30 pounds in about a month and a half. My body was a fine oiled machine. I could out perform kids more than half my age during my boxing classes. I was a believer in you are what you eat. Fast forward to about 3 weeks ago. I was like most of the folks on this post, I didn’t want to be “that person” during the Christmas get-togethers. I had gluten and plenty of it. The first thing I noticed was a crazy bumpy rash on my upper arms. My knees began to ache again like they used to…so bad that I hated the world when I was standing. Brain fog has made me a tearful basket case. Headaches only lasted about 5 days. Acne on my nose???? Plantar fasciitis returned. All these symptoms presented in the week after I began eating right again. I began to look it all up. All things led to “gluten sensitivity”. After reading all of the posts here, I see now that detoxing from gluten could be the reason I feel so awful or
Could I possibly have been gluten sensitive my whole life and just never figured it out???? I have always assumed it was a dairy sensitivity. Now I am thinking it was gluten all along. Cereal, cake and ice cream, spaghetti???? Gluten in all of them! So, I hate to be that girl, but I am afraid that if gluten makes me feel this bad, there is no bread in the world worth this! Gluten free forever!!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hey Channin, Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing it with us. Yes, I totally hear you… no bread is worth the headaches, body aches, or even being singled out at events! When we know what makes us feel our best, it’s easy to stick with. Wishing you the best!
Rebecca says
My dietician told me to go GF for 6 weeks (I’m in week 2-3) and then eat gluten for 6 weeks and then I’ll have a biopsy. I’m getting a lot of the symptoms you describe but I think I have an allergy to tapioca starch and modified starch. I feel sick and have diarrhoea after eating foods with it in 🙁
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Yikes, Rebecca! Definitely follow up with your dietician about the symptoms you’re having regarding those starches!
Deanna Whalen says
I had been suffering from severe joint pain, horrible bloating, no matter how much or how hard I worked out, I always looked like was about 5 months pregnant but the absolute worse part was the depression. I have all the proof I now need that gluten was responsible as I have fallen off the wagon (so to speak) at least 3 times over the past 5 yrs. Each time gluten has been reintroduced the symptoms have been increasingly worse. Most recently, I decided to remove it from my diet yet once more, and am just now coming off a two day crying jag. Feeling emotionally helpless, hopeless and immobilized. It was horrible and worse than ever! I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life and went through a phase where I used drugs to bring relief. When I’m not eating gluten or any wheat products, I am happy and able to live a normal life. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that this may be a big part of why so may people are depressed. I know with the hybridized super gluten grains our kids are now eating, is there any wonder why so many are depressed??? Anyway, I finally stopped crying and I’ve lost several inches around my middle. Gluten sucks! I am praying that my brain is now able to remember this going forward. It’s totally addictive and why I’ve gone back so many times. If one were to believe in evil, this may be it! Wishing everyone continued success!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for sharing your story, Deanna! It’s so tough to fall off the wagon and try to keep that memory in place. I’ve done it multiple times over myself, and every time I beat myself up over it too… One day at a time, one step forward every time, it never feels the same way twice when you’re in the thick of it. You’re doing great, keep it up!
Pete says
Hi. I really thought I was going insane, but having read the above comments I don’t feel alone anymore.
I woke up about two months ago, and on standing up I had immediate pain in my lower back, and both knees. Days later I had pain in my finger joints and toe joints. I started a food diary for the first time, and researched. It took me three weeks of trial and error and eventually surmised I was Gluten Intolerant (I’ve since spoken to my Doctor).
I felt immediate improvements in my stomach when I went Gluten Free, although I’m sure the Bone Broth I purchase has helped. The inflammation in my fingers/toes, and my left knee has mostly gone, but my lower back and right knee are still inflamed two months later at the date of this post.
I’ve started drinking much more water days ago (before discovering this website), but I’m not sure if it’ll make much of a difference. The pain is still very real, and always reacts to the slightest physical challenge especially the next day. I’ve went from doing HITS three times a week for years, to doing absolutely no exercise these past couple of months. Its really bothering me. I’m worried about the overall impact on my body due to the lack of exercise.
I am a positive person despite my above ramblings! I may try some HITS today, but really slowly and gently.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Pete,
Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. You are definitely not alone!!
When it comes to inflammation, it can take a little while for things to settle back to where we want them.
A few things to think about: Are you eating a lot of sugar or processed foods? A lot of caffeine or alcohol? How are your stress levels? Omega 3’s and lots of green leafy veggies may also help.
I hope these give you some insight as to where to start digging in next.
Best of luck,
Rachael
Kim says
I gained about 15 pounds from menopause and I couldn’t lose the weight. My face was puffy, joint pain, inflammation, arthritis and insomnia. I started going to a hormone doctor and with these symptoms she tested me for food allergies and my levels for gluten and casein were very high. So I decided to quit gluten and dairy about a month ago. I’m having a few detox side effects but I have so much more energy, back to the gym and now losing weight and inches and my face is not puffy. I’m sleeping a lot better too which I haven’t done in years. I thought one of the detox symptoms was weight gain. I hope this doesn’t happen to me!
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Kim,
For the most part I’ve heard a lot of women say that they’ve lost weight while detoxing from foods that they can’t tolerate. But that doesn’t mean their body doesn’t bloat up or feel like weight gain while their body is escorting it’s way out. And that doesn’t mean that it’s the case for everyone… every body is different!
In my opinion, it’s best to just ride it out, be gentle with yourself, put the scale away, and focus on how you feel first.
Wishing you the best,
Rachael
Perry says
Thank you for this article. I’m on day 15 of gluten detox. I have so much more energy but I’ve had diarrhea daily. I have been vomiting from time to time too. I used to struggle really badly with anxiety and depression and it’s exacerbated really severely during this time specifically. I was soooo relieved to read this article, to know my symptoms were largely due to the fact that I was so reliant on gluten for so many years, and now that I’ve gone practically cold turkey my body is pissed haha. That this could be the route cause of the bad anxiety and depressive feelings I’ve been experiencing for the last 2 weeks. I am determined now more than ever to continue this path and not reintroduce gluten into my diet. The energy boost I’ve had in the last 2 weeks alone makes me hopeful for how else I’ll feel. Gluten detoxing sucks!!! But I know it’ll be worth it in the end.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hey Perry, thanks for sharing your experience here. It’s nice to know we’re not alone in it. I definitely noticed my anxiety decreased significantly with my diet change. Keep it up and hopefully you’ll come out on the other side feeling much better!
greg says
“So the bottom line is this: It is VERY normal to feel worse before you feel better when you cut gluten out of your diet for good.”
YES. what a reassuring statement! I was getting worried. What the heck is really going on?
57 years old. started eating bread daily for 4 months (had not touched bread previously for at least 10 years) then noticed rash around neck 3 months later. A month afterwards itchy neck from hell. Noticed itching got worst after drinking alcohol.
Then worst itchy neck from hell 3 days after quitting wheat. Nuts.
Had a small itchy outbreak last night, ten days after avoiding bread/wheat.
20 percent of rash remains after 10 days quitting. Thank God!
Parents should think twice about feeding their children wheat.
Hope all you folks recover and thanks for sharing.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Greg! I hope you feel better soon!!
Anee says
I have very acne prone skin
Thanks for this information. I have a dairy gluten and sugar sensitivity which immediately shows on my skin. I have gone cold turkey because I am sick and tired of this acne which is leaving behind hyperpigmentation. I quit only 3 days ago. I had active acne but now it’s gotten much much much worse and absolutely painful as my body detoxes. My tummy is not working and I’m bloated. Ugh, these are not good days and it’s painful to look in the mirror but I’m forcing myself to because I know in a few weeks/months time I’m going to see great improvements and I need to closely monitor these. I was also told I do have a lot of toxins from the environment in my body so that’s further impacting my hormones. Unfortunately I get no other symptoms my face takes everything and at times my tummy. Wish me luck !
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Anee, I can relate to this so much. I had REALLY terrible acne years back before I changed my diet. The detox process can be so tough, but it will be worth it! For me, dairy was the main culprit of my cystic acne, and every once in a while, I’ll get acne flare ups from sugar (a very visual sign that I’ve been eating too much of it). I hope that this change in your diet helps, and if not, I’d recommend checking out the book The Woman Code by Alisa Vitti – this helped me understand my hormones and acne SO MUCH. You can get the book on Amazon here if you’re interested (affiliate link). Wishing you the best!!
Connie Sommer says
I’ve been gluten free for 10 months now and really feel better but, now I have no appetite. Nothing sounds good to me and even when I do crave something like grilled chicken, after I eat it, I feel nauseated. I’m not sad that I’ve lost 20 lbs but I just don’t want to eat anymore. Is there anything I can do to get my appetite back?
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Connie, This definitely sounds like a conversation you’ll want to take up with your doctor or other health practitioner. You’ll want to make sure nothing else is going on with your body aside from removing gluten from your diet that’s causing your loss of appetite. I hope you get some answers soon!
k says
I have been gluten free for 20 days and have had really bad sinus/nasal congestion – this is the only website/info where I have seen it as a symptom of withdrawal so THANKYOU!!
I’m also very tired and have had to have a few day time naps!
My IBS is a lot better though – no bloating at all and my bowel habits have improved massively almost zero constipation.
Looking forward to feeling all the benefits of being gluten free.
Tanya says
I am so grateful to have found this blog. I recently went GF because I was suddenly having some horrible tummy issues (among other issues that slowly grew over the course of 4 years that made me think I might now have a gluten sensitivity), and then I saw my doctor’s office. I let them know I had just gone gluten free and they encouraged that was a great decision. They never warned me there could be withdrawal, though. Within 3 days of being GF I lost a LOT of bloat, my tummy cramping went away, and I had a normal bowel movement. But then…about a week later, I began experiencing many of the symptoms listed—fatigue, horrible lethargy, brain fog, gastro issues, trouble getting sleep at night, horrible depression, mood swings (and crying very suddenly), anxiety. And a few of these issues were issues I dealt with ON gluten, so seeing them come back was confusing and made me feel worried and crazy. Then, I thought to search “gluten free detox symptoms” and your blog came up. After reading it (and the comments), I feel less crazy. I’m currently still just a few days into withdrawals, but feel more at ease about riding this out with this new insight. I just hope it doesn’t last tooooooo long. Thank you!
Alessandra says
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and was feeling really sick. IBS, headaches, brain fog, pain, you name it. I read about cutting the gluten helps, so I tried. The detox was terrible , you can add a ringing to the ear to the symptoms as well. Now I been clean of gluten for 4 months and I can say I’m another person. No more headaches, joint pain and my stomach is like new. I few so good that I can’t even miss it.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
That’s amazing news, Alessandra! I’m so glad you’re feeling better now!