How I discovered my gluten allergy
My symptoms seemed to pop up out of nowhere one day: fatigue, headaches, swollen glands, sore throat (especially in the morning), and that "flu-like" feeling. I kept feeling like I was on the verge of getting the flu, but it would never quite come. Running errands became a huge chore because I always needed to rest.
Doctors tested me for everything under the sun - diabetes, anemia, mono, parasites, B12 deficiency, protein deficiency - all to no avail. They finally diagnosed me with "fatigue of unknown origin" and sent me on my way.
Unwilling to give up my active life at the age of 29, I searched and searched on Google for any answers about my symptoms and finally found information about gluten intolerance. It just seemed to fit. So I decided to give up all gluten for 2 weeks to test the theory. I started to feel great again. 2 weeks later, with no symptoms, I ate a big gluteny cookie and my symptoms returned. Just to solidify that it wasn't a coincidence, I gave up gluten for another 3 weeks, again with no symptoms, and then spent 3 days eating all kinds of gluten-filled food. I felt like I was going to die. And so it was that I determined, on my own, that I am allergic to gluten.
I've fallen off the gluten-free wagon many times since then, all with the same result. It can't possibly be a coincidence at this point. I've been entirely gluten-free for 2 years and I won't eat it again. With so many gluten-free products on the market now, it really isn't that tough to manage.
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Category: Gluten-Free Resources
Thanks for the story! My doctor kept telling me that my horror 6 months of sore throats and swollen glands, temperatures and not-quite flus would be very atypical presentation of gluten intolerance or celiacs. But after going gluten free last November, i have slowly been improving…until this week and an ill-researched choice to bake (and eat) a batch of oatmeal cookies on Sunday. Tuesday I was in bed all day totally exhausted, swollen neck glands, sore throat, return of the tongue ulcers and every afternoon have crashed out in bed from four to six. I have only now started finding stories like this on the internet, so I guess I need to stick with the diet and maybe try the cookie effect out again in another few months.
Thank you, Callum, for your story! I'm glad that you were able to solve your health problems. It puzzles me why more doctors don't know about these gluten allergy symptoms. I still find myself having to defend my claim that I am gluten-intolerant, despite 3-1/2 years of repeated personal experience and clear evidence.
Wow! Great story! I took an IGG allergy test last November through my naturopath and discovered that I was allergic to gluten, dairy, eggs, kidney beans, pinto beans, almonds and peanuts. And I thought I was doing well incorporating beans into my diet!
When I eliminated these foods from my diet, I stopped catching colds. Even though I would typically get sick, right after stressful times at work, and sleep deprivation- I didn't.
I also cheated (don't tell anyone), and felt so sick, and started to catch a cold.
The way the naturopath explained it to me, was that since I elminated the foods that were "stressing" my body, my body was able to focus on fighting those colds/viruses that I was coming in contact with. It wasn't week from dealing with all of those foods.
My goal is to find some gluten, almond and egg free desserts that taste good, to satisfy my sweet tooth. The recipes and products I have tried so far have only been about a 6/10. I would welcome any recipes or websites to link in to!