gluten free questions.

[LaughingHyena]

Brief history, I've been feeling run down for quite a while but in the last few months have got progressively worse. I barely can hardly make it through the day without a nap.It takes me a good couple of hours to get going in the morning. My periods make things mch worse and the last few have gone on for a couple of weeks each.

Have just sent off blood tests for Thyroid function, celiac, iron levels and I think something else. Results should be back in a week or so. Reading around I think both low thyroid function and celiac fit my symptoms well.

So I'm wondering if I should go gluten free anyway or if it would be better to wait for the test results. What would you do? Is there any reason to wait ? I'm really chomping at the bit to do something to feel better, I can not continue like this.

How quickly did you see a difference after cutting out gluten?

Any tips for the first few weeks, it's going to be a big change.

[SuburbanHippie]

I had a patch of eczema disappear while I was in the restrictive part of the hcg diet (which happens to be gluten free). Also, my acne disappeared. I also suspect I have thyroid issues. I had blood drawn back in January and the results came fine, but they didn't do the best test either. The nurse suggested to me that my thyroid might be giving me trouble despite what the tests say.

Anyway, the only reason I noticed that these were gluten related was because when I added them back recently (I'm on the maintenance phase of the diet right now so I added gluten back in), both my eczema and acne have come back. So back to gluten free I go!

I would give it a shot. It's a lifestyle change though and it's certainly an adjustment. But I don't see any reason that you couldn't just go ahead and start now before the results come in. It can't hurt you at all.

Good luck! You may want to try reading the Grain-free thread on the Traditional Foods sub-board. They have great ideas there.

[maxwill129]

I'd do it. It can't hurt. My DD has a gluten sensitivity and she gets extremely fatigued with any gluten, even a tiny bit, and that fatigue lasts a handful of days.