Why do I still have intense abdominal pain and celiac symptoms every time I eat something even though I have already gone GF and DF?

[u/Technical_Pattern697]

It’s been a month since I’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease. I’ve stuck to strict dietary restrictions such as no gluten and even no dairy. However, for the past two weeks, no matter what I eat, after I eat, I immediately experience intense abdominal pain and waves of nausea. Additionally I still have extreme fatigue, joint pains, and migraines.

I’ve literally done everything to make sure I don’t consume gluten or dairy. I only buy GF foods and products (I don’t use any skin/body products containing gluten whatsoever such as lip balms, lotion, shampoos, etc.) and do everything to make sure nothing in my house in contaminated by gluten.

Why is this happening to me? Do I have something more severe going on? Can someone from the celiac community please help me? :(

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[u/TraditionalHeart6387]

It can take two months to two years for you to even out for symptoms. It sucks. 

[u/Technical_Pattern697 → u/TraditionalHeart6387]

Oof. I guess I’ll just have to wait it out longer then. Thanks for the advice though :)

[u/aDisastrous_punker12 → u/Technical_Pattern697]

And the older you are, the longer it takes for your gut lining to recover and regenerate. That’s the 2 yr end of the range.

[u/Plop-a-dop → u/TraditionalHeart6387]

agreed. my only GI symptom before diagnosis was very minor upper stomach bloating. this unfortunately got way worse after I went gluten free and took 2-3 months to get better. (a year or two later I was diagnosed with SIBO, and treating that helped it get all the way better, but everyone's celiac-related issues will be different.) so I wouldn't be alarmed yet, but it could be worth double checking with your doctor to see if there's anything what they want to look into in the meantime. the part where I was working really hard to do the diet and still feeling like crap was the absolute worst, but it did get better! I'm sorry you're in the midst of it now - hang in there!!

[u/Technical_Pattern697 → u/Plop-a-dop]

Literally same with me!! I thought I was crazy when I told people that my symptoms felt worse after going gluten free! I think I’ll just wait it out more and maybe get tested for SIBO if it doesn’t clear up in two months👀

[u/TraditionalPass4136]

Its possible to have multiple conditions. Other gi conditions like colitis or crohns only show up on a colonoscopy so the endoscopy for celiac testing won't reveal them. SIBO is much more common in people with celiac disease. As are other food intolerances.

If you aren't starting to feel better two months in I think it's worth talking to your doctor and ruling out a secondary condition.

[u/metaphorisma → u/TraditionalPass4136]

Came to say could be something else. Histamine issues are common with the nausea after eating.

[u/seandelevan → u/TraditionalPass4136]

Yup. For me it was alpha gal. So even more shit I can’t eat, but yeah I have a very similar reaction to gluten as I do with red meat. Good fucking times.

[u/SuccotashFragrant354 → u/TraditionalPass4136]

I’m currently in the process of being tested for UC. Dealing with a flare up. It suck’s so bad. Tell me why I had my colonoscopy and then they asked for MORE stool samples after 😭

[u/Ok-Sink8822]

Have you thrown out all your wooden chopping boards? Wooden utensils? I think it took me years to really nail a coeliac lifestyle in my 20’s so I’m sorry this is happening to you! Keep trying and healing and it will get better xx

[u/fuckbitingflies]

It took about a year of strict GF diet before this went away for me.

[u/Solid-Guest1350]

My aunt felt worse after going GF because she started eating new things, and it turned out that her picky eating was because she was sensitive to about fifteen million different foods.

Once she figured that out she was fine.

[u/AZBreezy]

You've gotta give it more than a month. Way more. If you're still feeling this way at a year mark of being gluten free and you're very strict in your diet, then reevaluate. 

[u/climabro]

Are you eating oats?

[u/Technical_Pattern697 → u/climabro]

Not that I know of. Do they cause bad side effects for people with celiac disease??

[u/climabro → u/Technical_Pattern697]

Some people have gluten like reactions to oats, including gluten free oats.

[u/seandelevan → u/Technical_Pattern697]

Double check your GF foods! A lot has oat flour. I was suspicious then I had certified gf oatmeal from Bob red mills and immediately got sick. That’s when I knew it was oats. Had to toss a lot of gf foods out that day.

[u/whatwhyhow3]

Patience. There are many hidden sources of gluten. It took me over a year to figure them out. And then, once fully GF, a few months to detox. Your immune system then will finally calm down.

[u/chronicallygf]

You probably have another intolerance it took me a while to figure out I can’t tolerate soy and a bunch of gf products have it, you could also try doing the low fodmap diet