I have been asked numerous times how I was diagnosed gluten intolerant so here is my story.
A few years ago I had read a book called The Ultra Mind Solution: The Simple Way to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety, and Sharpen Your Mind by Mark M.D. Hyman. Dr. Hyman talks about functional medicine in his book. I was very interested in this type of medicine as it looks at the body as a whole and not just try to fix a symptom. In other words if you have stomach problems a doctor may diagnose you with irritable bowl syndrome. Dr Hyman would go further and find out why you have IBS. What is going on in your whole body to create this? Are you sensitive to foods? Have you been introduced to a microorganism that likes you a lot but your body doesn't really want to be friends with? After reading his book I decided to find a doctor that also believed in this type of medicine.
I found a chiropractor that was also a homeopathic doctor. Homeopathy is very interesting but that is another subject. This doctor did a nutrition evaluation and the only thing that show up was a response to gluten inflammation. She suggested I try going gluten free. Because I had read Dr. Hyman's book I knew a little about gluten.
When I got home I started researching gluten sensitivity and Celiacs disease. Through my research I found out I had so many of the symptoms associated with gluten intolerance. My symptoms included the following
Abdominal bloating
Alternating Bouts of Diarrhea and Constipation
Nausea
Fatigue
Depression
Anxiety
Hair loss
Hypoglycemia
Numbness or tingling in my hands and feet
Year round allergies. I always had sinus congestion.
About a month after I completely stopped eating gluten I started noticing how much better I was feeling. I was no longer wanting to take a nap every day. I didn't have to go to bed at 8:00 every night. I lost 7 pounds right away. I believe that was because I was no longer bloating. After several months of being gluten free I noticed I no longer had sinus congestion. Last year during allergy season I had a few days that were terrible and I couldn't go outside. Compared to years past when I would be miserable for weeks. I have had bad allergies my whole life and for once I didn't need medication to keep my nose dry and my eyes from itching. I believe it is because my body is no longer trying to fight off the effects of gluten.
It has been over a year and half since I went gluten free. I have been able to cut my depression/anxiety medication in half! I have the energy to exercise now that I never had before and have since taken up running. I am doing my first marathon in a month. Pre gluten-free I don't know that I would have had the energy to even start!
Being gluten free is not easy but after a while it becomes a way of life. If you are feeling yucky I say give it a try. If it doesn't help then it doesn't and you can go back to the way you were eating before. But if it does help it can change your life.
