Overall water retention - Anyone else?
KatiAuchinleck
Posts: 101 Member
I have been GF for 4 years and found that it obliterated my migraines and joint pain. Over time, I thought that I could tolerate small amounts because the headaches didn't return. Now that I am very specifically working to get fit and lose weight I notice massive changes in my weight when I eat gluten.
I am talking about fluctuations of 4-6 pounds in a matter of days...all while still eating the same number of calories and maintaining a specific exercise regime. The only culprit I can find (this is now happening for the third time) is that gluten sneaks back into my diet. We all know how that works: a bite here, a "just today" there.
The scale goes crazy, my rings get tight, my stomach hurts from the swelling, and my entire body just blows up with water.
I was hoping that I'm not alone in this. Does anyone else notice this symptom with gluten intake???
I am talking about fluctuations of 4-6 pounds in a matter of days...all while still eating the same number of calories and maintaining a specific exercise regime. The only culprit I can find (this is now happening for the third time) is that gluten sneaks back into my diet. We all know how that works: a bite here, a "just today" there.
The scale goes crazy, my rings get tight, my stomach hurts from the swelling, and my entire body just blows up with water.
I was hoping that I'm not alone in this. Does anyone else notice this symptom with gluten intake???
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When I first went gluten free, I was very strict. I found by reducing my carbs overall, it was easier to loose weight. I got within 5 pounds of my goal weight and my joints were feeling great. I was feeling confident that I had my Rheumatoid Arthritis and my weight under control, so I started allowing myself to cheat and eat gluten now and then. At first I wasn't sure, but it seemed like every time I ate gluten my stomach would swell up, I gained several pounds, and I felt bloated for 2 or 3 days. I'm glad to hear that the same thing happens to you. It makes me realize that I am not just imagining it. Being gluten free really is the better way for me to be. I need to stop kidding myself.0
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Oh yes! Anytime I have been glutened at a restaurant I know it because I gain so much water weight! It's ridiculous, I'll look like I'm about to give birth to triplets! lol0
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I've not eaten gluten for 10years. Then my doc said I needed to get 'retested for celiac. In 4weeks I've put on over a stone and it's miserable!! Only 2weeks left now and then I can go back to feeling normal0
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I'm glad I'm not alone. It's ridiculous that I know this and have little self control. I never eat bread or pasta but it's when I'm baking! A lick, a spoonful of batter. If I can get it into the oven, I'm safe. But, raw batter is my killer!0
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Wow, chocciechip. After feeling the difference for 10 years, I wouldn't have reglutened unless it was necessary for insurance reasons. The solution is the same whether you have Celiac Disease or NCGS (technical acronym for Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity)... to stay away from gluten. Now it will take you up to another year to heal the damage just done from the testing.chocciechip wrote: »I've not eaten gluten for 10years. Then my doc said I needed to get 'retested for celiac. In 4weeks I've put on over a stone and it's miserable!! Only 2weeks left now and then I can go back to feeling normal
And don't bake, Kati, lol.
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Chocciechip I don't think your doctor's treatment protocol is very sensible. I feel for you.0
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11lbs here since reintroducing (I was not totally gf) for testing....0
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This is my first post in this group. Responding because of the water retention. I don't know if I am celiac or not. I have had horrible pitting edema most of my adult life. No have had many different tests and been to a lot of specialists. Most act like I am sort of crazy and the answer to my edema has always been to lose weight. I have tried so many times unsuccessfully.
In June I started seeing a doctor in the bariatric clinic. I was too scared to do the surgery so instead I started a "protein sparing" ketogenic diet. The edema was gone within a week or less. No doctor ever told me low carb could help water retention. Not a single one in fifteen years of specialists and primary care doctors telling me to lose weight. Anyway I have lost 40+ pounds (depending on the day).
I stopped doing the keto diet but continued with low carb (no bread/no sugar). A few weeks ago I ate a biscuit from KFC and the pitting edema returned by that night. I started googling that and other problems I have had over the years and celiac keeps coming up. I have an appt with a gastroenterologist and I have been eating bread so I can get an accurate test. I gained ten pounds and have a lot of water retention. Not as bad as I used to have it but I can press on my angle and see the indentation stay. I am still under my calorie goal so the ten pounds on the scale just makes me sad.0 -
@larissamalcolm - hang in there for your test, then ditch the gluten & keep your carbs lower. Experiment to see how many carbs you can have from healthy fresh vegetables & fruit without the edema. Bring your gastro the list of symptoms you've had - sometimes it's hard to remember everything you want to say when you are in the office.0
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Thanks! I am definitely ditching the gluten once I get tested whether I have something diagnosable or not. I am trying to figure out how to get enough gluten for accurate results without gaining so much weight and feeling so yucky. When I was on the protein sparing diet I felt better than I ever remember feeling.0
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I read an article that said that 25% of people who are celiac do not get diagnosed with the blood test. That's a big percentage.0
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Nope - not going to make myself sick so that they can test me and tell me that I'm intolerant when I already know it.
I ate out yesterday for the first time in a while. I know I ingested hidden gluten. I went from flat tummy to looking four months pregnant overnight.
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larissamalcolm wrote: »This is my first post in this group. Responding because of the water retention. I don't know if I am celiac or not. I have had horrible pitting edema most of my adult life. No have had many different tests and been to a lot of specialists. Most act like I am sort of crazy and the answer to my edema has always been to lose weight. I have tried so many times unsuccessfully.
In June I started seeing a doctor in the bariatric clinic. I was too scared to do the surgery so instead I started a "protein sparing" ketogenic diet. The edema was gone within a week or less. No doctor ever told me low carb could help water retention. Not a single one in fifteen years of specialists and primary care doctors telling me to lose weight. Anyway I have lost 40+ pounds (depending on the day).
I stopped doing the keto diet but continued with low carb (no bread/no sugar). A few weeks ago I ate a biscuit from KFC and the pitting edema returned by that night. I started googling that and other problems I have had over the years and celiac keeps coming up. I have an appt with a gastroenterologist and I have been eating bread so I can get an accurate test. I gained ten pounds and have a lot of water retention. Not as bad as I used to have it but I can press on my angle and see the indentation stay. I am still under my calorie goal so the ten pounds on the scale just makes me sad.
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I have horrible issues with edema, and have been on Lasix for fifteen years. I was diagnosed with a kidney disease called IGA nephropathy. My kidneys function fine, but my filters are damaged and I cannot clear enough water out on my own.
I jave been sick with Fibromyalgia and all sorts of other issues for almost 20 years. All the doctors would say ?????? , we really don't know what is wrong with you. I had major inflammation, even in my lab tests.
I finally sought a Medical Doctor who practices functional medicine. He told me to get off gluten and dairy - said it is highly inflammatory. I did great with the gluten, but I noticed that when I ate cheese on a rare occasion, I would gain around 8 lbs overnight!
My doctor suggested a food allergy panel. My 72 hour delayed allergy tests came out allergic to wheat, gluten, and severely allergic to dairy and eggs. Now that I have entirely eliminated the dairy and the eggs, I really don't have any edema issues. Maybe a tad occasionally and my nephrologist said it is because we need to wean me off the Lasix, but nothing severe like I used to have. When I first saw her, she said I probably had 40# of water on me. She also said you normally have about 8# of extra water on you before you see it in your ankles, etc.
So, I just wanted to share my experience with the food allergy testing in case it might help someone. I know it is so difficult avoiding gluten. My life is really hard.. I can hardly eat out. I eat a lot of hamburger patties :-)
Have a great day! :-)0 -
@passionflwr Hamburger patties?? That's just sad. What's wrong with chicken, turkey, quail, ostrich, pork, rabbit, all the fish and shellfish? With lovely fresh veggies & fruit? Wishing you better health (and a more interesting diet
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