I gained a significant amount of weight over the course of just a few years, despite regular exercise and eating like a bird. Rather mysterious, that. A strict conventional diet did absolutely no good. I kept gaining. Soon I had outgrown all my clothes and was the biggest I had ever been. It was extremely depressing. To the point where I avoided seeing my friends because I was ashamed about getting so out of shape for no sensible reason.
Then the fatigue hit. Before I knew it, my body was in zombie mode. I was sleeping about 16 hours a day and for the waking hours I was barely able to concentrate. Rather crippling, really. A multitude of other unpleasant symptoms set in, most of them GI-related.
I had gotten so sick of feeling sick.
After lots of research, I eventually figured it out - I had Celiac's Disease. After taking gluten out of my diet for a week, I felt absolutely fantastic. Adding it back after I ran out of gluten-free foods? Triggered the classic symptoms of Celiac Disease. Haven't been able to eat gluten again without getting sick a day or two later.
Most people with Celiac's can't keep weight on. A minority actually gain weight before their discovery. I was obviously in the latter category.
So! Gluten-free it is! Also low-carb, because I had developed signs of PCOS as well.
I have a will made out of reinforced titanium, so sticking to the diet has been fairly easy. Though occasionally torturous. I was recently around decadent frosted brownies. Yay, willpower. Boo stomach. :(
I'm also lactose intolerant due to intestinal damage, so that's been a bit difficult. Low carb, no gluten, no dairy. Avoiding sugar anyway due to a dental cavity I can't pay to have fixed just yet. As you can guess, my diet is pretty boring, but I don't mind it so much.
It's the diet not recommended by people. Lots of fats (though most are good fats). Lots and lots of meat.
Curiously, little or even no fiber has no effect on digestion. In fact, I'd say it's better without fiber.
But it's working, and working fairly quickly.
Feeling great!
Good to hear that you have found the source of the sickness.
I am interested in Celiac disease because I have been wondering if maybe I have it myself. I cant go to the doctor because of insurance reasons but I was wondering how your stomach was feeling at the height of your illness? Did you have stomach pain?
Thanks
Check out this link:
http://www.csaceliacs.org/celiac_symptoms.php
The symptoms for celiac disease are different for different people. Which may be one of the reasons it stays hidden for so long for some people.
If you can't afford a doctor, you may want to try going on a gluten free diet for awhile, and see how your body reacts. If you don't have celiac disease, it won't do you any harm.
Just a disclaimer; it's my wife who has celiac disease, not me.
To the OP, that's unfortunate that you also have to go no-dairy too... And I would have trouble giving up the rice as well. Seems like it's the Atkins diet for you? :) But I know my wife was relieved to have her problem finally diagnosed, enough so that the dietary changes weren't as bad as she thought. Eating out is the hardest, though.
Clint
Make sure you go and get tested so that you are diagnosed with celiac. I did not eat wheat for almost 2 years because I showed symptoms of celiac they went away when I ate gluten free.
After 1.5 years or so...they started coming back and then I was back to normal getting sick everyday. I finally went and got tested. Turns out, I just have a slow stomach that has difficulty digesting wheat, it is something to due with the amount of acid I have in my stomach.
I am on a daily acid reducer and I do not get sick. It's nice to eat wheat again.
Good luck with your journey and you're doing great so far!
