Symptoms come and go

[GreenPlum]

I've just found this topic and will do some reading around now I'm beginning to suspect I'm developing a wheat intolerance. Sometimes I'm fine, but other times I get a terribly sore tummy after eating bread, pasta or cake.
For example during lockdown we've made banana bread a few times and I've eaten it no problem. This week though I had an excruciating tummy ache on Monday after eating some, and putting it to the test, had some more yesterday evening and was awake half the night with awful griping pains again. Also accompanied with diarrhoea.
Other symptoms I suffer from that I see from a quick read around here may be related are diarrhoea, asthma, tiredness, bloating, sensitive skin, sore joints.
My question is, can intolerance come and go? Why am I ok sometimes but suffer on others? Thank you!

I’m gluten intolerant, I’m more sensitive to some types of wheat than others - I’m really bad with things like pie, pizza, whereas brown bread wouldn’t be so bad.

It’s really important that you speak with your GP about the possibility of you having coeliac disease and getting tested first. The tests look for inflammation caused by consuming wheat, if you cut wheat out first you’ll get a false negative. If you’re not coeliac, it’s worth asking to be referred to a dietitian go do the “low FODMAP” diet, it’s an elimination diet where you cut out possible triggers and then reintroduce them one by one. It really helped me with symptoms.

Yes, FODMAPs is an idea. The complication is, your body may be able to let you get away with a little of something, on occasions, but that doesn't mean eat as much and as often as you like. FODMAPs takes a bit of getting used to. Other complications include the fact everyone has their own individual variants. You might, for instance, not get on with butter or cheese, but manage milk and yoghurt.

Somewhere I saw a chart of the top items on an overlay of lots of personal lists. Wheat and dairy, as might be expected , but up at the top with them were apple, garlic and honey.

By the way other people go in the opposite direction and cannot eat wholemeal brown bread, but could manage a slice of white rubbish bread at times. You can't get coeliac tests yourself, but you could look up as much information as you need to try Fodmaps. Your doctor won't necessarily have heard of FODMAPs, nor will dieticians, but it's easy to find reputable sites, notably Kings College, which is pioneering the N I C E approved roll out. Have you considered diverticulitis, too?

Thank you all for your time. I've got a phone appt with my GP later on today so I'll ask if I can have the blood test.

Do bear in mind that only a tiny percentage of people are technically caeliac but a great number find they are best avoiding wheat. That's where doctors and dieticians are out of date with new official n.i.c.e. guidelines, to consider FODMAPs.

Thank you! Blood test next Monday but I'll read all about FODMAPs, diverticulitis and general intolerance in the meantime.

Hi OP did you get your results? I have my test tomorrow .