food intolerance (possibly wheat) signs and symptoms

[hobbgoblin]

I am not a great 'believer' in food allergies but accept that in some cases they are genuine. So, I am the last person to consider myself to have ssuch a thing going on.

I seem to have symptoms that might indicate an intolerance to either starchy veg or possibly gluten containing foods. I haven't kept a written food diary yet so am rather sketchy on what may be causing. However, when I have had bread and veg in my diet a lot I get symptoms.

Symptoms are a bit grim and tmi but involve passing of jelly mucous stuff. I have had this for a long time and also had a sigmoidoscopy to rule out more sinister explanations but the negative sig. exam wasn't followed up as I moved abroad soon after.

It's only now that my last pregnancy is way behind me (used that as explanation for odd symptoms in the past) and the symptoms are becoming more severe that I feel I should really begin to get to the bottom (no pun intended) of this.

I don't eat a lot of carbs in any case but have phases of eating bread. I seem to do very well on a high protein diet both emotionally and physically but I don't think such heavy re;liance on protein is good long term.

Do any of you have any advice re. experiences with food intolerance that may help me make some sense of this?

Bloating, wind and diarrhea are the main singmns along with possible skin rashes- I find wheat affects my eczema.

It's very easy to check- just avoid all gluten etc for a month- you can eat oats, rice and gluten free breads and pasta.

I have been gluten free for years now- I eat the occasional thing with wheat in but only a small amount- if I can't avoid it for example.

I did a home test from food detective dot com to confirm my suspicions before seeing gp. The only tricky part in doing the test is pricking your own thumb to make a drop of blood.

Am newish here - am I allowed to say where I got it?

sorry but those home blood tests are not relaible. my son has food intolerances and saw a consultant dermo who did tests.

the kits you buy give lots of fasle postives and negatives- if you google and read up it's all there.

The symptoms that cabbageroses has said plus I would add headaches, lethargy and sometimes constipation.

I do think an eliminiation diet is the best way to find out unless you're under medical referral

Gluten is hidden in a lot of prepared food. It's in things like soy sauce and malt vinegar. There's a good UK coeliac charity which lists food clearly. I would avoid all gluten for about six weeks. If things improve after about two weeks and stay better you probably have your answer!

I'm gluten and lactose free and a lot better for it. Just because some people are faddy about it doesn't mean it can't be real for others! My symptoms were quite severe and my head was firmly in the sand as I didn't want to give up bread as I was already lactose free but actually it's fine. Eating out or at other people's houses is still a concern but I can live with that.

Interesting. My BMs are pretty normal in that I get neither diarrhoea or constipation. This is another reason why I'm not wholly convinced it is allergy or intolerance.

I guess I'm going to have to see Gp and explain the problem again. I do find it a little unpleasant to talk about face to face, and I'm not generally shy about things. It is getting me down now.

Lethargy is an issue sometimes, and have bouts of headaches but on;y sometimes.

you will most likely find your GP knows absolutely nothing about it...unless he/she is interested in the topic. I saw a consultant immunologist 25 years back who suggested food intolerances might be a trigger for my eczema- that was when it was all very new and faddy thinking.

best you can do is try eliminating it from your diet- and seeing what happens.

ooo did djshed write something rude on my thread?

My dh has all the symptoms described above plus irritability and depression follwoing eating gluten, brewers yeasts and dairy. If I keep him away from those he is much more of a pleasure to live with...