Weight Gain on Gluten, Weight Loss on GF

skyeofblue · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I am a diagnosed celiac and react to gluten in a very different way than "the typical" celiac or gluten intolerant person.

I gain a significant amount of water weight and look like I am suffering from edema. My face, arms, legs, middle, feet and hands all swell. When I get glutened I can not wear my wedding rings with in a matter of 40 - 60 minutes. I am 5'5" female, and before I got really sick I was 140 lbs. I started to have abdominal distention and water retention anytime I ate gluten. I would go from 140 pounds to 148 pounds in 48 hours. I seriously looked 6-7 months pregnant and would go from a size 6/8 to a 12/14 in just a few days. As the symptoms got worse the more weight I gained. I ended up around 171. I went gluten free before and lost all of the weight in about 6 weeks, and kept it off until I started accidentally glutening myself, and went in for a gluten challenge inorder to test for Celiac Disease. In 5 weeks I gained all 31 pounds back. I have been GF after my diagnosis 2 and a half weeks ago and I have already lost 12 pounds.

The doctor told me it was because I was retaining water, and it was easier to loose than fat, so it packs on faster and comes off faster. I do not think that this is a typical reaction, but it is my MAIN symptom of Celiac disease. - Dont know if this helps?

soutram · Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Montreal, Quebec

I gained weight I think because of not eating properly and listening to my body. I also craved the carbs which my body was rejecting. Strange as it sounds. I have been trying to live gluten free, but I am learning about many of my mistakes and poisonings from this site therefore correcting myself. I lost thirty pounds in less than two months, but since I have had a few mistakes happen recently on vacation (cross-contamination I am sure of it), I have gained ten pounds in a couple of days and look 7 months pregnant from being so distended. I think as I stay gluten free I will continue to lose weight as my body was/is reacting well to the gf diet.
I am waiting for the kit to do the at home stool test from Dr. Fine. I am anxious to know what the results will be.
I live in Canada and have had a very hard time getting an appointment with a GI. I finally got an appointment for Oct 22. I am so excited.
What I find hard is that I wonder at times if I am crazy. The pain gets so intense it doesn't seem like it can be from a crumb... Yikes....
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Sue