It’s something, no doubt, someone you know has, and a gluten intolerance is something that we all may have to an extent. Some may have a sensitivity, and although we feel better if we consume products without gluten, what if the gluten problem you suffer from isn’t actually caused by gluten? You might feel tired, achy, or very, very gassy. It may very well be another issue. Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of it.
A Food Sensitivity, A Gluten Intolerance, Or Something Else?
If you have already checked that you don’t suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease, the problem could still stem from a problem on a food map. It’s important to look at the symptoms you have. Because, if you tend to suffer from colds or flu-like symptoms you have to cross off other culprits, and start to keep a food diary. Keeping an eye on what you feel like after certain foods is crucial. And if you don’t see any symptoms, but still suffer from flu-like symptoms or you generally feel foggy, it’s worth consulting a specialist like an ear nose throat doctor just to check that it’s not another problem. Many people that suffer from gluten intolerance feel sluggish and sleepy. That could very well be caused by something like sleep apnea. But at the same time, you need to look at your sensitivity to specific foods. You may very well have a food sensitivity, but this is where you have to start eliminating certain components such as fructose, lactose, and polyols.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you feel bloated, or suffer from various abdominal pains, IBS could very well be the culprit. The way to identify if you suffer from IBS is to undergo a food sensitivity test, but you have to consult your doctor before making specific dietary changes. It could very well be down to foods that contain a high amount of gas, in which case, altering your diet and making certain lifestyle alterations could make significant changes. A lot of people suffer from IBS and it could very well be due to certain sensitivities, but if the symptoms you have are more than bloating or diarrhea, and it starts to affect your focus or frame of mind, it may very well be more than IBS.
Lyme Disease
Symptomatically speaking if you suffer from headaches, chills, and achy muscles, these can be associated with celiac disease, but you might also ponder the idea if you have Lyme Disease. The one difference between a gluten intolerance and Lyme Disease is if a rash appears after 4 weeks, as well as flu-like symptoms. This disease is infectious and is transmitted to humans by ticks, so if you suspect this you need to see a doctor right away. Lyme Disease is treatable but while it can seem like something that only people get while traveling the world, you have to ensure that you get the root cause established.
Crohn’s Disease
Linked to celiac issues, Crohn’s Disease is an autoimmune problem that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss and inflammation. Crohn’s Disease is incredibly rare, and if you suspect that you have stomach pains, you should speak to a doctor so they can complete a blood test, as well as an endoscopy or colonoscopy. It is one of those conditions that can stay with you for life, but it can be treatable.
Colitis
This is inflammation of the large intestine or colon. Similar to celiac disease, symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, as well as abdominal pain. If you ever have dark-colored stools, checking with a doctor is crucial. Colitis can be treated not just with medication, but lifestyle alterations.
An Underlying Mental Health Problem
Sometimes, the symptoms we feel are psychosomatic. With something like allergies or a gluten intolerance, they can be symptomatic of something like hypochondria or obsessive-compulsive disorder. If we feel that we have an intolerance to something like gluten, it’s always important to undergo an elimination diet just to make sure that we are checking for symptomatic relief. But when we have symptoms like excessive sleep, fogginess, and an inability to focus, an underlying mental health problem may need to be addressed. With all of these issues, it’s always worth going to a doctor to ensure that you have the adequate blood tests. But, when we have an underlying mental health problem, we can find that by treating the issue, it has a benefit on the rest of our lives.
Living with a gluten intolerance can be pretty miserable, but you have to find the culprit, just in case it isn’t an intolerance to gluten, but something worse, or something that can be treated easily.