I'm curious has anyone tried a primarily gluten free diet to see if it helps with Sjogrens? I just read an article on gluten and how it can have an effect and worsen symptoms in those with autoimmune illness. Obviously, people with celiac disease can't have gluten. I'm thinking of trying after the first of the year.
Anna
Anna,
I've been on a gluten free diet for over a year and it hasn't lessened any of my symptoms, in fact I have developed another AI. So I can't say it has helped me except that I have lost a good bit of weight.
I'm sure it effects people differently, so if you want to give it try, GO FOR IT! It sure can't hurt. Let us know what it does for you. We are all interested in different approaches to this disease.
Merry Christmas,
Pooh
There's been quite a bit of discussion about it, if you use the search function (upper left of this page) and check for "gluten free" and "celiac disease" you'll find a couple of pages of results, with varying reactions.
Thanks, Linda and Pooh. I have a friend, with a daughter, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness that attacks the kidneys. The doctors at Akron's Childrens hospital told her that their daughter would most likely be dead in 7 years, they just don't live with this. Anyway, my friend refused to believe this and put her daughter on a gluten and dairy free diet, supplements and stress reduction lifestyle. Their daughter is beyond the 7 year point and a senior in college. The doctors at Akron's Children hospital marvel at this and say keep doing what you are doing. Her protein count is the lowest it has been in all these years.
Anna
Please educate me....what, if any, difference is there in a gluten vs wheat free diet?
Lana,
I'm not sure except when on a gluten free diet you cannot have wheat. Hopefully, someone will be along to educate the both of us. Are you doing wheat free?
Anna
I'm on gluten-free diet and it doesn't help. Just because something is wheat free doesn't mean it doesn't have gluten in it. For example sometimes even medications use gluten to hold them together. Also, something can be wheat free but not be gluten free for example oatmeal. Oatmeal is wheat free but if it was made in the same equipment as other products it could be contamidated with gluten. So in other words there is gluten in wheat products but just because something doesn't have wheat in it doesn't mean that it doesn't have gluten in it.
Steve
Gluten is type of protein that is found in wheat, but it is also found in other grains, such as, oats and rye. So being on a wheat-free diet does not mean that the diet is gluten-free. For some unknown reason, the prevalence of milder forms of celiac disease (gluten intolerance) appears to be increasing, this milder form is sometimes referred to as subclinical celiac disease.
I've been on a gluten free diet for over a year, and I think it is helping me. I don't have celiac disease, but had read that certain proteins in gluten cause a negative response in people with AI diseases. Since my main symptoms are dry eyes and an extremely sensitive digestive system (I already have specific food intolerances), I thought it would be worth a try. I do think it keeps my bowels more stable.
My rheumatologist told me that several of her rheumatoid arthritis patients are doing better on a gluten-free diet.
C
Callie,
Do you ever cheat? For example my friends daughter will cheat occasionally and she seems to tolerate but as a whole is gluten free. Just curious on how strict you are. I know they have pancake mixes, muffin mixes, cereals, cookies, breads ect. Some of the ones I've tried are not that bad. My digestive system is so sensitive. I'm having another upper endoscopy the end of the month because I have stomach pain. I did not have this until the Sjogrens.
Steve,
You say you are on a gluten free diet and it doesn't help, do you have celiac disease? Curious as to why you'd be on the diet if it doesn't help.
Thanks,
Anna
Anna, I have celiac disease. I meant that being on gluten free doesn't help the Sjogrens (addressing the original question on the post). Being on gluten free diet DEFINATELY helps. The slightest little mistake I'll notice in my digestive reaction. I can't even have my food touch something with gluten I'm that sensitive.
Steve
Thanks, Steve.
I was told that being gluten free was the single most important thing to help w/ Sjogrens by my Dr. He also recommended being red meat free and also follow a diet low in sugars and free of chemicals and preservatives. He told me that these kinds of foods cause an inflammatory over response in your immune system which in turn will aggravate your auto immune disease. I followed his advice to the T for several months and started feeling great. I will confess that when along came Thanksgiving I back slid and have kind of just thrown Gluten and sugar to wind :o I have eaten cookies and breads at holiday gatherings the past couple weeks and I feel just awful! ::)
I'm limping because my feet feel broken again, my joints are all achey and crunchy and I'm just dry as bone. I am very upset with myself for allowing this to happen after all my hard work to get better >:(
But I know what I need to do and I'm glad for knowing, what works for me anyway, and I hope I can turn this into a lesson that I really do have a problem and it is not going away just because I really really hope it will...
When my rheuny and I were discussing remedies/tx last Thurs.she told me to remove wheat from my diet as it aggravates inflammation.
Thanks for your replies. After the holidays, I'm going to give it a whirl. Getting off the sugar and gluten. I've noticed that you can be gluten free and still not eat healthy. They have an abundance of gluten free products loaded with sugar. I, too, have done some reading on foods that trigger an inflammatory response in the body.
"They have an abundance of gluten free products loaded with sugar."
Absolutely! I found that when I avoided all the gluten free manufactured products and just stuck with whole fresh foods, was when I felt the best! And that is my plan as well... a fresh start with the new year..
Quote from: ohiolady on December 22, 2008, 05:23:40 PM
Callie,
Do you ever cheat? For example my friends daughter will cheat occasionally and she seems to tolerate but as a whole is gluten free. Just curious on how strict you are.
I don't cheat very often, only twice in over a year. Once was part of a pastry, and the other was a slice of pizza. Both times I got indigestion immediately. So I'm not very motivated to cheat.
I agree, the "prepared" gluten-free foods aren't very good. But I love the GF pancake mix from Trader Joes. Just add egg, oil, water and it cooks up like regular pancakes---yum. That's my comfort food-----with honey. I really miss chewy French bread, though, and sandwiches, but I try not to think about it. I eat lots of white corn tortillas and Lunds rice cakes, too.
Calli
Please remember if you/your doc are concerned about celiac disease and are considering testing for it you are not supposed to modify your diet and go gluten free before testing or it will not yield accurate results.You must continue with your normal diet until tests are done.
Kim
Kim, great point! I had a lot of symptom's of Celiac and after testing showed a negative result I saw a Gastro who took a look inside and prescribed some medication that has helped immensely.
There are also some good gluten free products from Pamela's products.
http://www.pamelasproducts.com/