Can gluten cause lightheadedness, extreme weakness? Help.

Whether people know it or not, everyone has some sort of intolerance to gluten, whether mild or severe, some don't notice symptoms, some notice lots of symptoms. I actually don't think humans should be eating it regardless - I always think back to tribes etc.. would they have made bread? Would they have eaten sugar? (Apart from fruit)...Not so much. It's very much vegetables, fruit, berries, meat and fish etc. so it's probably no wonder why after all those years of our ancestors eating "real food" that our stomaches just didn't evolve enough with the evolution of food containing gluten or sugar or whatever it is that's in them these days!

I'm currently being tested for Coeliac's, and what you've described to me is similar to what I've had in the past. Dizziness, or vertigo has popped up at random times, from waking up, to going to bed that night, or even longer. Weakness though, I usually experience if I haven't eaten yet for the day. However, I am also addicted (like most) to sugar. And all the studies I've done into that shows that sugar, and even the period of when you're trying to give up sugar, can elicit all sorts of physical and mental symptoms: from mood swings (although gluten does that too so it's a double whammy) to disturbed sleep, lack of absorbing nutrients, highs and lows, lethargy, shakiness and dizziness etc. 

I advise doing your own research into both though, because it's always helpful to fill yourself with enough knowledge to take to the doctors.

The fact you've had it for three months is disconcerting though. Have you had an MRI? What other tests have you had done?

My only advice at this point would be - don't do an elimination diet just yet - if you want to put coeliacs out of the way, go and get an endoscopy done (don't bother with the blood test, it rarely comes back accurate) and if you have coeliacs, you'll be advised to go on a gluten free diet, and hopefully be directed to someone who can offer yearly support.

If you don't, then I would suggest an elimination diet. 

Someone had suggested I eliminate gluten, then a few months bring it back into my diet to see if the symptoms reduced/came back - I've never had more torture in my life, but it proved my suspicions right. So eliminate gluten (if you're not coeliac and still can't figure it out) and eliminate sugar or other additives. Try a non-processed food diet and see how you "feel". There's so much crap pumped into our food these days, and unfortunately a lot of us just aren't as aware of what we're eating, as we would like to be. 

Don't stop looking for answers though, it does not sound good at all! Make sure to seek second or third opinions - doctors aren't always right unfortunately 

I wish you all the best.

Hi Des....your symptoms are consistent with many deficiencies and or disorders. Not sure if you have had blood work to rule out anemia or a B12 deficiency or other vitamin deficiencies as your symptoms seem to indicate that. I have severe Celiacs and have totally elimated wheat and soya. Prior to very severe attacks I can't say that I felt terrible but I always had low ferritin  and B12 due to lack of absorption caused by Celiacs. To be honest it sounds like you are having more of a deficiency issue. See if you can get more comprehensive blood work for all vitamins and minerals.

Good luck.

That's the problem isn't it, it can be a list of things. Maybe speaking to a nutritionist would be helpful as well, since they are more specialised. As I've said many times, doctors are good at knowing a little bit about everything, but they tend not to know a lot about these kinds of things - on top of that, when they find "nothing" in your results, they sum you up as fine and continue on their way. It's very frustrating to have something that interferes with your life so significantly. I really do hope they find what it is for you so you can get on top of it and feel more like yourself again. 

did you ever figure out what was wrong? or did you find anything that helped you? I've been experiencing the exact same symptoms and just came across your post. shakiness, lightedheadedness, like i'm pumped full of caffeine. blood work is normal. I did a gluten intollerance test which came back saying i have a sensitivity. but thats all i know.