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Coeliac headaches!

Posted , 4 users are following.

chloe12657
chloe12657

Does anyone else suffer from headaches? Ive been diagnosed coeliac for almost 3 years and constantly suffer from a foggy head and headaches,, currently had one every day for 3 weeks its starting to get really annoying! Anyone have tips on how to get rid?? 

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • colleen65022
    colleen65022 chloe12657

    Posted

    Hi Chloe it could be something you eating thats not agreeing with you even with the gluten free diet, keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and see if you have any triggers, also get your bloods checked xx
  • tm62
    tm62 chloe12657

    Posted

    Hi Chloe

     I have also been diagnosed for just over 3 years, because I have dermatitis herpetiformis I know I have had undiagnosed CD for over 20 years. 

    My symptoms are also headaches, I find that if I have something that sets off a headache I usually feel ill for 4 days.  The headaches are accompanied with feeling sickly, burping, dizzy, when walking I can feel off balance and generally I feel terrible and tired

    Like you I have been struggling to find the cause, I thought when first diagnosed that once I went GF I would start to feel well, however after 3 years I havent had that much time when I have felt normal and healthy and in fact I dont know whether I feel worse since going GF some days. 

    The advice of keeping a diary is good advice, although I kept a diary for months and still couldnt work out the issue, I then decided to give up dairy and did feel better but found it harder than going GF so do cheat. I have also just started to wear GF lipstick to see if that also makes a difference as I still have days when I cant work out why I don't feel well.

    When I get a headache I take sumatriptan ( from GP)  and paracetamol, this takes the headache away. If I just take painkillers they dont work, I dont like taking meds but it is better than the terrible headaches.

    The other thing that I did wonder might be causing the headaches was if I had an allergy to histamine and if I ate food which either triggered the allergy or had a lot of histamine in it then it may be the cause.  I had GF spaghetti bolognese with cheddar cheese last Friday and didnt feel well for several days, I also find GF pizzas set me off, I tend to drink red  wine with these meals and intend to take benedryl next time i eat them to see if that makes any difference. 

    Sorry I couldnt be any more help to you, without the sumatriptan I would find it hard to cope, my GP suggested putting me on meds to stop the headaches, however i am convinced something food related is causing them and need to get to the bottom of what it is rather than covering it up 

    If  you do find any more information please post it on the site, hope you feel better soon x

    • chloe12657
      chloe12657 tm62

      Posted

      Hi, I know exactly what you mean about the dizziness and not feeling right, when I walk sometimes I describe it as floating as my head just doesn't seen to focus, it's horrible!,, I might go to gp then and ask for some stronger painkillers for now as it's hard to work and concentrate. Thanks for replying it nice to know I'm not imagining things and on my own!, will let you know if I manage to find anything out to help stop them all together x
  • tm62
    tm62 chloe12657

    Posted

    Hi Chloe 

    The sumatriptan tablets are not painkillers they are a particular type of medicine and there are many names for the type of medicine, it reduces the blood vessels in the brain http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Migraine%20Headache&medicine=Sumatriptan%20succinate

    I just take normal bought from the supermarket paracetamol with it.  If I just take a painkiller even a migraine type painkiller it doesnt work.

    By the way I had homemade apple crumble last night made with gluten free flour, I had a quality icecream with it ie made with cream and last night about 2am I had a headache so had to have the medicine, this again points to dairy.  I have always loved cream,milk and cheese but it would seem it no longer agrees with me.  

    With regards to the dizzy/off balance feeling I also feel as though my right leg is not lifting up as high as the other one and I am conscious of my walking.  

    I would definately go to your GP and ask about the sumatriptan as I wouldnt like to be without it.  Hope this help, please let us know how you get on x

  • FA54321
    FA54321 chloe12657

    Posted

    Hi, sorry for late reply, but I've just joined the forum today. I usually get migraines when I've accidentally eaten gluten by mistake, but I usually have gastro symptoms too. Do you keep a food diary?

    I also found out that I can't eat anything with codex wheat starch in it (which is wheat that has the gluten removed from it), so have to stear away from this too, I also only used gluten free lipstick and lip balm.

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