This week, while having a relaxing lunch with one of my favorite girlfriends, I came upon an amazing discovery. I think I might have a gluten allergy. My friend was telling me all about her symptoms and diagnosis (while we enjoyed a fabulous gluten-free, dairy-free pizza together at one of my favorite restaurants nearby – OMG, I am so thankful for living here!) when I realized I hadn’t experienced any of those (formerly regular) symptoms since going Paleo.
Testing for a Gluten Sensitivity
So I did a test. A few days later I made a regular pizza crust for my family and had a couple of bites. The following evening I had all of these crazy (and previously unexplainable and unrelated) symptoms: upset stomach (which prior to going dairy-free, I attributed to the cheese on pizza), dizziness (which I usually just attributed to the wine I used to drink with my pizza), tingling in the arms and hands while sleeping, itchy scalp and hands, irritability, shortness of breath (which was so weird given how healthy I’ve gotten these past few years), severe abdominal bloating (I can’t wait to show you before and after photos) and excessive anemia (something I already struggle with because I don’t eat red meat.) All symptoms of a gluten allergy.
Then I noticed the symptoms in my baby son. His constant loose stools, eczema, (unexplained) mouth sores, severe abdominal bloating and general abdominal pain. All symptoms of a gluten allergy, or Celiac Disease, in children – often delayed by extended breastfeeding. Thank God I felt compelled to nurse him until he was 14 months old! I can’t imagine dealing with these symptoms in an infant. I would have been scared out of my mind. Continue reading