Before I was diagnosed as being gluten intolerant, not only was I battling the severe IBS diagnosis (which later was diagnosed as Crohns), but I was extremely fatigued. I felt pretty silly bringing up the symptom of fatigue with my doctor because it seemed so vague and a little wacky because I was raising 3 small children. Of course, I’d be tired. So, as I expected, the Dr. said, “…..well, that’s to be expected, how old are your children?” I knew that the Dr. may not take me seriously. She did take additional blood tests, but all were normal, so there was nothing to treat as far as the Dr. was concerned.
My fatigue was more than needing a nap when my kids napped. I felt like I could barely keep my head above water, even when I did nap. It was more than feeling tired after swimming a few laps, it was like treading water forever and struggling with all my might to keep my nose and mouth out of the water. I didn’t feel my body could support me. I couldn’t mentally wrap my head around all these symptoms, the dismissive behavior of the doctor, and how to move forward.
With a gluten allergy or gluten intolerance, your body has difficulty digesting the gummy protein in gluten and this get’s attached to the intestinal walls, you’re body sees this as foreign, hence creates an allergy and eventually disease.
Why so tired?
Why would you be so tired? When you’re body’s working overtime to get foreign invaders out of the body this is exhausting. Also, when the gummy protein is stuck on the intestinal walls, this makes it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients, creating even more fatigue. The longer you go undiagnosed, the harder on your body, the more tired you are and it can lead to disease, as in my case.
Now you have a diagnosis . . . .
So, once I discovered I was gluten intolerant, the steps to change my diet were in motion. Living a gluten free life tends to lend itself to healthier eating of more fruits and vegetables. I took the change very seriously, because not only was I motivated to eat, I was motivated to feel good and to live. I was extremely ill from the Crohn’s disease, and what happened when I changed my diet to extremely healthier eating was that my body went into detox. It naturally went into shock.
Once again, I was extremely tired. I thought this was the answer, but what happened is that my body had to adjust. During this time, I realized I needed extra support. My body couldn’t absorb nutrients right away because of the internal cleansing that had to happen.
I began to take supplements in liquid form for immediate absorbtion, a multivitamin and multimineral supplement to help carry me through the change. I use the Organic Life Vitamins found at Sprouts on 120th and Sheridan in Broomfield.
This was the key for me. This was the key to not only living healthier, but living gluten free in a supportive way to gradually wean myself of no energy to vital living!
So, keep in mind that the fatigue is an unwanted visitor when you’re gluten intolerant and when you finally decide to live gluten free. It’s a process to support your body when you finally decide to make that change to feel vital and free of that incessant unwanted visitor of fatigue, but it’s totally possible. Many of us have conquered fatigue, so stay persistent and keep your eye on thriving and not just surviving!
Enjoy your Sunday and make it Grateful and Delicious!
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