Connection between wheat exclusion and reducing symptoms?

[Speshul]

Hi has anyone tried excluding wheat from their diet to manage feeling bloated?

[hayls]

Hi

Yes I exclude wheat and its made a big difference, if I cheat and have some wheat now I get bloated and really uncomfortable almost immediately. Until my surgery in October I had bad endo on my bowel and my bowel was stuck to my uterus and pulled up and out of place so thinks that's why cutting out wheat did have a good effect for me, and even after my surgery it's still been a benefit. Its worth trying for 4-6 weeks to see if it makes any difference, need to check ingredients in almost everything though as wheat gets its way into a lot of food products, it's certainly not just bread and pasta etc x

[Speshul]

Thanks for sharing. I was diagnosed years ago and at the time someone suggested there may have been a connection but that it hadn't been researched, so I wasn't really sure then. Now after two children (which kept the endo at bay for a while) some of the symptoms are returning, so will try wheat exclusion.

[Impatient]

Have a look at the Endo Diet - there is plenty of online advice on foods and drinks to cut out of your diet to improve your wellbeing. Cutting out Gluten foods is part of that. Just google endo diet. There's heps and heaps of info now available. cookery books, menu ideas, good foods and bad foods for endo.

Also look for Coeliac Diet - which is strictly Gluten free.

[Speshul in reply to Impatient]

Thank your the info

[LindaPreciosa1]

amazon.co.uk/Recipes-Diet-A...

Hiya I got this book and for me and really works. Don't have many photos but the recipes are not difficult. Also you have to buy the right ingredients Holland & Barrett have plenty. And for Gluten free flour and others, the cheapest is Asda.Good Luck and keep fighting the Endo-Monster.xx

[Speshul in reply to LindaPreciosa1]

Thanks for the info

[voluptuosvegan]

I cut out wheat 3 years ago shortly after my diagnosis. Definitely helped, my bloating reduced significantly. My husband refers to the bloating now as my "wheat baby" (I looked like I was 5 months pregnant most of the time). I would definitely recommend trying it. But yes wheat is in more than just bread and pasta, for me the main problem is that it is the key ingredient in most soy sauce, so Chinese takeaway is a no-no Tamari, which is a Japanese soy sauce, is usually wheat free so I use this when cooking Asian food at home. Good luck

[Speshul in reply to voluptuosvegan]

Thanks for the tip on soy sauce, was wondering what to use instead!

[Hidden in reply to Speshul]

Just replied below re danger of tamari and soy sauce for us. The wheat is the lesser of the evil, it's the fermented soy beans which is v bad for endo due to the extremely high oestrogen content.

[madtabby]

I cut out wheat & made a major difference to the bloating, diarrhoea & extreme pain goin to the toilet when its my period !

I would defo recommend you try cutting it out for a month & see how you feel ?!

[Speshul]

Tks for sharing. Do you cut it out all the time or just during certain times during your cycle??

[Cat_lady]

I cut out wheat (gluten really) after my lap for 2 months and it made a massive difference.

Went back on it to test and only lasted 2 weeks due to bloating, upset stomach and pain.

I accidentally follow bits of endo diet - am Vege and don't have caffeine as well as no gluten.

I do have limited dairy, but always avoid week before period. Also alcohol for me is a no-no around period time.

Try cutting things out one at a time and see what works for you. Good luck!

[CallMeElle]

Thanks all for the tips! Sounds like this is really worth a try!

[Hidden]

Hi, just read the posts on this chat - and just wanted to point out one thing - that Tamari is as bad, if not worse, than Soy Sauce; Tamari, even though it has no wheat, has a higher concentration of soy beans.

It is the soy beans which are really bad for endo - because endo is driven by oestrogen and soy beans are full of oestrogen.

I would highly recommend you avoid it. I avoid it completely.

Just thought I'd better point that out. x

[Speshul in reply to Hidden]

Tks for the info! Any suggestions on what to use instead of soya and Tamarai then?

[Hidden in reply to Speshul]

A tiny few drops of thai fish sauce can add a good saltiness to food, with added spices it's a the only replacement I can think of. I just tend to cook thai or indian food if I want something different - there aren't many 'against the endo diet rule' ingredients in those cuisines.

[Speshul]

Thanks for all the input. Will definitely try wheat exclusion. I have found that if I use a few tablespoons of linseed in my cereals every single morning, it really helps with the constipation, unless it's around period time and then I have the complete opposite! I find if I forget the linseed for more than two days then the constipation kicks in again quite quickly. Might help someone. Now need to attack all the other sympstoms I get!

[Brownlow in reply to Speshul]

I do this too and also notice a big difference if I forget to take them. Best to have a large glass of water at the same time so the whole seeds don't make matters worse. I also add chia seeds.

[Speshul in reply to Brownlow]

Tks for this, where do you get them from??

[Brownlow in reply to Speshul]

Healthfood shops, Holland & Barrett mostly.

[Speshul]

Thanks. In terms of flavouring things, I tend to use marigold organic Swiss vegetable bouillon powder (reduced salt) version - it's gluten free and dairy free.

[Brownlow in reply to Speshul]

I love this product and use it quite a bit too. Kallo organic stock cubes are also gluten and lactose free.

[Hidden in reply to Speshul]

It is, but unfortunately it contains palm oil - which is a product that really should be avoided on health grounds but even more so for environmental reasons. greenpeace.org.uk/forests/p...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Endo diet is like knocking our heads against a brick wall - but I'd really recommend avoiding anything with palm oil in. It's a really cheap, bad oil to consume.

For this reason I always avoid nut butters that contain it too. I use meridian almond butter as a replacement for peanut butter. It's in alot of processed foods, which we should be avoiding anyway.

[Brownlow in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Yellowrose, how are you?

It is from sustainable sources according to the tin. I don't use it in large enough quantities to be too bothered about the effect on me.

[Hidden in reply to Brownlow]

If it's sustainable that's good. I don't think it is on the bouillon powder though, all I saw was that it was organic but hope they change it.

It's an oil that solidifies at room temp so it's pretty bad for us, but if you don't use it much it will be fine.

I'm okay ish today, on the mend after yet another awful period, but have headaches last two days. Luckily I can now walk again, as the left groin sided pain and pressure has gone since day 2 of my period. Second scan next week.

Lovely day today so that's cheered me up a lot.

How are you Brownlow?

[Brownlow in reply to Hidden]

I'm great today but pretty tired after a long walk. I'm taking bets on how awful or how good my next period will be this coming weekend! Hysteroscopy next Tue to determine what on earth is going on up there.

Great to hear you're on the mend and able to walk. x

[Hidden in reply to Brownlow]

Oh dear. Goodluck with it. Good that you are walking though, that will help, I hope x