Gluten free diet?

[Rae253]

Hi everyone, being newly diagnosed with endometriosis I really want to try and find things that help with the pain other than painkillers.

Has anyone tried a gluten free diet? Has it helped? x

[Hollie2018]

Ive tried it all! The only thing that actually helped was cutting out dairy for me! If you Google endo food triggers it comes up with 'good' and 'bad' foods!

[Rae253 in reply to Hollie2018]

Dairy definitely makes my belly sensitive so I don’t particularly eat a lot. But it’s the hidden things you need to look for isn’t it! I have been trying to look into it a bit more to try and help myself. In the evening I’m all for starting a ‘special diet’. Then the morning comes and I don’t know what to have for breakfast/lunch etc and I start feeling down thinking there’s nothing I can have! I really need to get a menu or list sorted I think and try to think positive thoughts about it - it’s hard though!

Thanks for replying x

[Starry]

There is one research study suggesting it helps with pain. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2...

I've been gf since October. Honestly it's very hard to tell what difference it makes as before I did it I got very ill with viral meningitis after my op and it's knocked the stuffing out of me in a million ways and I developed cfs/post viral syndrome.

But the study said 12 months to make a difference so if you go for it you need to be in it for the long haul to make a difference.

[Rae253 in reply to Starry]

Oh bless you, you’ve really been through it! I hope you’re starting to feel a little better now.

Yes I did read that it basically has to be regimentally stuck to. I just think I will find it really hard. I think substituting bread will be ok it’s just all the other little things to look out for & get used to.

My belly feels constantly swollen

Thanks for your reply x

[Starry in reply to Rae253]

Thanks x im finally attemptimg to rtw initially part time.

Good luck in what you decide. I did low Fodmap in general for a while (which is part of the issue with wheat) and it did help bloating a fair bit. But takes a few months to kick in and doing a food diary to work out what you are most sensitive to is very useful. And coming off that particular wagon my bloating is worsened

Tbh I've found gf far easier than sonion and garlic which I've become sensitive to since the virus along with lots of other things.

Being gf was a bit of a pain the first couple of weeks till you find decent tasting substitute products but then it's ok. I had a clear out and visited a food bank. Free from aisle is pretty good in most supermarkets now though. You do have to get good at reading ingredients lists but I had to anyway due to allergies.

If you do try it some handy things:-

Marigold gravy and stock is not bad

I use a red lentil pasta which is quite tasty. Free from Gnocchi and polenta are both OK too.

Clives gluten free pies range is pretty good

Shar bread ciabattas and brioches, Bfree pittas and wraps and genius hot cross buns are the best supermarket brands. There are some online specialists and or dedicated breadmakers I've yet to try. I would like to go organic but can't.

Oatcakes with nut and seed butters are super handy snacks

Wheat free Vodka and beer take a little finding but are out there.

A lot of restaurants do offer gf bread but don't advertise the fact well.

Buckwheat is not wheat so gluten free but spelt rye and barley do have gluten

Overall I eat a lot less processed food than I did before and my fruit and veg intake is up and sugar consumption way down so it's certainly been a healthy exercise for me to do and really made me think hard about what is in food and how it's made (horrified to discover they bleach margarine for example)

I've not knowingly cheated and I've gotten in a bit of a ok groove with it now and it's mostly going OK.

Hope these random ramblings help.

[Chidders]

Hi yes i am on a low fodmap diet too, but only 2 weeks in. But found it has helped alot ( could be a coincidence though!) I used to think it was gluten that caused me issues, but think it may be lactose too. It is making me eat less processed quick meals that after work i sometimes i grab which is no bad thing!

[Abi_97]

It helped me a lot with my nausea and stomach pains but nothing else really 😮

[Bluetit]

I went wheat free after having a jaw op and struggling to reintroduce pasta and bread without IBS symptoms, found when I now eat it it’s similar to endo in the way everything feels stuck together. Personally fine with gluten and have tried dairy free with no difference.