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she discovered if she has gluten she wakes up during the night with a panic attack and cannot get back to sleep.
Bet you she's having mast cell degranulation from gluten. It presents like a panic attack . . . tachycardia, sweating, feeling of impending doom . . . and is often mistaken as panic disorder. I was prescribed ativan for my episodes, which most often occured at night. Can't think of another reason why gluten would induce a panic-like reaction.
Before I got off gluten I had insomnia for at least 10 years. Doctors told me it was hormone changes from perimenopause. Within a few days of going GF I started to sleep through the night and have turned into a very heavy sleeper.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
You all just gave me an "ah ha" moment. I have had terrible insomnia for the last two years. It has been awful. But, recently I am sleeping well again. It started about the middle of November and I have been so thankful for the improvement. I went gluten-free about the middle of October. How about that....
It sure sounds as though gluten was the problem. I'm glad that eliminating it from your diet did the trick.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Interesting theory about the mast cell degranulation effects. I think that may have happened to me when I was on long term azithromycin a few years ago for sinus issues. After about a mo. on the antibiotic, I began having episodes exactly like you describe. I had never had anything like that before - the feeling of anxiety and impending doom was so scary and unnerving. My ENT doc had never heard of this happening from an antibiotic but wisely discontinued it.
I never had another one of these attacks. I have always wondered about the mechanism, and now I think I know. Thanks for enlightening me.
Love,
PolP.S. I definitely slept better after all gluten was removed.
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I think many people have these type of mast cell reactions, which can be triggered by viruses or vaccines/drugs. As Dr. Castells told me this type of mast cell activation is often transitory. Lectins are known to have the ability to degranulate mast cells in susceptible people. Mast cell degranulation symptoms can vary widely, which is why it is often misdiagnosed. I was told I was having panic attacks, but as a trained therapist I knew this wasn't true so I kept looking for another explanation.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
It sure sounds as though gluten was the problem. I'm glad that eliminating it from your diet did the trick.
