MC vs flu

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:00 am

I haven't posted much but have been continuing to read the many helpful threads.

I have gotten very ill and weak since going g/f almost a month ago and c/f, & s/f 2 weeks ago and I'm not sure if it is my body reacting to a major change in my diet or if it's a coincidence and have picked up a GI bug or flu.

Twice in the last week the joint and muscle pain has gotten so severe that I was forced to bed and took a vicodin, and I HATE to take any narcotic because of how it makes me feel but I couldn't stand the pain any longer. Within a few hours of the pain I started to get chills followed by a fever. In addition I spent more time in the bathroom with extreme D than in bed. This lasted approximately 14 hours a week ago and the same thing hit all over again yesterday into today. When it happened the first time I assumed it was some sort of bug but now that it has happened again within the same week, it has me wondering.

I guess my question is has anyone else experienced anything like this when their diet changed drastically?

Since the change in my diet my symptoms are actually getting worse with regard to D 15-20 times a day, back and joint pain, vision problems etc.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:10 am

Kelly I dd not have nay adverse affects to going GF/SF/DF. I did make sure to take vitamin supplements, including extra D and a B complex. We do normally get various levels of B vitamins from the grains.

It sounds like either a reaction to a med you are taking (if any) or a bug you are fighting .

I hope you feel better soon

--Joe

Post by **tex** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:11 am

Are you also having severe cramps? I'm wondering if you might have developed a C. diff infection.

That's definitely not a normal response to the diet.

Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:17 am

Kelly,
I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I would guess it might be a winter or GI bug, therefore coincidence. My MC symptoms improved radically when I started the diet, but I did start losing hair, feeling fatigue and losing weight, mostly because I was eating a lot less when learning what I could eat. Are you taking vitamins? I think my symptoms were related to a sudden drop in B vitamins, among others. I started a B-complex 100 and felt better. I also take calcium citrate, some magnesium, a multivitamin, and Vitamin D (2,000IU/day). With the food choices we are limited to, supplements become essential.

Another slight possibility (hopefully not) could be that once your body's immune system stopped reacting to daily gluten insults, another autoimmune problem is becoming more apparent. Fever and joint pain, if it goes on for longer than a flu would, should send you to the doctor to rule out other infectious (i.e. lyme disease) or autoimmune causes (RA, Lupus, etc).

I hope you feel better soon!

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:51 am

Thanks for the quick responses!

Joe- I didn't think it sounded like a typical response but wanted to see what everyone here thought. I'm not taking anything right now except a prescription for Vit D. My Vit D level was 17 so my pcp put me on 50,000 iu once a week. Additionally she wants me on Citrical with magnesium daily but I have stopped all supplements except the vit D for now because I wasn't sure what was safe and what wasn't.

Tex- I was having severe cramping last week but it hasn't been as bad although I do have "unrest" in my gut almost constantly and my appetite is zilch. Since starting the diet I have lost about 15 lbs. I was at a normal weight before but it is now starting to concern me. C-diff... ugh

I hadn't even considered that possibility.

Zizzle- thanks for giving me your prospective. I will revisit my supplements again. I did find a safe multivitamin last week and will start looking at B complex too. I do have a hyperthyroid condition which is probably complicating matters but I hope I'm not getting another autoimmune issue. I had a though that maybe the fact that my autoimmune system is no longer constantly battling with the gluten in my gut that maybe it settled down enough to allow a bug to settle into my system. Prior to this I never get colds or viruses that are constantly going around.

I am going to make an appointment with my GI but who knows how long of a wait it will be.

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:59 am

Gosh, Kelly, so sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly. I have no words of wisdom except to inquire as to whether or not you are keeping your electrolytes up ( maybe by drinking gatoraid or pediolite) with all that d. I certainly didn't have a reaction like that when I went GF, sf. Seems like there may be something else going on. Are you on any meds for the D. like asacol or entocort, or pepto bismul?What you describe is how I reactad to Asacol. And some people cannot take the other two because it made them feel way worse.

Linda

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:27 pm

Kelly just a cautionary note. For me I am quite sensitive to soy. I was placed on the 50k IU vitamin D by my doctor as my levels were measured at 2. I found that I was reacting to the vit D capsule as the fill was made from soy. The capsules I had were a egg shaped soft capsule that was green in color and was made by Teva pharmaceuticals. I ended up switching over to a off the shelf brand of D3 that was 5000 IU and I now take 1 a day to keep my levels up. The one from Teva made me feel awful

I hope you are feeling better soon

--Joe

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:48 pm

Linda- thanks, I am drinking gatorade to keep my electrolytes up. Currently I am not on any meds for the D. I have been on many of the typical meds prescribed but had negative side effects from them.

I did call and I now have an appointment on March 7 with my GI and may give Entocort a try again. Something's gotta give.

Joe- Unbelievable- that is exactly what they have me on! I specifically asked the pharmacist about gluten and soy and she looked it up and said that it was safe before she filled it. Thanks so much for pointing that out. I'm sure it could be part of why I feel so incredibly horrible. When you say you switch to an off the shelf brand, what do you mean? Is it something you obtained at a HFS? I remember reading a thread about how low your D level was. Have you had it checked since you started supplementing? I hope your levels are going up for you.

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:11 pm

Kelly it avaialble at the HFS or grocery store. When I get home tonight I will post the manufacturer for you

--Joe

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:27 pm

Kelly the vitamin D I take is:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/CNT203/ItemDetail

I pick these up at a local health food store

--Joe

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:29 am

Joe,

Thanks for the link and info on Vit D. I had to go to the grocery store for more Gatorade last night so I stopped by the pharmacy to point out their error (nicely). The pharmacist, who was not the one who made the error, apologized and did some quick research and confirmed the soybean oil in the supplement prescribed and also said that there isn't a vit d prescription available w/o soy.

Again thank you for pointing it out. I think I have much more going on than getting soy'ed but every little bit helps and if it didn't agree with you then I don't want to continue to take it.

Have you noticed an improvement in you vit D levels with this supplement?

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:20 pm

Kelly yes I have. I switched over to this brand last September and at that time my level I think was about 12, it was just measured and is now at 33. I will continue this dose with the intent of getting it at least 50

--Joe

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:26 pm

Kelly as a side note to replace the 50k IU per week, you would take 1.5 tablets of the 5000 IU each day. I have actually been taking 2 tablets more recently as with the Crohns I am having a hard time absorbing nutrients.

--Joe

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:53 pm

Kelly
I can tell when my immunity is 'fighting something' (cold flu etc) I get very tired, and lots of stabbing gut pain, a bit of D but it is mostly the pain, and recently this has included headaches, nausea vomitting aching joints hot and cold sweats.

i suppose it is my body telling me to slow down, these days when the symptoms start, i do listen as it needs the energy to fight the germs. it is times like this that i go back to gooey easy to digest foods and really nurture my body.

Life with MC things are very different.

hope you are feeling better
take care

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:59 am

Joe- thanks for the specifics of how you have been taking your vit D. I will keep that in mind.

Gabes- We sound so similar in how are bodies react to MC and meds/supplements. I have spent hours reading through so many posts with many being yours.It makes me feel slightly better knowing you have experienced something similar.

With guarded optimism I will say that I feel slightly better today although I'm so incredibly weak with no appetite. It is very difficult to get up and go to work everyday but I have no other choice because I am the provider of our family's health benefits since my husband is self employed. I work long hours and have nothing left to give to my kids, husband or the house when I drag myself home at the end of the day.

I am trying to slow down as much as I can but life doesn't seem to allow for as much as I need these days... It's salmon and sticky rice for me for lunch and hopefully a restful weekend.