Does Celiac Reduce Your Tolerance Level?
It’s Tuesday morning and I’m still shaking the cobwebs out!
Did the Dude tie one on last night? No he didn’t.
Did the Dude get glutened? Nope.
Did the Dude go to bed too late? Not at all.
So what was the Dude’s celiac sin?
I simply had an unhealthy weekend. And not unhealthy as many may define it. No binge drinking. No fast food. No candy. No ice cream. No late-night 7-Eleven runs.
But it was a pretty “social” weekend and with that comes the adult beverage or two along with some late night eating. Again, nothing overboard, but enough to make me feel like spending the next 37 hours at the gym to get it out of my system.
But here’s the thing.
Pre-celiac days, the only time I felt like this is if I went WAY OVERBOARD in the eating and drinking department.
And now? It happens so easily.
I can get buzzed on one drink and hungover on two.
One bout of overeating and I feel full for 24 hours.
And I hate it. I feel like my tolerance for anything unhealthy has become abnormally low.
Is it because I have celiac disease? Has my system become so extra sensitive due to the nature of the disease?
Or am I over-thinking things and this is all just part of getting older?
This is one of the most frustrating things about celiac disease. There is a tendency to blame most of your ailments on it (a blog post for another day), when really what you’re feeling may just be…life.
How about all you fellow celiacs out there? Has your tolerance changed since your diagnosis?
Please share your thoughts below.
If you need me, I’ll be at they gym. Or in the bathroom.
Ellen
89 days ago
I think having to be so careful most of the time just makes us unaccustomed to the more “social” activities of late night eating and drinking. Indulging takes practice!
The Gluten Dude
89 days ago
It’s possible Ellen, but I still think there’s more to it than that. I mean a hangover on two drinks??
Laura K
89 days ago
I’m curious about what it was exactly that you were drinking. This was happening to me too, long before my celiac diagnosis, and has continued since going gluten-free. I’ve narrowed it down to wine, but only some wines. There are some I can drink without any trouble and others that leave me, well, you know, after only 1 glass. Unfortunately, I don’t know which ones are the problem and I’m not inclined to do a lot of experimenting so I’ve stuck to GF beer and potato vodka since I know those don’t make me sick. But I do miss a good glass of red with certain meals, even more than I miss the gluten!
The Gluten Dude
89 days ago
I had 7 Long Island Ice Teas and 2 Alabama Slammers.
No…just a couple of vodka drinks. Using Tito’s vodka.
Mrs. Dude thinks I got a bit of gluten in me.
I love having celiac…
Tracey
89 days ago
My son gets like you describe. I can never definitively figure out what triggers it. Sugar can give him the hangover feeling for a day, or lack of protien, or a late night or just doing too much. He can’t seem to hack more than one day of an acitivity in a row without needing the third day to be a day spent in bed.
The Gluten Dude
89 days ago
Am actually considering going sugar free for one month to see what it does…
Bianca
89 days ago
I don’t think it has anything to do with Celiac disease. I’m a pretty healthy eater even before going Gluten Free. But whenever I eat too much at social events or anything unhealthy I feel sluggish. The food is good going in but I feel terrible afterwards. I think this is just due to the fact that my body doesn’t tolerate it anymore because I eat healthy 95% of the time and exercise.
Also I feel like if you are not a big drinker and when you do drink you will get buzzed way faster. I don’t drink like that but if I have more than 2 drinks I’m totally buzzed but thats because I don’t drink a lot so my tolerance is low. Now my sister she drinks all the time so afer 2 drinks i’m buzzed but for her its has to be about 4 or 5.
The Gluten Dude
89 days ago
I’m with you on the healthy eating part. No gluten…no dairy….no soy. And if I overeat, my body goes into full rebellion mode.
Tell your sister I’m impressed.
Sassy Celiactivist
89 days ago
I’m with you, Dude. I wasn’t sure if it had to do with Celiac or the major surgery I had 3 months ago, or a combo of both. When I have a busy day, I wake up feeling hungover the next day…even if I haven’t had a drop to drink! I hate it. I’m tired by around 4 or 5, and *blank* forbid I stay up past midnight! ………I’m 29. If this keeps up, I’m going to have to find a stay-at-home job if I ever want to work again!
The Gluten Dude
89 days ago
You might as well drink if you’re going to be hungover anyway
Give it time Sassy. Took me years to get my strength back.
Sassy Celiactivist
88 days ago
“You might as well drink if you’re going to be hungover anyway”
LOL I have ACTUALLY said that!!!
Thanks for the encouragement; trying to be patient
Robin
88 days ago
I agree w/ Mrs. Dude…I’m betting you got a bit of gluten.
The sugar thing…I just started Sarah Wilson’s “I Quit Sugar” 8 week plan. It’s a bit kinder and gentler than cold turkey. I feel so sick so often and I’m hoping kicking the sugar habit will turn my health around.
If you decide to come off sugar, pls keep us informed.
Feel better~
Robin
The Gluten Dude
88 days ago
I’m starting to think the same thing. Tried a new Sushi place this weekend. Asked all the right questions. But ya never know.
I’m tempted to do the sugar thing too.
Love your website.
Continued healing…
Peggy
88 days ago
It has to be related to celiac…I was finally diagnosed about 2.5 years ago after many many years of suffering…I am 100 percent gluten free out of necessity because I am EXTREMELY sensitive and get violently ill. I used to be able to have a couple of drinks…now one glass of wine and my lips go numb…it is crazy…anymore than that and it takes days for me to get over it.. I spend most of my days totally fatigued and in pain!!! Not fun!
The Gluten Dude
88 days ago
Not fun indeed Peggy. Have you tried other things besides wine? Do they all have the same effect on you?
Peggy
88 days ago
Wine causes the least problems for me…everything else and I am blotto….but then I am having issues with almost all food and drink…I am now on a “whole” foods only diet in an effort to get rid of pain…MRI scheduled for next week!
The Gluten Dude
87 days ago
Sorry to hear about all the issues Peggy. Please check back in if you’d like and let us know how you are doing.
Peggy
74 days ago
Well here’s me checking in…got my MRI results back….lesions on brain and spine….neuro says “could be MS” or “could be gluten ataxia”….either way he says at this point there are not “enough” lesions to give a definitive answer but I am not “normal”….could have told him that…lol….so here I sit at home again…another day off from work due to pain and crushing fatigue….hmmmm….not having much fun!
The Gluten Dude
72 days ago
Yikes Peggy! Sending positive vibes your way.
Gluten Free
87 days ago
I’m strange with alcohol some days a few drinks and I feel drunk but most days I have a few drinks and it does nothing :S I drink Cider and have a lot of ice with it , I really think ice stops hangovers for me . But I can’t really do an alcohol comparison alcohol to before and after diagnosis as I was diagnosed at 15 and couldn’t have alcohol than
By the way did you see this article http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/22/report-gluten-free-diets-not-always-good-idea/ ?
And Drs. Di Sabatino and Corazza said the alleged benefits of eating a gluten-free diet run rampant, but there’s just no scientific evidence to back it up.
“This clamor has increased and moved from the Internet to the popular press, where gluten has become ‘the new diet villain,’” they wrote in the journal.
The gluten free fad / craze is finally going to go away ?
The Gluten Dude
87 days ago
See my post today (Feb 23) and you’ll have your answer…
Amy -The Quirky Gluten Free Runner
86 days ago
We don’t drink much in our house, just not part of who we are. I find that if I drink thinks that have too many ingredients (margaritas from a very syrupy mix) or various wines I get that ‘over indulged’ feeling.
In fact, the only time I can recall having a hangover of ‘i feel like I got hit by a mack truck’ was NOT when I was in college, did shots and drank hard liquor, but rather when I drink wine–the sulfites do it to me. There are a few grocery store purchased brands that I’m fine with and I stick with those.
The Gluten Dude
86 days ago
I’ve considered giving up drinking. Ah, who am I kidding? No I haven’t.
Yes…I’ve heard that about wine before.
Stephanie @RielDeal
82 days ago
In one word – YES! I have found myself having a hard time with “junk food” like potato chips, ice cream, or just eating late at night. Also – my tolerance for processed foods is very, very low. Even gluten-free chips give me trouble.
I’ve also had a hard time drinking alcohol. I typically drink red wine because that tends to be the safest for me. Also Potato vodka/soda is a drink I go for… But more than a few drinks and I am hurting the next day (and maybe for a few days following).
The Gluten Dude
82 days ago
In a way Stephanie, I sometimes think celiac is a blessing in disguise. As much as I hate it, it really keeps me away from a lot of things we shouldn’t be having anyway.
Concetta
82 days ago
nice post, Gluten Dude! I found your blog through Jules’ facebook post.
I don’t notice as much when drinking that I get tipsy easier since going GF due to my wheat/gluten allergy. What I do notice is the hangovers are 100% worse, so I’ve been tempering any drinking I might do because I know what happens the next day!
Wine seems to be least hard on me (though a strong red will really make me sick!) and the flavored vodkas the hardest.
Regarding junk food, I just think my BS potential is lower. There’s plenty of non-processed junk food that one can have, so when I see frozen fries that contain wheat, I call BS and don’t bother with them. I still eat gummy bears and dark chocolate, and the occasional gelato, but my worst habits (Doritos and Fritos) I’ve really stopped since my system can’t seem to handle them any more.
The Gluten Dude
82 days ago
Jules rocks!
I know…I hate the hangovers. What’s that? Stop drinking?? Ummm….gotta go, sorry.
Owen
68 days ago
Hey Dude,
I’m with you – some nights after just 2 or 3 drinks I can really pay a price. in speaking with a nutritionist (casually) she mentioned that since my digestive system isn’t strong – that the alcohol may interact differently or more directly flow into the bloodstream and throw my body out of whack.
Great posts!
The Gluten Dude
68 days ago
That makes a lot of sense Owen…and also kinda sux. The older I get, the more I detest hangovers.
I suppose I could stop drinking….nah!
Mel
54 days ago
Hey!
I’m really glad I found this blog! I’d been having digestion problems for awhile and the last 2 weeks i’ve been gluten free. Can’t say it has made all the symptoms go away but two Saturdays in a row now, after a few drinks (mostly wine and cider), I was violently ill! I am never sick from drinking just a few drinks, and I didn’t even feel drunk so this was a big shock. I am thinking my alcohol tolerance is lower since i’m not eating gluten. I wanted to get tested for gluten allergy but just found out I need to have gluten in my system for 6 weeks prior to the tests, very annoying! Hopefully I will get some answers!
The Gluten Dude
54 days ago
Hey Mel. Welcome aboard.
Yeah….kinda stinks about the whole needing to be on gluten to get an accurate diagnosis.
Interesting about getting sick two weeks in a row from a few drinks. A connection? Time will tell.
Keep me posted…
Melissa
37 days ago
Hi, thought I’d give my 2 cents. I have been gf since august 2011-finally diagnosed after many years. I have found that wine and cider really leave me feeling crappy, and with a bad hangover. With the cider it is usually after one, with wine it can be a couple. But surprisingly I can drink silver cuevo or bacardi and not feel bad at all. I’m starting to think it’s the sulfite levels in the cider and wines that gets me feeling so bad.
The Gluten Dude
37 days ago
It’s possible. I actually can handle tequila better as well.
Peggy
37 days ago
Hmmmm… I may have to try out those theories the weekend, just to be sure!!! Lol
The other CD
30 days ago
Got Crohn’s not Celiac but, gluten makes me very sick also, so I live GF. I too have no tolerance! I thought it was just another quirk that makes me…well, me. I think it comes with having an autoimmune disorder – especially for those of us who never go into remission for any length of meaningful time, but just have bouts where things stay quiet for a little while. I wonder if people with GI issues who may be nutritionally difficient as a result, have less than optimal levels of nutrients and enzymes needed to process things like alcohol?
I enjoy your GF perspective, thanks for taking the time to blog.
alisa
23 days ago
Gluten Free Fried Rice Disease http://www.aboutgrain.com/gluten-free-fried-rice-disease/
Gluten Free Traveller
19 days ago
I definitely think that being celiac reduces your tolerant level when it comes to drinking. These days I have to be really careful and only have a glass or two or I’m going to be paying for it the next day. I would only have myself to blame in the morning if I were having two bottles of wine but I’m having nothing like that. After two small glasses I shouldn’t feel as bad as I do sometimes whilst all my gluten loving friends are fine.
The Gluten Dude
19 days ago
You’re not supposed to have two bottles??