I am curious if any of you can remember approximately how long after being completely gluten free that you noticed an improvement in your sleep patterns.

I have been having problems with my sleep for all of my life, and although diagnosed with Celiac at the age of thirty two, didn't remain true to the diet at all times, and consequently have major sleep issues.

I have been completeley gluten free now for just over a week, and haven't noticed any improvement yet, should I be looking at a three months off???

I know this sounds nuts that I haven't been following a completely gluten free diet, but I just have tested my fate for so long now, but I think I am finally getting it into my head that I NEED TO STAY OFF GLUTEN, and just maybe my sleep and exhaustion will improve.

Thanks guys,

Deb

Deb:

I am sorry that you have been had a long line of sleep problems. This has not been one of mine, but quite the opposite.

Therefore, I am not the one to answer you questions, but perhaps others will post with similar experiences.

Be patient, there are others out there.

Deb, sorry you are not sleeping well. That was me too prior to being gluten free.

I think it took me about a month or two to see any improvement in my sleeping. To start with I was quite on edge when I first found out I had coeliac, so sleep was more of a problem at the start. But now I sleep like a log. Unless of course I have eaten something that does not agree with me, and that is usually gluten by mistake.

So Deb, it might take a while, it can be a bit like withdrawals as well, which does not help with sleep. But hang in there and I am sure you will notice an improvement in you sleep soon, and not only that but other things you probably never realised were gluten related.

Catherine

It took me 4-5 months (and a Super B Complex vitamin everyday...i take nature made because they are gluten free ).

Sleep was something that improved for me right away after going gluten-free. I was having problems sleeping prior to that--both falling asleep and staying asleep.

Hi All

You guys are great, thanks for the responses, I appreciate each one. I know I'm being a "bit" optimistic by thinking my sleep should improve within a week, and I agree that our body probably does go through a bit of withdrawal once becoming completely gluten free.

I will keep you posted.

Deborah

I had lots of sleep problems before going gluten-free. It took a few months til it got significantly better. I'm 8 months gluten-free and still having problems sleeping. I haven't slept through the night in over nine years, but it's getting better.

So be patient. Especially if you've been damaged for many years like a lot of us, it will take many months of being strictly gluten-free to get better.

Mine got a little better after 6 months, but it has only been in the last month that I can sleep all nite and wake up rested. So, one year for me ... marcia

I used to have really bad insomnia, the "not able to fall asleep no matter how tired you actually are" kind. This started to get better after about 2-3 months on the diet. I now only get that way if I've been glutened or am really stressed out. Its really nice to know that when I'm going to bed, I'll probably be asleep soon. I fall asleep so easily now that sometimes I wake up and I've fallen asleep with the light on.
I have Sonata as a backup for emergencies, and that helps me supplement when I'm having falling asleep issues.
Elonwy

The day I was Glutened last week - I ended up having a nightmare that night. Is that a normal reaction ??

I'm 1.5 years gluten-free and my sleep has improved, but not dramatically. My main problem is staying asleep. I've recently started taking time realeased melatonin and it's helping a lot.

S

My sleep issues are connected to other things. I sleep a lot better when I can exercise, but I never had the energy to exercise because of the anemia. I've started getting enough energy to exercise in the last 2-3 months, so that's about six months since I've gone gluten free.

For me in the beginning there were two issues keeping me from sleeping much at all. One was I was so malnourished I could not get enough exercise to get tired. I was eating a lot of food each day with no appetite. The other more important issue was just plain "anxiety". I could not convince myself in the beginning I would recover. I would lay awake in the bed for hours and stare at the clock. It was as if I was afraid I would fall asleep and never wake up. I had to take some medication for about 6 weeks to help calm me down. Finally I started to notice some positive physical changes (gained a few pounds). When I realized I was not going to die anytime soon I relaxed and was able to give up all meds. Today everything is fine.

Tom

I have had chronic sleep problems for ages. Gluten-free since March with slow improvement in various areas. My NP gave me amatryptaline recently instead of Ambien CR (have tried several meds and naturals). She says it slows down the gut and that is what I'm finding. I have averaged probably 6 out of 7 full nights of sleep since starting, where I was getting 1/7 for years and years and years.

My daughter has the same problem...but she's 5.5 years old and part of that is a kid just plain fighting going to sleep! Her doctor told us the melatonin was good for getting you to sleep, but it doesn't keep you asleep. Magnesium is what keeps you asleep once you get there. He reccomended epsom salt baths twice a week to help boost her magnesium levels. That seems to have helped alot...she's sleeping through the night after 2 weeks of baths. Since she's only 5 they only do it twice a week, but I imagine an adult could take the baths more often, or even take a magnesium supplement. Hope this helps!

I've had sleep problems my whole life. I could never fall asleep and I was always so fatigued (though I'm not sure if the always being tired part was related to the celiac or just because I didn't get much sleep to begin with). I've only been on the gluten free diet for about a week and my sleep hasn't improved much. It sounds like it will get better though according to what everyone else has said so that's good.