Hi all, this isn't about pregnancy but I think this seemed like the right place to ask so I'm hoping someone can help.

I've only just gone gluten-free from July 1st. It took until about day 5 to see improvement in my symptoms (D) but then I had a week and a half to two weeks where there was definate improvement the D really alleviated a great deal. However, I think I'm ovulating about now and since about December last year I've noticed that I quite often get horrible pain low on my right side around ovulation time. I think that this is ovulation pain (mittelschmerz) but it lasts for a good 2-3 days with me. At the same time as the pain I find that I get a worsening of the D (or in this case it came back after being better) and also feel quite nauseous and extremely tired.

I've had an internal exam and the doctor couldn't find any cyst or anything. On Tuesday I had an ultrasound and although I have to wait 2 weeks for the "official" results, the nurse who did the scan said that she could clearly see my ovary and that she couldn't see anything else there, like any cyst or anything. Presumably she wouldn't lie to me so I'm hoping that I can take heart from this while I wait for my "official" results.

I just wondered if any of you have noticed that your coeliac symptoms tend to worsen at certain times of the month? Any answers greatly appreciated and I look forward to hearing from you.

I have the big D during my period and left side pain when I ovulate. I have only one ovary, so I only ovulate on one side. I haven't noticed the big D when I ovulate.

I did notice that the symptoms got worse when I went gluten free.

Thank you for your reply.

When you say that symptoms went worse after you went gluten-free, did they stay worse? Or have things improved again since?

I just can't wait to feel better. I keep reading other people's posts and so many seem to say they felt a huge difference after a really short time. I did have a big improvement in the D symptoms for a while but have now slipped back a bit again - not as bad as pre-gluten-free, but not wonderfu. And I still feel so tired. I can't wait for this miraculous energy and feeling loads better but I'm scared that it's never going to happen!

My period symptoms got worse and have stayed worse.

My GI symptoms have gotten so better that I forget what it was like before. That took a month to notice and a couple months to feel great.

My tired symptoms took a while to go away. But my iron levels were so low that I was taking 3 iron tablets a day. And my B-12 was low enough for shots that I am still receiving. My levels get tested again in about 2 weeks, but just from how I feel, I know they are up. But right now I am still on iron and B-12.

My low blood levels may explain my period symptoms. The symptoms may gotten worse because my blood levels are finally up.

I have been gluten free since December 6, 2006

When I still got my period, before celiac took it away forever and very early, I had years of being GI symptomatic only during my period, all the other stuff fibro, arthritis, brain and movement problems etc, were present all the time but the D and tummy upset only appeared for the week before to the week after my period. This went on from my teens through my 30's and after my last child was born then D became a daily and nightly thing. I don't know if this would have resolved if doctors had been smart enough to diagnose me promptly by the time I was finally diagnosed it was too late for that system.

Thank you very much for your helpful replies.

I would say something more intelligent back to you but it's Friday, it's been a hard week and I am sooo tired that I can't think! It's been not quite four weeks gluten-free now so I know it's early yet for the tiredness to alleviate. I really hope it does some time. I feel zonked at the moment. I think it would be very wise for my vitamin/iron levels to be checked... if only I could get an appointment to see one of the two doctors I've been seeing. I don't want to have to go and tell my long story to yet another person... but you have to plan your illnesses a very long time in advance to see either of these two!

Anyway, today has been a mixed sort of day. Still some pain, still vaguely "not right" ahem "output" but at the same time not disastrous either. I have got quite down about recovery because I'm impatient and a worrier, and then got very happy and excited because I found a friendly UK gluten-free food site with lots of lovely recipes and they've promised to send me some bread samples!

It's a funny upsy downsy sort of life being Coeliac! And being coeliac and female at the same time is too much!!

Sorry I'm being weird today - is it bedtime yet?!

Hi-
B/4 being gluten-free I would have horrible D the first two days of my cycle and pretty intense ovulation pains as well. I have read in the past that D in general for any one during their cycle can be normal because of the hormones that stimulate your uterus to contract can also stimulate your digestive track to release since they are so close in vicinity. At least, I think that's how it works from what I remember (this was a few years ago that I researched this). That being said, I used to get so incredibly ill the first day of my cycle with nausea, cramps, D, heavy flow etc. that going about my day was a challange. Since going gluten-free my cycles have lightened considerably, I still get nauseous but more so in the days leading up to the start of my cycle than just on the first day. In January I was dx'ed with PCOS (which could explain the ovulation pains maybe?). In February I was dx'ed with Celiac. I'm hoping the gluten-free/SF/CF diet will help clear up the PCOS and it seems to be working since my cycles are getting less severe and my acne has virtually disappeared.

According to my test results, I am not celiac, but I do believe I am gluten intolerant. I was gluten free for 3 months and found that my periods became lighter and less painful (used to get horrible cramps, D, moodiness during my period) and my ovulation moodiness (anxiety) & pain lightened considerably. During this part of my cycle I also suffer from C, which was much better off gluten.

I've since gone back to eating gluten for the time being (long story) and have found a return of my cycle symptoms. Right now I'm having a terrible time with moodiness, anxiety, and pelvic & back pain...I need to be gluten free again.

Right now I'm in the process of being assessed for EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) which I believe plays a big part in my period and ovulation symptoms...it also plays a role in my overall GI issues.

Michelle