My process of determining the need for a gluten free diet was a very long journey that spanned quite a number of years and still is something I work on until this day. If you have already conducted any research you probably already know that there are very few definitive answers out there unless you have been positively diagnosed as having Celiac disease. It seems that many more are either undiagnosed or are negatively affected by gluten without any concrete findings. For those of us that fall into this category it is mainly left to our own trial and error to figure out if gluten is truly the cause of our ailments.
There were so many yet they were not always specific or consistent which I think is why it is always so hard to point a finger squarely at gluten being the problem. For years I had been suffering from stomach cramps and alternating constipation and diarrhea which were the most overt symptoms. Later, I would realize that fatigue and brain fog were also plaguing me. I had seen several doctors including my internist, allergist and gastroenterologist. Nobody had any conclusive answers, just different medications to try and fiber supplements, none of which helped and some made matters worse. It was a really frustrating time because I knew that how I felt was not right and probably not how most other people felt on a daily basis.
For me, the strongest trigger was when I drank a wheat based beer. After one beer I would feel extremely intoxicated and just generally unwell usually with a headache. I knew something was not right as none of my peers seemed to have this problem. I had been dabbling with reduced gluten, but, really did not want to take on the challenge of going completely gluten free. Throughout this process I had been doing my own research on my symptoms and knew that it was possible that gluten was the problem, but, I really did not want to be one of "those people" perceived as following a trendy high maintenance diet.
I still distinctly remember the final incident that put me over the edge. On a picture perfect sunny day at the beach, someone from our group offered to get a round of beer from a concession stand. Really wanting to join the group I hesitantly said I would take a Blue Moon (the only option). The beer tasted great but, within 30 minutes I felt ill and had to lay down for an hour to recover. That experience pushed me over the edge and I decided I would have to try going strict gluten free.
By this point I had already tested for celiac with my internist which came back negative, so, I knew this was going to be more of a choice and not necessarily a requirement, which almost made it a harder decision. For a long time I was eating mostly gluten free and didn't think it would make that much of a difference but, I was desperate for a better quality of life and there was only one way to find out if gluten was the culprit and I fully committed.
Within a few days I noticed a dramatic difference in the way that I felt. Stomach cramping was going away, I felt less anxious, less depressed, fewer headaches and I was getting more energy back. Over time, my GI problems completely disappeared and a long battle with prostate issues dramatically improved. As a bonus, I have found many gluten free beers that I enjoy and never experience the ill effects that came along with traditional wheat based beers.
Today it seems relatively easy to maintain a GF diet, but, at first it was very difficult and daunting. There was a very large learning curve as many products contain gluten that you might not suspect, like granola and beef jerky. But, as with everything, practice makes perfect and you quickly learn which products GF without having to read labels.
Without a doubt, the most difficult part of going gluten free is other people. It is very difficult to keep a GF lifestyle private since, as people, we socially eat all the time. When you decline to eat birthday cake at a party or eat the freshly made bread at a holiday gathering, people notice and ask questions. I never like having to explain myself and answer probing questions. Most people are very supportive, but, there are still a lot of people who will interrogate you from all angles to seemingly try to debunk the validity of your dietary choices. If you decide to try going gluten free, don't let these people derail you. More about this in my social issues section.
As time goes by and I feel better it is difficult to not continually question myself and whether or not gluten is really the problem or how big of a problem it is. If I have a slice of regular pizza or indulge in some fresh made bread before dinner, there is a good chance I won't suffer any ill effects. However, there is a threshold or tipping point where if I indulge too much or too often, I will start feeling bad again, but, it's usually a lagging effect. It might take several days for me to realize and then it takes at least several more to get things back to normal. It is a difficult balance, so, for the most part, I find it easiest to just stay GF all the time.
If you have been diagnosed with celiac, you have my sympathies, but, I am also happy you found a concrete diagnosis and cause for your ailments. Whether you are forced to follow a gluten free diet or are choosing too, it really becomes much easier with time, and, if you do have a problem with gluten, your body will thank you and make it known which makes it infinitely easier to stay the course and keep feeling your best. I am very happy I made the choice to eliminate gluten from my diet and have had a much better quality of life since doing so.