wheat problem???

[MommaRuthie]

Hi I have a quick question. Actually seeking confirmation for what I think is a wheat intolerance. I have been on atkins since sept. have been doing really well. I do occasionally have some carb products and they dont seem to bother me (I keep the portions very small) However, if I eat anything with a bit of wheat in it I seem to get severely bloated even if it is just a couple of crackers and I get a horendous headache. Before atkins I ate a lot of whole wheat/grains and was always bloated/headache. On atkins I'm not- is this a wheat allergy or intlerance? Is it essentially the same thing? Sorry for the dumb question... If I'm allergic to wheat I want to be able to say it rather than I don't eat wheat when I'm out at a restaurant or at someones house... less pressure when you can say its an allergy rather than just saying you don't eat that type of food. thanks!

[APanthesilia]

Re: wheat problem???

Even if you're not really allergic or gluten intolerant wheat obviously affects you negatively so I think just stay away from it and go ahead and tell whoever you want to that you just can't have it or are allergic if that makes it easier for you!
Also, I think you should probably try to cut out your carby cheats. I couldn't have crackers every so often without it hurting my progress. Good luck!

[not2late]

Re: wheat problem???

There is a "non-gluten" wheat sensitivity/allergy, which is what I have. I can't eat more than a 1/2 serving of wheat without getting a runny nose and my asthma acting up. Like you, I ate alot of wheat products before Atkins and my asthma was getting progressively worse and my seasonal allergies became a year-long problem. My doctor was talking about allergy shots and adding more asthma medicines. Then I went on Atkins. After 6 months on Atkins, my asthma and allergies improved so much I was able to get off most of my medicines. When I finally got to the Grains Rung, I noticed everytime I ate wheat or any wheat product, my nose got stuffy and I began to wheeze. However, I didn't have that problem with oats, corn, rye or barley---which didn't lend itself to a gluten problem because those grains might contain gluten and/or have gluten contamination.

So my doctor did tests on me and found I didn't have gluten allergy.

Personally, I avoid wheat as much as possible because I don't like getting nasal congestion or wheezing.

[judyintn]

Re: wheat problem???

I can't tolerate wheat products very well and also found that out the first time I tried Atkins. I had problems with allergies, rosacea, and joint pain. As long as I stay off of wheat, all of that clears up. When I went off of the Atkins plan, I found I could occasionally have a slice of whole wheat bread without having too much trouble. Anything made with white flour such as bread or pasta literally makes me physically ill, so even when I was off program I stayed away from white flour.

Judy