Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Gluten Intolerance

The other day I was shopping in Whole Foods when a woman asked an employee where the wheat-free bread was. The employee had no idea so I offered to help. As I led the woman to the alternative bread section she told me that she didn’t feel well when she ate whole wheat, and tries to limit it by eating white bread or wheat-free breads like spelt. Then she told me that she has fibromyalgia.

I asked her if anyone suggested that her symptoms might be caused by gluten. No, she told me. She is on several different therapies, but no one ever said anything about gluten. She ended up passing on buying any gluten-free bread because it was too expensive. She is on disability. The whole situation saddened me, because it was clear that she was trying as best as she could given her financial situation and the information available to her.

We parted ways in the store after I showed her some more products and gave her some suggestions for eating gluten-free. I think she was too overwhelmed to accept any more of my help. We bumped into each other again in the bakery section, where she was searching for something to eat. I showed her the gluten-free options (all expensive) and she reached in a bin and grabbed a muffin. “You know that has wheat in it, right?” I thought maybe she was confused. “Well,” she said, “I have to eat something.” And so she will continue to eat the very thing that is making her sick, because she doesn’t really know any better and can’t afford to try a gluten-free diet.

After this encounter I wondered if a connection between fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and gluten intolerance was well-known. I found that although people in forums and in their own personal websites report how much better they feel after cutting gluten out their diet, some actually being diagnosed with celiac disease after years of suffering with these other diagnoses, the main websites for fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) make no reference to the possibility that gluten could be the cause. Instead they list about 20 different treatment options, with no mention of a gluten-free diet.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia, gathered from several websites including the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins include:

• Body pain
• Fatigue
• Non-cardiac Chest Pain
• Sleep Disturbance
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Chronic Headaches
• Rhinitis
• Depression
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Impaired coordination
• Muscle Twitching
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Numbness and Tingling Sensations (Peripheral Neuropathy)
• Brain Fog (Poor Concentration)
• Morning Stiffness
• Chemical Sensitivity
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Skin Problems
• Joint Disorder
• Urinary Problems
• Widespread Pain
• Dysmenorrhea
• Nausea
• Memory Loss
• Vision Problems
• Weight Gain
• Dry eyes and mouth

Almost every one of these symptoms has been associated to celiac disease or gluten intolerance, yet none of these websites mentions that people should be tested for celiac or try a gluten-free diet. One website says that people with fibromyalgia are at a greater risk of developing a number of other disorders, such as:

• Fertility problems
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Osteoporosis
• Endometriosis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Raynaud’s Phenomenon
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Anemia
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• GERD
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Yeast Infections
• Bruxism
• Low Cytokine Levels
• Hypoglycemia

Again, almost every one of these conditions has been associated with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, another disorder with no known cause, report the following symptoms (according the CDC website):

• cognitive dysfunction, including impaired memory or concentration
• postexertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours (exhaustion and increased symptoms) following physical or mental exercise
• unrefreshing sleep
• joint pain (without redness or swelling)
• persistent muscle pain
• headaches of a new type or severity
• tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes
• sore throat
• irritable bowel, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or bloating
• chills and night sweats
• brain fog
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• chronic cough
• visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain or dry eyes)
• allergies or sensitivities to foods, alcohol, odors, chemicals, medications or noise
• difficulty maintaining upright position (orthostatic instability, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, balance problems or fainting)
• psychological problems (depression, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks)
• jaw pain
• weight loss or gain

Almost all of the above symptoms have been connected to gluten’s effects on the body. Compare to the list of symptoms related to celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and it is astonishing. Also astonishing is the fact that people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue aren’t immediately tested for celiac and, EVEN IF THE TEST IS NEGATIVE, put on a gluten-free diet.

I know someone with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She told me that she had already tried the gluten-free diet. Except that she had wheat sometimes. And that several of her 20+ medications that she took every day contained gluten. She continues to live in pain and on drugs (she is 38 years old).

Tell me, anyone out there who suffers from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome… Have you been tested for celiac? Have you tried a 100% gluten-free diet for an extended amount of time?