I Only Had One Symptom: The Sneaky Signs of Gluten Sensitivity
By Dee Davidson, FDN-P
If gluten were a problem for you, you'd know it...right?
You'd eat a piece of bread and immediately feel bloated. You'd have stomach pain, diarrhea, or some other obvious digestive reaction.
At least, that's what I used to think.
But when I discovered that gluten appeared to be a problem for my own body, I really only had one noticeable symptom.
I wasn't having a bowel movement every day.
That was it.
No major digestive distress. No obvious joint pain. No dramatic reaction after eating pizza or pasta.
And because I'd lived that way for years, I thought it was normal.
It wasn't until I went to school to become a functional health practitioner and became my own first "client" that I started questioning it.
"Gluten? That's Nonsense. I Eat Gluten Every Day."
When my testing suggested that gluten could be triggering an immune response, I remember thinking:
Gluten? That's nonsense. I eat gluten every day!
But that was exactly the point.
When we eat something every day and have symptoms every day, we may never make the connection.
There isn't necessarily a dramatic before-and-after reaction.
The symptom simply becomes your normal.
For me, that was irregular bowel movements.
So I decided to experiment and removed gluten completely.
Not "mostly."
Not gluten-free Monday through Friday and pizza on Saturday.
I went 100% gluten-free.
Within a few months, something I'd struggled with for years changed dramatically.
I began having a bowel movement every day and sometimes more than once a day.
My testing had also shown elevated inflammatory markers and signs that my immune system was being taxed. Yet I wasn't constantly sick. I didn't feel like someone whose immune system was struggling.
About a year later, after changing my diet and working on other aspects of my health, those markers had improved considerably.
That experience taught me an important lesson:
The absence of dramatic symptoms doesn't necessarily mean everything is functioning optimally.
Gluten Symptoms Can Be Sneaky
Gluten-related disorders don't always announce themselves through your digestive system.
Depending on the underlying condition, symptoms can include:
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Abdominal discomfort
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Headaches or migraines
• Joint or muscle pain
• Skin problems
• Numbness or tingling
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Neurological symptoms
Some people with celiac disease can even have few or no obvious gastrointestinal symptoms.
That's why asking only, "Does bread bother my stomach?" doesn't tell us the whole story.
Celiac Disease vs. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
This distinction is incredibly important.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a well-established autoimmune disease.
When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their immune system reacts and damages the lining of the small intestine. Over time, that can interfere with nutrient absorption and contribute to complications beyond the digestive tract.
Celiac disease isn't a food preference, and someone with confirmed celiac disease needs strict lifelong gluten avoidance.
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity, often called NCGS, is different.
Someone may experience symptoms associated with eating gluten-containing foods but test negative for celiac disease and wheat allergy.
NCGS is still an evolving area of research, and there currently isn't one universally accepted biomarker that definitively diagnoses it.
Another wrinkle? Sometimes the problem may not be gluten itself. Other components of wheat, including fructans and other proteins, may contribute to symptoms in certain people.
That's why I don't believe every symptom should automatically be blamed on gluten.
We need to investigate.
Gluten Can Affect More Than Your Gut
One of the most fascinating things about gluten-related disorders is how far-reaching the symptoms can be.
Your gut, brain, immune system, skin, and nervous system aren't operating in completely separate bubbles.
For example, recognized manifestations of celiac disease can occur outside the digestive tract and may involve the nervous system, skin, bones, blood, and reproductive health.
So someone might walk into a doctor's office because they're exhausted, anemic, experiencing headaches, or dealing with numbness and tingling—not because their stomach hurts.
That's why I want people to stop assuming:
"I don't have digestive symptoms, so gluten can't be a problem."
It isn't that simple.
What About Anxiety, Panic and Brain Fog?
This is where I think we need to be careful with our language.
People with gluten-related disorders may report symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes. Research has also explored associations between celiac disease and certain psychiatric or neurological symptoms.
Symptoms provide clues.
Testing, medical evaluation, history, and response to appropriately guided interventions help us understand what those clues mean.
"My Doctor Tested Me for Gluten and It Was Negative"
Ask exactly what was tested.
Conventional medicine has validated blood tests used to screen for celiac disease, typically beginning with tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA) along with total IgA, with additional testing depending on the circumstances.
If results suggest celiac disease, additional evaluation may be necessary.
Here's something particularly important:
Don't eliminate gluten before being appropriately tested.
If you've already removed gluten, your antibodies may decrease, potentially making testing less reliable.
So if you suspect an issue, talk with your practitioner before going gluten-free.
Can You Be Gluten Sensitive Without Having Celiac Disease?
Yes.
Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity aren't interchangeable diagnoses.
You can test negative for celiac disease and still experience symptoms related to wheat or gluten.
This is one area where I think personalized healthcare matters tremendously.
What About Functional Gluten Testing?
In my practice, I sometimes use more comprehensive functional testing as an additional piece of information, not as a replacement for appropriate medical testing.
One option is the Wheat Zoomer, which evaluates antibody reactivity to numerous wheat-associated proteins and peptides and includes markers related to intestinal permeability.
This type of testing can provide additional data to consider when we're looking at the bigger functional picture.
My One Symptom Changed the Way I Practice
For years, I thought irregular bowel movements were simply part of who I was.
They weren't dramatic enough to scare me.
They weren't interfering enough with my life to make me investigate.
They were simply...
normal to me.
Removing gluten ended up being an important part of changing that pattern for my body.
But what mattered even more was what the experience taught me:
Don't normalize a symptom just because you've had it for years.
Your body doesn't always scream when something is wrong.
Sometimes it whispers.
Constipation.
Brain fog.
Fatigue.
Headaches.
Skin changes.
Unexplained nutrient deficiencies.
Something that's just a little "off."
And sometimes investigating that one seemingly insignificant symptom can uncover a much bigger piece of your health story.
Curious About Gluten Testing?
If you're wondering whether gluten or wheat could be contributing to your symptoms, reply to my email or reach out to learn about testing options.
You can be sensitive to wheat or gluten without having celiac disease but determining what's actually happening should involve more than guessing.
Your symptoms are clues.
Let's learn how to listen to them.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition requiring appropriate medical evaluation and management. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is distinct from celiac disease and currently has no single definitive diagnostic biomarker. Do not begin a gluten-free diet before discussing celiac testing with your healthcare provider, because eliminating gluten beforehand can affect testing accuracy. Persistent constipation, neurological symptoms, anemia, unexplained weight changes, or other concerning symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.
About Dee Davidson, FDN-P
Dee Davidson is a Board-Certified Functional Health Practitioner, hormone and thyroid specialist, and the creator of the Confidently Balance Your Hormones podcast. She helps women in midlife and beyond uncover the root causes of fatigue, weight gain, anxiety, gut issues, and hormonal imbalances using functional labs, science-backed strategies, and nervous system regulation.
Dee’s work centers around empowering women to finally feel safe, seen, supported, and confident in their bodies — without restriction, overwhelm, or confusion.