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How long to see a difference with gluten free diet?

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Celiac Disease
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Posted 4/10/2010 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on a long journey of endless doctor appointments trying to figure out if all the issues I have are related and what might be causing them. I am finishing up a 10 treatment course of iv iron treatments to help my anemia. I am also on massive vitamin D doses per my hematologist. I saw a neurologist on Tuesday to evaluate my issues with my reflexes and tingling in my hands and lower arms. He thinks my reflexes, while very brisk, fall into the normal range. He did run a blood test for B12 deficiency. He said low B12 would explain a lot of my symptoms. I am still waiting for those results. If they come back low, I am thinking that I will try going gluten free to see if it makes a difference. My blood work for celiac disease came back negative, but I know there can be false negatives with that.

My question is this: When you go gluten free, how long is it before you see results? Truly, compared to some of the things they have been testing me for, if my issues can be caused by changing my diet, then I am more than happy to do that. I know gluten free is a big deal. I have gotten several good websites from nasallady here. If I go this route, I just want to know how long it will be before I notice a difference.

Thank you!
Posted 4/14/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Geez Alli, it sounds like you have been going thru alot too. I wish I could help you, just keep searching the prior posts. Also, how old are you, what kinds of signs and symptoms are you having? Do you currently take meds? Or over the counter drugs or homeopathic remedies? I know it sounds kind of personal, but remember, you are anonymous here.

I hope someone can help you, just keep remembering that there are lots of opinions but you are the one who really knows your body the best! Good luck, keep in touch!
Posted 6/3/2010 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
It takes 6-8 weeks for the gluten to fully leave your gut tissues, and another 6-8 weeks for damage to heal. If you notice symptom relief within that time frame, then you have your answer. If you don't, but then do a gluten challenge (i.e., add gluten back to your diet) and get symptoms or current issues become worse, then you also have your answer. Sometimes it takes up to a year or more gluten-free for people to really have noticeable changes, and other times the change is noticed within a few days. It depends on the individual.
Posted 6/20/2010 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have had constant, uncontrolable diarreha for over a month. Had all stool cultures, had a colonostopy, now going for an endoscopy. Have started a gluten free diet ( on advice from gastro doctor's nurse) for about two weeks. Do get a little relief. Immodium seems to help. Usually get attacks in mornings. Starting another RX for diphen/atrop. Gonna see if it works now with change in diet. Do have some consistancy in stool instead of all water with this diet.
Due to Latex allergy, I have to have tests at hospital.
Posted 6/20/2010 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard of people starting to feel better within days of stopping gluten, but it does take many weeks (months?) for your body to fully heal itself.

My mom has celiac and when she first figured it out (she was in her 30s), she was getting very physically ill, and it took her several months to really regain her health.  Since then she has been gluten free and feels great (she's in her mid-70's now).

Posted 7/22/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
severe diarreha could be Chron's disease, second opinions can be an answer when it comes to interpitation of colonoscopys, xrays, films, etc. I've certainly had my share of misdiagnosed conditions.

 

Posted 7/22/2010 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
one thing i have learned in the past decade with doctors/surgeans is they can be the most arreggant people in this world, once you've had surgery and problems still exist or re-accur another doctor or surgeon doesnt want the problems with liability, and the surgeon that did the proccedure is too darn stubborn to admit mistake, some think they are god! therefore, they aren't the one suffering day in and day out. Of course some doctors just have too big of ego's its impossible they may have not done something right or may have just been wrong to begin with. They often ask you are you depressed and try to sedate the mind instead of dealing with the issues, my reply is There is a difference in depression and anxiety, hell yes I have anxiety, i am pissed off at my conditions and every doctor that turns their head, if i was depressed surely wouldnt go to the lengths to figure out problems they get paid to do, and have the educational tools to figure it out. Dont want to give you anxiety meds because they can become dependant, what the hell do they think chronic pain is? yet they will push anti-depressants and narcotics that are addictive too and do not do a darn bit of good. I take xanax for anxiety, and Lyrica for pain, Lyrica is better than any narcotic that isnt IV administered for what little relief i do get.
Posted 7/24/2010 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I first "accidently" went gluten free in the 70s when I went on the Atkins diet. I felt better in less than a week...I was amazed that my "IBS" symptoms had basically gone away! Of course I didn't find out that I had celiac disease until 2008. I've probably had it since I was a baby, since my digestive problems started very early.

@mema:
Yes, some doctors are problematic but mema, you shouldn't lump all docs into a single category. And even the arrogant, self-assured ones can be argued with sometimes!

My rheumy has very strong "opinions" on certain issues, but I have been able to counter his statements and tell him he's incorrect, and we are still "friends" to some extent anyway. I guess with regard to some topics, like stage III Lyme disease, we have agreed to disagree.

But in this age of the Internet, we all need to take responsibility for our health issues and do our homework, because most doctors don't usually keep up very well with new developments, even in their own fields.

P.S. I take Lyrica + Cymbalta for my fibro pain and depression....I suppose it helps a bit. When the pain gets too bad I take Dilaudid too.
Posted 8/1/2010 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
alli sunshine
  If you are a Celiac and you  go glutin free, some people feel better in weeks.  But depending on how long you Celiac disease if in fact you have it.  It can take years to get your small intestine to heal, plus you have to take vitamins to help replace what your sm. intestine wont asorbe, and you need to get those bacillis in your intestines to come back so everything will go smothly.

My son is a Celiac and my god he has to watch everything, and cant even be around anything that is made with glutin because if it in the air he get ill.

Hope this helps a bit..

Leslie

Posted 9/27/2010 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
It took weeks to feel a big differance but with in a week my headaches eased up and bowels started to calm down. My dr says takes a few months to comletely detox gluten and then a few more months to heal the damage. Good luck hope you feel beter soon.
Posted 9/27/2010 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
lisaanne2
Just a FYI my son was told never to eat anything with the glutin/ wheat not even cuz you crave a hamburger with a bun...because any tiny amount of glutin will reek havic on your system.

Also a nurtitonist told me the other day with people that have their colon removed shoud also go on the Celiac Diet because your sm. intestine will react to the wheat when you do not have the large intensine..

So talked to my doc this morning about the Depakote he has me on keeps me funky all day like i am stoned or something.  I cannot stay awake and he wants me to continue on the meds for a month...so off to sleep I go....what a waste of a day...lol

Leslie

Posted 9/28/2010 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
yea any wheat or gluten can cause horrible problems , i havent had any gluten expect by acident since diagnoised.
sorry Leslie i never said any thing about craving a hamburger or your son not sure how you got that .. but sorry ..
Posted 9/28/2010 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
lisaanne2
No hun, he craves the buns , bread, all of that stuff....

Leslie

Posted 9/28/2010 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
lisaanne2
  See I guess I am brain dead already...LOL Sorry...  He just loves burgers with buns so much, he misses that most of all..

Leslie nono

Posted 9/29/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
sorry still getting use to the forums . i can see that buns are hard to give up cause they make the hamburgar or hotdog so much beter
Posted 9/29/2010 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
lisaanne2
  Yes my son is just like me I am a bread lover....he he
Posted 10/8/2010 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ali

I self diagnosed Ceoliacs which was a mistake as I cannot have the test now to prove it as eating gluten makes me so ill however I am certain of my condition and whichever way you label it I am happier and healthier gluten free!

FYI after 4 weeks gluten free my back pain and diahorrea stopped, 6 weeks my appetite returned, 9 weeks was an increased interest in bedroom Olympics and at 3 months I noticed a distinct improvement in my stamina when swimming and my working day.

I have also learnt to listen to my body and take note of what it is trying to tell me.

I can now work back in time to realise that I had suffered with the symptoms for at least 10 years but I do not remember anything significant before that time. I have no idea what caused the change in my physiology other than the fact I got married!!

I have in the past had a high pasta diet (sports high energy) so perhaps my body simply said no more.

Best wishes

Tim

 

Posted 10/8/2010 6:12 PM (GMT 0)

Tim  My son has Celiac too, be aware that eggs have wheat in them cuz the chickens eat stuff with wheat in them, mustard also, you have to read lables all the time.  They say once you find out never have a bite of wheat cuz it takes your intestines along time for it to get better, plus if some one is baking and like flower gets into the air and you breathe it you can have a reaction..

My son throat will close up on him if something has wheat in it, so he is so careful to always eat at home..

Just some idea help..welcome to the site, I have not seen you here before..

Leslie

Posted 11/16/2011 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Tim I noticed you said you were a swimmer. Could you explain the differences you feel in the water since going gluten free?? I'm a college swimmer and have been in a major slump for the past 3 years and have gone through a lot trying to figure out why but have just become more discouraged. After reading about they symptoms of celiac disease and gluten intolerance it seems to explain a lot of what i've been feeling. If you could help me out i would appreciate it so much! This is probably one of my last options.

Melanie
Posted 1/1/2012 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Turbo Tim, you may have contracted helicobacter pylori when you got married.

Its a nasty bacteria that burrows in the lining of your stomach & certain foods flare it up & make your symptoms worse.

I've suffered with IBS symptoms & anxiety my whole adult life. I found Gluten Free diet in the last few years has helped tremendously & I have loads of energy, no constipation, pain, wind, mucus in stools (sorry grose I know) 20 years later I've been diagnosed with Helicobacter (why the Doctors didn't check for that when I first started getting chronic diarrhoea, cramps, weight loss etc I don't know).

My Dad's always had stomach problems, we thought it was a genetic bad stomach. He recently had a breath test & confirmed he had Helicobacter, people living together catch it off each other & I had a blood test to confirm I have it. I've had a course of antibiotics but don't feel they have worked as I don't feel any different. I feel a lot better from eating a gluten free (regular painless BM's, not anaemic etc) , low dairy diet and avoiding Vinegar & tomatoes have stopped the diarrhoea. I need to fast & do a breath test to see if it the bacteria is still present. But I recommend anyone who is having tummy troubles, constipation, diarrhoea, anaemia, infertility, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, low energy get tested for Helicobacter Pylori ASAP. Its bacterial & so easily contracted, I wouldn't be surprised if 50-80% of the population have it. Good luck! Please let me know how you go?
Posted 1/1/2012 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I should clarify that getting married doesn't cause Helicobacter, but sounds like you caught it around that time, its a bacteria so you can easily catch it eating with people/living with people/kissing etc etc etc
Posted 1/29/2012 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Have been researching gluten intolerance and gluten allergy (Celiac disease) a LOT lately.

I have found that there are a difference between these two. There are good and safe tests to find out if you are having Celiac disease. If you are intolerance to gluten you may have many similiar symptoms as Celiac disease, but there are just a few online sites where you can order the test, and just a few labs have the knowledge to analyse the test result. All doctors are able to rule out Celiac by having bloodtests done, and then send you to a hospital to have a look in your intestines.

Having the same symptoms as Celiac doesn't mean you will be diagnosed with it, there are a lot of other diagnoses that have similar symptoms. I have Crohns, my friend has u.c. both of us are reacting to gluten, but none of us are having Celiac Disease. //Bee

Post Edited (BeeSting) : 1/29/2012 6:51:46 AM (GMT-7)

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