Newly Diagnosed And Need Advice!

[alib91]

Hello everyone,

 

I got diagnosed with coeliac disease about 2 weeks ago and have pretty much been gluten-free ever since, but I am still feeling really nauseous all the time, which gets a lot worse after eating/drinking anything. I also feel really bloated and after I eat, I look like I'm about 6 months pregnant, which isn't good for a 21 year old!

 

I was just wondering how long it should take before I start to feel better and if anyone has any advice to help with the discomfort in the meantime?

 

I have been eating less dairy since I was diagnosed, but haven't cut it out completely. I'm not sure if this is the right way to go in order to recover quicker?

 

Also, I gained a lot of weight before I was diagnosed and wondered how long before I starting losing and getting back to my old weight.

 

Finally, I am feeling really disorientated and my brain just feels like it isn't working at the moment, and I wasn't sure if this is normal!

 

I would ask my doctor these questions, but I'm in Spain for the next 5 months so unable to get much medical help!

 

Thank you!!

[shadowicewolf]

You recover at the rate you recover. There is no way to really speed it up.

 

Some people have issues with dairy while healing, others do not.

 

More than likely is that you are still going through the withdrawl period from the Gluten.

[nvsmom]

Yep, withdrawl can last a few weeks if you go through out... sounds like you are. Wait it out and then things should start getting better.

 

You might want to drop dairy or just lactose for a while in case it is causing you some issues. Try coconut or almon milk for a few weeks.

 

L-glutamine can help with intestinal healing and might speed up the process for you a bit. Others around here have found probiotics to be a great help. It is pretty generally accepted that eating whole foods, with as little processing as possible, also helps you feel better a bit sooner too.

 

Good luck... enjoy Spain. (I'm so jealous!)

[alib91]

Ok, I will give L-glutamine a try and see if it helps!

 

Thank you both for your help!

[LauraB0927]

Welcome to the forum!  Expect to have your ups and downs before finally feeling better - it unfortunately doesn't happen overnight.  I was gaining a ton of weight too before my diagnosis, but sticking to a whole foods, low carb diet (read about the Primal diet) has helped me lose about 17-20lbs since my diagnosis.  It also helped my gut heal as I was adjusting to a gluten free diet.  Remember, the gluten free replacement foods (pasta, breads, cookies, etc) are actually loaded with more carbs/calories than the regular gluteny stuff.  Probiotics and digestive enzymes will help decrease the swelling and bloating in your tummy (which made me feel very self-conscious too in the beginning).  If you're going to Spain, they have these cards (I believe they're called Gluten Free Passports) that you can print out in Spanish so that you can take to restaurants and present it to your waiter (unless you speak Spanish).  It will let the chef know what foods in that culture you can and cannot eat.  I'm printing them out for my honeymoon in June.  

 

The brain fog (being disoriented) that you're also talking about will also clear up more as you stay gluten free.  Good luck and have fun in Spain!!!