Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Your Bowels Are Like Berlin Post War


alesusy

Recommended Posts

alesusy Explorer

That's what my Gastro doctor told me today when I complained that three months and a half gluten-free, I still have- often -  bad or very bad days. "Three months is nothing. You haven't even started rebuilding yet, you're just moving out the ruins" he said.

 

He also said I might have other problems apart from celiac, of course, but we cannot start understanting if I do nor sorting them out until my gut is better (including testing for other allergies). And that the key word is Patience. And that I certainly have to eat simple things, avoid processed foods and anything which patently does not agree with me, and that I have to eat in a good way if possible - not wolfing my food down nor eating in front of my computer if possible and most certainly not having dinner just before going to bed because that's super work for my feeble gut just when he would like to go to sleep as well (it's definitely a "he" for me), so that obviously I'm getting up tired in the morning. And that possibly some of my problems might not go away, and then we'll have to investigate why, but we cannot do that before my villis are back to normal.

 

And that in his experience, for an adult, it might take anything from six months to 3 years, but more often between 12 to 18 months. Besides, he said, we don't know how long you've been celiac - how long the condition has worked, that is - before I started having symptoms: it might be some months, it might be several years. Basically, having destroyed villis (I'm classified as a 3-B) does not enable us to understand in how bad a shape my gut actually is.

 

As you all always say to newbies: hang in there, it will get better. I'm hanging, guys... I just wanted to share all this with you. I particularly liked the metaphore:-). He also said something about having to rebuild the Berlin Wall (to stop the leaky gut) and I didn't make him notice that he was mixing up his historical periods... It's hard to be patient, but in a way, it's nice to know that it just takes time.

 

(he also said that yes, it is possible that someone might be sensitive to gluten under 20 parts per million, in rare cases, but that if I'm having allergic reactions it is more probably to something else but that's hard to sort out until my gut feels better. So I'll keep my food diary and eliminate everything which looks suspect. It' going to be a long road, babies...)

 

a.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



GFreeMO Proficient

Thanks!  That is exactly what I needed to hear today.  

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

Smart Doctor. I am a fan of the mixed metaphor. I especially like to get hold of wrong end of the stick and proceed to beat about the bush with it. Luckily you doc doesn't.

Good luck with healing (not sure if I can squeeze a reunification reference in here)

Mw

Weeber47 Newbie

I appreciate this post. I've only been gluten free completely for just over a month, and I feel the same with only a little added energy. On particularly bad days I wonder if I have been glutened or if I am doing wrong. I have another doctors appointment next week and was going to bring that up, but this helped me realize this might take time. I guess I am just a little impatient.

CaliSparrow Collaborator

Excellent post! Thank you for passing on your doctor's advice. He sounds like a knowledgeable doctor. Waiting to confirm the unknowns until after healing is wise and I'm going to heed his advice. It seems very sound.

Cali

*corrected misspelling ;)

alesusy Explorer

What I'm trying to do is:

I keep a food diary

I don't drink alcohol at all (if I'm out with friends I might try a quarter of a glass but no more than that)

I have almost entirely eliminated coffee and tea, but also Coca Cola and drink orange juice for breakfast

I'm trying to have very little processed food, I bake my own bread and muffins

Non gluten pasta in limited quantities, quinoa rice etc

Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, simple protein food (chicken, beef, fish; parmesan cheese on pasta because I'm lactose intolerant - for now? - but parmesan when seasoned has no lactose)

No dairy (I'm intolerant)

 

In restaurants I explain everything and typycally eat grilled meat and roasted potatoes, maybe some of my own bread

Travelling is the worse because I do bring stuff with me but it must be processed food (crackers and the like) and I have to rely on apples and bananas....

 

alessandra

dsr1 Newbie

Thanks for the info alesusy.

I have been on a gluten free diet for 21 months and thought I had 'cracked it' but for the last 9 months my old symptons have returned. My life once again revolves around the nearest loo! This forum is a blessing as I have learned more about my condition from fellow sufferers than any visit to my local doctor here in the UK.

David


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,315
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Steffieg
    Newest Member
    Steffieg
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Canker sores can definitely be frustrating, especially when you're already managing a strict gluten-free lifestyle and have been diagnosed with celiac disease for so long. While these painful mouth ulcers aren’t exclusive to celiac disease, they can be linked to nutritional deficiencies—particularly of iron, folate, or vitamin B12 (as @trents mentioned )—which are common in people with celiac, even those who are very careful with their diet. Ongoing fatigue and aches might also suggest that your body isn’t fully absorbing nutrients or that there’s some underlying inflammation. It could be helpful to get bloodwork done to check for these deficiencies, and possibly even a full nutritional panel. Sometimes, new sensitivities or hidden sources of gluten or additives like sodium lauryl sulfate (common in toothpaste) can trigger symptoms like canker sores too. Since your reactions are so severe and you're highly vigilant, it might also be worth considering whether any other autoimmune conditions could be involved, as they can develop over time and overlap with celiac. Consulting with your doctor or a celiac-informed dietitian may help pinpoint the cause and bring relief.
    • knitty kitty
      @Dora77, You shouldn't worry about getting glutened through your skin.  You would have to touch a gluten infested doorknob and then put your hand in your mouth.   I'd be more concerned with your mom's heating up gluten bread in the oven and boiling gluten noodles.  These methods cause particles of gluten to become airborne which would then enter your nose and be swallowed, going into your digestive tract.  I have to avoid the bakery aisle at the grocery store for this reason.  An M95 mask helps. If you get nutritional deficiencies corrected, your immune system will calm down and be less reactive to gluten expose.  Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system.  Thiamine and Niacin help make digestive enzymes which would help digest any accidental gluten exposure.  Thiamine helps Mast cells not to release histamine, an inflammatory agent released as part of the reaction to gluten, and also a neurotransmitter that causes alertness and anxiety, and the flight or fight response.  Pyridoxine will help improve the OCD.  Remember your brain is part of the body.  Vitamin deficiencies affect your brain and mental health as well as the rest of your body.  
    • Jacki Espo
      I do not have evidence other than anecdotal but I am certain when I have gotten these it's the result of eating gluten (back when I did).  I don't get them now that I don't eat gluten. 
    • Dora77
      What really bothers me is if worrying about getting cc‘d from touching the same door knob as others touched is valid. Seems like an extremely unlikely way to get glutened but i read people saying that.    If thats true then theres realistically zero chance i dont get cc‘d in a non gluten-free household unless i Cook Everything myself and wash my hands multiple times in between and store all of my stuff separately
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Mrs. Cedrone! Among the various causes for canker sores, are "Nutritional problems like too little vitamin B12, zinc, folic acid, or iron" https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/canker-sores Could you be deficient on something?
×
×
  • Create New...