11 replies to this topic

[adab8ca]

2 years gluten-free and everyday I am so thankful that we figured out what was literally killing me.
It has not been easy but there are more good days than bad.
No more anti depressants. No more weight loss. No more insomnia. Nerve pain is slllllowly getting better.
Never give up hope. There were many many dark days, even after diagnosis because it too me SO long to feel human again.
When the GI said yup, it's celiac, stop eating gluten and you should feel better in a few days and I didn't, I thought he made a terrible mistake. It was the from the wonderful people here that I learned it can take a LONG time. I learned to be kind to myself and celebrate the good days and push through the not-so-good ones.

xo
ada

[cap6]

2 years gluten-free and everyday I am so thankful that we figured out what was literally killing me.
It has not been easy but there are more good days than bad.
No more anti depressants. No more weight loss. No more insomnia. Nerve pain is slllllowly getting better.
Never give up hope. There were many many dark days, even after diagnosis because it too me SO long to feel human again.
When the GI said yup, it's celiac, stop eating gluten and you should feel better in a few days and I didn't, I thought he made a terrible mistake. It was the from the wonderful people here that I learned it can take a LONG time. I learned to be kind to myself and celebrate the good days and push through the not-so-good ones.

xo
ada

Congratulations!!! So glad to hear you feel so much better. I am 29 months and I understand! I too am off of two of my three antidepressants (still workings on the last one, slowly cutting back), more good than bad days, no more mouth sores, rapid heart beats...... Life is good!!

[adab8ca]

The anti depressants took a long time to wean off of...And when I start to freak out, I wonder if I made a mistake, but no regrets. Congrats on 29 months. Amazing how long this healing can take!

[GottaSki]

Happy Anniversary to you!

Always great to hear stories of improvement - thank you for sharing

[Ranne10]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm 3 months and struggling. I am having days here and there where I feel better but more days that I don't. I am not one to cry but yesterday I sobbed in discouragement - questioning if this is the right thing. I read your success stories and how long it took and I cried again this morning. This time in hope.

I love Celiac.com. I don't think I could do this without you all!

[IrishHeart]

Hi ADA!

So happy to "see you"!

I remember us both commiserating about the horrible burning nerve pain we had and how we were up all night walking 'round and 'round our houses so we did not wake our husbands (again). We were in dire straights back then, weren't we girl? ugh.

We were not "fast healers" like some and it was very discouraging and required more patience than seems possible.

That all seems like a bad dream now, doesn't it?

I am so very happy for you!!!! and like you, I still have remnants of the nerve pain, plenty of bone/joint pain and muscle weakness yet to resolve, but I never, ever lose hope!
Each month that passes, we get better.

I am a few months behind you in recovery and hearing how much you have progressed always gives me encouragement, so thanks a bunch for letting us know.

Happy "re-birth" day.

As always, I wish you all the best!!
xxooIH

[IrishHeart]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm 3 months and struggling. I am having days here and there where I feel better but more days that I don't. I am not one to cry but yesterday I sobbed in discouragement - questioning if this is the right thing. I read your success stories and how long it took and I cried again this morning. This time in hope.

I love Celiac.com. I don't think I could do this without you all!

Ranne (hug)

The hardest part is being patient as the body heals.

Try to look at it this way--you are healing--- and each month that passes, is progress. The people who are 5, 6, 7 years or more past DX tells us we will feel better and better as time passes. My doc tells me "look at each year as a healing year". I was dying 20 months ago. I could not stand, walk, sit or lie down without horrid burning pain. I could not lift my arms or walk the length of my driveway. I had dozens of horrid symptoms and was weak, having lost 90 lbs. and major muscle mass. I thought death would be easier, but I refused to give up.

This summer, for the first summer since 2007, I could swim again. (not the distance swimming I used to do, just yet, but I'll take it!) and I can drive again (I had lost that ability, too) and I can sleep through the night. I had raging insomnia for 3 years.

And last month, I went kayaking.
I am not totally "there yet" ----but I am not at all the sick woman I was either.
whoohoo!!!

Healing happens.

Hang in there, hon!

[mommyof4]

Ada...thanks for sharing! It is inspiring to hear the healing that you are feeling after 2 years...I also appreciate this site so much! I am 10 months post-diagnosis & I need hear from people that are further along than me.

Ranne10...hang in there. You are only 3 months in...that's still really new. Healing the gut in an adult can take years. At 3 months post-diagnosis my husband still had to do all the grocery shopping in our house...I had lost 22 lbs, lots of muscle mass & was too weak to do almost anything. I remember spending MANY nights up wandering the house in pain...or curled up in a ball on the floor. I still have issues, but I CAN function! I still wear out, but I can take care of the daily things...at 3 months post-diagnosis I was discouraged this day would not come.

Anyways...one day at a time for all of us!

[gatita]

Thanks you so much for this post!!!! I have been feeling discouraged too and wondering what's wrong with me after hearing about so many people who feel better just a few days or weeks after going gluten-free. I haven't been one of them, still have major gut issues and joint pain... so you give me hope.

Congratulations on your anniversary and on getting better!

[Momma Bear]

Congratulations! I am just starting this journey and I was just expecting to start feeling better right away but I have quickly learned that it's a process. The damage didn't happen overnight and it's certainly not going to heal overnight. Thank you for the encouragement and I hope that someday, I too, will be able to say that I feel human again!

[adab8ca]

Hi IH!!!
xoxoxo back girl!!!
Yeah, it has been a crappy long journey, eh? (I can say that, I'm canadian).
I expect we will be feeling the effects for a LONG time, but it just reminds me how far I have come.
Every day that I am not in screaming pain, I celebrate. Every day that I don't have suicidal depression, I celebrate.
That's all I can do. I find myself singing in the car (at the top of my lungs and I am BAD) and remember a time when I thought I would never sing in the car again. Stupid little things like that that make we weep with gratefulness, I will literally CRY when I can do something that two years ago I thought was gone forever. Very few people understand this. You start feeling poorly, you start fading away and pulling back. Your friends and family watch helplessly, fearing you are going to die...You start to get better, they are SO happy but don't even realize the magnitude of how you feel and the hell you have gone through.
I would never wish this in anyone but I am not angry anymore that it happened to me. I have learned SO much about who has my back and what I am capable of. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger

[IrishHeart]

I have learned SO much about who has my back and what I am capable of. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger

Amen to all that, girl! Absolutely true, true, true.
They do not call us warrior princesses for nothing.

I do know what you mean about doing those things again that I had lost. Driving, comprehending, dancing, cooking, gardening, traveling.... all coming back to me now. Singing at the top of my lungs too! My hubs has his wife back. whoohoo!

I am so delighted for you Ada, and in a few months, I'll compose a 2 year anniversary post myself.

Many blessings on you, hon!!---stay the course-- and continued healing to you! Enjoy yourself; you earned it! xxoo