Jump to content

  • 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

How Long Does It Take For One To Feel Better?

arocchio

Recommended Posts

arocchio Newbie
arocchio
Posted

Hi, I am new to the forum.  First, I have known that I have some type of gluten sensitivity for awhile, if not celiac.  I have constant back pain, and I have noticed it increases or decreases according to my bread/gluten intake.  Also in college I avoided EVERYTHING the bakery made because I learned from process of elimination that withing 30-60 minutes of eating their delightful bread I would get stomach pains that made me cry and literally fall down wherever I was.  Sometimes I would be walking to class and have to just sit down on the sidewalk for 5 minutes until I could walk again.  That being said, I have had about 4 doctors in my life tell me to either go off gluten or suggest I get tested.  I always blew it off because, honestly, I thought "gluten intolerance" was just a new fad-type diagnosis (ignorant, I know).  So recently I have changed my mind.

 

I try to tell people "I am healthy."  I do not drink, smoke, or use drugs.  I am vegetarian   I exercise about 4 times a week.  I am not over weight.  I never eat fast food or overly processed food.  I don't buy "junk food" I have had fitness test conducted and in all categories I am above average for my age (32).  On paper I am healthy.  But healthy doesn't feel like this.

 

Healthy isn't loosing all her hair!  

Healthy doesn't bruise when I butterfly lands on her (exaggeration)

Healthy doesn't need 10 hours of sleep at night

Healthy doesn't have constant back pain, and joint pain

Healthy doesn't have uncontrollable acne

Healthy don't feel anxious all the time (even with therapy)

Healthy doesn't feel foggy all the time

Healthy doesn't get random debilitating side cramps that feel like a butcher knife had been stabbed in her stomach

Healthy doesn't go to the ER with those cramps just to be turned away when nurses tell you you just needed to have a BM

Healthy doesn't have two consecutive miscarriages after an extremely easy time with their first child.

Healthy doesn't then have doctors tell her she isn't ovulating, then she has endometriosis (when she's NEVER been told that before)

Healthy doesn't get constant bladder or yeast infections after going on bread binges (Yes I have noticed they seem to coincide)

Healthy doesn't have constant allergy symptoms dispite going to two different allergists, having allergy tests taken, and being told she is not allergic to anything. 

--constant sinus drainage, 3-4 sinus infections a year and itchy eyes

Healthy don't feel like she is always in the verge of getting the flu.  Like my body is always fighting a bug

 

SO those symptoms being put out there.  I have decided to go off gluten for 60 days and see how I feel.  I know now that this is not the best way to approach things.  Thanks to this forum I now understand why testing is so important.

 

However, I have been off gluten for all of 5 days.  I have already noticed my face looks better (not as inflamed looking).  My back pain was better until this morning (the Rice dream rice milk I had last night is not gluten free).  And this morning when my son woke up I didn't feel like I needed an additional 2 hours of sleep on the couch.

 

SO my questions is. . . . How long after being gluten free did YOU start to feel relief from some of your symptoms?     

I know everyone is different.  But I would love to here about other's recovery time.

 

Thanks.

I have found this forum AMAZING.  I wish I could reach through my computer and give you all a hug

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MissyShelle Rookie
MissyShelle
Posted

Hi, I am new to the forum.  First, I have known that I have some type of gluten sensitivity for a while, if not celiac.  I have constant back pain, and I have noticed it increases or decreases according to my bread/gluten intake.  Also in college I avoided EVERYTHING the bakery made because I learned from process of elimination that withing 30-60 minutes of eating their delightful bread I would get stomach pains that made my cry and literally fall down wherever I was.  Sometimes I would be walking to class and have to just sit down in the sidewalk for 5 minutes until I could walk again.  That being said, I have had about 4 doctors in my life tell me to either go off gluten or suggest I get tested.  I always blew it off because, honestly, I thought "gluten intolerance" was just a new fad-type diagnosis (ignorant, I know).  So recently I have changed my mind.

 

I try to tell people "I am healthy."  I do not drink, smoke, or use drugs.  I am vegetarian   I exercise about 4 times a week.  I am not over weight.  I never eat fast food or overly processed food.  I don't buy "junk food" I have had healthy fitness test conducted and in all categories I am above average for my age (32).  On paper I am healthy.  But healthy doesn't feel like this.

 

Healthy isn't loosing all her hair!  

Healthy doesn't bruise when I butterfly lands on her (exaggeration)

Healthy doesn't need 10 hours of sleep at night

Healthy doesn't have constant back pain, and joint pain

Healthy doesn't have uncontrollable acne

Healthy don't feel anxious all the time (even with therapy)

Healthy doesn't feel foggy all the time

Healthy doesn't get random debilitating side cramps that feel like a butcher knife had been stabbed in her stomach

Healthy doesn't go to the ER with those cramps just to be turned away when nurses tell you you just needed to have a BM

Healthy doesn't have two consecutive miscarriages after an extremely easy time with their first child.

Healthy doesn't then have doctors tell her she isn't ovulating, then she has endometriosis (when she NEVER been told that before)

Healthy doesn't get constant bladder you yeast infections after going on bread binges (Yes I have noticed they seem to coincide)

 

SO those symptoms being put out there.  I have decided to go off gluten for 60 days and see how I feel.  I know now that this is not the best way to approach things.  Thanks to this forum I know understand why testing is so important.

 

However, I have been off gluten for all of 5 days.  I have already noticed my face looks better (not as inflamed looking).  My back pain was better until this morning (now know the Rice dream rice milk I had last night is not gluten free).  And this morning when my son woke up I didn't feel like I needed an additional 2 hours of sleep on the couch.

 

SO I questions is. . . . How long after being gluten free does a person start to feel relief from some of their symptoms?     

 

Thanks.

I have found this forum AMAZING.  I wish I could reach thought my computer and give you all a hug.

I do not know the answer since I am in the same boat. Just wanting to say I hope you feel better soon! I have many of the same symptoms of you and I am in the process of getting appointments to discuss being tested. 

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

I hope "healthy" will be feeling truly better soon.

 

I first noticed Celiac symptoms atleast 30 years back.  I lived a foggy and fatigued existense for that time.  Six years back I had serious heart trouble.  The heart trouble reversed when I took supplements my chiro recommended.  I went gluten free a year ago.  I went grain free 10 months ago.  I went on a rotational diet.  I added additional supplements.  My mind cleared a couple of months ago.

 

To speed healing I recommend spending time analysing how to make improvements.  Spending time to read on the forum can be helpful.  Hopefully, you won't need to do all everything that someone else needs to do, but I don't want you to quit until you do..  Supplements have been a big help for me.  Checking for food intolerances was a big key for me.  All of this does take time and effert.  You started on the road and now I say keep walking.  I don't know how long the road will be for you, but you are headed in the right direction.

 

Watch out for gluten.

 

Diana

MJ-S Contributor
MJ-S
Posted

Everyone is different in terms of healing time. I noticed a dramatic improvement from the worst symptoms almost immediately (days to weeks). Then it was very up and down after that. I took another step forward after 6 months (when I gave up soy). Overall it took 18 months before I felt more healthy than sick on a consistent basis.

 

18 months is a timeframe often given by people.Some take less time than that, some more. It may also depend on how much damage was done before diagnosis, and for how long. I was in my late 30's when I got sick and it was very sudden onset. I figured out dairy almost immediately, but it took almost a year of being horribly ill before I (well, my nutritionist, really) figured out the gluten piece. In hindsight I was probably affected for years before the debilitating GI issues surfaced.

SanAntonioGF Newbie
SanAntonioGF
Posted

You have to consider the degree of how horrible each of us felt to understand that a slight improvement over our health was significant.  I can say within a week I was feeling better.  In a month's time I was feeling GREAT compared to where I had been.  However, it still took a full year to find the all the hidden gluten in my diet and medicine cabinet (generic Ibuprofen).  Overall, my health was much better, but I wanted more than just better.  I wanted to get rid of all the GERD.  I wanted to get rid of all the stomach swelling.  I've eliminated vinegar, citric acid, aspartame and I'm down to one cup of caffeine a day.  The GERD is gone (I'm taking nothing to control it).  The only problem I have left is swelling when I eat rice flour.  This week I've decided to eliminate rice.  Stick with it.  You'll see and feel the difference. 

mahart Newbie
mahart
Posted

I had posted the other day in regards to my husband. it had been a week and a half with no obvious relief of symptoms. Apparently he need a week and 5 days! His diarrhea is almost completely gone (5-8 times a day of terrible diarrhea), the extreme sweating is almost completely gone ( we had just accepted this as normal over the years..he would sweat all the time, regardless of temps, exertion..like..run off your head sweating), definitely more energy, and overall is without a question feeling better. It is amazing to us. Its two weeks today, and now we are wondering to what degree he is sensitive. Looking forward to seeing how good he can actually feel!

arocchio Newbie
arocchio
Posted
  • Author

thanks for the encouragement everyone.  I am not sure why I feel so horrible today.  I am VERY tired.  I was light headed and dizzy most of the day.  Twice I stood up and almost fainted after getting a crazy head rush.  This used to happen to me a lot.  Last night after dinner I felt nauseated, and had a stomach ache all night.  My stomach was still sore today.  When I say sore I mean my abdomen is very tender to the touch.

 

The only thing I could think of is that our brown rice doesn't specifically say Gluten Free.  But everything else we ate was gluten free, soy free and vegan.

 

Now that it is evening I am feeling better.

 

Could I have been exposed to gluten and had this much of a reaction? 

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 2 weeks later...
arocchio Newbie
arocchio
Posted
  • Author

wasn't glutened.  Just pregnant :)

solitaire-master Rookie
solitaire-master
Posted

Pregnancy could definitely be the cause of your symptoms. You should get checked out by a doctor...jk. 

 

Congratulations!!!!

EmiPark210 Contributor
EmiPark210
Posted

Congratulations! But if you have a history of reacting painfully to bread products, it is still worth getting checked. If you do have celiac's or some sort of gluten intolerance there is a chance that your baby could develop it as well. You do have to go back on a gluten diet for 12 weeks for an antibody test or 3 weeks for an endoscopy (about). However, if the diet change is helping and you've had issues with miscarriages then maybe wait till after you have your baby to do a gluten challenge. There is a forum page for dealing with pregnancy and celiacs so they could be a big help there!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,397
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Megannnnn
    Newest Member
    Megannnnn
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
    • Mmoc
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By Mmoc · Posted

      Thank you kindly for your response. I have since gotten the other type of bloods done and am awaiting results. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.