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

8 Months In And No Improvements


Panda123

Recommended Posts

Panda123 Newbie

Hey all, I was diagnosed in early August 2012 and went gluten-free immediatly after. I had Iron deficiency anaemia that won't go away which led to an endoscopy (that proved Celiac). Since then, I got an iron infusion in December (which did nothing at all, other then bumping my Iron levels back to normal). I still have anaemia symptoms and overall i'm standing exactly where i was 8 months ago as far as symptoms go.

 

I have an appointment with my Doctor next week and will see what he has to say about this. I am careful with my gluten-free diet. I'm 18 years old so I was looking for a quicker recovery then most but have been very disappointed so far. Would love to get some of your oponions on this. Thanks guys!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



shadowicewolf Proficient

It can take up to two years for any damage to heal.

 

Consider keeping a food dairy. It can help you figure out what might be bothering you. It could very well be that you have an additional intolerance to something (such as corn, soy, and lactose).

cavernio Enthusiast

I'm still healing, gluten-free since jun 2012. I had a biopsy done in Feb, and although I haven't had an appointment yet about it, the doctor wrote on my sheet that the villi were healing. I still have many symptoms too.

If you've had celiac disease since childhood, then that's still many years to heal up, could be a decade or longer. I'm only 30 and I suspect I developed celiac disease only when I was 17 or 18, so not the 30+ years that many people here have had deal with. And of course the longer it takes to heal, the longer it will take to get your nutrients up. If you are still having gastro symptoms, another food issue seems likely. eg: I can't imagine anyone having any sort of serious gut damage and not having an issue with lactose. Since you still have symptoms of anemia, ask to get your B vitamins checked too. Read up about all the nutrients necessary for you body to function and see if any one of those deficiencies in particular describes you, then ask if you can get tested for it. Anemia isn't always caused by low iron.

 

Also I hope you'll be getting a follow-up biopsy to see how everything's healing.

Chrisbittner Newbie

I agree with Cavernio about suspecting lactose.  In my experience, doctors won't give much advice to anything remotely controversial such as diets or supplements to help with recovery.  They will simply say to eat gluten free and take a lactaid supplement if you have trouble with lactose.  My GI doctor originally told me that celiac disease was still controversial and wanted to just diagnose me with the all encompassing term IBS...

 

Anyways, if I were you, I would try to bring my diet down to the basics to a point where I could feel comfortable and than slowly add food back to find out what bothers me.  Example: fruits, vegetables, meats, cashews.  I would also take a digestive enzyme before each meal (i use digest platinum by Now Foods).  Hopefully that can get you to a starting point and than you can add on from there with maybe white rice, lactose free milk/yogurt, etc..

Oscar Apprentice

My GI doctor originally told me that celiac disease was still controversial and wanted to just diagnose me with the all encompassing term IBS...

Oh, yeah.

Celiac disease is controversial--my ass. Well, maybe the wheat industry and other interest groups want it to be. There is no offer of a better explanation of villous atrophy while eating wheat, that heals on a gluten-free diet.

All encompassing IBS. Doh. It is Bull Shit. Or maybe, the doc thinks, I've Been Stumped.

Done grouching for now. :wacko:

dilettantesteph Collaborator

There is a Fasano study published in a peer reviewed journal with where celiacs still experiencing symptoms on a normal gluten free diet were treated with a gluten contamination elimination diet of whole unprocessed foods: Open Original Shared Link

 

That is what I did to eliminate my symptoms and those of my son.

  • 3 weeks later...
cyclinglady Grand Master

Hey all, I was diagnosed in early August 2012 and went gluten-free immediatly after. I had Iron deficiency anaemia that won't go away which led to an endoscopy (that proved Celiac). Since then, I got an iron infusion in December (which did nothing at all, other then bumping my Iron levels back to normal). I still have anaemia symptoms and overall i'm standing exactly where i was 8 months ago as far as symptoms go.

 

I have an appointment with my Doctor next week and will see what he has to say about this. I am careful with my gluten-free diet. I'm 18 years old so I was looking for a quicker recovery then most but have been very disappointed so far. Would love to get some of your oponions on this. Thanks guys!

Like you, I was diagnosed via endoscopy just two weeks ago.  Symptoms?  Only iron deficiency anemia (low ferritin),  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Alpha Thalassemia which is another anemia that's genetic (tiny red blood cells).  So, even as my iron levels improve by adhering to the gluten-free diet, my hemoglobin will always remain low and additional iron won't help.    You haven't mentioned all your symptoms, but another anemia might be present.  I agree with some of the others who mentioned other food intolerances too.  


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Takala Enthusiast

You may have to go "more" gluten free to the point of being considered eccentric by a conventional medical professional who hasn't experienced this, but it beats being sick all the time.

 

In the beginning I was grain free and low starch for a long time.  And I'm still lower carb than a "normal."  I am not "normal." I am me, damaged by living for most of my life on the wrong diet.  I added in a little bit of grains to be able to do them if I had to, but I'm better off without most of them, even if they are technically gluten free.  And cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, makeup with gluten ?  Fuggedaboutit.   Really, my allergic pets taught me that cross contamination can come from the most unexpected places.  

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - tiffanygosci replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      12

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

    2. - RMJ replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?

    3. - knitty kitty replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?

    4. - knitty kitty replied to tiffanygosci's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      12

      New Celiac Mama in My 30s

    5. - trents replied to Riley.'s topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      4

      Outgrow celiac?


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,979
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    volivier
    Newest Member
    volivier
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • tiffanygosci
      Thank you for sharing all of this, Knitty Kitty! I did just want someone to share some commonality with. I did not know This one Deficiency was a thing and that it's common for Celiac Disease. It makes sense since this is a disorder that causes malabsorption. I will have to keep this in mind for my next appointments. You also just spurred me on to make that Dietician appointment. There's a lot of information online but I do need to see a professional. There is too much to juggle on my own with this condition.<3
    • RMJ
      I think your initial idea, eat gluten and be tested, was excellent. Now you have fear of that testing, but isn’t there also a fear each time you eat gluten that you’re injuring your body? Possibly affecting future fertility, bone health and more? Wouldn’t it be better to know for sure one way or the other? If you test negative, then you celebrate and get tested occasionally to make sure the tests don’t turn positive again. If you test positive, of course the recommendation from me and others is to stop gluten entirely.  But if you’re unable to convince yourself to do that, could a positive test at least convince you to minimize your gluten consumption?  Immune reactions are generally what is called dose response, the bigger the dose, the bigger the response (in this case, damage to your intestines and body). So while I am NOT saying you should eat any gluten with a positive test, the less the better.  
    • knitty kitty
      @Riley., Welcome to the forum, but don't do it!  Don't continue to eat gluten!  The health problems that will come if you continue to eat gluten are not worth it.  Problems may not show up for years, but the constant inflammation and nutritional losses will manifest eventually.  There's many of us oldsters on the forum who wish they'd been diagnosed as early.    Fertility problems, gallbladder removal, diabetes, osteoporosis and mental health challenges are future health issues you are toying with.   To dispel fear, learn more about what you are afraid of.  Be proactive.  Start or join a Celiac group in your area.  Learn about vitamins and nutrition.   Has your mother been checked for Celiac?  It's inherited.  She may be influencing you to eat gluten as a denial of her own symptoms.  Don't let friends and family sway you away from the gluten-free diet.  You know your path.  Stick to it.  Be brave. 
    • knitty kitty
      @tiffanygosci, Hello.  I apologize for your thread being hijacked.   I recognize your symptoms as being similar to what I experienced, the migraines, food and chemical sensitivities, hives, nausea, the numbness and tingling, joint pain, tummy problems, sleep problems, emotional lability, and the mom brain.  My cycle returned early after I had my son, and I became pregnant again with all my symptoms worsening.  Unfortunately, I lost that baby.  In hindsight, I recognized that I was suffering so much from Thiamine deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies that I was not able to carry it.   Celiac Disease affects the absorption of nutrients from our food.  There's eight B vitamins that must be replenished every day.  Thiamine Vitamin B1 becomes depleted first because it cannot be stored very long, less than two weeks.  Other B vitamins can be stored for two months or so.  But Thiamine can get low enough to produce symptoms in as little as three days.  As the thiamine level gets lower, symptoms worsen.  Early symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are often attributed to life situations, and so frequently go unrecognized by medical professionals who "have a pill for that".   I used to get severe migraines and vomiting after gluten consumption.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into fuel for our bodies.  With a large influx of carbohydrates from gluten containing foods, the demand for Thiamine increases greatly.  Available thiamine can be depleted quickly, resulting in suddenly worsening symptoms.  Emotional stress or trauma, physical activity (athletes and laborers) and physiological stresses like pregnancy or injury (even surgery or infection) increase the need for Thiamine and can precipitate a thiamine insufficiency. Pregnancy requires more thiamine, not just for the mother, but for the child as well.  The mother's Thiamine stores are often depleted trying to meet the higher demand of a growing fetus.  Thiamine insufficiency can affect babies in utero and after birth (autism, ADHD).  Having babies close together doesn't allow time for the mother to replenish thiamine stores sufficiently.   Thiamine insufficiency can cause migraines, pins and needles (paresthesia), and gastrointestinal Beriberi (gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, back pain).   Thiamine deficiency can cause blurry vision, difficulty focusing, and affect the eyes in other ways.  Thiamine deficiency can damage the optic nerves.  I have permanent vision problems.  High histamine levels can make your brain feel like it's on fire or swelling inside your cranium.  High histamine levels can affect behavior and mood.  Histamine is released by Mast Cells as part of the immune system response to gluten.  Mast Cells need Thiamine to regulate histamine release.  Mast Cells without sufficient thiamine release histamine at the slightest provocation.  This shows up as sensitivities to foods, smelly chemicals, plants, and dust mites.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins are needed to lower histamine levels.  Vitamin D is needed to calm the immune system and to regulate our hormones.  Menstrual irregularities can be caused by low Vitamin D.   Celiac Disease is a disease if Malabsorption of Nutrients.  We must take great care to eat a nutritionally dense diet.  Our bodies cannot make vitamins.  We must get them from what we eat.  Supplementation with essential vitamins and minerals is warranted while we are healing and to ensure we don't become deficient over time.  Our bodies will not function properly without essential vitamins and minerals.  Doctors have swept their importance under the rug in favor of a pill that covers the symptoms but doesn't resolve the underlying issue of malnutrition. Do talk to your doctor and dietician about checking for nutritional deficiencies.  Most blood tests for the eight B vitamins do not reflect how much is available or stored inside cells.  Blood tests reflect how much is circulating in the blood stream, the transportation system.  Blood levels can be "normal" while a deficiency exists inside cells where the vitamins are actually used.  The best way to see if you're low in B vitamins is to take a B Complex, and additional Thiamine and look for improvement.   Most vitamin supplements contain Thiamine Mononitrate, which is not easily absorbed nor utilized by the body.  Only thirty percent of thiamine mononitrate listed on the label is absorbed, less is actually utilized.  This is because thiamine mononitrate is shelf stable, it won't breakdown sitting on a shelf in the grocery store.  It's so hard to breakdown, our bodies don't absorb it and can't turn it into a form the body can use.  Take Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine or TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which the body can utilize much better.  (Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test for Thiamine level.  Though not accurate, this test does better picking up on a thiamine deficiency than a blood test.) Are you keeping your babies on a gluten free diet?  This can prevent genetically susceptible children from developing Celiac Disease.   P. S. Interesting Reading  Thiamine deficiency in pregnancy and lactation: implications and present perspectives https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10158844/ Descriptive spectrum of thiamine deficiency in pregnancy: A potentially preventable condition https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37458305/ B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches: A randomized double-blind controlled trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9860208/
    • trents
      @Riley, on this forum we sometimes get reports from people with similar experiences as you. That is, their celiac disease seems to go into remission. Typically, that doesn't last. At age 18 you are at your physical-biological peek in life where your body is stronger than it will ever be and it is able to fight well against many threats and abuses. As Wheatwacked pointed out, absence of symptoms is not always a reliable indicator that no damage is being done to the body. I was one of those "silent" celiacs with no symptoms, or at least very minor symptoms, whose body was being slowly damaged for many years before the damage became pronounced enough to warrant investigation, leading to a diagnosis. By that time I had suffered significant bone demineralization and now I suffer with back and neck problems. Please, if you choose to continue consuming gluten, which I do not recommend, at least get tested regularly so that you won't get caught in the silent celiac trap down the road like I did. You really do not outgrow celiac disease. It is baked into the genes. Once the genes get triggered, as far as we know, they are turned on for good. Social rejection is something most celiacs struggle with. Being compliant with the gluten free diet places restrictions on what we can eat and where we can eat. Our friends usually try to work with us at first but then it gets to be a drag and we begin to get left out. We often lose some friends in the process but we also find out who really are our true friends. I think the hardest hits come at those times when friends spontaneously say, "Hey, let's go get some burgers and fries" and you know you can't safely do that. One way to cope in these situations is to have some ready made gluten-free meals packed in the fridge that you can take with you on the spot and still join them but eat safely. Most "real" friends will get used to this and so will you. Perhaps this little video will be helpful to you.  
×
×
  • 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.