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

How Long For Symptons To Go Away After Starting gluten-free Diet


erac6329

Recommended Posts

erac6329 Newbie

I started having medical issues in Aug 2012.  I started out itching all over my body.  My face itches really bad and I get little red bumps around my chin, forehead and cheeks.  I've always had bowel/intestine issues and that seemed to get worst (feeling bloated, painful bowels).  I've been constipated for the last 17yrs.  I started getting really bad heart burn which I've never really had before.  My stomach ached for no reason.  I went to my primary doctor and she checked me out and ordered blood test.  Everything came back normal.  She suggested that I take over the counter medicine for the heartburn and itching.  I went to a dermatologist to see if she could figure out why I was itching all over.  She gave me a steroid shot and a prescription cream to help with the itching.  I went to Allergist to see if she could find anything.  Nothing.  She suggested that I take over the counter Allergy medicine.  I tried all the OTC allergy medicines and they all made me sleepy all day so I stopped taking them.  I started using Bragg's ACV.  It helped with the heartburn but the itching would not go away. 

 

I kept searching on the Internet for possible causes of the itching because that was bothering me the most.  I ran into an article about Wheat and the harm and can do to your body.  I asked my doctor for a test to see if I have Gluten sensitivity and the test came back negative.  I'm not sure which test she requested but I decided to start a Gluten-Free diet anyway.  I started the Gluten-Free diet on 4/9/2013.  The only diary I consume is cheese.  I still eat sweets (fruit, candy, and honey), white rice and potatoes and I've lost 4lbs in two weeks.  I'm still learning what I can and can't eat.  I bought some Gluten-Free cookies, crackers and chips for my kids but I've also been eating them.  I've learn just recently that I probably shouldn’t eat these items just yet.  The itching has decreased but not completely gone away.  The bumps on my face have disappeared until I eat something that contains Gluten.  I went to a birthday party a week after I started the gluten-free diet and ate a piece of cake.  The next morning my stomach was aching really badly and I itched all over for an entire week.  I still have constipation.  I have 4yr old twins and my daughter has been itching since September/October 2012 so I think she may have the same sensitivity.  It seems like an ingredient was changed in something because I don't recall the itching before then.  My son does not have the itching symptoms.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



foam Apprentice

Try not to eat processed food for a while if you can. As far as eating goes just pretend it's 1930 and you should be ok. I even suggest using lard or butter rather than modern oils, everything was better in the old days

pricklypear1971 Community Regular

That steroid shot, and if it was a steroid cream...

May be why you tested negative on Celiac tests. Steroids are a contradiction to testing...they are used to send celiac into remission.

I haven't ever seen a firm timeline on steroid use and testing problems...if you use them within 3 months of testing? Maybe it's 1...who knows.

KerryLad Rookie

I started having medical issues in Aug 2012.  I started out itching all over my body.  My face itches really bad and I get little red bumps around my chin, forehead and cheeks.  I've always had bowel/intestine issues and that seemed to get worst (feeling bloated, painful bowels).  I've been constipated for the last 17yrs.  I started getting really bad heart burn which I've never really had before.  My stomach ached for no reason.  I went to my primary doctor and she checked me out and ordered blood test.  Everything came back normal.  She suggested that I take over the counter medicine for the heartburn and itching.  I went to a dermatologist to see if she could figure out why I was itching all over.  She gave me a steroid shot and a prescription cream to help with the itching.  I went to Allergist to see if she could find anything.  Nothing.  She suggested that I take over the counter Allergy medicine.  I tried all the OTC allergy medicines and they all made me sleepy all day so I stopped taking them.  I started using Bragg's ACV.  It helped with the heartburn but the itching would not go away. 

 

I kept searching on the Internet for possible causes of the itching because that was bothering me the most.  I ran into an article about Wheat and the harm and can do to your body.  I asked my doctor for a test to see if I have Gluten sensitivity and the test came back negative.  I'm not sure which test she requested but I decided to start a Gluten-Free diet anyway.  I started the Gluten-Free diet on 4/9/2013.  The only diary I consume is cheese.  I still eat sweets (fruit, candy, and honey), white rice and potatoes and I've lost 4lbs in two weeks.  I'm still learning what I can and can't eat.  I bought some Gluten-Free cookies, crackers and chips for my kids but I've also been eating them.  I've learn just recently that I probably shouldn’t eat these items just yet.  The itching has decreased but not completely gone away.  The bumps on my face have disappeared until I eat something that contains Gluten.  I went to a birthday party a week after I started the gluten-free diet and ate a piece of cake.  The next morning my stomach was aching really badly and I itched all over for an entire week.  I still have constipation.  I have 4yr old twins and my daughter has been itching since September/October 2012 so I think she may have the same sensitivity.  It seems like an ingredient was changed in something because I don't recall the itching before then.  My son does not have the itching symptoms.

hi there i have the exact same things and feelings as u i was on stomach tablets for acid stopped them 6 days ago to see my my stomach would break up my food more... i started getting stinging in the intestines and find it very hard to pass as my poo is rock hard and big i have pins and needles in my hands the last 6 weeks i started a gluten free diet 8 days now have a feeling im letting gluten in some way buy im very strict on my diet very plain diet gluten free bread with ham dinner i have chicken or salmon and breakfast i have porrage wheat and gluten free oat free organic stiff im on my oins and needes go from my hands to my lips and up my arms goes to my legs as well any ideas?? im 8 days clean of wheat now 

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,339
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Skydawg
    Newest Member
    Skydawg
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      My reaction to a gluten bolus exposure is similar to yours, with 2-3 hours of severe abdominal cramps and intractable emesis followed by several hours of diarrhea. I don't necessarily equate that one large exposure to gluten with significant intestinal lining damage, however. I think it's just a violent reaction to a what the body perceives to be a somewhat toxic substance that I am no longer tolerant of because I have quit exposing myself to it regularly. It's just the body purging itself of it rather than an expression of significant damage. Before diagnosis, when I was consuming gluten daily, I had little to no GI distress. I was, for the most part, a "silent celiac". The damage to my small bowel lining didn't happen all at once but was slow and insidious, accumulating over a period of years. The last time I got a big shot of gluten was about three years ago when I got my wife's wheat biscuits mixed up with my gluten-free ones. There was this acute reaction after about two hours of ingestion as I described above. I felt washed out for a few days and fully recovered within a week or so.  Now, I'm a 74-year-old male. So, I'm not worried about being pregnant. And I don't want to contradict your physicians advice. But I just don't think you have done significant damage to your small bowel lining by one episode of significant gluten ingestion. I just don't think it works that way.
    • Skydawg
      Wondering about some thoughts on how long to wait to try to get pregnant after a gluten exposure?  I have been diagnosed for 10 years and have followed the diet strictly. I have been cross contaminated before, but have never had a full on gluten exposure. I went to a restaurant recently, and the waiter messed up and gave me regular bread and told me it was gluten free. 2 hours later I was throwing up for the whole evening. I have never had that kind of reaction before as I have never had such a big exposure. My husband and I were planning to start trying to get pregnant this month. My dr did blood work to check for electrolytes and white blood cells, but did not do a full nutritional panel. Most of my GI symptoms have resolved in the past 2 weeks, but I am definitely still dealing with brain fog, fatigue and headaches. My dr has recommended I wait 3 months before I start to try to get pregnant.   I have read else where about how long it can take for the intestine to fully heal, and the impacts gluten exposure can have on pregnancy. I guess I am really wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? How long does it take to heal after 1 exposure like that, after following the diet so well for 10 years? Is 3 months an okay amount of time to wait? Is there anything I can do in the meantime to reduce my symptoms? 
    • ShadowLoom
      I’ve used tinctures and made my own edibles with gluten-free ingredients to stay safe. Dispensary staff don’t always know about gluten, so I double-check labels or just make my own.
    • Scott Adams
      It's great to hear that there are some good doctors out there, and this is an example of why having a formal diagnosis can definitely be helpful.
    • RMJ
      Update: I have a wonderful new gastroenterologist. She wants to be sure there’s nothing more serious, like refractory celiac, going on. She ordered various tests including some micronutrient tests that no one has ever ordered before.  I’m deficient in folate and zinc and starting supplements for both. I’m so glad I decided to go to a new GI!
×
×
  • Create New...