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 On A Wheat Free Diet?


poppet

Recommended Posts

poppet Rookie

Hi there i was wondering how long it takes for you to feel 100% better after you start the wheat free diet? i have been on it since March now 7 months and i am only just seing a proper improvement, can anyone help me on this i think i read somewhere it could take up to 2 years!! is this true?

Hope you can advise, love Poppet x


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



nettiebeads Apprentice
Hi there i was wondering how long it takes for you to feel 100% better after you start the wheat free diet? i have been on it since March now 7 months and i am only just seing a proper improvement, can anyone help me on this i think i read somewhere it could take up to 2 years!! is this true?

Hope you can advise, love Poppet x

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The healing rate depends on how long you were sick before dx, your own healing rate, total damage done before dx, and how strictly you are adhering to the gluten-free diet. Please note that wheat free doesn't mean gluten free! Rye products, barley (and items containing malt which is almost always made from barley) have gluten and must be avoided. And if you are stateside, oat products are severly cross contaminated here. And watch out for cross-contamination in the home, at restaurants and everywhere else. And also there is that pesky hidden gluten - items flavored with soy or terriyaki sauce almost always have wheat added. And check health and beauty aids also. Have you mastered the art of constant label reading? But the fact that you are now seeing improvement is good. By being totally gluten free you will regain your health and life. :)

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Hi there i was wondering how long it takes for you to feel 100% better after you start the wheat free diet? i have been on it since March now 7 months and i am only just seing a proper improvement, can anyone help me on this i think i read somewhere it could take up to 2 years!! is this true?
Have you been diagnosed or tested for celiac disease?
VydorScope Proficient
The healing rate depends on how long you were sick before dx, your own healing rate, total damage done before dx, and how strictly you are adhering to the gluten-free diet.  Please note that wheat free doesn't mean gluten free!  Rye products, barley (and items containing malt which is almost always made from barley) have gluten and must be avoided.  And if you are stateside, oat products are severly cross contaminated here.  And watch out for cross-contamination in the home, at restaurants and everywhere else.  And also there is that pesky hidden gluten - items flavored with soy or terriyaki sauce almost always have wheat added.  And check health and beauty aids also.  Have you mastered the art of constant label reading?  But the fact that you are now seeing improvement is good.  By being totally gluten free you will regain your health and life. :)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Inaddtion, You might find this list helpfull...

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-16105308941.a7

Billygoat Apprentice
Hi there i was wondering how long it takes for you to feel 100% better after you start the wheat free diet? i have been on it since March now 7 months and i am only just seing a proper improvement, can anyone help me on this i think i read somewhere it could take up to 2 years!! is this true?

Hope you can advise, love Poppet x

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Poppet,

I fear you are making the same mistake that I made. I thought wheat-free meant gluten-free. It does not. Gluten is in other grains, as someone else mentioned. It is also in other ingredients in foods that you don't typically associate grains with. I've been wheat-free for years. Couldn't figure out why I felt a little better, but would have days, sometimes months of feeling like before. It wasn't until this past summer that I went Gluten-free. Since then I've felt better than I have in ages. My biggest pitfalls were eating oats, spelt, and all the gluten in dressings, sauces, marinades, eating out, etc. You might consider doing a little more research, eliminating gluten (not just wheat) out of your system and see how you feel in a month or so. That's what it took for me. A good month going VERY Gluten-free and I felt like a new girl.

Good luck!

Andi

poppet Rookie

Hi there and thanks for your replies, i have yet to be diagnosed, my gp is on at the hospital for my results as the specialist refused to give them to me and i am on yearly appointments, he said i need to know for definate...

I have ulcerative colitis that wasnt changing despite being on heaps of meds, i came of the med after a year as they were making me bleed and then got told to go on this diet...

I have been on it since march, the specialist did a stool and blood tests in march but not got any results yet, i did see an improvement within 2 days with the toileting business and i had a couple of things with wheat/gluten in them and imediatly had terrible cramps like i had been puched in the tummy and then i needed the loo...

I dont even know what i should be looking for to see any improvements, but i have always had exema and spots and greasy skin and hair but this has inproved greatly the only real thing i am concerned about is my weight since march i have lost 5 stone i seem to have evened out now and i am stuck at 9 stone, does this normally happen??..

I have so many question and no answers, so sorry if i appear a bit thick or trying at times...

Poppet x x x

nettiebeads Apprentice
Hi there and thanks for your replies, i have yet to be diagnosed, my gp is on at the hospital for my results as the specialist refused to give them to me and i am on yearly appointments, he said i need to know for definate...

I have ulcerative colitis that wasnt changing despite being on heaps of meds, i came of the med after a year as they were making me bleed and then got told to go on this diet...

I have been on it since march, the specialist did a stool and blood tests in march but not got any results yet, i did see an improvement within 2 days with the toileting business and i had a couple of things with wheat/gluten in them and imediatly had terrible cramps like i had been puched in the tummy and then i needed the loo...

I dont even know what i should be looking for to see any improvements, but i have always had exema and spots and greasy skin and hair but this has inproved greatly the only real thing i am concerned about is my weight since march i have lost 5 stone i seem to have evened out now and i am stuck at 9 stone, does this normally happen??..

I have so many question and no answers, so sorry if i appear a bit thick or trying at times...

Poppet x x x

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How can you be thick or trying? We're here for each other. Celiac is a complicated disease with a very simple treatment. The gluten-free diet is very simple in principal, but hard at times to execute. And if medicos, dietitians and nutritionists don't understand it, how can we as lay people get our minds to grasp it? And since I'm from across the pond, what's a stone?

And since you've shown such a marked improvement on the gluten-free diet, that in itself would give you a dx - if not full blown celiac, then definitely gluten intolerant.

Keep on taking care of yourself.

Annette


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.

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

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





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - xxnonamexx posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      0

      FDA looking for input on Celiac Gluten sensitivity labeling PLEASE READ and submit your suggestions

    2. - cristiana replied to Atl222's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes after 10 yrs gluten-free

    3. - trents replied to Atl222's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes after 10 yrs gluten-free

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Aretaeus Cappadocia's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

    5. - Scott Adams replied to wellthatsfun's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      nothing has changed

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,190
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Atl222
    Newest Member
    Atl222
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      Please read: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-steps-improve-gluten-ingredient-disclosure-foods?fbclid=IwY2xjawPeXhJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzaDc3NWRaYzlJOFJ4R0Fic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrwuSsw8Be7VNGOrKKWFVbrjmf59SGht05nIALwnjQ0DoGkDDK1doRBDzeeX_aem_GZcRcbhisMTyFUp3YMUU9Q
    • cristiana
      Hi @Atl222 As @trents points out, there could be many reasons for this biopsy result.  I am interested to know, is your gastroenterologist concerned?  Also, are your blood tests showing steady improvement over the years? I remember when I had my last biopsy, several years after diagnosis, mine came back with with raised lymphocytes but no villous damage, too! In my own case, my consultant wasn't remotely concerned - in fact, he said I might still get this result even if all I ever did was eat nothing but rice and water.   My coeliac blood tests were still steadily improving, albeit slowly, which was reassuring.
    • trents
      Welcome to the celiac.com community, @Atl222! Yes, your increased lymphocytes could be in response to oats or it could possibly be cross contamination from gluten that is getting into your diet from some unexpected source but not enough to damage the villi. And I'm certain that increased lymphocytes can be caused by other things besides celiac disease or gluten/oats exposure. See attachment. But you might try eliminating oats to start with and possibly dairy for a few months and then seek another endoscopy/biopsy to see if there was a reduction in lymphocyte counts. 
    • Scott Adams
      This is a solid, well-reasoned approach. You’re right that “koji” by itself doesn’t indicate gluten status, and the risk really does come down to which grain is used to culture it. The fact that you directly contacted Eden Foods and received a clear statement that their koji is made from rice only, with no wheat or barley, is meaningful due diligence—especially since Eden has a long-standing reputation for transparency. While the lack of gluten labeling can understandably give pause, manufacturer confirmation like this is often what people rely on for traditionally fermented products. As always, trusting your body after trying it is reasonable, but based on the information you gathered, your conclusion makes sense.
    • Scott Adams
      Seven months can still be early in celiac healing, especially if you were mostly asymptomatic to begin with—symptoms like low iron, vitamin D deficiency, nail changes, and hair issues often take much longer to improve because the gut needs time to recover before absorption normalizes. A tTG-IgA of 69 is not “low” in terms of immune activity, and it can take 12–24 months (sometimes longer) for antibodies and the intestinal lining to fully heal, particularly in teens and young adults. Eating gluten again to “test” things isn’t recommended and won’t give you clear answers—it’s far more likely to cause harm than clarity. Weight not changing is also very common in celiac and doesn’t rule anything out. Please know that your frustration and sadness matter; this adjustment is hard, and feeling stuck can really affect mental health. You deserve support, and if you can, reaching out to a GI dietitian or mental health professional familiar with chronic illness could really help you through this phase. This study indicates that a majority of celiacs don't recover until 5 years after diagnosis and starting a gluten-free diet: Mucosal recovery and mortality in adults with celiac disease after treatment with a gluten-free diet However, it's also possible that what the study really shows is the difficulty in maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet. I suspect that if you looked closely at the diets of those who did not recover within 2 years might be that their diets were not 100% gluten-free. Perhaps they ate out more often, or didn't understand all of the hidden ingredients where gluten can hide. Either way, it shows how difficult recovery from celiac disease can be for most people. According to this study: This article explores other causes of flattened villi:    
×
×
  • 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.