Gluten And Autoimmune Disease

[Lyrae]

does anyone here have experience with multiple autoimmune diseases? I have two and am being tested for celiac. just wanted to know your experiences and hopefully recovery after going gluten free. Thnx. I have Graves' Disease

[1desperateladysaved]

I have been diagnosed with celiac, raynaud's  and who knows what else?  I had symptoms even when I was young.  My pulse was difficult to detect, even though it came from this skinny little arm.  At 17, the enamel disappeared off my teeth.  And no, Mr Dentist, I didn't skip brushing!  I often went through school with my head on my desk.

 

Several years back, things got so difficult that I feel asleep between words while given my children spelling tests.  I dragged my feet all day and every day.  Vitamins helped tread water for a while, but I had to finally admit that every tissue in my body felt irritated.  Then my chiropractor pointed out that it could be a gluten problem.  I went home, read up on it, and determined that If I had this, that would explain a few things.

 

I had some tests and found out I had the genes for celiac.  I had also brain fog, extreme fatigue, and bloating.  In the end I had more than 30 years of celiac symptoms, and alas we found out about it.  I had tests for my nutrient levels, which were low in spite of great diet, and quality supplements.  I went gluten free, grain free, and other intolerance free, took a couple of more supplements, and the mind cleared.  Now there are days when I wake before my alarm and then charge into life.  I am so glad.  It was hard to change; I had a lot to learn, I miss eating the same things with friends and family.  But the benefits are great and the cost in comparison low.

 

I hope you will find a gluten connection to your troubles and that going gluten free may help you immensely.

 

D

[nvsmom]

There's a few of us with multiple issues. Going undiagnosed tends to prompt other AI diseases to rear their ugly heads.

 

I have ITP (thrombocytopenia) and I think Hashimoto's (I've had ignored thyroid issues for a couple of decades and now I'm on a full replacement dose of meds but my antibodies are normal so doctors won't call it Hashis... cranky thyroid? I dunno LOL).  I thought I had a connective tissue disease lilke Lupus, MCTD or something but the longer I am gluten-free, the less I have pain and mobility issues so I think it was just celiac disease. I'm pretty sure I've had celiac disease since infancy.

[trents]

I think it's pretty common for autoimmune diseases to come in multiples. After all, we are talking about an immune system that is malfunctioning to begin with.

[SkyBlue4]

I am diagnosed with a few AI issues- Hashimoto's, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes, Celiac and some others as well.

 

I'm hoping a gluten-free diet will help. I'm only a month along so other than my GI symptoms, I haven't seen much improvement yet.

[Lyrae]

I have been diagnosed with celiac, raynaud's  and who knows what else?  I had symptoms even when I was young.  My pulse was difficult to detect, even though it came from this skinny little arm.  At 17, the enamel disappeared off my teeth.  And no, Mr Dentist, I didn't skip brushing!  I often went through school with my head on my desk.

 

Several years back, things got so difficult that I feel asleep between words while given my children spelling tests.  I dragged my feet all day and every day.  Vitamins helped tread water for a while, but I had to finally admit that every tissue in my body felt irritated.  Then my chiropractor pointed out that it could be a gluten problem.  I went home, read up on it, and determined that If I had this, that would explain a few things.

 

I had some tests and found out I had the genes for celiac.  I had also brain fog, extreme fatigue, and bloating.  In the end I had more than 30 years of celiac symptoms, and alas we found out about it.  I had tests for my nutrient levels, which were low in spite of great diet, and quality supplements.  I went gluten free, grain free, and other intolerance free, took a couple of more supplements, and the mind cleared.  Now there are days when I wake before my alarm and then charge into life.  I am so glad.  It was hard to change; I had a lot to learn, I miss eating the same things with friends and family.  But the benefits are great and the cost in comparison low.

 

I hope you will find a gluten connection to your troubles and that going gluten free may help you immensely.

 

D

Thank you for sharing your experience. I think it may turn out that way. 

[Lyrae]

There's a few of us with multiple issues. Going undiagnosed tends to prompt other AI diseases to rear their ugly heads.

 

I have ITP (thrombocytopenia) and I think Hashimoto's (I've had ignored thyroid issues for a couple of decades and now I'm on a full replacement dose of meds but my antibodies are normal so doctors won't call it Hashis... cranky thyroid? I dunno LOL).  I thought I had a connective tissue disease lilke Lupus, MCTD or something but the longer I am gluten-free, the less I have pain and mobility issues so I think it was just celiac disease. I'm pretty sure I've had celiac disease since infancy.

 Thanks for sharing your story.

[Lyrae]

I am diagnosed with a few AI issues- Hashimoto's, Latent Autoimmune Diabetes, Celiac and some others as well.

 

I'm hoping a gluten-free diet will help. I'm only a month along so other than my GI symptoms, I haven't seen much improvement yet.

 thanks for sharing. 

[Lyrae]

I think it's pretty common for autoimmune diseases to come in multiples. After all, we are talking about an immune system that is malfunctioning to begin with.

I won't be surprised if turns out I have celiac disease, too. It makes sense when I consider my history. 

[Mirina]

does anyone here have experience with multiple autoimmune diseases? I have two and am being tested for celiac. just wanted to know your experiences and hopefully recovery after going gluten free. Thnx. I have Graves' Disease

+ lupus, + livedo reticularis, + Raynaud's . Just read today, here, that all three can disappear after going gluten free   O hope 

[GottaSki]

+ lupus, + livedo reticularis, + Raynaud's . Just read today, here, that all three can disappear after going gluten free O hope

Welcome Marina!

Have you been tested for Celiac Disease?

If not, it is a very good idea to do so BEFORE removing gluten is removed. Once gluten is removed the blood tests are not valid.

But you are correct ..... Living gluten-free can indeed improve many AI disorders

[anti-soprano]

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease around 23 years old.  I have eye symptoms, which rules out radio active iodine (Mmmmm, sounds yummy), and I'm a professional singer, so there's no way I'm going under the knife when the knife cuts so closely to my laryngeal nerve.  I'm 40 now and have been on meds on and off as needed for Graves the entire time.  I was diagnosed with celiac at 39.  I can tell you it's been there at least 10 years.  On the University of Chicago Celiac Disease website (Open Original Shared Link)  it urges doctors to test for celiac disease when patients also have one of the listed issues: 

Children older than 3 and adults who are 1st-degree relatives of someone with celiac disease

Persistent miscarriages or infertility
Type I Diabetes Mellitus
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Asthma
Multiple Sclerosis
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Down Syndrome
Turner Syndrome
William’s Syndrome
Hashimoto’s Syndrome
Graves Disease

 

That to me says that endos treating people for Graves and Hashimotos should routinely do a celiac panel on their patients whether they are complaining or not.  Just throw it in with the routine blood work for the love of God.  That would have saved me some villi and some grief!  

Best of luck to you!

Shellie

[Mirina]

Thank you   I accidentally bumped into this forum and read what ravenwoodglass wrote : that her livedo reticularis disappeared after she stopped eating gluten, so of course I immediately stopped eating gluten and "made ​​a mistake", because I was tested after 4 months being gluten free  I do have genes. I'm 30, livedo appeared when I was 16 and when I was 20 got diagnosed with lupus. So now I'm still on resochin because of lupus and I'm still gluten free, although every now and then I found out that I'm eating something that contains gluten. So far livedo started to fade and disappeared on my right arm ( whatever). I'm from Croatia and it's hard to do anything (labs, test), you have to beg them or pay (my english   ).

[GottaSki]

Thank you   I accidentally bumped into this forum and read what ravenwoodglass wrote : that her livedo reticularis disappeared after she stopped eating gluten, so of course I immediately stopped eating gluten and "made ​​a mistake", because I was tested after 4 months being gluten free  I do have genes. I'm 30, livedo appeared when I was 16 and when I was 20 got diagnosed with lupus. So now I'm still on resochin because of lupus and I'm still gluten free, although every now and then I found out that I'm eating something that contains gluten. So far livedo started to fade and disappeared on my right arm ( whatever). I'm from Croatia and it's hard to do anything (labs, test), you have to beg them or pay (my english   ).

 

Then living gluten-free sounds like a wonderful plan to improve your health!

 

Wishing you much more improvement...do learn about cross contamination and eating out safely as most folks become more sensitive to minute amounts of gluten as their time gluten-free increases.

 

This thread has great info:

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

[Mirina]

Then living gluten-free sounds like a wonderful plan to improve your health!

 

Wishing you much more improvement...do learn about cross contamination and eating out safely as most folks become more sensitive to minute amounts of gluten as their time gluten-free increases.

 

This thread has great info:

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-10

 

This thread is really useful! Thank you!