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

Husband's celiac getting worse!!


mom0511x2

Recommended Posts

mom0511x2 Newbie

My husband (59) was diagnosed with moderate to severe celiac about 2 years ago after years of stomach issues, diagnosed both by blood as well as biopsy.  He is completely adherent with his diet, although there have been a few minor exposures while we were learning!  But now, after these past few years he has started to feel worse, his panel for celiac is again, high, high, high, in addition to now having a high HGB A1c and TSH.   I am at a total loss as to how to help him beyond the diet he has been on for two years. We are waiting to get an appt with a nutritionist since his dietary issues are becoming very complicated!   If anyone has any suggestions I would be very appreciative!!!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kareng Grand Master

There is a thing called refractory Celiac.  But it seems to be very rare.  Before they diagnose with that, they do an extremely strict gluten-free diet.  Often that takes care of the issue and the person will heal enough to go back to a "normal gluten-free diet".  Have they re-biopsied to see if he actually has damage?

Here is a good explanation:

Open Original Shared Link

ravenwoodglass Mentor

Sorry you folks are going through this. Do read the Newbie 101 thread at the top of the Coping section to make sure you are not missing anything that needs to be done to keep him safe. Unfortunately being gluten free involves much more than just picking gluten free foodss. We have to be careful of how food is prepared, have our loved ones brush their teeth before kissing if they eat gluten, check all meds and supplements to be sure they are gluten free and make sure we have our own toasters as just a few examples.

I am going to keep my fingers crossed for you both that gluten is simply sneaking in somewhere and that it is not refractory.

Welcome and I hope he is feeing much better soon.

etbtbfs Rookie

You should avoid all highly-processed foods, as well as foods beside gluten that commonly provoke allergy (dairy, soy, possibly shellfish, there are others).   Once you are sure he is gluten-free, then: support his thyroid.  It is essential that he get enough T3+T4 because thyroid hormone is essential for digestion.  Put him on a comprehensive supplement program that includes probiotics.  Give him a good digestion support formula, such as "Complete Digestion".  Check all nutrition levels, esp. items like B12 and ferritin.  Make sure his total blood protein is checked, and if it is low, put him on free essential amino acids.

cyclinglady Grand Master

Here is an interesting study.  It supports what Karen mentioned about hidden gluten:

Open Original Shared Link

Please make sure all supplements, including probiotics are gluten free.  I would choose only gluten-free certified versions until he has improved.  

 

 

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

      Recovery from gluten challenge

    2. - Scott Adams replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Recovery from gluten challenge

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Brain fog

    4. - trents replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      2

      Feel like I’m starting over

    5. - cristiana replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      2

      Feel like I’m starting over


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,281
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    newlife213
    Newest Member
    newlife213
    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

    • Kirita
      Thank you so much for your response! I have a follow-up appointment with her pediatrician next week, and also an appointment with her pediatric GI Dr. Your message gives me some ideas for questions to ask the doctors. My daughter went strictly gluten-free in January following her first endoscopy so I’m guessing her diet is pretty solid. She is compliant but also reliant on others to make her food (at school and home) but she didn’t have this problem prior to the gluten challenge when she went strictly gluten-free. It really makes sense to me that the gluten challenge inflammation hasn’t healed and I will be asking her doctors about nutritional issues. I ask for anecdotal stories because the research surrounding the gluten challenge seems to be inconsistent and inconclusive (at least what I’ve been able to find!). Thank you so much for your response!
    • Scott Adams
      While the positive endoscopy confirms the diagnosis, it's important to be skeptical of the idea that your daughter will simply "bounce back" to a pre-challenge state. The gluten challenge was essentially a controlled, prolonged exposure that likely caused significant inflammation and damage to her system; it's not surprising that recovery is slow and that a subsequent exposure hit her so hard. The persistent fatigue is a major red flag that her body is still struggling, potentially indicating that the initial damage hasn't fully healed or that her system is now in a heightened state of reactivity. Rather than seeking anecdotal timelines from others, her experience underscores the critical need for close follow-up with her gastroenterologist to rule out other nutrient deficiencies commonly caused by celiac flare-ups, like iron or B12, and to consult with a dietitian to scrutinize her diet for any hidden sources of cross-contamination that could be perpetuating her symptoms. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.      
    • Scott Adams
      The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Brain fog, like other celiac disease symptoms, does improve after you to 100% gluten-free, and supplementation will also help.      
    • trents
      Were you doing any of the new home construction yourself? Drywall compounds and adhesives used in construction have been known to cause problems for some celiacs.
    • cristiana
      Hello @Scatterbrain and welcome to the forum I am sorry to hear you have had a return of your symptoms.  My first thoughts were that stress can cause IBS-like symptoms - a friend of mine has been suffering a huge amount of stress and when that happens she gets diarrhea.  But you say that you haven't got any bad abdominal issues, so perhaps you could share what other symptoms you are having? Cristiana  
×
×
  • 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.