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Seeing Small Improvements!

dlp252

By dlp252
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

I've been noticing a few improvements since going gluten-free and I thought it might be helpful to list them...it's easy for me to get caught up in looking for the major improvements and miss the smaller ones. So while I'm waiting for some of the major issues to resolve, I wanted to note the other changes. Now some of these may have nothing to do with gluten-free or casein-free, but I've noticed them since going gluten/casein free. (As a reference I went gluten-free in November (although didn't obsess about cross-contamination), then added casein-free and became more cautious of cross-contamination around the middle of December after I got my Enterolab results.)

Sense smell: I haven't had sense of smell in years, I mean years--something has to be incredibly strong for me to smell it. Since going gluten and/or casein-free I've been catching whifs of stuff here and there--like my shampoo, soap, lotion which aren't really scented, lol. It's been kind of fun.

Nasal congestion/constriction: My nasal passages were always slightly swollen...they've been clearer than they have in years in the past few weeks--not completely clear yet, but definitely better.

Knee pain: a few months ago I developed a pain in both knees, with the right being the worst. It was bad enough to stop me from taking another step a couple of times and for my GP doctor to refer me to a surgeon who didn't think surgery would help. The pain is virtually gone--I've only felt it once in the last 4 weeks, and that was only slightly.

Dizziness/lightheadedness: I've suffered from dizziness and lightheadedness for at least a couple of years now--even while sitting, eyes open and not moving, I could sometimes feel it, and it would get much worse when I'd get one of my chronic sinus infections. I haven't felt it at all in the last 4 weeks.

Sleep: I've had insomnia for years, and have always been a light sleeper--getting up at least once per night to go to the bathroom. In the last two or three weeks, I've actually slept straight through--nearly 8 hours without waking or getting up--at least three or four times!

I was so happy, I just wanted to share! Thanks for letting me ramble on! :D

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i canary Rookie
i canary
Posted

Hi Donna,

Thanks for sharing! We all need to hear good news like yours, it is encouraging. And it reminds me to quit harping on what I still can't do and look at the many many small improvements in my life. :)

Regina

Becky6 Enthusiast
Becky6
Posted

That's great!! I went gluten-free a month ago and too have noticed some improvement! Isn't it exciting???

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I am so excited for all of you "newbies" that are seeing results from your efforts! I'm coming up on almost 3 years into this and I am still amazed with things that I always just assumed I would have to live with that have just vanished! Chronic sinusitus being one of them! Oh on the sense of smell returning, I think mine is now in OVERDRIVE! And cheap perfumes REALLY irritate me! It makes me aware of just how much CRAP is out there in our consumer driven society! I'm thinking they make these horrible cheap perfumes so strong because most people CAN'T smell the subtle fragrances! I absolutely LOVE essential oils now.

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted
  • Author

One more thing I noticed today:

Itching - I am having much less itching on my legs and bottom of my foot!

Nini - it's funny because I'd be out in public with a friend, and my eyes would start burning and my nose would feel funny...and then my friend would turn around and say "someone is wearing perfume"...I couldn't smell it, but I'd react nonetheless.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

oh the itching! I used to get really really bad itching on my upper arms and the tops of my feet... I'm so glad that is gone!

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

How the heck long does it take for the itching to go? My back, sides, upper arms, upper legs still itch--although I notice it much more if I'm sitting still or lying down.

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Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I don't remember how long it took, I just know that one day I realized that I wasn't itching anymore...

GC1 Rookie
GC1
Posted

Love this thread... Good to see more people finding relief from wheat. I've been gluten-free only 5 months, so some of these issues are still with me, or many have just become non-problematic. The itching (especially scalp), burning eyes/nose, smell, even my hearing was to a point that I called myself an "old fart". I [really] don't miss the knee problem at all... having the joint slide out, and having to stop, put my foot up on something, and bend my leg until the knee popped back into place. Haven't have that thanks to gluten-free, even using a 'stair-stepper' as exercise... granted, the knees got/still get sore if I overdo, but nothing like before. Looking forward to doing squats and lunges, but that's "down the road".

Good luck, and glad you're feeling better.

GC

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted
  • Author

I am so thrilled to see people experiencing some improvements, even if not major.

I found another one yesterday...color in my cheeks! I haven't had color to my face in ages and yesterday (granted I had just cleaned the stove a bit before that, but still NOTHING has given me rosy cheeks--not even working out, lol) I noticed a little color in my cheeks!

teebs in WV Apprentice
teebs in WV
Posted

This is a really encouraging thread to read! My biggest issue has been itching - more so than GI issues. I was diagnosed with dh before celiac disease. My itching initially got better, but the past week has been horrific. I have tried so hard to be careful about cross-contamination. I just read this morning that iodine, including iodized salt, can irritate people with dh. I am a salt addict - maybe that is my problem?

The color in my face - that was something my co-workers commented to me about. And they also commented that my face had looked swollen over the past year, and now it doesn't anymore.

I really appreciate hearing everyone's experiences - it makes what I am going through a little easier. Thanks!

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted
I am so thrilled to see people experiencing some improvements, even if not major.

I found another one yesterday...color in my cheeks! I haven't had color to my face in ages and yesterday (granted I had just cleaned the stove a bit before that, but still NOTHING has given me rosy cheeks--not even working out, lol) I noticed a little color in my cheeks!

Now that you mention it, I've been getting a lot of compliments on my skin "glowing" - people even asking me if I'm in love (ha!). While my skin has usually been clear and blemish free - I couldn't understand why I was getting all the "glowing" compliments. Not that I was complaining mind you :D

Rusla Enthusiast
Rusla
Posted

When I was gluten-free for two weeks people at work started telling me I looked better. I have now been gluten-free slightly over a month and I, the person who got up minimum of 6 times a night since being a child now only gets up a couple of times or not at all. Also my butt and other places used to itch like mad, especially in the middle of the night and it doesn't happen anymore unless I have been glutened. Another noticable thing is my head which itched and broke out in sores does not do that any more. I have a lot less instances of the big "d" now also.

Lovinglife Rookie
Lovinglife
Posted

I'm glad, so glad, to hear about people's improvements. THANK GOD!

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted
  • Author
I'm glad, so glad, to hear about people's improvements. THANK GOD!

Yes, I agree!!! I thought of another one while posting to the poll thread about personality...I am finding that I am in a lighter mood much more often than I was a few weeks ago. Now, that's something my friends can get behind, lol. :P

sillyyak Enthusiast
sillyyak
Posted

I am actually seeing some improvements also. Generally speaking, I feel as if my head was lifted off of my glutened body and placed onto a non-gluten one. I no longer feel dizzy and lightheaded. I do have a slight hunchback and some back and bone pain but I feel "lighter" bodywise. It is amzing to me what a change of diet can do.

Todaywas hard though -a group of people were eating bread. Hard but then I reminded myself that I could eat bread too BUT I would have to pay the price of major diarrhea and a return of all my symptoms. I decided it was too hard a price to pay and reminded myself I could still eat chocolate and also that I was eating healthier now.

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