Gluten sensitivity reduced over time

[Kmoody]

Question.... my 17 year old son was diagnosed with celiac at 11 years old. He was extremely sensitive to gluten with terrible diarrhea, gut pain for about an hour or so if he had any cross contamination from a restaurant.  Now, he is not sensitive at all when eating gluten-free options at a restaurant knowing there may be some cross contamination.  I am just wondering why the gluten sensitivity has changed ? Is this something that happens the longer you are off gluten?

[cyclinglady]

Celiac disease is like a chameleon.  Symptoms can change.  This is why it is usually so hard to get a diagnosis.  Chances are his gut has healed so that a small amount of cross contamination might not be enough to trigger the autoimmune response.  On the other hand, he may have developed into a silent celiac where you do not have symptoms, yet you have small intestinal damage.  

If he does have celiac disease, he will never grow it.  ?. However, it sounds like he is flourishing!  Ride the crest of this wave, mom! ??‍♀️ Give yourself a round of applause ??for keeping him gluten free and safe all these years.  Encourage him to continue to remain gluten free even though he has not experienced a flare-up in a long while.  

[Kmoody]

15 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

Celiac disease is like a chameleon.  Symptoms can change.  This is why it is usually so hard to get a diagnosis.  Chances are his gut has healed so that a small amount of cross contamination might not be enough to trigger the autoimmune response.  On the other hand, he may have developed into a silent celiac where you do not have symptoms, yet you have small intestinal damage.  

If he does have celiac disease, he will never grow it.  ?. However, it sounds like he is flourishing!  Ride the crest of this wave, mom! ??‍♀️ Give yourself a round of applause ??for keeping him gluten free and safe all these years.  Encourage him to continue to remain gluten free even though he has not experienced a flare-up in a long while.  

Thank you for your input and encouragement !