Gluten challenge after short period of gluten-free

[Barbara S]

In an effort to control my hashimoto's, my doc recommended I try a gluten-free diet. It's made a drastic change in my stomach, no more gurgling constantly and just more settled. 

 

I've only been avoiding gluten for less than 2 weeks and I want to be serum tested for celiac but I keep seeing that you have to eat gluten for 8 weeks if you're currently gluten-free. 

I'm wondering if I would need to resume for that long since I've only been practicing this diet for such a short time. I don't want to put myself through any more than absolutely necessary, but as self pay I also need to be certain that I'm not wasting my money testing too soon. 

Thanks in advance for your guidance in this matter. 

[cyclinglady]

Two weeks off gluten could make a difference in a few people per Dr. Fasano, but I think if you started consuming gluten today, you would be okay in a week or so.    It really is hard to be gluten free.  The learning curve for the diet is pretty steep.  While you might have experienced reduced symptoms, chances are you would still have antibodies in your system.  

Make sure you are consuming enough gluten 1 to  2 slices of bread (or equivalent) per day.  Or be like me and load up!  Between my blood test and biopsy, I ate a loaf of sourdough bread a day.  I kid you not!  

I was  diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 1997 and celiac disease in 2013.  Once I went gluten free, my thyroid nodule and enlargement literally disappeared.  The damage was done though.  I have to take thyroid replacement for the rest of my life.  Was it the diet?  Nah, I think it was treating my celiac disease with a gluten free diet.  Calmed my celiac disease and my Hashimoto’s stabilized.  All autoimmune is linked in my opinion. 

After my last gluten exposure, I got pretty sick.  I kept thinking that gluten was sneaking into my diet.  I had a repeat endoscopy which revealed a healed small intestine.  But I was diagnosed with Chronic Autoimmune Gastritis.   Being gluten free does not stop my Gastritis from flaring.  It helps.  I am trying to figure out the triggers or how to calm down my immune system.  So, I work on reducing stress, avoiding illness (like the flu), eating real food, sleeping, and exercising.  This strategy has helped.