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Unexpected Positive Effects Of New gluten-free Eating Habits?


munchkinette

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I'dratherbecycling Rookie

Thanks to all who have added to this - I needed to hear some positive things, especially today. After 2 1/2 months of being gluten free and seeming to have stalled out in my progress, I've been completely overwhelmed by trying to figure out if I have to give up other foods in addition to gluten. It does give me reason to hope it's going to continue to improve. Another reminder to be more patient didn't hurt, either!


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  • Replies 69
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oceangirl Collaborator
Thanks to all who have added to this - I needed to hear some positive things, especially today. After 2 1/2 months of being gluten free and seeming to have stalled out in my progress, I've been completely overwhelmed by trying to figure out if I have to give up other foods in addition to gluten. It does give me reason to hope it's going to continue to improve. Another reminder to be more patient didn't hurt, either!

The "giving up of more foods" really hits home. I am currently gluten, corn, soy and dairy free- almost NO processed ANYTHING (except Erewhon Rice Krispies), and STILL I'm not symptom-free! But I truly am MUCH better. I make everything I eat from scratch and trust NO ONe- not even my MOM! I make my own rice milk, vanilla, grind my own salt, grow my own herbs and make my own candied ginger! I'm paranoid because too many times I've had unexplained "glutenings". Those symptoms are markedly different from the IBS which I've been diagnosed with since I was 13. I hate to do this math, but, that's 35 years of getting it wrong! Yes, I think it does take time and patience. Very good luck to all and better health to all!

lisa

jesscarmel Enthusiast

when does all these positive changes happen?? I've been gluten free for five months (ttg back to normal). i havent really noticed any changes..... :( i keep waiting and hoping. i dont feel bad or anything but nothing fabulous has come out of going gluten free. ill keep waiting and crossing my fingers.....sorry if this sounds negative

Corkdarrr Enthusiast

I'm in a way better mood overall AND my drinking hangovers aren't nearly as bad as they used to be!

Felidae Enthusiast
when does all these positive changes happen?? I've been gluten free for five months (ttg back to normal). i havent really noticed any changes..... :( i keep waiting and hoping. i dont feel bad or anything but nothing fabulous has come out of going gluten free. ill keep waiting and crossing my fingers.....sorry if this sounds negative

Some people have no noticeable changes. For me, many changes were immediate (within a few months) and some changes took up to one year.

hineini Enthusiast

This is so encouraging! Thanks, everyone!

I have only been COMPLETELY gluten free for less than 2 months, minus 2 days where I tried unsuccessfully to do a gluten challenge. (Preivous to this I had simply reduced my gluten intake greatly, but never fully eliminated it)

I am already finding the following:

-SO much less gas (thank the Lord!) - Including less of the super painful stabby gas pains that radiate up into my ribs

-I've lost 10 lbs in 2 months! Before this, it was a miracle for me to lose 2 lbs in a month (and even that would take hard, hard work and calorie counting)

-Less constipation

-No more chronic explosive diarrhea! Well, almost no more... I still have it on occasion, still trying to figure out what the other culprits are besides gluten.

-Less GERD

-No more nasty sour taste in my mouth after meals

-No more bloated feeling after meals

-So much more conscious about what I put in my body, way less likely to eat things with preservatives or other questionable ingredients - I've become a careful shopper and careful eater.

-Saved SO much $$$ by not eating out!

-A great increase in culinary creativity, and more motivation to learn how to cook and bake new foods

-Far fewer sinus headaches, less postnasal drip

-When I get sick from food it's easier to figure out what it was because I know it's not the gluten since I don't eat gluten! This is helping me figure out the nature of my other food allergies more easily.

Kyalesyin Apprentice

The biggest change I've noticed in my partner is a sudden ability to cope a lot better. Little issues are no longer seeming like the end of the world, and her mood swings have calmed down a lot.

We still have bad days where the world really really will end if a deadline isn't met or a lot hairbrush isn't found, but overall moods and such have been a lot more stable.


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jesscarmel Enthusiast

hineni I love your picture- did you get it from a website. it reminds me of my ketubah i just ordered! i love the colors!

Jess

hineini Enthusiast
hineni I love your picture- did you get it from a website. it reminds me of my ketubah i just ordered! i love the colors!

Jess

yes! i got it from a website that i fully intend to order some artwork from when I have the $$

Open Original Shared Link

Are you about to get married? Mazel tov!

jesscarmel Enthusiast
yes! i got it from a website that i fully intend to order some artwork from when I have the $$

Open Original Shared Link

Are you about to get married? Mazel tov!

I looked at the website- gourgeous stuff. yes i got engaged in january then got really sick with pancreatitis due to undiagnosed celiac- been a crazy year. we are getting married in december!

Papa-Hen Rookie

Still chronic fatigue/depression (please tell me it will go away), but...

- Inflammation blood work #'s are way down;

- I lost at least 50 lb;

- Allergies almost non-existent (no Claritin for 2 months or better);

(A little dh came back since, however. Perhaps the Claritin kept it at bay.)

Best regards,

- Henry

  • 4 weeks later...
LoriCF Newbie

My son has more energy, eats less, and behaves better. :)

little flower Newbie

Hello everybody,

The best thing for me, that I appreciate every day, is going to the toilet in the morning! It's bliss having a digestive system that works. I'm also much happier and more positive, full of energy etc and willing to tackle lots of new things. Life is great. Gluten and milk free for a year and a half now.

Nancym Enthusiast

My benefit is that I don't clog up the toilet whenever I go #2. I was about ready to replace all my toilets because I had to unplug them constantly.

  • 7 months later...
ArtGirl Enthusiast

It's been several months since this thread was current, so I thought I'd bump it up for those of you who are new to the forum since last September.

Earlier in this thread I said I was waiting for the good results. I can now report several positive things that have happened now that I'm closing in on being gluten-free for one year.

I no longer have any heartburn or gastritis issues.

Diarrhea is mostly a thing of the past and I can confidently leave the house.

Fibromyalgia is gone.

My dry eyes have moistened up.

I find myself happy once again.

I'm more mellow.

I like people again.

I sleep much better (still have wakeful nights now and then, but this is much less of a problem)

As someone mentinoed in a previous post, I no longer have a runny nose after eating a meal.

Going casein free has cleared up my itchy skin.

Going corn-free has helped, also, with the GI issues.

I am waiting for those dark circles under my eyes to go away, although I've been told they are not so dark now (seem the same to me!)

I am happy to be able to add to the list now.

chatycady Explorer

I've been gluten free for about 2.5 months. Here is what has changed for me

1.) I remember peoples names.

2.) I am no longer anti social

3.) I have my self confidence back!!!!!

4.) I am riding my horses again, I was so fearful when eating gluten. I worried of falling off, getting hurt, etc. etc. etc.

5.) I have energy!

6.) Sleep like a baby

7.) No more back, stomach pains

8.) My muscles are toned and getting stronger

9.) My skin is pink and smooth, no longer pale and dry.

10.) I have LIPS! Before they where pale and just faded into the rest of my face. (Wierd, I know!)

11.) Libido is back!

PeggyV Apprentice

I find I am drinking less wine. I don't feel I have to have a glass after a stressfull day at work. Dont get me wrong, I was never an alcholic, but I would have a couple of glasses everyday after work.

I also eat more fruits and vegtables and I have a lot of new hair growth.

mftnchn Explorer

Thanks for the encouragement! I am looking forward to adding to this list in the future!

gluten-free 11 days....

  • 2 weeks later...
andreagrant Apprentice

Cured my asthma! I've had it since I was 12 (1984) and its been getting steadily worse--I had to go on steroids about 10 years ago which I hated. Every few years I would stop taking them to see if I really needed them and I would have wheezing within 48 hours. I've been gluten free for 10 weeks and about 3 weeks into it I stopped my steroids and .... no asthma!!! I got glutened (and heinously ill from it) last week and sure enough I had a bit of the old tightness in the chest.

My faux-pregnancy stomach is also gone

I have more energy

My mood is more stable

I can't wait to see what else goes away!!

hathor Contributor

I'm glad this was bumped up. I only came into the gluten free world this year, so I hadn't read the original posts until now.

My changes (so far):

Better quality & frequency of poo (yes, let's get the important thing out there first :lol: )

Dramatic drop off of headaches (had them all the time before)

No inexplicable sneezing fits/ major runny nose & eyes (turns out it was gluten or wheat)

No sudden bloating where my pants don't fit & I look pregnant

Nails are stronger & better looking

Dark undereye circles lightening up

Improved skin (but this might be from eliminating soy -- that's when I saw some improvement)

Better mood (except when I think about some foods I miss :( )

I don't know if this is the result of better absorption or a stronger exercise program -- or both -- but I have actually been able to put on some muscle & fairly quickly. I know it is muscle because my measurements are the same (except for biceps) and the calipers are pinching less fat, but the scales say I weigh more. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life.

Things aren't perfect by any means but I feel they are getting better every day, except when I've accidentally glutened or soyed myself.

I have been hoping my night sweats will go away, but this may be just hormonal (or something else I need to stop eating, although I'm not sure about what :blink: ). I have them, they go away, they come back, they go away, they come back. Menopause is so much fun. I suppose they would be even worse, though, if I were still eating the stuff my body can't tolerate.

Edit: oops, now that I've posted, I see again that this is supposed to be unexpected effects of going gluten free. I suppose the poo thing was expected, in a way. Although after a lifetime of nothing working I hadn't really expected gluten free to work, I guess ;)

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    • Scott Adams
      The reaction one gets when they get glutened varies a lot from person to person.  This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
    • Theresa2407
      A gluten ingestion can last for many months.  Many years ago there was a celiac conference in Fl.  Everyone there got contaminated with some having difficulty 6 months to recover.  It will hit your Lympatic system and spread  through the body and effect your nevous system as well. Most times when I get glutened it is from a prescription med that wasn't checked close enough.  the Pharmacuticals change vendors all the time.
    • Hmart
      Thank you so much for the responses. Every piece of information helps.  I only knowingly ate gluten once, that was four days ago. I had the reaction about 3-4 hours after consuming it. I’m concerned that after 4 days the symptoms aren’t abating and almost seem worse today than yesterday.  I haven’t had either breath test. I did ask about additional testing but the PA recommended me to a celiac specialist. Unfortunately the first available is mid-December.  As far as diet, I am a pescatarian (have been for 25+ years) and I stopped eating dairy mid-last week as my stomach discomfort continued. Right now, I’m having trouble eating anything. Have mostly been focused on bananas, grapes, nut butters, DF yogurt, eggs, veggie broth.   I ordered some gluten-free meal replacements to help.  But I’ll get all the items (thank goodness for Instacart) and try the diet you recommended to get me past this period of feeling completely awful.  Yes, my doctor diagnosed celiac. I was concerned it wasn’t right based on the negative blood test and my continued symptoms.  Even if you are ‘glutened’ it shouldn’t last forever, right? Is four days too long?   
    • Theresa2407
      Usually when I digest gluten or wheat I have a 4 hour window before reacting.  If it is immediate it may be an intollerence to another food.  Dairy, Frutose, and bacteria (SIBO) will react with many of the celiac disease symtoms.Has your Doctor ran a  Fructose test which is measuring your Fruit Sugar?  A Hydrogen Beath Test which checks your intestinal bacteria and Dairy?After my biopsy and blood work, these (3) tests were also ran, along with allergy tests, which allery test was sent out of State.  It was a mouth swab. How fast you heal depends on the diet you are following… The following are my personal recommendations to healing. I talk to many newly diagnosed people who start the gluten-free diet with pasta, breads, snacks, and pizza. After a month or so, they do not know why they don’t feel any better and still are sick with their original symptoms: They worry the diet is not working for them. For some there may be other factors involved, but most just aren’t letting their body heal properly. I blame the internet, and misinformation it contains. People want a quick fix, not realizing this is a life long disease. They need a good support group, with people who have been through this and knows what works!  This is what I have found will work for you.                                                                                            First 6 weeks should be:                                                                                                                                 lean meat (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, salmon, sardines, buffalo, deer)                                                   fresh vegetables (steamed or roasted with a little Olive Oil) with 2 cups per day being raw (5 servings; a serving is 1/2 cup)                                                                                                                                      fresh fruit (3 servings; include strawberries, blackberries and blueberries daily)  Makes good shakes with Almond milk.                                                                                                                                        A hand full of almonds daily (pecans and walnuts can be substituted)                                                        brown rice, lentils, Citrucel daily (or the equivalent) Good source of fiber. I use Calm because my body doesn’t absorb Magnesium and I only need to take once in evening.                                                    No dairy of any kind (milk, cheese, yogurt, No breads, No past,  No oats, No pizza, No gluten-free beer, No snacks like cake, biscuits, pies, donuts.                                                                                                Many dietitians will tell you to follow a gluten free diet but you have to heal first. Don’t misunderstand me, dietitians are our friends and help us.                                                                                              10% of people with gluten-free will be intolerant to dairy                                                                                  10% can not tolerate oats                                                                                                                     After the six weeks, you can start to add these foods back into your diet. 1 new food every 4 days; this way you know if you react to this food.                                                                                                  Oats shouldn’t be tried for 1 year after being diagnosed; then start with 1/3 of a cup. Only gluten-free Oats are acceptable.                                                                                                                                              You should have results within 3 days of following a correct healing diet. Bloating should be leaving, migraines should be gone. Might take bowels a little longer to respond. If you start with 5 times a day on the Citrucel and cut back as your bowels return to normal; then use 1 Tbsp. daily. This works if you have constipation or diarrhea.                                                                                                        Meanwhile make sure you have had a Dexa test (bone density) and a blood test to check your vitamin and mineral levels: Zinc, D,K,B,C and iron levels.                                                                                  Don't take supplements while healing as your body is not accepting them and they will flush through your body.                                                                                                                                              Have you had a breath test for Dairy, Fructose, and bacteria overgrowth? Should have done when first diagnosed.                                                                                                                                        How fast you heal depends on the diet you are following… The following are my personal recommendations to healing. I talk to many newly diagnosed people who start the gluten-free diet with pasta, breads, snacks, and pizza. After a month or so, they do not know why they don’t feel any better and still are sick with their original symptoms: They worry the diet is not working for them. For some there may be other factors involved, but most just aren’t letting their body heal properly. I blame the internet, and misinformation it contains. People want a quick fix, not realizing this is a life long disease. They need a good support group, with people who have been through this and knows what works! This is what I have found will work for you. First 6 weeks should be: lean meat (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, salmon, sardines, buffalo, deer) fresh vegetables (steamed or roasted with a little Olive Oil) with 2 cups per day being raw (5 servings; a serving is 1/2 cup) fresh fruit (3 servings; include strawberries, blackberries and blueberries daily) a hand full of almonds daily (pecans and walnuts can be substituted) brown rice lentils Citrucel daily (or the equivalent) Good source of fiber. No dairy of any kind (milk, cheese, yogurt) No breads No pasta No oats No pizza No gluten-free beer No snacks like cake, biscuits, pies, donuts. Many dietitians will tell you to follow a gluten free diet but you have to heal first. Don’t misunderstand me, dietitians are our friends and help us. 10% of people with gluten-free will be intolerant to dairy 10% can not tolerate oats After the six weeks, you can start to add these foods back into your diet. 1 new food every 4 days; this way you know if you react to this food. Oats shouldn’t be tried for 1 year after being diagnosed; then start with 1/3 of a cup. Only gluten-free Oats are acceptable. You should have results within 3 days of following a correct healing diet. Bloating should be leaving, migraines should be gone. Might take bowels a little longer to respond. If you start with 5 times a day on the Citrucel and cut back as your bowels return to normal; then use 1 Tbsp. daily. This works if you have constipation or diarrhea. Meanwhile make sure you have had a Dexa test (bone density) and a blood test to check your vitamin and mineral levels: Zinc, D,K,B,C and iron levels. Don't take supplements while healing as your body is not accepting them and they will flush through your body. Have you had a breath test for Dairy, Fructose, and bacteria overgrowth? Should have done when first diagnosed. Remember to have a tTg IgA blood test repeated at 6 months then every year after, with another scope done in 3 years. Only way to know if you are healed. I don’t have all the answers; we are learning everyday new ways of doing things, but this is a start! Remember to have a tTg IgA EMA blood test repeated at 6 months then every year after 
    • Wheatwacked
      Marsh 3b is the Gold Standard of diagnosis for Celiac Disease.  Until recently, regardless of antibody tests, positive or negative, you had to have Marsh 3 damage to be awarded the diagnosis of Celiac. As I understand you,  you were having constant symptoms..  Your symptoms improved on GFD, with occassional flare ups. Did your doctor say you do and you are questioning the diagnosis? Regarding your increasing severity when you get glutened it is "normal".  Gluten acts on the Opiod receptors to numb your body.  Some report withdrawal symptoms on GFD.  I was an alcoholic for 30 years, about 1/2 pint of voda a day. Each time I identified a trigger and dealt with it, a new trigger would pop up.  Even a 30 day rehab stint, with a low fat diet (severe pancreatis) during which I rarely had cravings.  Stopped at a Wendys on the way home and the next day I was drinking again.  20 years later, sick as a dog, bedridden on Thanksgiving, after months of reasearch, I realized that gluten free was my Hail Mary.  Back in 1976 my son was diagnosed at weaning by biopsy with Celiac Disease and his doctor suggested my wife and I should also be gluten free because it is genetic.  At 25 years old I felt no gastro problems and promised if I ever did I would try gluten free.  Well, I forgot that promise until I was 63 and my wife 10 years dead.  Three days of gluten and alcohol free, I could no longer tolerate alcohol. Eleven years gluten and alcohol free, with no regrets. Improvement was quick, but always two steps forward and one back.  Over time I found nineteen symptoms that I had been living with for my entire life, that doctors had said, "We don't know why, but that is normal for some people". Celiac Disease causes multiple vitamin and mineral deficiency.  It is an autoimmune disease, meaning your immune system B and T cells create antibodies against ttg(2) in the small intestine in Celiac Disease, and sometimes ttg(3) in skin in Dermatitis Herpetiformus.  'Why' is poorly understood.  In fact, it wasn't even known that wheat, barley and rye gluten was the cause.  Celiac Disease was also called Infantilism, because it was deadly, and believed to only be a childhood disease. So, as part of your recovery you must deal with those deficiencies.  Especially vitamin D because it contols your immune system.  Virtually all newly diagnosed Celiacs have vitamin D deficiency.  There are about 30 vitamin and minerals that are absorbed in the small intestine.  With Marsh 3 damage you may be eating the amount everyone else does, but you are not absorbing them into your system, so you will display symptoms of their deficiency.   As time passes and you replenish your deficiencies you may notice other symptoms improve, some you did not even know were symptoms. Our western diet has many deficiencies built into it.   That is the reason foods with gluten are fortified.  Gluten free processed food are not required to fortify.  Vitamin D, Iodine, choline.  The B vitamins, especially Thiamine (B1) run deficient quickly.  We only store enough thiamine for 2 weeks so the symptoms of Gastrointestinal BeriBeri can come and go quickly.  Magnesium, zinc, etc. each having its own symptoms affecting multiple systems.  High homocystene, an indicator of vascular inflamation can be cause by deficient Choline, folate, B6 and or B12.  Brain fog symptoms by deficient choline, iodine, thiamine B1. Dietary intake of choline and phosphatidylcholine and risk of type 2 diabetes in men: The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study  
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