What Does celiac disease Do To Our Immune Systems?

[covsooze]

I've been GFDF for 6 weeks. the first 2 of those weeks I actually felt better than I'd done in ages. i then caught a virus which is doing the rounds. Most people have had it and it does go on for a while, but I just can't shake it off. The GP diagnosed conjunctivitis, a chest infection and sinusitis following the initial virus. I had antibiotics, and they relieved the pain of the sinusitis. My chest is still bad and the conjunctivitis has come back so I'm on more drops for that. i really don't want to have more anitbiotics as they wreck my stomach.

Could I be taking so long to recover because of the celiac disease? Is there anything I can do to assist my immune system? I'm taking a multi-vitamin that is gluten-free. The antibiotics were gluten-free and I've checked my other meds are OK.

Feeling rather sorry for myself...

[penguin]

My chest is still bad and the conjunctivitis has come back so I'm on more drops for that. i really don't want to have more anitbiotics as they wreck my stomach.

When it rains, it pours, right?

For your chest: Go into the bathroom, close the door, sit down somewhere, and turn the water all the way hot and stay in there until the water goes cold. My mom always made us do this when we had colds and it works. (she was a nurse and we have a lot of ancient family remedies to boot)

For your nose: Saline. I had chronic sinus infections for years until they took out my adenoids and widened the sinuses. Anyway, get a sailne spray bottle from Walgreens (near the afrin) and squirt that into your nose several times a day, keeps things moist and not painful. Also, this is really gross, but: irrigate. Fill a bowl with warm water, add enough salt to make it tear strength, take a bulb syringe, fill it, and squeeze into your nose, let drip. It's nasty, it is really uncomfortable, and it gives you the willies but my ENT made me do it and it helps.

For all of the above (and your head): Nothing works like a hot toddy. Tea, whiskey, honey, and lemon. Tastes like lighter fluid but nothing cures a cold faster. Helps everything else, too.

Chicken soup, yogurt, etc. should all help. Especially with the antibiotics, have some soy yogurt with live cultures.

Feel better!

[tarnalberry]

Along the same lines, for the respiratory infections, aside from the hot shower (which works well), consider doing a sinus rinse after that shower (and at least three times a day while you're sick). A sinus saline spray is good too - particularly for keeping things hydrated, but doesn't serve the same purpse of literally rinsing out the sinus cavities like some of the packaging would have you believe. And, again, to keep things hydrated if you live in a colder climate such that you have the heater on, put a humidifier in your bedroom and run it at night. (Ultrasonics are often the quietest, and don't pose the burn risk.) It'll help keep you from drying out as well.

Start getting some very mild exercise (walk for five minutes around the house if that's all you can do, but don't push it) just to get your circulation going and get some energy. If it helps you, guifennesin (an expectorant) might help.

Since celiac is an immune reaction, having untreated celiac can leave the immune system in a constant state of 'high alert' which leaves it drained and not dealing with additional stressors terribly well. It's probably still a bit in that position, but your body is also spending a lot of energy healing your body. It may just take time to get over it.