Some questions

[penguin11]

Hello, 

I have some scientific question I hope you can answer.

1. What happens in the stomach for the pain to subside after one goes gluten-free?

2. Why do stools go from 90% loose to 90% compact after going gluten-free?

3. Does anyone have an uplifting story about what happened after the brain fog went away? Better grades etc.?  

4. People comment that I look bigger since I went gluten-free 6 months ago, but my weight is the same. Can anyone explain this?  

[Scott Adams]

I will take a stab at some of your questions, but keep in mind that the responses can vary greatly for each person:

1) The main pain I had wasn't in my stomach, but was in my lower-right side. I had serious visible lesions when I had my biopsy, so as that began to heal the pain gradually went away. Some people who had stomach issues reported that they felt better because they had less acid reflux and other stomach issues after going gluten-free.

2) I think this varies a lot from person to person, but once you stop eating gluten you are essentially putting the breaks on the trigger of a very complex autoimmune response to the gluten. Many celiacs get diarrhea, which was my main symptom, but many don't. For those who do have this symptom it's part of your body's response in dealing with trying to get rid of gluten as fast as possible, and once you remove it then your digestive process can slow down and return to normal.

3) I felt so much better in the months following my gluten-free diet that I started this site in 1995. At the time there wasn't a single site on the Internet dedicated to it, and as my brain fog, diarrhea and other symptoms left me I had a strong desire to help others who weren't diagnosed figure out their issue.

4) Sometimes people equate healthier looking with being heavier...is it possible you just look healthier? 

[penguin11]

Thank you Scott! I have many questions to going gluten free, because so many issues have been resolved since going gluten-free, and the simple solution of going gluten-free just seems to good to be true. I am very exited to see if some cognitive issues will lessen as well, and I have already seen good results. My teachers have said that I had potential, and I wanted to study mathematics in university, but was barely able to knock out one or two days a year when I felt I used all my cognitive capacity. I felt something was off, and in the months prior to going gluten-free I could actually feel that my body was severly deficient in nutrients. It felt like a loosing battle no matter what I did, and the changes after going gluten free has made a deep impact on me. I can easily understand why you wanted to make this community 25 years ago. This community is important, and you have done a very good work.