How Long Until Diet Change Makes You Feel Better...

[JerryK]

After Monday's debacle with the Apple Fritter, I've been trying to lay off of anything that could possibly have Gluten in it. I've eaten Eggs, Potatos, Salads, Chicken Fish etc.

Last night I had a baked potato. Today I feel the best I have all week with no cramping or D at all.

Can it make a difference that quickly or is this a placebo effect?

Now after a few days of feeling better, I will go on a mini Gluten binge and see what happens, as I'm not totally bought in to having this. I want to experiment a little to see how much it is effecting me.

[eleep]

My experience was that I started feeling better almost immediately, which wasn't a placebo effect, but that I still kind of fell back into malaise and other symptoms shortly thereafter as my body adjusted -- that was what compelled me to finally get ruthless about checking my vitamins, shampoos, etc..... -- Now, I continually feel better and better unless I get glutened or eat dairy without taking digestive enzymes.

[tarnalberry]

It varies from individual to individual. For me, it was a week or two. For others, it may take longer.

Do know, however, that by going back and forth on taking gluten out of your diet, you risk getting false negatives if you go pursue blood testing.

[KaitiUSA]

Some people feel better in days and for some it takes much longer. For me it took about 8 months to really see a difference.

You should not be going back and forth on the diet because that will not only interfere with testing but also will damage your body. They say people who cheat even just once a month have the same damage to their system as someone who does not follow the diet at all.

[JerryK]

Some people feel better in days and for some it takes much longer. For me it took about 8 months to really see a difference.

You should not be going back and forth on the diet because that will not only interfere with testing but also will damage your body. They say people who cheat even just once a month have the same damage to their system as someone who does not follow the diet at all.

Thanks, I realize that I need to be eating Gluten so that testing will be positive. I also understand that going back and forth on the diet is not the goal. I just want to understand if Gluten really effects me negatively before I proceed with testing and going on the diet. I just want to be a little more convinced that this could be my problem, before I go get tested. Now, if I feel better for a few days...start eating Gluten again and cramping/big D come back, I will head out to the doc and ask to be tested.

Thanks so much for your responses.

[jerseyangel]

I know what you're saying, Jerry, but it's a double edged sword--the longer and more often you are gluten-free, the bigger your chances get that you will skew any test results. If you need/want to be tested, I would suggest doing that after 3 weeks of eating at least 3 slices of bread per day, and stop the gluten-free challenge now. I've been following your posts, and it looks like you have a valid reason to suspect Celiac. The testing is not perfect, at best, and to get the best/most accurate result possible you need to be on gluten full time. To answer the original question, it does vary from person to person. It's not unusual to feel better after just a few days. I did, but as my system adjusted, I had a lot of ups and downs.

[Nancym]

I'm curious, if your dietary results show that gluten is messing you up, why you'd feel the need for further testing? I think dietary testing for those of us with GI symptoms is better than anything the doctor can offer you.

My main symptom cleared up within a couple of days (bad abdominal cramping and diarrhea).