How Do I Know If Gluten-free In Working?

[celiac-in-WV]

My husband was diagnosed a little over a week ago with celiac. He didn't have any prior symptoms before except anemia. His question is "how do I know if I am being totally gluten free if it never bothered me physically when I had it in the first place?" He could still be getting gluten unknowingly and it not be bothering him.

[Nantzie]

You know, that's a tough one. I've always thought that it must be hardest for people who don't have symptoms. I think with the information you get on this message board, you end up being very well informed. If you haven't already, you will learn about things like cross contamination, getting a new toaster, cutting boards and wooden spoons, and checking your personal care products. So other than that, you do the best you can and double check things that you're not sure of.

Nancy

[par18]

My husband was diagnosed a little over a week ago with celiac. He didn't have any prior symptoms before except anemia. His question is "how do I know if I am being totally gluten free if it never bothered me physically when I had it in the first place?" He could still be getting gluten unknowingly and it not be bothering him.

Getting your blood tested like every 6 months or once a year is the only follow-up I was told to do if I felt fine on the gluten-free diet. I got this from Dr. Alessio Fasano from the Celiac Research Center in Baltimore. Dr. Fasano gave a talk I attended back in July 06. Basically the blood test is looking for elevated anti-body levels which would be present if one is still ingesting gluten. If your symptom is only anemia then I would think the anemia would improve after being gluten free. Was the diagnosis made only with the anemia symptom?

Tom

[Guest nini]

there are those with Anemia as their only obvious symptom that once they were gluten-free for a while start to notice other things improving that they always thought were "normal"... he may be surprised at what he discovers, and he may discover that the longer he is gluten-free that he actually does start to have reactions of symptoms from accidental glutenings... barring that, I guess just be as vigilant as possible about cross contamination and ingredient reading, and get periodic blood tests to see if the levels go down.