Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

After Going gluten-free, What Kinds Of Improvements Did You Notice ?


Mamato2boys

Recommended Posts

Mamato2boys Contributor

The list of improvements that DH and I have been noticing seems to be growing longer and longer ! :D I'm just curious to find out what kind of things you've noticed since going gluten-free. Here's mine:

~ no more bloating - even my hands & feet are slimmer !

~ no more gas (well, very rarely anyway)

~ brain fog has lifted

~ energy has increased, despite getting up several times a night to breastfeed

~ weight loss without trying (and I need to lose weight)

~ hypoglycemia has just about disappeared

~ I don't feel an insatiable drive to eat, even if I've just eaten

~ acne is clearing up

~ I don't feel SICK after eating

here's the one we just most recently noticed, and it's surprised us both: SEX is better !! :blink: I'm sure it's all part of having a little more energy and being less bloated, but I've noticed that I even think about sex more often...I thought having kids more or less destroyed my sex drive - but it hasn't ! ^_^

here's DH's

~ foot pain has disappeared :blink:

~ less gas/bloating

~ weight loss

~ more energy

~ reflux has disappeared - this was the most significant one for him - he was on Zantac 180 every day, would sometimes take a third Zantac AND some Tums, and would STILL have severe reflux

~ chronic diarrhea has improved (this would probably go away totally if he would give up dairy, but he's stubborn, lol)

~ his face was always real red, and the color has returned to normal

~ he doesn't feel sick after eating


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



tarnalberry Community Regular

hmm... it's hard to remember that from three years ago when my symptoms weren't that definite:

less intestinal cramping and sharp pains

less intestinal noises (bourbourygmi)

less gas

less dizziness/disorientation

less fatigue

less crankiness

tl2277 Newbie

It's funny, I started this diet desperate to find something to end this seemingly never ending migraine. I knew I was fairly bad off in some ways (at meetings I would be the youngest in the room, yet the first to be uncomfortable and the only one who seemed to feel that having to sit without stretching for two hours was a form of turture), but I had no idea HOW bad off I really was, how GOOD I could feel, and especially how much would change just from changing what I ate.

  • No more migraines!!!! (Had started having them daily, lasted 6 weeks before I stopped eating gluten)
  • No more sinus infections!!!! (Had been having about 6 courses of antibiotics a year for 3 years)
  • Joint Pain has largely gone away (Had been having trouble sleeping through the night due to hip and shoulder pain)
  • More energy
  • No bloating
  • Less abdominal pain
  • No more constant nausea
  • Not nearly as subject to motion sickness (Had gotten to where I could make myself motion sick driving to work)
  • Cramping during periods minimal (Had been told likely endometriosis, had to be on birth control or periods were unbearable, still had to use a lot of painkiller just to be able to function. Been off birth control since going gluten free and rarely use painkillers.)
  • No more mouth ulcers in cheeks/roof of mouth, far far fewer canker sores (had been constantly teased for the strange faces I made trying to ease pain from these)
  • Much fewer problems with hypoglycemia
  • Much less food cravings
  • No more brain fog
  • Happier
  • Overall sense of well-being immeasurably better

I am still learning the diet, and I experience many of the symptoms above when I have made a mistake. Ironically it is the IBS stuff that I'm surprised to still deal with on a regular basis. It's mild, just the constant flip flop, and rarely severe (mistakes). But I thought this would be one of the first symptoms to go. So I'm hopeful that as I get better at this diet and avoiding cross contamination even more things will get better!

valzues Rookie
The list of improvements that DH and I have been noticing seems to be growing longer and longer ! :D I'm just curious to find out what kind of things you've noticed since going gluten-free. Here's mine:

~ no more bloating - even my hands & feet are slimmer !

~ no more gas (well, very rarely anyway)

~ brain fog has lifted

~ energy has increased, despite getting up several times a night to breastfeed

~ weight loss without trying (and I need to lose weight)

~ hypoglycemia has just about disappeared

~ I don't feel an insatiable drive to eat, even if I've just eaten

~ acne is clearing up

~ I don't feel SICK after eating

here's the one we just most recently noticed, and it's surprised us both: SEX is better !! :blink: I'm sure it's all part of having a little more energy and being less bloated, but I've noticed that I even think about sex more often...I thought having kids more or less destroyed my sex drive - but it hasn't ! ^_^

here's DH's

~ foot pain has disappeared :blink:

~ less gas/bloating

~ weight loss

~ more energy

~ reflux has disappeared - this was the most significant one for him - he was on Zantac 180 every day, would sometimes take a third Zantac AND some Tums, and would STILL have severe reflux

~ chronic diarrhea has improved (this would probably go away totally if he would give up dairy, but he's stubborn, lol)

~ his face was always real red, and the color has returned to normal

~ he doesn't feel sick after eating

HI---

I have noticed no more sick to my tummy all day long

less bloated

diarrhea no more-used to always after I ate Gluten

However, my joint, back and headaches have increased since I have gone gluten-free

I never had headaches. Not sure what to do about that and also I am having major leg cramps.

If you know please advise, thanks Valerie

Felidae Enthusiast

No more diarrhea

No more extreme gas with pain

No more anal fissures

No more migraines

No more hair falling out

No more anxiety/worrying

When it comes to exercise I have a ton of endurance which I didn't used to have. Also, I don't get as red in the face.

There are probably a few more things that I may have forgotten.

SchnauzerMom Rookie

The main thing for me is no more acid stomach. I was beginning to think there was something seriously wrong with my stomach but since I've been off gluten my stomach has been happy. Also,

less gas

not as irritable

not so easily depressed

no cramps

My DH's two main problems were acid reflux and gas both of which have calmed down since being off gluten. He is also lactose intolerant.

marciab Enthusiast

This diet has completely changed my life ... I just hope this lasts ...

No more mobility issues as of Sept 2006... I can WALK normally all of the time ... :D:D

No more myoclonus :D:D

No more insomnia (unless I have caffeine :blink: )

No more GERD, "D", "C", bloating, gas, etc

Color has returned in my lips permanently (I first thought this was a food allergy :P )

Don't get winded easily as of Nov 2006

Don't feel weak anymore as of Nov 2006

ADHD is gone (I thought that I was just antsy or bored or hungry - DUH !! )

No more incredibly itchy rash with little blisters on top

My fatigue has improved 50 %

Still working on hypoglycemia, fatigue, intolerance to cold and cognitive dysfunction

Marcia


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Looking for answers Contributor

Hi,

Here's what has improved for me:

  • No more bloating/constipation/D

  • Less irritability/anxiety
  • No more need to clear my throat every two seconds . . . no more allergies!
  • No more skin crawling sensation
  • Much happier and at peace now
    • No more cravings and feel satiated after eating now

B)

mandyann Newbie

I've been gluten free for about 11 weeks and the only improvement that I have seen so far is with an itchy persistant rash that I have had for several years. I still have periodic migraines (so I guess that's an improvement), and pain and stiffness in my muscles. How long did it take you all to see improvements?

amber-rose Contributor

-Less intestinal cramping and sharp pains

-Less intestinal noises

-Less gas

-More energy

-No more diarrhea.

-My eyes arent blurry anymore

-Less eating (i would eat every hour or two, because I wouldnt feel full.)

-No more twitches

-No more itchiness.

-More sense of balance. (Very clumsy before, not as clumsy now.)

-No more brain fogs.

-Not as paranoid.

But now I have a phobia of stomach flu or food poisoning because of all the "D", stomach cramps, etc, that always happened when I ate gluten. I just have a fear of getting sick, with anything that has some of the same symptoms as my Celiac.

SanteeBay Rookie

I have been gluten free for 1 month now and have noticed great improvement.

No more constipation

Stomach pain, bloating, gas are gone.

Bone and joint pain that I had constantly are gone, except for only a few days here and there.

Appetite has come back (I'm kinda scared about this one, I want to eat all the time and don't want to gain.)

Energy has increased.

Overall, I just feel so much better. I am amazed that gluten could make us feel so sick!

Cynbd Contributor

I have been gluten free for 13 days.

So far...

No D in a week (I don't think I have ever gone that long in over a year)

A lot more energy

I feel sharper

Those three things are huge for me right now.

I do have a big fear right now of getting sick. And I have to say that everytime I eat I feel a slight cramping, and I try not to panick. I will not go to a restaurant or let anyone cook for me until I become more secure.

But for today I am thrilled.

Marlene Contributor

Here's my list:

No more diarrhea (except when my liver dumps excess bile into my intestines since having gall bladder removed -- this is not a gluten thing although it drove me crazy because I thought it was. I do believe that as my intestines heal this will happen less and less)

Hardly ever have gas anymore

No more cramping and gurgling

Eyebrows are growing back in

Nails are growing

Hair is growing back in

Lips are turning pink again

Black circles under eyes are getting better

Better mood (most of the time)

Marlene

blueeyedmanda Community Regular

My hair stopped falling out

I slept better

My eyesight improved

Not as many bathroom issues.

Energy slowly returned.

I felt better...all around

draeko Apprentice
My hair stopped falling out

I slept better

My eyesight improved

Not as many bathroom issues.

Energy slowly returned.

I felt better...all around

What problems did you have with your eyesight? I have problems also with my eyesight, especially with floaters and sensitivity to light..

dennymel Rookie
The list of improvements that DH and I have been noticing seems to be growing longer and longer ! :D I'm just curious to find out what kind of things you've noticed since going gluten-free. Here's mine:

~ no more bloating - even my hands & feet are slimmer !

~ no more gas (well, very rarely anyway)

~ brain fog has lifted

~ energy has increased, despite getting up several times a night to breastfeed

~ weight loss without trying (and I need to lose weight)

~ hypoglycemia has just about disappeared

~ I don't feel an insatiable drive to eat, even if I've just eaten

~ acne is clearing up

~ I don't feel SICK after eating

here's the one we just most recently noticed, and it's surprised us both: SEX is better !! :blink: I'm sure it's all part of having a little more energy and being less bloated, but I've noticed that I even think about sex more often...I thought having kids more or less destroyed my sex drive - but it hasn't ! ^_^

here's DH's

~ foot pain has disappeared :blink:

~ less gas/bloating

~ weight loss

~ more energy

~ reflux has disappeared - this was the most significant one for him - he was on Zantac 180 every day, would sometimes take a third Zantac AND some Tums, and would STILL have severe reflux

~ chronic diarrhea has improved (this would probably go away totally if he would give up dairy, but he's stubborn, lol)

~ his face was always real red, and the color has returned to normal

~ he doesn't feel sick after eating

Hey,

I just recently started eating Gluten Free and was diagnosed and I KNOW sex is better. It's amazing. What a great positive to eating gluten free. Good for you and me!

  • 1 month later...
wowzer Community Regular

I started the diet the first of the year. The rash disappeared from my hands. I feel more relaxed. My left ear that always is full of fluid cleared up. I can breath through my nose better. My doctor was pleased to see that the inside wasn't red anymore. He remarked that he had never seen it any other way until today. He said keep on the diet for three months. I had negative blood work on my celiac panel. I had a biopsy that came back spongiotic dermatitis. I don't seem to have the dark circles under my eyes. I even had someone tell me I looked well rested after having a sleepless night. My gynecologist wants me to wean off the estrogen pill over six months. I do feel better, so I hopeful here. I do feel like I'm always hungry.

prinsessa Contributor

- no more IBS symptoms

- not as much gas :blink:

- more energy

- no more leg cramps

- no more insomnia

- less reflux (unless I get glutened....then I get it worse than before)

- dark undereye circles going awy

- don't have to pee as often

- no more naps during the day

- period and cramps aren't as bad as before

- skin not as ichy in the winter

sfm Apprentice

I have been eliminating gluten from my diet since just before Thanksgiving, and despite a few accidental glutenings, my stomach has been way better - with the following improvements:

Less gas and bloating

Less "D" - although still occasionally

Less noise in my digestion

Less cramping and abdominal pain, unless I do ingest something

Migraines less frequent

Less nausea

More energy and better moods (probably because I feel better!!)

I do get cranky when I eat gluten and don't feel good, because now that I feel better, I don't want to go there anymore!!!

:P

maribeth Apprentice

There are posts where people have mentioned that their skin isn't as red. I have very sensitive skin and have had acne since I was about 15(40 yrs +)-more scarring and big pores now with the occasional zit but much better since going gluten free. My skin is always red-any season. Is this an allergy or a type of exema(sp?) It hasn't inproved in that dept much.

Also the reflux has improved greatly. I still have a phlem in my throat and am always clearing it. Since it didn't improve much after going gluten free I'm presuming it's an alergy to something. I tend to get it more after eating yogurt, salad dressings and some sweets, even milk the rare time I drink it-would this be a reaction to lactose. When I was born my mother had to make soy milk for me to drink. Thanks and have a great eve Beth

brendygirl Community Regular
What problems did you have with your eyesight? I have problems also with my eyesight, especially with floaters and sensitivity to light..

Night blindness is a side effect due to vitamin A deficiency due to lack of absorption due to lack of villi in the intestine.

I have it. And I don't think it can be undone. I also have pain in bright sunlight.

Mayflowers Contributor

No more bloating

No more acid reflux

No more mysterious nausea

My hair is noticebly thicker and has body. When I eat gluten, it just goes limp to my head and feels thin!

No more anxiety

No more eczema

Feel happier

Have more energy (No miracle, but I notice more stamina)

Skin is brighter

Dark circles are less

Can get up easier in the morning..again no miracle but its not such an effort like it was

No more Big D

The first thing I get when I have gluten is acid reflux.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - suek54 replied to suek54's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      5

      Awaiting dermatitis herpetiformis confirmation following biopsy

    2. - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    3. - catnapt replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    4. - trents replied to catnapt's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

    5. - catnapt posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,257
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    KariNoMoreGluten
    Newest Member
    KariNoMoreGluten
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • suek54
      Thank you all for your advice and the dermatitis herpetiformis article. The latter made me realise I had stopped taking my antihistamine, which I will restart today. The Dapsone has cleared the rash entirely but I still get quite a bit itching, absolutely nothing to see though. I know its notoriously hard to clear and its still relatively early days for me.  The iodine issue is very interesting. I do eat quite a bit of salt because I have Addison's disease and sodium retention is an issue. I also have autoimmune hypothyroidism, not sure how a low iodine diet would play into that? Because of my Addison's I am totally steroid dependent, I take steroids 4 x daily and cannot mount any defence against inflammation. I need to increase my meds for that. Now that I know what is wrong I can do just that if Im having a bad day. Life is very sweet, just so damn complicated sometimes! Hey ho, onwards. Thank you again for your advice.  
    • trents
      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when gluten is consumed, it triggers an autoimmune reaction in this area which, of course, generates inflammation. The antibodies connected with this inflammation is what the celiac blood tests are designed to detect but this inflammation, over time, wears down the finger-like projections of the villous lining. Of course, when this proceeds for an extended period of time, greatly reduces the absorption efficiency of the villous lining and often results in many and various nutrient deficiency-related health issues. Classic examples would be osteoporosis and iron deficiency. But there are many more. Low D3 levels is a well-known celiac-caused nutritional deficiency. So is low B12. All the B vitamins in fact. Magnesium, zinc, etc.  Celiac disease can also cause liver inflammation. You mention elevated ALP levels. Elevated liver enzymes over a period of 13 years was what led to my celiac diagnosis. Within three months of going gluten free my liver enzymes normalized. I had elevated AST and ALT. The development of sensitivities to other food proteins is very common in the celiac population. Most common cross reactive foods are dairy and oats but eggs, soy and corn are also relatively common offenders. Lactose intolerance is also common in the celiac population because of damage to the SB lining.  Eggs when they are scrambled or fried give me a gut ache. But when I poach them, they do not. The steam and heat of poaching causes a hydrolysis process that alters the protein in the egg. They don't bother me in baked goods either so I assume the same process is at work. I bought a plastic poacher on Amazon to make poaching very easy. All this to say that many of the issues you describe could be caused by celiac disease. 
    • catnapt
      thank you so much for your detailed and extremely helpful reply!! I can say with absolute certainty that the less gluten containing products I've eaten over the past several years, the better I've felt.   I wasn't avoiding gluten, I was avoiding refined grains (and most processed foods) as well as anything that made me feel bad when I ate it. It's the same reason I gave up dairy and eggs- they make me feel ill.  I do have a bit of a sugar addiction lol so a lot of times I wasn't sure if it was the refined grains that I was eating - or the sugar. So from time to time I might have a cookie or something but I've learned how to make wonderful cookies and golden brownies with BEANS!! and no refined sugar - I use date paste instead. Pizza made me so ill- but I thought it was probably the cheese. I gave up pizza and haven't missed it. the one time I tried a slice I felt so bad I knew I'd never touch it again. I stopped eating wheat pasta at least 3 yrs ago- just didn't feel well after eating it. I tried chick pea pasta and a few others and discovered I like the brown rice pasta. I still don't eat a lot of pasta but it's nice for a change when I want something easy. TBH over the years I've wondered sometimes if I might be gluten intolerant but really believed it was not possible for me to have celiac disease. NOW I need to know for sure- because I'm in the middle of a long process of trying to find out why I have a high parathyroid level (NOT the thyroid- but rather the 4 glands that control the calcium balance in your body) I have had a hard time getting my vit D level up, my serum calcium has run on the low side of normal for many years... and now I am losing calcium from my bones and excreting it in my urine (some sort of renal calcium leak) Also have a high ALP since 2014. And now rapidly worsening bone density.  I still do not have a firm diagnosis. Could be secondary HPT (but secondary to what? we need to know) It could be early primary HPT. I am spilling calcium in my urine but is that caused by the high parathyroid hormone or is it the reason my PTH is high>? there are multiple feedback loops for this condition.    so I will keep eating the bread and some wheat germ that does not seem to bother me too much (it hasn't got enough gluten to use just wheat germ)    but I'm curious- if you don't have a strong reaction to a product- like me and wheat germ- does that mean it's ok to eat or is it still causing harm even if you don't have any obvious symptoms? I guess what you are saying about silent celiac makes it likely that you can have no symptoms and still have the harm... but geez! you'd think they'd come up with a way to test for this that didn't require you to consume something that makes you sick! I worry about the complications I've been reading about- different kinds of cancers etc. also wondering- are there degrees of celiac disease?  is there any correlation between symptoms and the amnt of damage to your intestines? I also need a firm diagnosis because I have an identical twin sister ... so if I have celiac, she has it too- or at least the genetic make up for having it. I did have a VERY major stress to my body in 2014-2016 time frame .. lost 50lbs in a short period of time and had severe symptoms from acute protracted withdrawal off an SSRI drug (that I'd been given an unethically high dose of, by a dr who has since lost his license)  Going off the drug was a good thing and in many ways my health improved dramatically- just losing 50lbs was helpful but I also went  off almost a dozen different medications, totally changed my diet and have been doing pretty well except for the past 3-4 yrs when the symptoms related to the parathyroid issue cropped up. It is likely that I had low vit D for some time and that caused me a lot of symptoms. The endo now tells me that low vit D can be caused by celiac disease so I need to know for sure! thank you for all that great and useful information!!! 
    • trents
      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.