Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Unmasking After gluten-free, First Month To 6 Weeks?

mftnchn

Recommended Posts

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

My doctor mentioned last week that after going gluten-free the "unmasking" process should be done after the first 1 month to 6 weeks. Not sure I fully understand but I think this means that the celiac masks other problems, and also perhaps the interaction with the autoimmune issues comes to play.

Has anyone else heard this? What is your experience? What's the explanation as you understand it?

I am wondering because of all the different problems that seem to keep popping up for me after going gluten-free. Pretty much any problem I have had over the past 20 years I seem to be revisiting since going gluten-free.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I haven't heard it in relation to gluten-free, but in alternative medicine, it's called retracing.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted
  • Author

Thanks, I looked that up, as I had never heard of it. I wonder how long it lasts though? This sounds a bit like me but I worry that its not all just the healing process.

I searched for this on google in regard to celiac but didn't find anything. Seems like on this forum I have read posts about other food insensitivities becoming more clear after going gluten-free, that type of unmasking. But I can't find them again when I search.

Guest lizajane
Guest lizajane
Posted
My doctor mentioned last week that after going gluten-free the "unmasking" process should be done after the first 1 month to 6 weeks. Not sure I fully understand but I think this means that the celiac masks other problems, and also perhaps the interaction with the autoimmune issues comes to play.

Has anyone else heard this? What is your experience? What's the explanation as you understand it?

I am wondering because of all the different problems that seem to keep popping up for me after going gluten-free. Pretty much any problem I have had over the past 20 years I seem to be revisiting since going gluten-free.

Don't know about this, but how did they determine your fecal fat test to not at least point to sprue? The lab value was very high and that was the test that lead my Dr. to having me do a biopsy!

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted
  • Author
Don't know about this, but how did they determine your fecal fat test to not at least point to sprue? The lab value was very high and that was the test that lead my Dr. to having me do a biopsy!

I haven't had the blood work or biopsy because I am in China, got the enterolab results after I returned here. (work here 10 months of the year). My allergist and LLMD both concur that I should be Gluten-free Casein-free. So I don't have a clear diagnosis but am working from the assumption of celiac.

tom Contributor
tom
Posted
Thanks, I looked that up, as I had never heard of it. I wonder how long it lasts though? This sounds a bit like me but I worry that its not all just the healing process.

I have heard of this rather curious phenomena, retracing. I didn't think I had any, but the way my brain was, that means very little.

And it may have happened but was soooooooooooo incredibly minor compared to pre-gluten-free, that it didn't make an impact. Like being hit by a dixie cup of water while climbing from a stint in a dunking booth.

I say don't worry - it IS part of the process. I've heard of it enough, and know too well the stranger aspects of celiac disease, to doubt that retracing happens.

Be assured it's temporary.

What's usually referred to as 'unmasking' is disovering other food intolerances which b4 gluten-free either has lesser magnitude or just relatively didn't amount to a hill of beans. (Or chaff)

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

What your doctor described and what your experience sound like two different things.

I have experience retracing ... didn't believe it could happen till I did!! :P But every old ailment came back temporarily. It was very odd. I don't remember how long it lasted, no more than a few weeks.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted
  • Author

Okay thanks for the input. The retracing idea does make sense as a possibility. I have a phone appointment with my allergist later this week, and will see if he has any ideas. Otherwise will hang in there. I am about 9-10 weeks into Gluten-free Casein-free at this point. Had one relatively good week the first week of June and not one good day since.

Could be unmasking of food allergies I suppose. In the mid 1980s I tested for weeks and the allergist termed me a universal reactor. It was really impossible to eliminate everything, and tried a number of things, finally just avoided a few things and ignored the rest. So I have been reluctant to keep eliminating other foods.

Current symptoms also might be lyme and lyme herx related which of course confuses the matter since I just restarted azithromycin and metronadazole a week ago.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted
Current symptoms also might be lyme and lyme herx related which of course confuses the matter since I just restarted azithromycin and metronadazole a week ago.

That's a distinct possibility.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted
  • Author

Yes, the joys of being both a lymie and gluten sensitive.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • 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. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      1

      Natural remedies

      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to miguel54b's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Gluten and short-term memory.

      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sl...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Suze046's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Reintroduction of Gluten

      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly c...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Rejoicephd's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Mykidzz3's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      1

      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,369
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nick H.
    Newest Member
    Nick H.
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Natural remedies

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While it's always important to approach internal use of essential oils with caution and ideally under the guidance of a qualified professional, your experience highlights the potential of complementary approaches when traditional medicine falls short. Many in the community are also interested in the intersection of natural wellness and gluten-free living, particularly for managing systemic inflammation and its various symptoms, so sharing your story is valuable. Your observation that it may also be helping with bloating is fascinating, as that could point to an overall reduction in inflammation. Thank you for sharing what is working for you!
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten and short-term memory.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's interesting how a single, clear moment—like struggling during a game—can suddenly connect all the dots and reveal the hidden impact of gluten exposure. Your experience with short-term memory fog is a very real and documented symptom for many individuals with gluten sensitivity, often occurring alongside the other issues you mentioned like mood disturbances, sleep disruption, and digestive irregularity. It's a frustrating and often invisible effect that can make you feel unlike yourself, so that moment of clarity, though born from a tough dominoes match, is actually a powerful piece of self-knowledge. Identifying a specific culprit like that steak strip is a huge win, as it arms you with the information needed to avoid similar pitfalls in the future and protect your cognitive clarity. You are definitely not alone in experiencing this particular set of neurological and physical symptoms; it's a strong reminder of gluten's profound impact on the entire body, not just the digestive system. Supplementation may help you as well.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Because of this it took me decades to overcome a few long-standing issues I had that were associated with gluten ataxia, for example numbness and tingling in my feet, and muscle knots--especially in my shoulders an neck. Only long term extensive supplementation has helped me to resolve these issues.      
    • Scott Adams
      Reintroduction of Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS. What you're describing is a very common and frustrating experience when reintroducing gluten after a period of avoidance, and your timeline is perfectly consistent with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While a celiac reaction can be more immediate, a sensitivity reaction is often delayed, sometimes taking several days to manifest as your body's inflammatory response builds up; the fact that your symptoms returned a few days after reintroduction is a strong indicator that gluten is indeed the culprit, not a coincidence. Your doctor's advice to reintroduce it was necessary to confirm the diagnosis, as the initial negative celiac test and subsequent improvement on a gluten-free diet pointed strongly towards sensitivity. Many in this community have gone through this exact same process of elimination and challenging, and it's wise to reintroduce gently as you did. Given your clear reaction, the best course of action is likely to resume a strict gluten-free diet, as managing a sensitivity is the primary way to control those debilitating symptoms and allow your body to heal fully.
    • Scott Adams
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your suspicion is almost certainly correct, and you are wise to be cautious. Draft cider is a very common and often overlooked source of cross-contact because the same tap lines are frequently used for both beer and cider; unless a bar has a dedicated line for gluten-free beverages, which is rare, the cider will run through tubing that has previously contained gluten-containing beer, contaminating your drink. The fact that you didn't react at a clean brewery suggests they may have had more meticulous practices or separate lines, but this is the exception, not the rule. Many in the community have had identical experiences, leading them to strictly avoid draft cider and opt for bottled or canned versions, which are poured directly from their sealed container and bypass the contaminated tap system entirely. Switching to bottles or cans is the safest strategy, and your plan to do so is a smart move to protect your health. PS - here are some articles on the topic:    
    • Scott Adams
      High Cost of Gluten-Free Foods

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post really highlights the financial and emotional struggle so many families face. You are not alone in feeling frustrated by the high cost of gluten-free specialty items and the frustrating waste when your daughter can't tolerate them. A great place to start is by focusing on naturally gluten-free whole foods that are often more affordable and less processed, like rice, potatoes, beans, lentils, corn, eggs, and frozen fruits and vegetables—these are nutritional powerhouses that can form the basis of her meals. For the specialty items like bread and pasta, see if your local stores carry smaller, single-serving packages or allow returns if a product causes a reaction, as some companies understand this challenge. Regarding vitamins, that is an excellent next step; please ask her doctor to prescribe a high-quality gluten-free multivitamin, as insurance will often cover prescribed vitamins, making them much more affordable. Finally, connecting with a local celiac support group online can be a treasure trove of location-specific advice for finding the best and most affordable products in your area, saving you both time and money on the trial-and-error process. 
×
×
  • Create New...