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

Just Diagnosed

yuyiconstanza

Recommended Posts

yuyiconstanza Newbie
yuyiconstanza
Posted

Hi Everybody!

My boyfriend, after years of suffering, just has been diagnosed as Celiac. We have been learning as much as we can in the last 2 weeks, but even that we have been very careful in what he eats, he still experience problems 50% of the times that he eats.

Is that normal?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
Hi Everybody!

My boyfriend, after years of suffering, just has been diagnosed as Celiac. We have been learning as much as we can in the last 2 weeks, but even that we have been very careful in what he eats, he still experience problems 50% of the times that he eats.

Is that normal?

Welcome to the Board!

Yes, it is very normal. Gluten free two week is a relative little time to heal. It has taken yeas to conclude that your boyfriend has Celiac and it will take some time to heal. Some people see a difference in a few weeks and others will take several months to see a difference in their health. It can take up to years for some with severe damage.

Make sure that he has a dedicated toaster, colander, and wooded spoons and scratch teflon get lost. Gluten can hide everywhere.

Lotions, toothpaste, shampoos and shaving creams could use a double check for gluten ingredients.

Let us know if we can be of help. We are a very interesting group. B)

GFhopeful Rookie
GFhopeful
Posted

It takes a while to get better for some- definitely me. I had to cut back to really basic food - not just gluten-free but also dairy free and really just fruit, veggies, chicken, and rice for a while until I started felling better. Also, there are foods that should be ok for gluten-free (corn tortillas, corn chips,etc) that could be contaminated with wheat flour where they are made so not really safe for us. Just eliminiating pre-packaged food and making food myself for a while, and like i said the very basics, was what helped me feel better more often than not. I did feel improvements right away but am 2+ months in and still not all better, it's a slow healing process for some but I know I'm on the right track when I think back to how sick I was. Good luck to you guys - be vigilant. Keep reading this board and other resources for more info and you'll get there.

stitchy woman Rookie
stitchy woman
Posted

After years of suffering all sorts of things, I just last week got diagnosed with some level of gluten intolerance. So far, I am feeling better and some of the more disgusting symptoms have let up, but I now realize that i am probably still ingesting small amounts of gluten every day. So I'm chalking it up to learning, or ramping up toward going totally gluten-free. I have read a couple of books, but after browsing here realize that I have so much more to learn and do. I guess in the beginning, as we are learning, we will make mistakes, but will make better choices further along the way.

I was looking at a corn muffin last night at supper, and thinking that it looked pretty yummy for being poison! I do have a long way to go, and am glad to have found this forum.

Susanna Newbie
Susanna
Posted

Hey--yes--it can take months for the small bowel to heal, depending on how damaged it was at the time the person went gluten free--it took me about 3-4 mos. to feel closer to normal. Here are my newbie tips:

gluten-free newbie tips--now you can eat to treat, and soon feel better. Here are some key coping strategies to get you started.

1. Know that you will grieve your old favorite gluten-filled foods. I actually tear up when I see a brioche sometimes. Grieving is normal, BUT IT IS NOT EASY OR COMFORTABLE. People around you will eat treats you can't have and you will feel sad and isolated (we all have very emotional connections to food). Strategy: stock your car, office, purse, backpack, secret drawer at home with gluten-free treats you can reach for any time you are feeling deprived. This really helped me. I recommend Baby Ruth Bars, Snicker Bars, Lara Bars, Dove Dark Chocolate, meringue cookies, macaroon cookies (read labels), Butterfinger, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. You get the idea.

2. Know that it will take time (months, probably) to figure out what to eat (it took me 6 mos.) and during this time, it'll be kind of a daily challenge to plan meals. Every time you go to the store it'll be a challenge to choose groceries. Strategy: plan on an hour--don't bring kids or friends. Go the bathroom before you start grocery shopping. Bring your reading glasses--read every label. The good news is, THIS GETS MUCH BETTER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AS YOU GET USED TO THE DIET.

3. It may take a while for your gut to heal, depending on how damaged it was at the time you went gluten free. So, you are going to have to be patient with your body--some people feel better immediately after going gluten-free, but most of us take longer than that. Don't give up if you don't see instant results. Strategy: Maximize your general health by getting enough rest, water, exercise, and limiting stress. Maximize your digestive health by limiting foods that are hard on the gastrointestinal tract until you're feeling better: limit irritants like dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and fried foods--these are all hard to digest--go back to them when you feel your gut is recovering.

4. Accept right now that it will be YOUR job to teach those around you about your diet

Guest j_mommy
Guest j_mommy
Posted

WElcome!!!!!!

Take this list withyou when you go shopping...

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-49107209060.88

That way you won't panic in the store over ingredients...people look at you funny in the store when you do that! :blink:

I craved bread when I first went gluten-free and thought all the premade store bought taste like cardboard!!! I would try whole food bakehouse breads(like homemade) and silly yak bakery....www.sillyyakbakery.com

Good Luck and welcome again!

barbara123 Apprentice
barbara123
Posted
It takes a while to get better for some- definitely me. I had to cut back to really basic food - not just gluten-free but also dairy free and really just fruit, veggies, chicken, and rice for a while until I started felling better. Also, there are foods that should be ok for gluten-free (corn tortillas, corn chips,etc) that could be contaminated with wheat flour where they are made so not really safe for us. Just eliminiating pre-packaged food and making food myself for a while, and like i said the very basics, was what helped me feel better more often than not. I did feel improvements right away but am 2+ months in and still not all better, it's a slow healing process for some but I know I'm on the right track when I think back to how sick I was. Good luck to you guys - be vigilant. Keep reading this board and other resources for more info and you'll get there.

Also dont forget can openers they were a biggie for me until someone wonderful on this site had me check and I think that is what was causing CC issues BARB

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest lorlyn
Guest lorlyn
Posted

Just wanted to say hi and welcome to the board. My husband and 10 year old daughter have Celiac. We have been glluten free for about 8 months. All the advice that other people have given you will help. There were a couple of things I had to learn was that we grill out alot and charcoal can have wheat in it. What kind of work does your husband do? Some sheet rock mud has wheat in it. Watch out for medicines and vitiamins. Good luck and keep reading here. You will learn here much faster than trying to do all the research yourself. Every one is very helpful :)

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

And you will mess up and make mistakes . . .

When you are looking up gluten free items on the internet, double check names/varieties . . . that was one of my mistakes . . . one type of BBQ chip was OK, another with a slightly different name made by the same company was not.

One of my other mistakes . . . outdated information. I was using info from 2005. Apparently :rolleyes: the recipe changed.

Good Luck - you'll be surprised how fast you get the hang of it.

Luisa2552 Apprentice
Luisa2552
Posted

I am just about 1 month in from my diagnosis and I was still having some problems when I tried cutting out dairy. It has worked. I haven't been tested or anything for casein/dairy intolerance but I have read that many with celiac disease do not a handle dairy well, especially before you've had a chance to fully heal. So for now I am dairy/gluten free and doing better.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,551
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Newest Member

    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
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.