Is It Too Late For Me?

[miss vivian]

Hi Viv,

I was 57 when I was diagnosed, I suppose I had symptoms all my life without realising it.

I have had 'Acid Reflux' for ever, always seemed tired, susceptible to flu and chest infections,

'mouth ulcers', dry skin, all the classic symptoms.

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I'm 61 now and a lot happier if not a little too 'rotund' from eating all my gluten-free creations, but that's another story!

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My Friend who is also a Coeliac had his mother checked and she was biopsy diagnosed at 83, she is so much better in herself now on the gluten-free diet.

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So in answer to your question: Is it too late for me??

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The answer is a resounding!! It's NEVER too late!

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Best Regards,

David

Thanks - it's good to know that you're better and so is your mom! I am hoping to recover from the damages I may have inside. I will find out more after the biopsy tomorrow...

Take care and thanks again... Viv

oops. I meant your friends' mom! Sorry for the error... Great to hear the good news that someone a little older can mend.. it gives me hope that I might be ok.

[miss vivian]

My mom was finally diagnosed at 45 or so. She nearly died, because this was the mid 1960's and hardly anyone knew a thing about celiac disease. She was truly almost dead of starvation, I think: 85 or so pounds, couldn't keep anything down, and doctors kept telling her it was "in her head." Finally, thankfully, she got a new doctor who asked her if she had ever lived in certain tropical places, thinking her symptoms sounded like tropical sprue. He tested her, did a biopsy which showed her villi to be GONE, her stomach lining was nearly destroyed, lots of other things, and he was smart enough to figure out she had celiac disease. She went gluten free, and was better within a few months, had regained all her lost weight, felt great. They did a re-test of her biopsy and found the villi had mostly regenerated.

She is now almost 88, in great health, no problems at all!

So once you know the facts, eat carefully and avoid all gluten.

Great to hear that the damage can be reversed! thank you... glad your mom is well.

[Amber M]

Amber you are most welcomed here. I try to catch "newbie" threads everyday so people dont get overlooked.

Thanks Shay, I have read a lot of your postings. I have learned so much. I am recovering from last weeks mistake gluten poisoning. I'm doing much better, but I have a question. When does the nasea go away? I get naseated off and on out of the clear blue, and dizzy. I feel like if I thought about it much, I would puke! Did you? Any suggestions? (I was still getting it when I was gluten free before the mistake) Thanks, Amber

[Lori Park]

All of this sounds so familiar. I have been gluten free for 7 months and was 36 when I was diagnosed. I had decided that I was a big baby and a hypo-condriac. I thought I must be crazy, because they could not find anything wrong with me. I feel alot better, but recently I have been feeling some of the old symptoms. Has anybody ever just suddenly slowed down in their healing?

[mslee]

welcome welcome!

Just wanted to add since my dx my Mom is in the process of being dx'ed she is in her 50's and symptoms she has had her whole life are healing since going gluten free. It is a little scary at first but we will be so much healthier once we heal & that part is empowering & exciting!

[Amber M]

All of this sounds so familiar. I have been gluten free for 7 months and was 36 when I was diagnosed. I had decided that I was a big baby and a hypo-condriac. I thought I must be crazy, because they could not find anything wrong with me. I feel alot better, but recently I have been feeling some of the old symptoms. Has anybody ever just suddenly slowed down in their healing?

I think I am going on 4 months gluten free, with a couple of slips. I have good days and bad days. Just when I think I am free of the symptoms, they re-appear with a vengence. It sets me into a panic going back over ingredients again and again only to discover I have NOT eaten gluten. So I am in the same delima. My Allergist said that I sould see better results after 6 months, but some adults take a few years to get better. After your 7 months, I would make sure that you are not eating something with gluten. One thing I learned last night after watching the UCLA lecture on Celiacs is that when the label says "wheat free" instead of "gluten free", it could still have "barley, malt, or rye" in it and you need to check the full ingredient list. Holy Bananas! I did not realize that. I have mostly eaten fresh food or baking with gluten free ingredients, so I don't think I ate any gluten, but I did not know this. I am just learning. Double check your stuff! Good luck. Amber

[miss vivian]

welcome welcome!

Just wanted to add since my dx my Mom is in the process of being dx'ed she is in her 50's and symptoms she has had her whole life are healing since going gluten free. It is a little scary at first but we will be so much healthier once we heal & that part is empowering & exciting!

Yes! You're so right about that! It is very empowering to know that we can do the right things and change the way we feel.. I had my biopsy yesterday, and it went easy - but I still have pains, in spite of being gluten free for almost one month. My gastro told me that she thinks it will take more time for me to feel better. She thinks I should not feel pains in a few months.

I don't know. I looked at the pics of my insides once I woke up - and I couldn't make any sense of it. Heck, I'm no doctor, but I am trying to learn all I can.

Thanks for you response... Everyone here and everyone that I've met since being diagnosed have been wonderul and helpful. It's such a comfort.

Peace!