Just Curious: Did Anyone Have A Lack Of Flu, Colds Other Illnesses When With Untreated celiac disease? How About Now?

[David]

So it happened again this weekend. My partner had a summer cold that basically knocked him out over the weekend

[ravenwoodglass]

I had kind of the reverse happen. Before I was diagnosed I caught every bug there was and most minor colds quickly developed into broncitis. My antibodies were so busy killing me that they didn't have the time to go after any viruses. That would be my guess anyway. I have been gluten free now for 7 years and haven't caught anything at all in that time, not even the sniffles. I was amazed that even when working in the school system for the short time I was physically able to that I never caught anything. I got glutened more than I would have liked but I never caught anything that the kids were passing around.

[Jackpru]

So it happened again this weekend. My partner had a summer cold that basically knocked him out over the weekend

[Jackpru]

Yes you are right. When I used to live at home with my parents, my mother who had Rheumatoid Arthritis and also bowel problems probably celiac, she never ever got ill with any colds virus or anything, not even the flu when everyone else in the house caught it.

My experience is this I went on the gluten free diet 2 months ago, the first week I felt really well, the second week I caught Swine Flu and couldn't shake it off for 3 weeks, when I thought it was going it suddenly came back again and at the moment I still seem to be picking up sniffles and coughs really easy and feel constantly tired so god knows whats going on with my immune system.

But going back to when I was really ill with Chronic Fatigue etc yes i didn't seem to pick up many colds.

Best Wishes

[The Fluffy Assassin]

I read in Gluten-Free for Dummies that there could be some "science" behind that. Up until this year when I hadn't treated celiac disease, my body kept sending out antibodies to fight what it thought was poision, but was actually just gluten. As a result, my immune system was always on the ready, (if not in overdrive) and it would quickly fight whatever diseases I might have caught. (I

[Ahorsesoul]

I've hardly been sick since going gluten free 8 years ago.

[darlindeb25]

In the 9 years I have been gluten free, I rarely ever get sick. Maybe 4 times over 9 years, and 3 of those times have been in the last couple of years. I have enough issues going on without any outside viruses hitting me. About 2 years ago, I got a virus, and had just had surgery about 6 weeks before, I think I was run down from that. This Feb, I picked up a bad virus, and blame it on my iron poor blood. I am working on improving that problem, we will see what this years flu season does to me!

[chasbari]

I rarely got sick prior to gluten-free and still do not. I have been dealing with RA as well. My rheumatologist (before my celiac DX) recommended vitamins for me which would make my RA even worse. I told him I felt like I was handing my enemy a bazooka by taking the vitamins and supercharging my immune system. He said I was greatly misunderstanding how RA worked and that I was foolish not to take them. Easy for him to say... he didn't have to live with the consequences. He is also the one that ,after my biospy and diagnosis for celiac, contends that I probably don't even have celiac and that it is probably IBS better treated with Humira. He has found me to be a non compliant patient more and more. Since diagnosed and properly screened for bone density issues the one supplement I am taking is a gluten-free Vitamin D, calcium and magnesium supplement. I tried to wean myself off of it last week and for the first time actually started to feel pretty bad. I think your explanation of the difference between feeling flu or colds as opposed to the feelings of celiac symptoms is right on BTW.

[mom26boys]

Wow! I'm so glad you posted this! I've been thinking the same thing!!! I'm new to all this and don't have my official dx yet. Blood test came back positive, so I guess endoscopy is next. Anyway, since learning about this I've now wondered why I never get sick, even when my kids get sick (and I have six!). For the past 5 years, I've have totally overhauled the way we eat--no more processed foods, no fast food, raw dairy, lots of fruits and vegetables, very little sugar if any, etc. I did it mainly because I felt so horrible after my last pregnancy that I knew it had to be food related. I'm also obese, and even with all these changes, I have not lost an ounce in the last 5 years!!! I've always attributed the fact that I don't get sick like I used to before I had my 6th child (and even during the pregnancy I was sick the entire time!), to the dietary changes I've made over time. I thought that maybe eating right was what was keeping me from getting sick, but lately its been on my mind that maybe, if I have celiac, my immune syster was always on guard, and thats why I don't get sick anymore, which then leads me to wonder what will happen when I'm gluten free. I did it for only 2 weeks, and I felt great, but now I'm being told that I need to eat gluten until my endoscopy, if I have one. Totally stinks, because I felt so much better gluten-free, that I hate eating ANY gluten now!!!

I also agree with you that I would much rather have a few colds here and there than the daily agony of being weak, lethargic, tired, and achy all the time. Thanks again for posting. Glad I'm not crazy!!!

[lovegrov]

I most definitely got sick more before going gluten-free.

richard

[oceangirl]

My experience was that I caught many colds and bugs prior to gluten free and that now, over 4 years in, I have been fortunate not to have any viral thing for a year and a half. I work in a high school and someone is always sick; that said, that may have helped build immunity. as well over the past 8 years. I do think getting rid of the damaging gluten has helped my immune system.

Of course, it's sobering to know that a new bug (not to mention any names) or a virus like the 1918 flu may actually trigger what is known as a "cytokine storm" in younger people's immune systems- an extreme response- that actually seems to be implicated in their high death rate during that flu... tra la la.....) More research is what we need, eh?!

!Salud!

lisa

[hannahp57]

i almost never catch anything... if i get sick it is gluten, CC or stress. for me stress will make me sick. almost always. but other than bronchitis once i cant remember ever having a cold or the flu.

[curiousgeorge]

I have been sick once in the last year after goign gluten-free. I was ALWYS sick before then.