Improvement

[cirrus16]

Hi everyone,

I had been in a fog for years - treated for depression etc - but it was really the weight loss that got my doctor searching. The biopsy last December confirmed celiac disease. I'm 57 and who knows how long I've had celiac disease. I'm still in the fog, but have noticed improvement. Now I would like to get an idea of what to expect regarding improvement. I'm sure I'm like a lot of you -- ok I'm celiac disease, I'm gluten free, but I want to have an idea about how/when recovery occurs to know I'm on the right track.

Is there a way the damage to the villi can be defined - minor, moderate, etc?? And would the degree of damage help predict recovery?

How often should blood work be done?? I assume this is a way to monitor improvement. My clinic uses ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City.

Last question. I believe I read something about celiac disease masking poor thyroid function. Does anyone have info about this? Should thyroid testing be done differently for us with celiac disease?

Thank you.

[KaitiUSA]

There are degrees of damage to the villi and the less damage you have the quicker you are more likely to heal. Usually they say being gluten free for 3-6 months heals the damage(for most people)

For some people it takes symptoms longer to go away though. I know it took me 3 months to feel alot better but another few months to get back to normal.

Some people it takes over a year to have symptoms go away but their damage can be gone sooner then that.

It depends on age, how good you are with the diet, etc. for how long it will take yout intestines to heal though...every person is different.

I get followup bloodwork every 6 months for celiac. It is to monitor how complient you are being with the diet.

Thyroid as well as other things are highly connected with celiac. I have graves disease(hyperthyroid) They test you the same as anyone else.

Have you noticed any difference on the diet? Are you 100% positive you are gluten free...nothing slipping through any foods or products you use that can get to your mouth easily? Good luck

[Ally2005]

In addition to what Kati said, there are four stages that reflect the amount of damage. Stage four indicates complete, total villi destruction. I had stage 3 B which meant partial to sub toal damage.. I was diagnosed two months ago. I am 42 and have had symptoms on and off for 10 years. Kati is right...healing is different for EVERYONE. You have to be patient.

Ally

[tarnalberry]

I just want to reiterate the statement that healing is different for everyone. While you may see some improvement in the first few days, you may find you continue to see improvement for months. It depends on your body, how much damage their was, and how careful you are about gluten-free now. Not to mention the other things in your life like how much stress, exercise, vitamins/minerals, and family support you get.

[Lesliean]

Kaiti, you are an angel on this board. You guide us all!

Cirrus16- I am on thyroid and am tested every year. I also had a bone density x-ray because so many Celiacs have not been absorbing calcium and because so many Celiacs have to give up dairy, at least for a time, because of villi damage. If you have osteopenia or ospeoperosis you will now absorb calcium at a great rate no matter what age you are. But your doctor might want to individualize a calcium supplement plan to help you (ie-Citrocil for instance, 500mg 4 times a day and don't worry about food you can be empty or full, just space the capsules out across the day).

Also B12 is often deficient so I recommend a subligual B12 supplement for a while.

Anemia is common so you might want to make sure you get enough iron if your CBC test showed low iron.

I thought my life had completely changed for the better after a week gluten-free but its been 3 months now and the positive changes just keep on coming (asthma medicine to 1/2 and throat clearing and allergies gone recently). I must have caught it early because I think its more common to get changes gradually over a year or more.

Leslie