How Long Until You Feel Improvements?

[zachyrocket]

Hi. I was wondering how long after people started eating gluten free until they started to feel health improvements?

I am on day 7 of a gluten free diet. I have had digestive issues such as terrible reflux, gas, stomach pains, and irregular bowel movements for the past ten years or so. I also have awful body pain. For the most part i just suck it up and live with it as i have tried pt, chiro, massage, painkillers, etc etc with no positive effect, but now that i have a new hope of figuring things out i am very aware of it all. i am planning on trying the diet for 3 months regardless of how i feel, but i am trying to figure out when i should expect to feel changes.

thanks!

[Lynayah]

Hi. I was wondering how long after people started eating gluten free until they started to feel health improvements?

I am on day 7 of a gluten free diet. I have had digestive issues such as terrible reflux, gas, stomach pains, and irregular bowel movements for the past ten years or so. I also have awful body pain. For the most part i just suck it up and live with it as i have tried pt, chiro, massage, painkillers, etc etc with no positive effect, but now that i have a new hope of figuring things out i am very aware of it all. i am planning on trying the diet for 3 months regardless of how i feel, but i am trying to figure out when i should expect to feel changes.

thanks!

It is different for everyone. Seven days is a very small stretch of time, and for many of us, it takes even more time to eliminate possible "hidden" sources of gluten. For me, it was things such as toothpaste, putting my hands in my mouth after using hand lotion that had wheat germ in it, etc.

Take a look at my symptoms (in my signature line). I was dying, I was in so much pain. Things are incredibly better now, and I have only been gluten-free (or almost gluten-free -- I've made a few mistakes) since September.

You're on your way to being better!

[zachyrocket]

i definitely didnt expect to be better this soon in the game, just keeping my eyes on the prize!

glad to hear that your life is so much better now! thanks for your reply.

[ciavyn]

I feel you! I've been doing this for three weeks or so, and I didn't feel better at all the first week. But then I cut out dairy and nuts, and let me tell you - I felt great! I screwed it up the last two days with dairy: misery. I can't get over how much better I feel when I'm not eating gluten or dairy. Just give it some time. It feels amazing once you figure out your issues. And try to toss the dairy, too, in the beginning, as I understand that it is an issue for a lot of celiacs. It's so worth it.

[zachyrocket]

I had considered ditching the dairy too, but i had been vegan for about a year and didnt notice any changes. If nothing changes after the 3 month trial i will try it again. thanks for the advice!

[sunnybabi1986]

I didn't start feeling better until after I was gluten free for 6 weeks, when I finally threw out all my nonstick cookware and wooden cutting boards and toaster. I was super frustrated for weeks, wondering when on earth I would start feeling a tiny bit better. However, I kept with it, and 9 weeks later, I am amazed at how much better I'm feeling! It feels like you'll never get there, but hang on, eventually you'll start feeling better! It may takes weeks, but your symptoms will eventually start fading. Good luck!

Janie

[Midgie12]

You all give me some hope. I have been gluten free for one month, after a blood work diagnosis, the doctor still wants me to have an endoscopy, but I still feel grim, in pain and sooooo exhausted. I did however have some incidental gluten (wrong order from KFC, picked off the batter) and felt terribly sick in the mornings for 2 weeks and I realised that I have been less billious lately.

[karenhockley]

For me I started to notice less pain 3 weeks into the diet but it too a good 3 1/2 months for all my joint pain to go. But what I ended up doing was just getting rid of all my shampoos, tooth paste and tooth brush, lotions and hair products and went all natural and one thing you have to remember is to question everything that you put on your skin and what goes into your mouth. Good luck and I do hope you feel better soon.

[jackay]

I found it hard to break the habit of putting things in my mouth. However, I am very conscious of it now.

I discontinued the nonstick pans, plastics, etc. about two weeks ago and am noticing a few signs that I'm getting better.

I thought I could be one of those people who didn't have to go to that extreme but if it helps it is sure worth the effort.

[tunibell]

It took two weeks before I felt ANY better, and more than two months before I felt significantly better.