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

How Long Til Things Are Back To Normal?

eko413

Recommended Posts

eko413 Newbie
eko413
Posted

Hi everyone, I'm so glad I found this forum...

I'm 23 years old and I was just diagnosed the week before Thanksgiving. Being right before the holidays, the timing wasn't ideal, but I was actually really excited to FINALLY know what was wrong with me. I was super-optimistic about going gluten free and have been very careful about sticking to my diet. I had a couple slip-ups early on, but I've learned from them and I've even ditched my beloved Aveeno lotion and switched shampoos. I've been dairy free for about a week, and I started taking a probiotic right after the new year.

My symptoms are daily D and brain fog. Since going gluten free I have had 2 days were I felt better. Do you think I'm still getting gluten from somewhere? Or could I have other intolerances I just haven't discovered yet? Or am I just being impatient? I get discouraged when I read about people who felt better right away...but then again we all heal differently. Did it take anyone else months to feel better?

Thanks for listening. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't know any other celiacs...it's so good to be able to talk about this with people who "get it."

-Erin

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


AndrewNYC Explorer
AndrewNYC
Posted

Brain fog: 4-6 months to clear.

Stomach problems: depends on your level of determination. You are well advised to eat a totally natural diet, no processed foods, and to start at a very basic level and go from there. Start with plain cooked brown rice for two days. If stomach is okay then add plain chicken for two days. If stomach is still okay then add potato...

Hi everyone, I'm so glad I found this forum...

I'm 23 years old and I was just diagnosed the week before Thanksgiving. Being right before the holidays, the timing wasn't ideal, but I was actually really excited to FINALLY know what was wrong with me. I was super-optimistic about going gluten free and have been very careful about sticking to my diet. I had a couple slip-ups early on, but I've learned from them and I've even ditched my beloved Aveeno lotion and switched shampoos. I've been dairy free for about a week, and I started taking a probiotic right after the new year.

My symptoms are daily D and brain fog. Since going gluten free I have had 2 days were I felt better. Do you think I'm still getting gluten from somewhere? Or could I have other intolerances I just haven't discovered yet? Or am I just being impatient? I get discouraged when I read about people who felt better right away...but then again we all heal differently. Did it take anyone else months to feel better?

Thanks for listening. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't know any other celiacs...it's so good to be able to talk about this with people who "get it."

-Erin

flowerchild Newbie
flowerchild
Posted

Erin,

Best of luck to you! Wish I'd found out in my 20's. After many years of supposed "IBS", it took probably 3 months before the D resolved itself. Don't worry - good times are ahead. Now I never ever get D unless I've been glutened - then the cramping etc. comes back with a vengeance. It's good to stay off dairy for awhile til you're healed - and wholesome foods are always good. I found I had trouble eating raw vegetables at first, but after cooking them for a few months I love my salads now. Just treat yourself as though you're recovering from a long and serious illness and give it time.

Be sure to check your soy sauce, salad dressings, OTC and presription pills, and lipstick - those are common culprits. I've learned to stay away from marinated meats and prepared soups and salads unless someone can positively identify the ingredients for me. Even those chicken chunks you put on your salad sometimes contain soy sauce and other forms of gluten. Read anything that comes out of a freezer bag - even something as innocent as frozen carrots - ya just never know.

sandsurfgirl Collaborator
sandsurfgirl
Posted

I think it might be the dairy. It takes awhile for dairy to get out of your system so 2 weeks free of it might mean you need a bit more time. With intestinal damage like we all have dairy is tough. Look for hidden dairy in things too and just get off dairy entirely. I would avoid soy too. It's not fun, but your body needs healing. When you are healed, then you can try it in moderation.

eko413 Newbie
eko413
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for all the encouraging feedback. I'll stay off the dairy a little longer and try cutting out soy too. It's tricky--dairy and soy pop up in all kinds of unexpected things. It's really tough being in grad school and missing out on group lunches, happy hours, etc. Plus I'm so anxious to snap out of the fogginess so I can concentrate on finishing my thesis!

Thanks again for the support!

gabby Enthusiast
gabby
Posted

Be sure to throw out your old lipsticks, chapsticks, lipglosses and anything else that you put on your lips before going gluten free. If you are anything like me, then you probably used to routinely eat a sandwich or donut or pizza, then just pull out your lipstick/gloss/chapstick and reapply without even thinking about it....and thus getting little itty bits of gluten all over them.

Also, be sure to buy a new toothbrush and toothpaste and any other thing that routinely goes into your mouth (if you have braces or retainers be sure to buy new cleaning brushes too).

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Good luck! I was diagnosed during grad school .... it is tough to juggle it all.

If you weren't already tested, you may want to talk to your doctor about vitamin/mineral deficiencies that are common among people with Celiac (especially when you are undiagnosed/just starting the diet) because of malabsorption.

Immodium can help cut down on some of your symptoms. Hang in there!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


rahga Newbie
rahga
Posted

Thanks for all the encouraging feedback. I'll stay off the dairy a little longer and try cutting out soy too. It's tricky--dairy and soy pop up in all kinds of unexpected things. It's really tough being in grad school and missing out on group lunches, happy hours, etc. Plus I'm so anxious to snap out of the fogginess so I can concentrate on finishing my thesis!

Thanks again for the support!

I was diagnosed this past fall as well and have been gluten free since Thanksgiving. I had a few days of incredible energy and clarity, but that faded and around the start of the year began to go down hill big time and it has pretty much been daily G & D ever since. The lesson for me has been that I need to go back to square one and proceed verrry carefully. I wasn't being careful enough on (what I assumed were) minor issues and am paying for it now. Fortunately the brain fog is mostly gone. I, too, am in grad school, and going gluten free enabled me to burst through on some deadlines. But if I am going to finish the degree I need to be very conservative regarding my diet.

I don't know if that helps... I thought you might appreciate knowing you are not the only one.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,143
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tracy Williams
    Newest Member
    Tracy Williams
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By trents · Posted

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      Tamale ingredients

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
    • Sarah Grace
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By Sarah Grace · Posted

      Dear Kitty Since March I have been following your recommendations regarding vitamins to assist with various issues that I have been experiencing.  To recap, I am aged 68 and was late diagnosed with Celiac about 12 years ago.  I had been experiencing terrible early morning headaches which I had self diagnosed as hypoglycaemia.  I also mentioned that I had issues with insomnia, vertigo and brain fog.   It's now one year since I started on the Benfotiamine 600 mg/day.  I am still experiencing the hypoglycaemia and it's not really possible to say for sure whether the Benfotiamine is helpful.  In March this year, I added B-Complex Thiamine Hydrochloride and Magnesium L-Threonate on a daily basis, and I am now confident to report that the insomnia and vertigo and brain fog have all improved!!  So, very many thanks for your very helpful advice. I am now less confident that the early morning headaches are caused by hypoglycaemia, as even foods with a zero a GI rating (cheese, nuts, etc) can cause really server headaches, which sometimes require migraine medication in order to get rid off.  If you are able to suggest any other treatment I would definitely give it a try, as these headaches are a terrible burden.  Doctors in the UK have very limited knowledge concerning dietary issues, and I do not know how to get reliable advice from them. Best regards,
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
×
×
  • 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.