6-Months gluten-free And Still Having Symptoms!

[michellern]

I have been gluten-free for 6 months now. I am still having diarrhea, poor appetite, general GI discomfort, and fatigue. I can't figure it out! I have been very careful with what I am eating. My brother also has CS so he has been a great help.

Any suggestions?????

[Mama Melissa]

Hey Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear you are getting no ease atall with this diet:(Did you check your hair products??Prescription medication????Vitamins???Even though i know it sounds harsh dog/cat food if you feed them and do not wash your hands possible cc???You might be very very sensitive i know i have been on the gluten-free diet for 3 1/2 months and while i have seen dramamtic improvement stomach/bowel wise i have other symptoms headaches,foggy headed,fatigue i know it seems never ending but just stick with it and with time im sure symptoms will dramitically lessen or hopefully go away GOODLUCK xoxoxo

[rosetapper23]

It took 18 months on a very strict gluten-free diet before my diarrhea and the fatigue completely resolved. It takes a while to heal your gut! If you want to speed it up, try taking L-Glutamine, which is oftentimes recommended by celiac experts to help heal the gut.

[Yup]

I have been gluten-free for 6 months now. I am still having diarrhea, poor appetite, general GI discomfort, and fatigue. I can't figure it out! I have been very careful with what I am eating. My brother also has CS so he has been a great help.

Any suggestions?????

Hi Michelle,

I started having issues when I was 11 and I am now forty. That leaves me with 28 years of damage.I felt terrible for a year after I was diagnosed. I was the walking dead. I finally ditched my doctor and went to see a ND. She checked my hormones and vitamins. I've been on supplements for 4 months and I am feeling so much better!

Doctors look for episodic symptoms for one particular appointment while NDs want to know about the whole person and your complete health journey. I would give that a try.

Paula

[quincy]

Hi Michelle,

I started having issues when I was 11 and I am now forty. That leaves me with 28 years of damage.I felt terrible for a year after I was diagnosed. I was the walking dead. I finally ditched my doctor and went to see a ND. She checked my hormones and vitamins. I've been on supplements for 4 months and I am feeling so much better!

Doctors look for episodic symptoms for one particular appointment while NDs want to know about the whole person and your complete health journey. I would give that a try.

Paula

I was using Gi Revive powder to soothe and heal the gut. It is a bit pricey but you might want to try it for a few months and see if it helps. It contains L-Glutamine as well as N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Chamomile, Slippery Elm bark, Cats Claw etc. Its made by Designs for Health. I use it now only when I get glutened as it helps soothe my gut and relieves alot of the discomfort.

hope that helps!

[dilettantesteph]

Are you eating a lot of gluten free processed grains? Are you eating gluten free foods made on shared lines or facilities? Do you still eat soy? corn? You may be sensitive to lower levels of gluten contamination than most. I had to eliminate almost all processed foods to become healthy. Your level of sensitivity may be different than your brother's. Just because he can eat something doesn't mean that you can.

You can start eliminating, or you can go on a whole foods diet until healthy and then add things one per week to see which ones bother you. It is a long process, but that's how I got healthy.

[mommida]

Keep a food journal. If you have another food intolerance you can track it down easier.

This journal should include your hygeine products. You may have a contaminated lip gloss. For some crazy reason I was having a reaction to deordorant with barley in it. (How does something used in your armpit make you sick to your stomach!!?)

Gut damage takes a while to heal. I was on a gluten free diet for 2 years and then I was able to decrease thyroid medication.

A lot of Celiacs are vitamin B12 deficient.

[sandsurfgirl]

Here are a few things

1. Keep a food journal and symptoms journal to see if you have other intolerances. Or cut out soy and dairy and see if you improve. Then if you do improve, add one back in at at time to see which one was the problem. Soy makes me feel as if I've been glutened although I can tolerate small bits like soy lecithin as an additive.

2. It might just be a need for more healing time.

3. Get ALL the gluten out of your life including shampoos, soaps, beauty products, etc. It does get in your mouth one way or other. Shampoo and conditioner run down your face in the shower. Lotions and soaps stay on your hands and then you eat.

I accidentally put on a leave in conditioner with wheat in it. I ran my hands through my hair absent mindedly and then ate crackers. Ended up in bed all afternoon and evening sick as a dog.

-I use Biolage Shampoo and conditioner. Read labels to double check. Enjoy is also a gluten free one. I don't worry about tocopherols. The Canadian celiac association has a whole list of reasons why tocopherols are safe.

-Suave has no gluten in their shower gel and I use that for hand soap because it's cheap and it doesn't mess up my sensitive skin. I believe Softsoap is gluten free but check,

- If you want GREAT skin products try H20 Plus. You mostly have to order it online. They do have a few stores, and they also carry some of the products at Ulta. I've been using it for 12 years and my 41 year old skin looks like I'm in my late twenties. I credit H20 Plus for that because around the age of 30 my skin was starting to age until I started using their stuff.

- Bath and Body Works is gluten free. Read labels becuase I haven't checked every scent but all the ones I've checked have been okay.

4. I can't remember if you said your household is all gluten free or not. My kids CC'd me all the time with crumbs before my son got diagnosed celiac. I had to make them gluten free just to save myself.

5. Are you using Rice Dream rice milk? They say it's gluten free but it's processed with barley enzymes and people have had trouble with it. I won't touch it.

6. Did you eat a clean simple diet for the first couple of months? Your body needs a lot of healing and it needs a simple diet for awhile so it can heal. Maybe try a clean diet of fruits, rice, veggies and meats for a week and see if it helps.

[CarolinaKip]

Keep a food diary,that will help. Get food allergy tested also. My biggest problem has been corn,nuts, tomato and all other grains! Don't over do the gluten-free replacement foods. Give your body time to heal. When I went totally corn free I felt almost human again, you may want to give it a try!

[Mari]

Recently I've been getting Vit b12 injections and have had a great improvement in intestinal problems. Usually Drs look at the size or volume of the red blood cells to have an idea of whether a person is deficient in B12 or folic acid. I read an article recently which showed that a B12 deficiency does not show enlarged rbcs for some time after the person becomes deficient and so early B12 and folic acid testing of people with celiac disease is necessary.