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 Does It Take To Heal The Gut And Regain Weight?

Anya

Recommended Posts

Anya Apprentice
Anya
Posted

We have a 23month old girl who has been glutenfree for 3 months now. We (incl. our GI) believe that she might be Celiac, since she has the gene and I personally have an undiagnosed condition that got resolved with glutenfree and dairy free diet. She had also recurring c.diff infections for 10 months and Celiac could have created a favorable environment for bacterial overgrowth.

Our daughter used to have some strange emotional behavior that resolved completely within weeks on a glutenfree diet. According to our GI that is typically seen with Celiacs. We have also seen a great improvement in the stools and have less issues with constipation. We have however not seen much weight gain. She has grown some in height, but just not put on any weight. Her appetite has improved some, but not to the point that she would be gaining weight. I am wondering what other people have seen? I would have expected to see bigger improvements in terms of growth within 3 months.

I should add that we had a lot of teething going on over the last few months (4 molars!). We had late tooth eruption and as soon as we were glutenfree, it seemed like all teeth started coming in at once. I am sure that is contributing to the poor appetite, but I would have still expected better results.

I would appreciate any input.

Evelyn

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


teresasupermom Rookie
teresasupermom
Posted

We are still working on my dd gaining weight. She has not gained any weight in a year and I am very concerned about that. She is 7 soon to be 8. She has been completely gluten free for a year, but her antibody levels are still high indicating she is getting contaminated somewhere. Was she tested for antibodies at all? For us the antibody check has been very beneficial. I wouldn't have realized that even as close as I thought we were being that she was still being exposed to gluten. With the follow up lab work I realized that the whole family had to go gluten free and I have concerns that my dd is in the super sensitive camp. Just wondering if she could be being exposed or contaminated and that's why she's not gaining. I know that from what I have read it can take a while for the gut to heal. We're not there yet so I don't know. Sorry if I'm not much help. We're still learning a lot.

Kimmik95 Rookie
Kimmik95
Posted

From what I understand, it can take up to 2 years to totally heal, but 6 months is a reasonable time to hope for. My son (he's almost 7) was diagnosed the end of November through a biopsy and he's be gluten-free since that point. He also has ADHD, so while his eating is more normal (not the I'm starving to death binges of before), he's now feeling the affects of appetite suppresent from his meds. Just this past week, we've finally noticed a weight gain. We are supplimenting his diet with Ensure (250 calories each) several times a day to try to help with the weight gain. His weight is currently in about the 3% range (previously 50%).

We have a 23month old girl who has been glutenfree for 3 months now. We (incl. our GI) believe that she might be Celiac, since she has the gene and I personally have an undiagnosed condition that got resolved with glutenfree and dairy free diet. She had also recurring c.diff infections for 10 months and Celiac could have created a favorable environment for bacterial overgrowth.

Our daughter used to have some strange emotional behavior that resolved completely within weeks on a glutenfree diet. According to our GI that is typically seen with Celiacs. We have also seen a great improvement in the stools and have less issues with constipation. We have however not seen much weight gain. She has grown some in height, but just not put on any weight. Her appetite has improved some, but not to the point that she would be gaining weight. I am wondering what other people have seen? I would have expected to see bigger improvements in terms of growth within 3 months.

I should add that we had a lot of teething going on over the last few months (4 molars!). We had late tooth eruption and as soon as we were glutenfree, it seemed like all teeth started coming in at once. I am sure that is contributing to the poor appetite, but I would have still expected better results.

I would appreciate any input.

Evelyn

Anya Apprentice
Anya
Posted
  • Author

We are still working on my dd gaining weight. She has not gained any weight in a year and I am very concerned about that. She is 7 soon to be 8. She has been completely gluten free for a year, but her antibody levels are still high indicating she is getting contaminated somewhere. Was she tested for antibodies at all? For us the antibody check has been very beneficial. I wouldn't have realized that even as close as I thought we were being that she was still being exposed to gluten. With the follow up lab work I realized that the whole family had to go gluten free and I have concerns that my dd is in the super sensitive camp. Just wondering if she could be being exposed or contaminated and that's why she's not gaining. I know that from what I have read it can take a while for the gut to heal. We're not there yet so I don't know. Sorry if I'm not much help. We're still learning a lot.

Thank you for the reply. Yes, she has been tested for antibodies, but it was negative. Her igA was very low, so it could be a false negative. Wouldn't it be possible that the antibodies you are seeing are old antibodies, rather than new ones? I would think antibodies stay around for a while?

Anya Apprentice
Anya
Posted
  • Author

From what I understand, it can take up to 2 years to totally heal, but 6 months is a reasonable time to hope for. My son (he's almost 7) was diagnosed the end of November through a biopsy and he's be gluten-free since that point. He also has ADHD, so while his eating is more normal (not the I'm starving to death binges of before), he's now feeling the affects of appetite suppresent from his meds. Just this past week, we've finally noticed a weight gain. We are supplimenting his diet with Ensure (250 calories each) several times a day to try to help with the weight gain. His weight is currently in about the 3% range (previously 50%).

Thanks for the reply. Our daughter is also in the 3rd percentile (from 75% at 3 months). Our GI gave us Duocal, which is hydrolized corn that can be added to foods for extra calories. So far, I have not been successful in adding it to anything, will try to add it to rice and coconut milk now. Hopefully she will take it, it does change the consistency.

Kimmik95 Rookie
Kimmik95
Posted

Chris's GI suggested using pediasure (not sure if that contains dairy or not). I was thinking you could also get Ensure in a non-dairy form. Ensure is 250 calories and we also give Chris whole milk. He drinks a milkshake every night that I have up to about 800 calories too :) We use whole milk, bananas, ice cream, and chocolate syrup. The calories are alot more difficult when you can't use whole milk though.

I would suspect that you daughter might be getting some small amounts of cross contamination somewhere. We discovered in December that a breakfast drink we were giving my son all of the sudden contained wheat. Have you gone back through your go-to foods and verified they are still gluten free?

Thanks for the reply. Our daughter is also in the 3rd percentile (from 75% at 3 months). Our GI gave us Duocal, which is hydrolized corn that can be added to foods for extra calories. So far, I have not been successful in adding it to anything, will try to add it to rice and coconut milk now. Hopefully she will take it, it does change the consistency.

Pame Newbie
Pame
Posted

We are still working on my dd gaining weight. She has not gained any weight in a year and I am very concerned about that. She is 7 soon to be 8. She has been completely gluten free for a year, but her antibody levels are still high indicating she is getting contaminated somewhere. Was she tested for antibodies at all? For us the antibody check has been very beneficial. I wouldn't have realized that even as close as I thought we were being that she was still being exposed to gluten. With the follow up lab work I realized that the whole family had to go gluten free and I have concerns that my dd is in the super sensitive camp. Just wondering if she could be being exposed or contaminated and that's why she's not gaining. I know that from what I have read it can take a while for the gut to heal. We're not there yet so I don't know. Sorry if I'm not much help. We're still learning a lot.

I have found that I keep running into things I didn't expect there to be gluten in. Possibly that is your problem with your daughter. I was using a mega green juice to make smoothies in the morning and just discovered after a month of stomach aches that there is barley in it, should have read the label but never thought it would be there. Yogurts, ice cream, sour cream all can have gluten as a thickener in them. You have to contact the company or buy one that says gluten free and then sometimes I see that even though they have gluten free, they are made in a fascility that also has wheat etc., or there are traces of itm which I don't know how they can say it is gluten free then, anyway just a thought for you. also I use gluten free personal care products

Good luck

Pame

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


teresasupermom Rookie
teresasupermom
Posted

I have found that I keep running into things I didn't expect there to be gluten in. Possibly that is your problem with your daughter. I was using a mega green juice to make smoothies in the morning and just discovered after a month of stomach aches that there is barley in it, should have read the label but never thought it would be there. Yogurts, ice cream, sour cream all can have gluten as a thickener in them. You have to contact the company or buy one that says gluten free and then sometimes I see that even though they have gluten free, they are made in a fascility that also has wheat etc., or there are traces of itm which I don't know how they can say it is gluten free then, anyway just a thought for you. also I use gluten free personal care products

Good luck

Pame

Yes, we've found a couple places that she has been being exposed to gluten still so we're still working on this. She's getting contaminated out of the home I think, but still working on pinpointing all the sources. It's very frustrating.

Kimmik95 Rookie
Kimmik95
Posted

Does she go to daycare? If so - I would strongly suspect she's getting cross contamination there. My daughter's nanny worked in a daycare that had a child with Celiac Disease (probaby about your daughter's age). Their way of avoiding CC was to sit her in the same seat all the time. They didn't clean very well and didn't tell anyone else their braintrust method, so other workers would set other kids there. I also heard stories of teachers feeding her cookies and stuff without realizing she wasn't to have them. If she is in daycare, I would create a plan to review with the director and her teachers to explain exactly what you expect and why it is so important.

Yes, we've found a couple places that she has been being exposed to gluten still so we're still working on this. She's getting contaminated out of the home I think, but still working on pinpointing all the sources. It's very frustrating.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. JoJo0611
      - JoJo0611 replied to JoJo0611's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      CT with contrast.

      I didn’t know there were different types of CT. I’m not sure which I had. It just said CT scan with contrast.
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Publications & Publicity
      1

      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      Thanks for sharing this!
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Ginger38's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      2

      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared....
    4. trents
      - trents replied to Mmoc's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      3

      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      Keep us posted.
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Celiac.com Video News: November 2025

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,399
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Hoyt Marquis
    Newest Member
    Hoyt Marquis
    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

    • JoJo0611
      CT with contrast.

      By JoJo0611 · Posted

      I didn’t know there were different types of CT. I’m not sure which I had. It just said CT scan with contrast. 
    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
×
×
  • 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.