Diagnosed, But Have Minimal Symptoms

[Colorado123]

I was diagnosed a few months ago, but have never had major stomach symptoms. My symptoms originated due to severe anemia - which through blood testing resulted in getting tested for Celiac. I have changed my diet and have cut out about 95% of gluten. The 5% comes from instances such as resting gluten free soy sauce when I am out to eat sushi, but sometimes they don't have it. Using some sauces that have minimal gluten ingredients, etc. I'm wondering, is my body healing at all by cutting out the majority of gluten, or do I need to be truly 100% gluten free?

[mamaw]

You need to be100% , 365 days a year, no exceptions.......unless you are able to look inside your small intestin to see if any damage is taking place you may never know until its toooooo late. For many of usits just not worth the risk....you can buy packets of gluten-free soysauce & carry them with you.....plus gluten-free foods can be expensiveso why would you want to be gluten-free 95% of the time & eat gluten 5% of the same. Sorry but that makes no sense to me... please be all gluten-free for your health...

blessings

mamaw

[love2travel]

Totally agree. 100% is the only way to do it. Period. I have NO symptoms and find it extremely hard at times to be doing this - where is the motivation? I feel as though I have no disease or illness at all. I am full of energy and don't get sick. Sometimes I question my bloodwork and biopsy results that prove I am celiac. I do have chronic back pain from an injury that is severely debilitating at times so pain is not new to me but it happened because of an injury. Part of me wonders whether celiac disease is making it worse - that could be. Regardless of my being a silent celiac, I still refuse to cheat. EVER. Believe me - I am tempted but I cannot do it. I'm super stringent.

For your present and future health please go 100%. We care about that here!

[sahm-i-am]

Hi Colorado -

I too had no GI symptoms, they found out I had Celiac while trying to diagnose me with lymphoma! Turns out my Celiac Symptoms were mimicking cancer, so I had NO clue.

The first few months it was hard to tell if I reacted to gluten. I never got sick.

The only positive change for me was that I was gaining back the weight I had lost. And

my iron levels rose and stayed there.

So, on New Year's Day, to test if I reacted to gluten I had a Pillsbury Cinnabon Roll w/ Creme Cheese Frosting - sooooo gooooood!!!! BUT, 2 hours later I was throwing it up! Shoot - but now I know.

And that was alot of gluten I was throwing at my body. Even to this day (10 months since diagnosis) I don't physically react to a small bit of gluten. But since I'm not having symptoms doesn't mean I'm not damaging my intestines. It makes it very hard to not cheat. But your future self will thank you.

Wendi

[zus888]

Celiac is an autoimmune disease, so even minor amounts will trigger an automimmune response (think about how small viruses are and how they trigger a response). As long as you are eating even the smallest amount, your body is putting an attack on your small intestine. It's an all or none disease.

[butterfl8]

Hi Colorado, another Coloradan here. Things that I didn't even think were a problem got better after gluten free. And yes, 100% free. I enjoy being more cheerful, upbeat, and the best one, awake!! I didn't even realize how tired I was all the time!

So there are benefits besides just the stomach stuff!

By the way, check out www.denverceliacs.org for more great information! There is a meeting on Thursday night, and then the annual picnic in June.

-Daisy