Father With Celiac And Parkinson's Disease

[wowpookie]

Hello! I have had a gluten sensitivity for the last few years and possibly Celiac Disease. My blood work came back negative, but I hadn't been eating much gluten before the test, which I know can sway the results. I have been gluten free on and of for the past few years and after talking to a Celiac friend of mine learned that my father with Parkinson's Disease still has Celiac. He told me that he once had it as a child, but outgrew it. After researching that, and talking to my friend that that was the old belief but Dr's now know that a person can not "outgrow" Celiac Disease.I have also done some research on the connection between Parkinson's Disease and Celiac and it seems that the symptoms of Celiac Ataxia and Parkinson's are very similar. When I told my father this he was very emotional and agreed to try a gluten free diet. It has been a few weeks and his Parkinson's symptoms have ALREADY lessened! His throat was contracting during meals causing food to get stuck in his throat...this has stopped happening. His weight was dipping daily.. and it has remained at 156 lbs for the last week. His life long stomach pains have stopped. He was losing his ability to taste food.. this hasn't happened in 2 weeks. He is able to speak more clearly, although he still has a period in the day when he still stammers. He is less fatigued, has less anxiety and is less "foggy". He is also snacking less...(he has been a compulsive snacker his whole life..haha) Amazing right? I'm so amazed and so is he!! Has anyone else had Parkinson's like symptoms? Do you think there is a chance more of his symptoms will be relieved? We are really excited. Thank you for reading!

[AVR1962]

Hello! I have had a gluten sensitivity for the last few years and possibly Celiac Disease. My blood work came back negative, but I hadn't been eating much gluten before the test, which I know can sway the results. I have been gluten free on and of for the past few years and after talking to a Celiac friend of mine learned that my father with Parkinson's Disease still has Celiac. He told me that he once had it as a child, but outgrew it. After researching that, and talking to my friend that that was the old belief but Dr's now know that a person can not "outgrow" Celiac Disease.I have also done some research on the connection between Parkinson's Disease and Celiac and it seems that the symptoms of Celiac Ataxia and Parkinson's are very similar. When I told my father this he was very emotional and agreed to try a gluten free diet. It has been a few weeks and his Parkinson's symptoms have ALREADY lessened! His throat was contracting during meals causing food to get stuck in his throat...this has stopped happening. His weight was dipping daily.. and it has remained at 156 lbs for the last week. His life long stomach pains have stopped. He was losing his ability to taste food.. this hasn't happened in 2 weeks. He is able to speak more clearly, although he still has a period in the day when he still stammers. He is less fatigued, has less anxiety and is less "foggy". He is also snacking less...(he has been a compulsive snacker his whole life..haha) Amazing right? I'm so amazed and so is he!! Has anyone else had Parkinson's like symptoms? Do you think there is a chance more of his symptoms will be relieved? We are really excited. Thank you for reading!

That is awesome news and I am glad your dad agreed to go off gluten. My grandfather, I am positive, would have improved had he gone off too. He was dizzy the last several years of his life, had lost taste, lost his appetite, had terrible stomach issues. In the end he had colon cancer that eventually went to his bones. Shortly after he passed this past Jan, I was in the hospital with the same symptoms and I was diagnosed with celiac 7 months later. There is no way to go back in time and make a difference for those we have lost to this silent killer. It is really great you were able to save your dad!

[Bubba's Mom]

I'm thrilled for your Father's gluten-free response! Gluten affects so many things it's scary.

I hope he continues to see improvement.

It must feel great to have connected the dots for him?

[wowpookie]

[Thank you both so much. I am thrilled to be able to help my dad in this way! I am really excited about his future.