When Should I Expect To See Improvement?

[kaygato]

I'm avoiding gluten along with dairy, and several other things I tested as sensitive too. I'm doing an elimination diet so after several months I'll challenge myself with these food, one at a time, to see if I can tolerate them. My doctor said I'd most likely not tolerate gluten and yeast, and probably dairy based on my results.

My reasons for looking into food intolerances were neurological symptoms, mainly. Brain fog, depression, feeling spaced out... when do you think I might start seeing improvement? I've been on this diet for only 4 days, but I don't feel much improvement yet.

[BabsV]

I think just about everyone has a different answer. Depends on your symptoms, how long you've been ill before diagnosis, how your body heals, how good you are at sticking to the diet (I unknowingly ingested gluten at the beginning on more than 1 occasion...it is definitely a steep learning curve!), etc etc etc

I'm 4 months post-Celiac diagnosis and I am finally starting to really see an improvement in the last week, especially in my pain issues. There have been small improvements over that entire time but it is as if it has all started to come together.

Am I 100%? Nope, not hardly. I still have a long way to go but in comparison to how I was pre-diagnosis I am definitely improving.

The doctor who diagnosed me told me to give it a minimum of 3 months on the gluten-free diet for ANY improvement and figure at least 6 months - 1 year to see a real marked improvement.

Good luck. It takes time...I have no patience so coming to grips with that has been really hard for me. But if I can do it, anyone can!

[Kristinade]

I have been 95% gluten-free for a week or so and my mom and I could tell a "slight" difference in my appearance. My stomach is getting flatter as each second passes will have a Barbie-like figure soon. (I wish!) The bloating has gone away somewhat and not going #2 as much. Here's hoping I can get into a bikini by next summer!

I can tell each time I consume wheat products. I had a slice of apple pie this week (it called out my name, what could I do?) and I paid for it with a burning rash that hurt like a mother. The rash must be a Celiac thing as it comes and goes.

[lovegrov]

Babs is right. Everybody is different so there's no one answer. I slowly started improving after about a week (partly because of the iron and other things I was being given) but it was weeks before I was really functional again.

richard

[Negasis]

Hi,

As a very, very new member, I was relieved a little to see posts like this! I was recently (11/16/11)diagnosed as Celiac, via biopsy. I have been dealing with "mystery pain" for 3 years, eight months (7 days, 22 hours and 11 minutes!)and no one could seem to tell me anything other than my lipase/amylase was sometimes elevated, my pancrease was sometimes inflammed and here, "Try Nexium!" (After I refused several times, anti-anxiety and anti-depressants.)

Needless to say once I could no longer work through the pain, I decided to pursue it one more time and that is when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I was told I have an 8" section of my small intestine that was damaged and that like you were told, expect on 3 months min, more like 6 months, to see an improvement.

I have been 100% gluten-free since 11/16; have my own toaster, my own things in fridge and store my dry items separate from the family pantry. The problem is that I am unable to eat much at all since the surgery (did not eat much before either)due to the same pain I have always had,and now have no appetite for the "legal" foods that are gluten-free. Not only do I not have an appetite, but I have more consistent pain now than since surgery. Not the worst pain, but definitely hard-core pain.

I am a Training Manager by trade, thus being able to facilitate and breathe is important! When this pain is at its worst, I am on the floor, crumpled into a little ball with my fist jammed under my ribcage. I have been "managing" this way for the 3 years, 8 months, etc. My body is still not liking the act of eating thus I am trying to eat when I know I do not have to be productive, in case it triggers pain. This is not doing much for maintaing my weight. I could at least maintain my weight before the surgery, now it is starting to pour off again. Pre-surgery, could ingest at least 64 ounces of water every day. Now I am lucky to get in 40 ounces a day.

Has anyone else experienced this amount of pain, even while being off of Gluten for at least 30 days? I was told last Friday by an internist that there must be something else wrong with me, that most celiacs do not have pain when they have gone gluten-free and that the GI doc that finally found Celiac was being lazy by stopping there. I walked out of the appointment as I had done quite enough research up to that point to know that he was off-base. Over the past 3.5 years, I have gone through CT scans, MRI's, MRCP's, endless lab work, cardiac workups, even an OB follow up, all while managing with no meds. (I cannot drink so I am literally talking NO MEDS.) When this internist took a very arrogant approach with me, I literally walked out. I was made to feel as if I just suddenly took an interest in Celiac and could not possibly be experiencing symptoms for years, and could not possibly be getting no relief from Versed, Dillaudid, Fentanyl, etc., when I have had to go to the ER for pain.

I am unable to tolerate oral meds (has been this way since onset, 3/29/08) and am now just as limited as before I went gluten-free, but now more-so as my body either is hating the new foods that I have been able to try, or I just need more time to heal.

I have also come to the realization that malabsorbtion may be catching up with me as I have recently been more anxious and more stressed than usual. Prior to this September when I finally had to resign my former position due to my health (80% travel all over US and International), I traveled extensively and crossed my fingers that I could manage through whatever might happen. My weight loss (40lbs) finally caught up to me and I went out on a medical leave. I now have a job where I can mostly work from home and train mostly virtual. It has helped the wear and tear on my body but I have not seen any improvment in the pain, save the last two days. These are the only days I have been mostly pain-free since the endoscopy/EUS/Biopsy that diagnosed me with Celiac Disease, on 11/16.

So, am I jumping the gun? I have doctors and family members trying to pressure me into "Figuring out what is causing the pain," yet from my perspective, it appears unrealistic to think that the pain I have had for almost 4 years will go away within a month of being gluten-free.

Do I just need to rest on my laurels for a bit?

Thanks much,

Frustrated 42yo Female in Denver!!!!

I think just about everyone has a different answer. Depends on your symptoms, how long you've been ill before diagnosis, how your body heals, how good you are at sticking to the diet (I unknowingly ingested gluten at the beginning on more than 1 occasion...it is definitely a steep learning curve!), etc etc etc

I'm 4 months post-Celiac diagnosis and I am finally starting to really see an improvement in the last week, especially in my pain issues. There have been small improvements over that entire time but it is as if it has all started to come together.

Am I 100%? Nope, not hardly. I still have a long way to go but in comparison to how I was pre-diagnosis I am definitely improving.

The doctor who diagnosed me told me to give it a minimum of 3 months on the gluten-free diet for ANY improvement and figure at least 6 months - 1 year to see a real marked improvement.

Good luck. It takes time...I have no patience so coming to grips with that has been really hard for me. But if I can do it, anyone can!