How Long Does It Take To Heal?

[alucard4545]

So I've been on the Gluten Free diet for about 7 months now but I still don't feel completely better. I try my very best to not get glutened, I rarely eat outside because I fear contamination. Just a quick background:

Before I went on this diet my main symptoms were: abnormal bowel movements every morning + Stomach nausea.

Since being on this diet my nausea symptoms seem to have disappeared completely! but not my bowel movements. Though less severe than before, I still have to pass uncomfortable bowel movements several times every morning before I'm ready to start the day.

Will my insides ever heal completely so I can feel normal again? Or did my 5 and a half years of being undiagnosed damage my insides enough so that I may never be completely healed? Can anyone relate to this?

[Marilyn R]

Unfortunately, the answer to your question is unknown. It took me almost two years to feel better, but I'm quite a bit older than you and think I went undiagnosed (even though I'm self diagnosed) for several more years than you did.

At seven months, if you're still having trouble with your BM's, I'd suggest trying to figure out what other foods are giving you issues.

You may have developed new food allergies or intolerances. Common ones include soy, dairy, corn, grains and foods from the nightshade family. Some celiacs have problems with MSG, nitrates, other additives. I advocate going to an allergist for skin prick testing if you haven't already done that. I was astonished to learn I was highly allergic to pecans and turkey.

Good luck to you! Your recovery time should be significantly shorter than mine because you found out earlier. Try to eat like your grandparents (or great grandparents) did, very simply with a meat, a starch and a vegetable or fruit. (Fresh is best, simple is best, try to keep a food diary .) For me, reactions to what I ate can vary from 30 minutes to a full day. Some people have reactions two days later. It's a puzzle.

[IrishHeart]

Healing times vary, hon, so it is difficult to say.

Have you eliminated dairy? It can cause these problems as well.

Just a thought!

Try some probiotics?? They help with bowel issues.

[alucard4545]

Unfortunately, the answer to your question is unknown. It took me almost two years to feel better, but I'm quite a bit older than you and think I went undiagnosed (even though I'm self diagnosed) for several more years than you did.

At seven months, if you're still having trouble with your BM's, I'd suggest trying to figure out what other foods are giving you issues.

You may have developed new food allergies or intolerances. Common ones include soy, dairy, corn, grains and foods from the nightshade family. Some celiacs have problems with MSG, nitrates, other additives. I advocate going to an allergist for skin prick testing if you haven't already done that. I was astonished to learn I was highly allergic to pecans and turkey.

Good luck to you! Your recovery time should be significantly shorter than mine because you found out earlier. Try to eat like your grandparents (or great grandparents) did, very simply with a meat, a starch and a vegetable or fruit. (Fresh is best, simple is best, try to keep a food diary .) For me, reactions to what I ate can vary from 30 minutes to a full day. Some people have reactions two days later. It's a puzzle.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've never heard of the skin prick testing for allergies. Perhaps that's something I should look into.

[alucard4545]

Healing times vary, hon, so it is difficult to say.

Have you eliminated dairy? It can cause these problems as well.

Just a thought!

Try some probiotics?? They help with bowel issues.

No I haven't eliminated anything from my diet but gluten. I also try to eat as healthy as I can. I would be so disappointed if I were discover I had an intolerance to dairy, I couldn't imagine giving up milk.

[sa1937]

No I haven't eliminated anything from my diet but gluten. I also try to eat as healthy as I can. I would be so disappointed if I were discover I had an intolerance to dairy, I couldn't imagine giving up milk.

At 18-months following my diagnosis, I was still having issues and could not figure out what was causing them as I was very careful with my diet, did not eat out, etc. Listen to Irish Heart and start taking probiotics (Culturelle for me). I cannot tell you how amazingly well I feel.

I did pretty much give up dairy right away and I missed dairy products beyond belief even though I never missed gluten. At 9-months gluten-free, I started to test the waters with very small amounts of hard cheeses. I am now able to eat dairy products without issue. Even though you might benefit from giving them up now, you may be able to add them back into your diet later unless you are also casein intolerant.

[IrishHeart]

No I haven't eliminated anything from my diet but gluten. I also try to eat as healthy as I can. I would be so disappointed if I were discover I had an intolerance to dairy, I couldn't imagine giving up milk.

Sylvia and I both had to give up dairy for longer periods because we are older and took a bit longer to heal our villi. But, now we are able to eat dairy products. yaay!

I highly recommend the probiotics (Culturelle DF is a good one) to everyone because celiac guts NEED them.

Newly Dxed celiacs are often lactose intolerant because lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down the sugar lactose, is produced in the tip of the villi.

When the villi get blunted in celiac disease, sometimes the ability to digest lactose is decreased and you can become TEMPORARILY lactose intolerant. This may cause bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, etc. After you go gluten-free, the villi will heal and most people are able to tolerate dairy foods again.

I wonder why your GI doctor did not suggest this to you? Mine was pretty adamant I stay off it for as "long as I could stand it" he said.

Don't start worrying that things are not headed in the right direction---it's still early in your healing process and it may take 6 months or longer.

Try the non-dairy route and the probiotics and see if things improve.

Just some suggestions for you!

[Marilyn R]

:)Another thing is that your autoimmune system has decided it doesn't like wheat. It attacks. You take away wheat and consume other things that you love and can have. The protein in dairy is similar in shape and structure to dairy, and your autoimmune system is ramped up and ready to fight. Maybe it's fighting dairy.

You took away the favorite warrior, but the autoimmune system is on a rampage and wants to continue to kill. I used to get seriously bad colds every six months, but I haven't had a cold or the flu in two years.

Going dairy free is tough, but it is glorious to be able to have it again. I'd highly suggest it. Coconut milk isn't bad. I wasn't really wild about hemp or rice milk. Almond milk bugged me (maybe bedause of the tree nut alergy).

[alucard4545]

Sylvia and I both had to give up dairy for longer periods because we are older and took a bit longer to heal our villi. But, now we are able to eat dairy products. yaay!

I highly recommend the probiotics (Culturelle DF is a good one) to everyone because celiac guts NEED them.

Newly Dxed celiacs are often lactose intolerant because lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down the sugar lactose, is produced in the tip of the villi.

When the villi get blunted in celiac disease, sometimes the ability to digest lactose is decreased and you can become TEMPORARILY lactose intolerant. This may cause bloating, stomach cramps, diarrhea, etc. After you go gluten-free, the villi will heal and most people are able to tolerate dairy foods again.

I wonder why your GI doctor did not suggest this to you? Mine was pretty adamant I stay off it for as "long as I could stand it" he said.

Don't start worrying that things are not headed in the right direction---it's still early in your healing process and it may take 6 months or longer.

Try the non-dairy route and the probiotics and see if things improve.

Just some suggestions for you!

Wow, I didn't know that the villi produced the lactase. And no my doctor never mentioned going dairy free. It was just strict gluten free diet at first, and then she told me to take a multivitamin once a day and folic acid twice a week to see if I feel better. My next appointment with her is in March.

I'm really thinking about all of this now and I'm starting to consider knocking out the dairy too, even if it bugs my mom (She does most of the cooking in the house)

[alucard4545]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and insight. I appreciate it. I'll start looking into dairy free stuff, and I'll try and get the DF culturelle.

[IrishHeart]

Wow, I didn't know that the villi produced the lactase. And no my doctor never mentioned going dairy free. It was just strict gluten free diet at first, and then she told me to take a multivitamin once a day and folic acid twice a week to see if I feel better. My next appointment with her is in March.

I'm really thinking about all of this now and I'm starting to consider knocking out the dairy too, even if it bugs my mom (She does most of the cooking in the house)

It's best if you learn all you can about celiac disease now--so you can best help yourself for the rest of your healthy life!

Learn about villi and digestion and autoimmunity. It may illuminate some things for you!

Knowledge is power, kiddo

Adapting to dairy free is not a big deal. Use coconut milk (So Delicious brand is yummy--right in the dairy case in a red container) and they make yogurts, "ice creams" too. All gluten-free. Or almond milk.

[Marilyn R]

It's best if you learn all you can about celiac disease now--so you can best help yourself for the rest of your healthy life!

Learn about villi and digestion and autoimmunity. It may illuminate some things for you!

Knowledge is power, kiddo

Adapting to dairy free is not a big deal. Use coconut milk (So Delicious brand is yummy--right in the dairy case in a red container) and they make yogurts, "ice creams" too. All gluten-free. Or almond milk.

So Delicious has a web site and printable coupon too, just in case you're interested.

[IrishHeart]

So Delicious has a web site and printable coupon too, just in case you're interested.

I Am--thank you, Marilyn!!

[brossjoyce]

I was just diagnosed about three weeks ago.  The allergist took me off diary and eggs as well as gluten.  I am taking krill oil tabs, vit. D and a heafty multiple vitamin, and daily probiotics.  She also told me to take an OTC anti-inflamatory BCM-95.  My first week after diagnosis was terrible, even though the diarrhea stopped the gut (bloating, nausea, headache and rumbling) continued.  Now, 3 weeks into healing ... it's better and I can tell I'm on my way to recovering.  I have been really sick for about 3 years, but thought it was caused from my well water.  I started getting water delivered, but my stomach problems & diarrhea got progressively worse.  My 38 yo. daughter called several months ago and told me she has celiac disease and I should get checked out.  I finally went to an allergist and she told me after hearing my history that I had celiac disease.  I also have another autoimmune problem ... hashamoto's disease, which caused severe fatigue.  But thank God, I didn't have silent celiac otherwise I would not have sought a cause for my abdominal problems.  

 

I still have nausea and minor rumbling ... but nothing like I did have.  I am resolved that the healing is happening, it will just take time.  I never want to go through what I have experienced the past three years and I am learning everything I can.  I think going to an allergist is a good idea ... to find out what else may be causing you trouble.  There is a family history of dairy sensitivity and boy do I love milk ... but it doesn't love me.  I may be able to have eggs and/or dairy in the future, but for now ... my gut needs to take it easy so healing can happen.

 

I am ordering the BCM-95 from Amazon next week.  From what I have read ... inflammation plays a large role with celiac disease.  I plan to order 

Super Bio-Curcumin (400mg)

by Open Original Shared Link

 

which costs $2163 and if you have Prime you will get free shipping.  I wish you the best and hope this will help.

[C-Girl]

I'm surprised I don't see more on this forum about FODMAPs. I was diagnosed recently, and didn't see any improvement in my symptoms after just cutting out gluten, but when I got on the FODMAP elimination diet, I saw immediate improvement. I can always tell when I eat something banned by mistake - immediate cramps, diarrhea. It's different from being 'glutened' - that is like being hit with a hammer of fatigue on top of the gut symptoms. Of course the diet is pretty boring. I really miss apples and onions. I'm hoping that in a month or so I can start adding some of those back - as long as I can keep from being glutened.

[NoGlutenCooties]

Just wanted to add that digestive enzymes are really helpful too.  They help break down the food that your body isn't ready to break down on its own yet - which can help speed up the recovery too.