How Long Until gluten-free Diet Helps My Symptoms?

[abbycat1]

I finally had my endoscopy done six days ago, along with Prometheus bloodwork. I started gluten-free diet that day. I've had diarrhea (which is my worst symptom) twice since then, including today. I am staying gluten-free at least until I see the doc for results in a month, but I am wondering how long it takes to see some improvement. The diet is harder than I thought but I am really trying to be very careful and am determined to stick to it. How long did it take you to feel better after going gluten-free?

[BabsV]

Everyone is going to have a different answer...depends on symptoms, extent of damage, how quickly your body recovers, how strictly you follow the diet, any accidental glutenings, etc.

I am almost 5 months into the diet and while I am definitely improving I am certainly not 100%. Words of wisdom that were passed from these forums (thank you IrishHeart and others!) to me early on: take a probiotic, keep a food diary and skip the gluten-free replacement foods - go natural and simple at the beginning. I was having lots of problems with all sorts of foods - reacting to loads of things even though they were gluten free. My body's response mechanism was in overdrive and it wasn't until I went on a very simple diet of rice, potatoes, fish, and cooked vegetables (plus bananas - I always did ok with bananas) that I really saw some improvements. I've since been able to start adding other foods back into my diet, today I tried a small piece of cheddar cheese and was able to tolerate it! Big news since this is the first dairy I've had in months.

It is a matter of small steps versus leaps forward for many from what I've read. You have to have patience and give it time. The doctor who diagnosed me said that I should give it 3 months before expecting ANY change (possibly) and 6-12 months on the diet until I started to feel like my old self.

Good luck!

[addis001]

This was an amazing question.. Since I'm already trying to fit gluten free foods into my lifestyle already. You would think it would work overnight. But after two days of doing the gluten free foods, all I have is diarrhea and stomach cramps..

But even though I still need to see a GI. I feel like a proactive approach is helping me to cope better.

[Metoo]

It takes some people 6 months or more.

The first week I still had a lot of stomach pain (my main symptom) until someone on here said that some people have to stop eating oats even if they are labeled gluten free. Which I was eating everyday. As soon as I stopped the oats, my stomach pain stopped. It took me until 3-4 weeks before I felt like a new person. After that I have accidental glutenings that then take me 2-3 weeks to heal from. (which are miserable since I react worse now).

[pricklypear1971]

Are you eating milk products? Lots of Celiacs have issues digesting it, either temporarily as they heal or permanently.

Give it a whirl.

[abbycat1]

Yes, I do eat cheese, maybe that is aggravating my system. I'll skip that and see how it goes. Thanks, everyone for your responses!

[abbycat1]

Just wanted to post an update in case it will help any newcomers like myself; it has been one week since I've experienced an episode and it is so wonderful to NOT have to worry about rushing to the bathroom! I went off dairy since my last post and started taking a probiotic and both of those combined with the gluten free seems to have done the trick. I am thrilled! I am still getting used to the diet but there is so much information available here and on the internet that I am learning fast. Thanks to everyone here for their support. I won't get my blood and biopsy results until Feb 2 but at this point the results don't matter to me; I am staying gluten free and NORMAL forever! YAY!

[Bubba's Mom]

I'm so glad you're doing better. I think we kind of expect we're going to feel fantastic right away once going gluten-free and when we don't we get frustrated?

Stay with a mostly whole foods diet (meat, veggies, fruits, eggs, and dairy only if you tolerate it.)

If you eat gluten-free versions of processed foods it isn't good for healing.