Recovery Time

[wayneglutzky]

Hello, I am new to the gluten-free lifestyle and new to this forum, so it kind of feels like the first day of High School all over again. I just hope I make more friends this time around!

Anyways, I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and really was shocked that all of the problems I have been suffering from since I was 12 were all connected with Celiac. Late puberty, weight loss/not gaining muscle, eczema, bloating/gas, dental problems, extreme fatigue, depression...and I am probably forgetting some stuff.

I am 21 now and finally have the answer to it all. I can't believe I (or my doctors) never put everything together 'til now. But, I realize it's important not to think about the past and focus on the bright future I have ahead of me. I do have a couple of questions, though.

I just went gluten-free two days ago and I do feel some improvement with the bloating/gas, and my eczema is already improving. However, I do still get some bloating and gas just about after each meal. How long will this last? Is it just because the lining is still damaged and needs time to heal?

Also, I have been eating very healthy for a few years now...but I do have one thing that I "cheat" on every other week or so and that is ice cream. I know ice cream should naturally be gluten free, but I realize certain restaurants and companies add unnesccary items into their products. So, I was just wondering if you had a favorite gluten-free ice cream? Also, are there any ice cream shops that are more gluten-friendly than others?

Thanks!

[LeahBanicki]

This is a process. It was weeks before I really started feeling better and a year before I had really 'good' days. Depending on how much damage you did to your intestines it can take a while.

While cheating may seem harmless it is doing damage to you. You need to pay attention to those labels. It will only help you in the long run to know what helps you feel better.

I never let anything past my lips if I didn't thoroughly read the label.

Your pain and suffering is all up to you. You are worth it.

I like breyer's ice cream. If dairy is giving you headaches or stomach pain you might want to go easy on it for a little while. A lot of celiacs have problems with dairy while their guts are healing.

[eatmeat4good]

Hey!

Welcome to Celiac High School!

Congratulations on your diagnosis!

You should be feeling better and better the longer you are gluten free!

You can have some lingering digestive issues as your body heals and it isn't anything to worry about.

I was undiagnosed for 8 years and it took about 3 months for things to settle down in terms of digestion.

The other symptoms just kept getting better and better.

So I wouldn't worry about it.

Ice cream-- Breyer's has really good ice cream with fewer and more natural ingredients.

However, newly diagnosed Celiacs are often unable to tolerate dairy and that may be what you are experiencing with ongoing digestive problems. The villi that are damaged by Celiac are unable to produce the enzyme needed to digest dairy. I thought I wouldn't be "one of those" but I was. I gave up dairy at 3 months gluten free, which is probably why my digestive problems settled down. Some have to give it up for a few months, some for a year and some never get back the ability to digest lactose. The tips of the villi produce the enzyme we need for dairy digestion.

You will figure that out by trial and error.

Also trace glutening and cross contamination are fairly common until you figure out what all you have to watch out for.

Hope you enjoy watching your body get stronger and healthier!

I know I did!

Welcome to c.com and I'm sure you will get other good suggestions here. Ask anything you want to. They have a lot of experience here!

From one happy Celiac to another!

Have a great day!

[wayneglutzky]

While cheating may seem harmless it is doing damage to you. You need to pay attention to those labels. It will only help you in the long run to know what helps you feel better.

I probably should have been more clear. When I said "cheat" I meant on my healthy diet I had before I even knew I had Celiac. I would never cheat on my new gluten-free diet. It just doesn't make sense to put something in my body that will destroy my insides.

Thank you both for the replies and tips! The dairy advice saddens me a bit, but I will give it a try and see if my symptoms approve even more.

Long road ahead!

[Kayshae]

Welcome! I am a newby too. I have now been gluten free for a week. Started symptoms about 5 years ago when I was 18. I have already noticed a huge difference. I do still have bloating issues and some digestive issues that I'm sure will linger till damage is repaired but I have fewer headaches, my caffeine intake is cut in half because I'm not so tired all the time, my skin issues are healing themselves, and I apparently just look so much better. Friends say im not do pale and I just look healthier and happier. I am very excited to gain back some weight!

[Lfrost]

Hello and welcome!

One thing that helped my son with bloating was taking probiotics. I don't know if you take any now, but Culturelle is what we give my son and it has helped him a lot. Also, there are gluten free/dairy free ice creams out there. My son loves ice cream and we get him ice cream made with almond milk. There are also ice creams made with rice milk, but we are also avoiding soy.

You will find that with most things you were able to eat before, there are gluten free alternatives. There are a lot of knowledgable people on here that can help you with that. Just let them know what it is that you are craving and chances are, someone can give you an alternative.

The people on this forum are great! If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to vent, there are always lots of shoulders to lean on!

[wayneglutzky]

Kayshae: It's nice to meet a fellow newb! I am looking forward to the weight gain, and muscle gain. Hopefully we both continue to improve!

Lfrost: Thank you for the advice. I eat greek yogurt (which I may have to give up for awhile, unless there are dairy free versions) but I do not take any probiotics tablets or anything. I'll definitely look into it and give it a try, though! I am already a big fan of almond milk, so almond milk ice cream sounds delicious!

[nvsmom]

WayneGlutzky... I like that although I'm a Flames fan myself. I'm another newbie (almost 2 weeks in) who is still in recovery/withdrawl after 30 odd years of glutening. My body seems to be going about recovery in a different manner than you and Kayshae: In the past I put on weight easily and now I'm losing about 4 lbs a week... Strange how it's so different for everyone, I'm glad it is though because i'd hate to gain more weight. LOL

I hope you have a fast recovery and see results soon. You're quite young so I bet you bounce back quickly.

Also, I recently discovered goat milk yogurt. I've only found it plain but if you add a bit of jam or honey it's quite good. It might be worth a look.

[~**caselynn**~]

Welcome to you all!! There's lots of good info on here, be sure to use it to your advantage, and lots of people who can hopefully help you answer questions! I know I'm more than willing to help if I can! Soooo, with that said, ice cream...YUMMMM!!! Hehe love ice cream!! Or should I say frozen yogurt? I only eat one kind (because it's my favorite) Kemp's frozen yogurt in moose tracks. It's states gluten-free right on the carton and is wicked good. For those of you not from New England, wicked is a good thing haha an awesome thing actually! Definitely try it if it's in your area!

[wayneglutzky]

nvsmom: Haha, I will gladly root for the Flames if they are your team. I don't watch a lot of hockey; I just thought I'd try to be clever and come up with a "cool" name. But, I've heard of both weight gain and weight loss, it's really strange how the symptoms differ with everybody. Hopefully you continue dropping the pounds! I haven't seen any goat milk yogurt, but I'm going by Whole Foods next week, perhaps they will have it.

caselynn: There is an extreme amount of info on this site. I spent half of my day just searching this site yesterday and it was well worth it. I am a big fan of frozen yogurt, too! I checked the website for Kemp's frozen yogurt and it doesn't look they sell it where I live. I'm sure I can find something around my area, though!