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How Long To Get Rid Of Gluten From My System?

KnightRobby

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KnightRobby Enthusiast
KnightRobby
Posted

In a nutshell, my journey with chronic head pain began at age 13 in 1999. I strongly believe I have been dealing with Gluten Intolerance ever since and only recently discovered that I have Celiac Disease.

I have been told by my Allergist that it can take up to 6-8 weeks to be completely Gluten free. Is this correct? I am thinking it will take much loner than this. And how do I go about knowing that I am 100% Gluten Free?

Thanks.

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sa1937 Community Regular
sa1937
Posted

I have been told by my Allergist that it can take up to 6-8 weeks to be completely Gluten free. Is this correct? I am thinking it will take much loner than this. And how do I go about knowing that I am 100% Gluten Free?

Thanks.

I have no idea unless your allergist thinks it's going to take 6 to 8 weeks for you to learn the ins and outs of eating gluten-free ??? I started reading labels as soon as I had a positive celiac panel so as to not buy things I knew I would not be able to eat. I cleaned out my pantry the first week after my endoscopy and got rid or or donated foods I could no longer eat. And then I tackled personal care products. While there's definitely a learning curve, I didn't find this to be overwhelming.

You might want to check this list of safe and unsafe foods so you become familiar with what you can eat and ingredients you have to watch for. And if you stick with naturally gluten-free foods, you'll have a whole lot less labels to read.

Living Gluten-Free for Dummies by Danna Korn is a book you might find helpful.

While it may be confusing at first, just hang in there and it'll definitely get a lot easier.

KnightRobby Enthusiast
KnightRobby
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the reply. Personal care products, really? Do you mean toothpaste, etc? Do I have to worry about that too? I haven't ever seen Gluten on toothpaste and would the ingredients also be listed on ingredients/foods to avoid list?

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I have never seen gluten in toothpaste. Most of us prefer to use gluten-free shampoo, lotion ,etc because it can get in your mouth or stick to your hands and then get on food. Check any meds, vitamins, Tylenol, etc for gluten. On meds, the only way to know if it has gluten is if the manufacturer decides to label it gluten-free or you call the company and ask.

Don't kiss people who eat gluten until they have thoroughly brushed thier teeth. Be aware of lipsticks/gloss, too.

Newbee Contributor
Newbee
Posted

What do they 6 - 8 weeks to be completely gluten free? If you've had the disease a long time it can potentially take a long time for all this stuff to really get out of your system even if you are not consuming it. I may be an extreme example as I think I've had this disease since I was a small child and I'm 38 now. I've been gluten free for almost 15 months now and just went to get my latest celiac blood test and it STILL is showing positive. It has been decreasing since I went gluten free and I'm just 1 point away from testing negative, but still. I'm very cautious about what I eat, etc. so I don't think this is due to me consuming gluten (my GI doc said the same thing).

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

And how do I go about knowing that I am 100% Gluten Free?

I like to say I'm 99.99% gluten-free - no matter how careful you are, accidental glutenings are very difficult to completely avoid. You can only do your best to learn all the hidden sources of gluten and how avoid them.

One way to determine you know you are successful in removing gluten is symptom improvement. Another is follow up testing. My celiac doc recommended full celiac panel and nutritional deficiencies at 3 and 6 months gluten-free, then annually thereafter.

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted

Don't kiss people who eat gluten until they have thoroughly brushed thier teeth.

Really? I would never have thought of that on my own.

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    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
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      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
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      I think I am gluten intolerant

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      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
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