Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Ataxia


Marz

Recommended Posts

Marz Enthusiast

So I stumbled on a website talking about ataxia, and the link to gluten-intolerance. The symptoms are listed as :

* Poor coordination in physical movements and poor control of muscle movement

* Inability to control the speed or the power of a physical movement

* Headaches

* Inability to speak or form words correctly; speech impediments

I just remembered a problem I was having last year before going gluten free, where I was having difficulty getting words out of my mouth. It was the strangest thing to experience. My sentences were also sometimes very slow and I had to really concentrate to form the words. It would happen in episodes - some days I was fine, other days I really struggled. It didn't help having brain fog at the same time, made me feel like I was getting dumber.

Just realised I haven't had this problem in a *long* time... like I had forgotten I even had this problem. Strike off yet another random issue that I didn't realise was gluten-related!

Other random ataxia symptoms I had - poor coordination yes, but not too bad. I would sometimes close my hand in a drawer because I didn't move it fast enough for my other hand's liking, or scuff my hand against a cupboard because I miscalculated where my hand was and should be :)

Lots of bruises from bumping against desks, and again I haven't noticed many bruises lately at all.

All this has cleared up quite quickly - gluten free 8 months and counting - but I only had these symptoms for a few months before I figured out the gluten culprit, so I probably didn't have much damage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Fire Fairy Enthusiast

Congratulations! I had similar issues and have not noticed any problems of this nature in the past couple months. :) (gluten-free since November 2nd 2010) So glad to be free of this and the brain fog!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marz Enthusiast

Here is an extensive write up about gluten ataxia, if anyone is looking for more info, and some success stories :

Open Original Shared Link

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ravenwoodglass Mentor

That's wonderful. So glad to hear your symptoms are resolving. Feels great doesn't it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
hnybny91 Rookie

Add me to the list of having this symptom go away when I went gluten free. It really is amazing all the things that gluten causes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kb23 Newbie

I began a gluten free diet about three weeks ago for ataxia. I've read so much on it that I am convinced that it has something to do with the symptoms that seem so random, but are connected. Hearing that others are finding relief gives me great hope. Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
Marz Enthusiast

Oh hey, I just another look at this article, and the lady on which it was based commented an update on her progress. She also left her email, if anyone would like to contact her.

Great news is she's slowly getting better!

Open Original Shared Link

Sarah Bosse here. I just realized today that I could comment on the article above and give an update. I'm glad to see so many comments here.

If anyone would like to email me, n a t u r a l l y g u t s y at g m a i l dot com.

I have not been glutened since January 2010. My balance and coordination has continued to improve, as well as my visual problems. I don't think the peripheral neuropathy has improved; my legs still burn. The visual problems were the last to improve. I don't think I'll ever be 100%. I still fall over easily, cannot look up while standing/walking, and I cannot walk in the dark (I use vision to compensate for balance problems). I cannot kick a ball, even a large one. But my hand coordination is near-normal now. My speech still slurs at times.

I'm glad that those who have gluten ataxia do have a chance of getting better when gluten is 200% avoided. I take extreme precautions, but it's worth it. I feel that if I got glutened again, my symptoms may take me back to where I was several years ago within just a few weeks and I may or may not recover to where I am today.

I noticed several folks mentioned Paleo/Low Carb diets. I have been on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for over a year now (also treating Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, IBS, Celiac, etc). I've added Atkins restrictions and eat about 35 net grams of carbs per day. No starches, no grains of any kind, no grain products, specific fruits and veggies allowed, all uncured meats that are unprocessed are allowed as well, and most fats. The progress I've seen has been somewhat slow but quite remarkable. I feel like God has used this diet to save my life.

I'm glad to share my experiences and listen if you need an ear. Just email me (my address is above, no spaces).

Sarah Bosse (Gutsy Girl)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,154
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Ohwowitsgluten
    Newest Member
    Ohwowitsgluten
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • CatherineWang
      I'm pretty sure that in stores, you can find plenty of gluten-free options. But they are usually a bit more expensive.
    • cristiana
      Hello @BunnyBrown and welcome to the forum. I cannot say that I have had the procedure you describe, but recently I did have general surgery and was routinely intubated.  That pain was what troubled me most after the operation, far more than the operation site.  It took a few days to really settle down, I was quite badly bruised. It was taking so long I was a bit concerned so asked the question on another forum. A few patients came back to me and said they had suffered the same.  I imagine in my own case possibly the throat got bashed about a bit,  maybe they had difficult inserting the tube?  I've suffered with a painful throat post-endoscopy too, but never as long as the intubation pain.   I hope you will be feeling better very soon.   PS BTW - love the name!  I saw this today in an Easter display in a shop and your name reminded me of it.🙂  
    • cristiana
      This wonderful, Anne. I think you have a point about why people disappear off forums.  I found the first few years post diagnosis a real struggle and frankly wondered if I would ever feel better (not to dishearten people, but just to say it can take a while longer for some folk to heal).  However, once my antibodies were back within normal range it really has made a big difference to my health.  I've chosen to stick around because I'm a Mod, otherwise I might have been one of those that disappeared, too!      
    • Exchange Students
      Yes absolutely, we work with all public schools and some private schools in all 50 states.
    • Scott Adams
      Just a quick question, can the host live in any state in the USA?
×
×
  • Create New...