Symptoms after living GF

[luvtorunn]

This is my scenario: putting two and two together I am convinced I have CD. My bloodtest came back negative, however my doctor has been really good about my report of symptoms and wants to send me to an allergist. Don't know what that's going to do, but anyway...I told her I am afraid of going back on gluten for a biopsy.
Since now living gluten free (to the best of my knowledge) since just after easter 2007, so just a few months, I am just amazed over and over again at how much better I am living. I could go on and on with a long list of all the symptoms that have disappeared.
My question is: what are the symptoms if I all of a sudden eat gluten? Since I have also discovered a lactose intolerance which I have pretty much under control, there were some situations at the beginning of starting GF, that are a little confusing in regards to symptoms. And looking back at how I felt the past years, knowing now also about lactose intolerance, it is somewhat difficult to know exactly what intestinal symptoms were caused by what. If I dare eat something I am not sure of, can I expect a terrible setback, or is there just a short temporary effect?

[aklap]

Hi Luv,

Do you know what blood tests where run? Often times docs do not know to run an entire celiac panel which will not give you the whole picture. Gluten may still be the cause of your problems, but it may be sub-clinical.

As for a reaction - everybody is different. My guess is that you'd experience that same type of reactions you experienced before. In many cases once you remove gluten, you become more sensitive to it - small infractions cause large reactions. It might last a few hours or it might last week or so. Overall, it would be consider temporary. The problem with that...you start adding up all those "temporary setbacks"...they can lead other gluten related issues [other autoimmune related diseases, maybe cancer]. You're best to stay away from it all together.

It's good to hear that many of your issue have cleared up since going GF. I think it tells you you are on the right track and that gluten [and dairy] issues.

An allergist is not likely to know about or diagnose CD. They might be able to tell you if you have wheat allergy [completely different than CD].
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Rachel]

I started gluten free right before Easter this year too and most of my symptoms have disappeared too. I also had a negative celiac panel (although they wouldn't tell me the numbers... if there were any!), and my biopsy was negative. I started having symptoms 1 year ago.

I about a month ago I added gluten back in my diet and any little bit of symptoms I had got worse and all of my other symptoms came back full force after about 3 days! I lasted only 6 days and decided to take gluten back out and it took my about 3 days to really start feeling any better, and about 5 days before I was feeling like I was before adding it back in. I decided just a few days ago to eat about 3 bites of my son's b-day cake, just to see if I can handle it in very small amounts instead of going "crazy" with the gluten. 2 days later I have some of my symptoms again! So, I know now that I can't have it at all!!

From what I've read, and heard from talking to people... every one is different. Some react quickly and others it can take a few days or even a week to react. And, the same with recovering from gluten. Some it takes a day or 2, and some a couple weeks (I know a girl personally who takes 2 weeks to recover!).

When I eat gluten I don't get intestinal symptoms. I get really tired, my muscles in my arms and legs ache, I get a weird "weak" feeling down my left leg, and I get "brain fog".

When I do eat gluten after feeling better being gluten free I realize just how bad I really was feeling before taking it out of my diet. Now, I'm done experimenting and living GF for good!!!!

Good Luck!!