Dose a gluten free diet help

[GlutenLadYorkshire]

Anyone with ataxia and found that a gluten free diet has helped there symptoms from progressing?

[Poweruser]

A year after adopting a gluten fee diet I’d achieved significant improvements in my speech and mobility. I underwent an MRI scan, which according to my neurologist revealed marginal improvement, even though my commitment to the gluten-free diet was not 100%.

I was referred to a dietician who recommended joining Coeliac UK. Despite not being coeliac, I’m still able to take advantage of their extensive directory and smartphone apps. I have continued to see improvements in my mobility and speech, and I’ve taken up building miniature robots and 3D printing, which both indicate that my coordination and control has improved.

[geneticallygeneric in reply to Poweruser]

interesting...a gluten-free diet is a very difficult diet to follow and must be followed strictly for a prelonged period of time before results (if any) can be seen in ataxia patients. The fact that you have seen results and didn't even follow the diet strictly is interesting.

[pinjem in reply to geneticallygeneric]

I had very clear dramatic improvement after 4 days, then it tailed off gradually. So it clearly varies from person to person.

[coat2003]

not directly to ataxia, but to my digestion, in general. Bloating stopped and the rest of unpleasantries...I am sticking to it, although gluten NOT allergic, but defo an intolerance....Trying minimising carbs anyway...

[GlutenLadYorkshire in reply to coat2003]

I have coeliac disease and the doctors seem unsure weather it has affected my brain or not I’ve been gf for a year I have been naughty earlier in the year and had a couple of sandwiches but that only affected my stomach. I’m completely gf now but I’ve learnt that even tiny amounts of gluten can affect people with neurological problems.

[pinjem]

Yes, most definitely. Was reaching the stage of just staying sitting in bed, barely able to focus on the laptop screen, unable to do almost everything, read Prof Hadjivassiliou's papers, gave up gluten, completely, within a few days was dramatically improved. However, more than a year later, I am still much improved but still with visual disturbance, dangerous balance issues and am unable to function outside the home (or inside really!). So, yes, gluten free transformed me, I am also sensitive to all oats, including gluten free, maize/corn, soy, beef and lamb. I discovered soy sensitivity recently, after using it instead of dairy, it made me weak ,more unbalanced, more unable to focus. I am hoping when all that clears, I may improve again but maybe not. There may be other things going on, I may be sensitive to something else. Be really careful with your diet, it is worth it. I even did some weeding for the first time several years recently!

[GlutenLadYorkshire]

Last year I had a bad ear infection then went off balance and slurred speech I was diagnosed with being coeliac in 2015 but didn’t really stick to my diet I went to hospital last year and they was unsure what caused it as all blood test,lumber puncher,ct and mri was all fine, I’m off to see the professor in the next couple of weeks, I feel completely fine now now none of the issues I had don’t weather it was gluten or the ear infection.

[coat2003 in reply to GlutenLadYorkshire]

see the professor what he says...stay on gluten free as much as practicable, infections in general can upset all sorts.ear has a middle section, cld be your balance compromised, I had a middle ear infection when 10, now 42, still has a buzz in the affected ear.manageable. Don't disregard it, as somewhere there balance can get influenced by it..

good luck!Poweuser has valid points there..

[GlutenLadYorkshire in reply to coat2003]

For some reason they ent doctor dismissed it as a cause even though my eardrum was congested and leaking some green/yellow liquid.

[cocoa]

If you are diagnosed coeliac you should stick to a strict gluten free diet for life.

I joined Coeliac UK (coeliac.org.uk) where they give good advice. There are lots of products on the market which are sold as "free from" but may not be suitable. There is a crossed grain logo on all products that are produced in a gluten free environment.

[GlutenLadYorkshire in reply to cocoa]

I’ve joined coeliac uk, I know that some of the products I eat have the crossed grain symbol but I do but a lot that don’t and only says gluten free I have read that even traces of gluten can be bad but it seams more for gluten sensitivity than coeliac