Going gluten free prior to diagnosis??

[autowhen]

I am currently undiagnosed, but slightly outside of "normal" ranges for TSH and thyroid antibodies, my gp is going to repeat the blood test in another month and might then consider trying me on medication (I have a strong family history so not unexpected)

However I am considering a gluten free diet. Due to weight gain over the last year (I believe thyroid related!) I tried a low carb diet earlier in the year and lost a little weight and felt better on it, now I realise that in doing low carb, I was also significantly cutting out most (if not all?) gluten in my diet.

How long does it take for the gluten free diet to take effect, and see alteration in blood test results? How long to start feeling better with it?

Thanks for any advice.

[Hidden]

'It depends' is the answer, as everyone is different. I got rid of an annoying light-headedness after 2 days of going gluten-free. My weight began falling slowly right away (around 2 lbs a month) and continued till I'd lost all the excess I'd gained. I went from 40 HbA1c to 33 a year later. However antibodies are still high regardless (and I'm dairy free as well). Some folk will report quite different outcomes, you can only try and see for yourself.

Gluten is hidden in many things, even some toothpastes, so keep a beady eye out for it! If a product doesn't say it's gluten-free, then don't assume it is. Best of luck!

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’ve been totally gluten free for two years now. I’m not sure how long it took to make a difference but I tested for thyroid antibodies and over the year they reduced a huge amount.

Like you I also went on a low carb high fat diet (long story how that came about) and like you that’s was the secret to me los8ng weight although I never ever counted calories. I just eliminated anything that spiked my blood sugar.

I found joining Coeliac UK well worth the money - they send you a ‘bible’ With lists of gluten free foods and ingredients plus magazines and you have internet access for all sorts of things. I also found the Diet Doctor website great for LCHF eating, they have a free online course too.

If you want to be tested to see if you are coeliac then get tested for that before you stop eating gluten or the test won’t work. Like jadzhia says, read every label because manufacturers can sneak gluten into the most surprising places.

[researcherUK]

I was tested for celiac's three times (blood and endoscopy/biopsies). All results came negative. I was so desperate to get better that one morning I woke up and I decided no more gluten. I cut it out totally and completely.

The first week, I dropped 2 kgs of what could have been pure inflammation. I was one of the lucky ones not to have any headaches or the like of withdrawal symptoms.

Like Jadzhia, my weight was constantly dropping at the rate of 2bs every month. I lost 8 kgs.

CRP levels that were showing constantly at 12-15 and for many years, with doctors saying you might be coming with a cold, but I wasn't, also dropped to 0.

The weight loss was a bonus but what was important is that my iron, zinc, and vitamin D improved to levels I have not seen before in my life.

I also went dairy free for 2 years. I never liked or drank milk but loved cheese. I can still eat it but when I do so it makes me put on weight.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to researcherUK]

Interesting - I don’t like or drink milk either.

I love my Pilates teacher because she says ‘forget about milk - milk is for calves - for strong bones humans need vitamin D’. That suits me perfectly.

You would think that after all that time one of your doctors might have wondered why you were always ‘coming down with a cold’.

[researcherUK in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I wasn't actually. I have never been during the time of the tests or a month or so after.

Now that I know what I know, wheat was causing that back burner/inflammation.

Last month and after watching Betrayal by Dr Tom O'Bryan, I consider myself very lucky that I took the decision and stopped it in spite of all doctors telling me not to.

The functional doctor that I was seeing when I gave up gluten was a bit overweight himself and decided to follow what I did and lost a considerable amount of weight and I then joked by saying now I should be charging you for a consultation.

I never liked milk since I was a child. Cheese and bread were amongst my favourite food.

To add to your pilates teacher, we are the only species of mammals that continue to consume milk after the age of 2.

Calcium is found in much higher quantities and in totally different food from milk such as nuts to leafy greens etc.

[Blue_Bee]

Please get tested for Coeliac BEFORE you go gluten free (GF). Otherwise you will never be able to know whether you actually do have Coeliac disease or not. And if you do, then it is essential you go 100% gluten free for the rest of your life (or until they find a cure), so as to reduce the risk of acquiring other autoimmune diseases. You cannot be “mostly” GF; that’s like being mostly pregnant. Sticking to a GF Diet forEVER under ALL circumstances is not easy and requires deep commitment. I’ve been doing it for 15 years and still get caught out by GF cakes cooked in cross-contaminated cake tins (note to self: never go to that cake shop again. sigh To be successfully GF it takes 1) proper diagnosis 2) knowledge and 3) constant vigilance. If you are Coeliac though, the GF diet is miraculous and well-worth the life-change. Good luck with it all Autowhen