Unexpected Changes

[sandsurfgirl]

I'm having some changes from the gluten free diet that I didn't expect. My skin is brighter and clearer. Things in general look brighter to me. Colors are brighter and prettier.

I think I was more depressed from being ill than I realized because in the past few days I have felt more peaceful in my spirit and I feel like my personality is changing for the better. I'm more patient and I don't react to things like I did before. The gluten was affecting my brain in bad ways I didn't even realize.

I've always been a friendly bubbly person who talks to strangers more than I should and I didn't realize I had lost a lot of that. I found myself smiling at people in the store the other day and chatting it up with the checker and I realized I haven't been that friendly in a long time.

I also feel pretty again and I haven't felt that way for a long long time. Girls I'm sure you can understand that feeling. For quite some time now I've worn sweats a lot because my stomache was always bothering me and I just had to be comfortable. Even though I do my hair and make up everyday, I just never felt like I looked good anymore no matter what I did. Something is changing and I feel like I look good again. I don't look in the mirror and see someone who is drawn and exhausted.

I also feel more creative. I've always been a creative person, but that was just sucked out of me. I had some short stories in the works and even a novel that I put down a long time ago because I just didn't have any energy to work on it. Now my wheels are spinning again and I'm thinking of starting to write.

It's scary to think of what gluten does to our brains and things it causes that you would never in a million years think would be related to your gut.

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm glad to hear things are improving so much for you. I know I was shocked with how much 'went away' once I went gluten free. I was only expecting my stomach issues to get better and would have been happy with that. When my doctor told me many of the other things for which I had been told to 'just learn to live with the pain' disappeared.

I too feel like a different person. My son pointed out a couple of years after I was diagnosed that all the mirrors in the house were at a level where I couldn't even look at my face without either standing on a chair or squatting down. Prediagnosis I had DH sores covering my face and back and I guess I unconsiously dealt with it by making it impossible for me to look in the mirror unless I really had to. After he pointed that out I moved all the mirrors to a normal level and can actually look in them without cringing. The last 10 years of my illness aged me a lot but now I don't even mind seeing a few wrinkles. They seem like nothing compared to all those ugly oozing sores. It is so nice not to feel incredibly ugly any more.

[Reba32]

Yep, I know what you mean! It's amazing how incredibly invasive gluten can be to every part of our being.

I've also found that my face is not so blotchy and puffy, the psoriasis on my scalp is going away, I'm not nearly as cranky as I used to be, nor depressed, I can deal with stress so much easier now.

I don't miss any of it. Not one bit.

[sandsurfgirl]

I'm glad to hear things are improving so much for you. I know I was shocked with how much 'went away' once I went gluten free. I was only expecting my stomach issues to get better and would have been happy with that. When my doctor told me many of the other things for which I had been told to 'just learn to live with the pain' disappeared.

I too feel like a different person. My son pointed out a couple of years after I was diagnosed that all the mirrors in the house were at a level where I couldn't even look at my face without either standing on a chair or squatting down. Prediagnosis I had DH sores covering my face and back and I guess I unconsiously dealt with it by making it impossible for me to look in the mirror unless I really had to. After he pointed that out I moved all the mirrors to a normal level and can actually look in them without cringing. The last 10 years of my illness aged me a lot but now I don't even mind seeing a few wrinkles. They seem like nothing compared to all those ugly oozing sores. It is so nice not to feel incredibly ugly any more.

Your post took my breath away.

It's just incredible how much that stupid bread took away from us. Just tonight my husband and I were on the phone and he was talking about how much I'm changing.

I did not realize how truly unhappy I have been and worn out by being sick sick sick. I'm still sick, but not as sick as I was. I don't know what I'll do with all the energy when I get really healed.

I've pretty much lost every activity that I truly loved. I sold my horse because I couldn't keep up with her and kids. I quit dancing and sold my surfboard and quit surfing. Last spring and summer I tried to start dancing again but I just couldn't. I kept getting sick and having to miss class and wasted too much money. I contacted my old teacher and told her that I finally found out I have celiac, and it turns out she has wheat allergy!

[jerseyangel]

It makes me so happy to hear about all of the positive changes you are enjoying!

The one thing that I remember most was the feeling of waking up in the morning and actually looking forward to the day. For so long, it was all I could do to get out of bed because I had a constant sense of dread and anxiety. I had it for so long that it seemed normal for me and when it lifted, it was amazing

[mushroom]

What I noticed the most (and still do) is that everywhere I go, people (who know me) say, "You look so well!!" And it is because I am so well, compared to how I was. People are trying to get me involved in things I used to do, but had to give up, but I am reluctant yet to make the commitment because I remember how bad I felt while I was doing them and don't want that bad feeling to come back. I keep saying, "maybe next year I'll serve on the committee again, but not this year", things like that, because I say, I'm still recovering. I'm just taking some time to enjoy feeling better, being able to smile and laugh again.

[ravenwoodglass]

I've pretty much lost every activity that I truly loved. I sold my horse because I couldn't keep up with her and kids. I quit dancing and sold my surfboard and quit surfing. Last spring and summer I tried to start dancing again but I just couldn't. I kept getting sick and having to miss class and wasted too much money. I contacted my old teacher and told her that I finally found out I have celiac, and it turns out she has wheat allergy!

It is amazing how much this disease takes away. Perhaps by this time next year you will be dancing, surfing and horseback riding again.

I feel the worst for my kids, now adults, their childhoods were severely impacted because there was so much that we just couldn't do. It broke my heart when I had to give up riding myself, I would still take my DD to her lessons but I never even once got to ride the horse I bought for her. Eventually I had to stop doing even that. I too loved to dance but the ataxia took that away. I can't describe the joy when I put on some music and danced around the living room without falling for the first time. Perhaps your instructor might be able to accomodate you by not penalizing you if you miss a class and allowing you to do at the pace you can for now, talk to her and see.

[Mskedi]

Isn't it amazing how much better things get? I'm nearing ten months of being gluten-free, and I'm STILL noticing things that are getting better.

I haven't been dancing lately, either, but I joined a choir that rehearses on the night I used to take tap. I have no excuse about the Tuesday night class I used to go to, though -- your post makes me want to remedy that. I have been writing. I even finished my NaNoWriMo this past November after years of not being able to keep up the energy for it.

Now...surfing I was never good at, but it's one of those things that's fun even if you're awful at it. I haven't been for ages, but maybe I should join some of my friends in the near future.

[sandsurfgirl]

Isn't it amazing how much better things get? I'm nearing ten months of being gluten-free, and I'm STILL noticing things that are getting better.

I haven't been dancing lately, either, but I joined a choir that rehearses on the night I used to take tap. I have no excuse about the Tuesday night class I used to go to, though -- your post makes me want to remedy that. I have been writing. I even finished my NaNoWriMo this past November after years of not being able to keep up the energy for it.

Now...surfing I was never good at, but it's one of those things that's fun even if you're awful at it. I haven't been for ages, but maybe I should join some of my friends in the near future.

I never got so good at surfing either but it's still fun.

[Lynayah]

Oh my gosh, I can so relate to all of this!

I, too, feel like a new person, even though I'm still struggling with getting things normalized, I'm feeling SO MUCH BETTER than I have in many years . . . maybe even in my life.

The brain fog lifting was the most dramatic thing that ever happened to me. It had gotten to where I couldn't retain information for more than a second, and even the easiest tasks sometimes seemed impossible -- I remember going crazy trying to figure out how to use my IPod. Stuff like that used to be easy for me, but when the brain fog hit, I struggled with grasping instructions. Oh, it was hell.

Worse yet, some people would get mad at me if I didn't grasp something right away. I guess they were used to the old me who was reasonably sharp and on top of things. Mostly, I'd get mad at myself.

The horrible thing is that I was sure all of it was happening because I was getting old or because I was under stress. Before being diagnosed, I figured I was just not the sharp person I once was, and that's life, and I'd have to live with it. It was horrible, horrible, horrible.

Despite the challenges, I can honestly say that being diagnosed is the BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

There is a fountain of youth. It's called being properly diagnosed and eating right, and I thank heaven every day for being one of the lucky ones who was able to figure it all out.

GREAT THREAD!

Hugs,

Lyn

[Lynayah]

PS: This is probably going to sound crazy, but since going gluten-free, my teeth look better. I swear.

I was always told I had discolored teeth due to being a "Tetracycline baby."

Well, my teeth still aren't pearly perfect, but they do look better. Has anyone else heard of this happening?

[newgfcali]

I've had some glimpses of feeling better after 4 months gluten-free, but have had some setbacks lately. I'm sooo looking forward to the day when the good days outnumber the bad. That feeling of being light and happy is just too good! Hopefully I'll figure out what else is getting me so I can eliminate that and get BETTER.

You all give me such hope.

[jerseyangel]

I was always told I had discolored teeth due to being a "Tetracycline baby."

Me too.

Well, my teeth still aren't pearly perfect, but they do look better. Has anyone else heard of this happening?

Yep!!

[Lynayah]

Me too.

Yep!!

You, too? Thank you!

Have you read anything about teeth improving?

I'm so glad I'm not alone!

[sandsurfgirl]

I bleached my teeth so they're pretty white already. LOL But my skin is glowing. People have said so and I have to admit, it's true. Weird.

Today I have so much energy I'm almost hyper active. I haven't been this energetic in years. I'm trying to just enjoy it, but I keep wondering when it's going to go away. Hopefully it continues and I can keep enjoying it.

[sandsurfgirl]

I bleached my teeth so they're pretty white already. LOL But my skin is glowing. People have said so and I have to admit, it's true. Weird.

Today I have so much energy I'm almost hyper active. I haven't been this energetic in years. I'm trying to just enjoy it, but I keep wondering when it's going to go away. Hopefully it continues and I can keep enjoying it.

And NO I am NOT pregnant!

[Lynayah]

And NO I am NOT pregnant!

LOL!

That said, from your photo, you are indeed very attractive, and you should feel WONDERFUL about the the way you look and feel. Good for you!

[sandsurfgirl]

LOL!

That said, from your photo, you are indeed very attractive, and you should feel WONDERFUL about the the way you look and feel. Good for you!

Awwww thanks.

[kareng]

After 2 weeks gluten-free & 2 months on massive doses of iron, my husband out of the blue said "you look great!" I was wearing old jeans & a sweatshirt. He said I just look more "sparkly", more energetic. I do feel more energetic until about 7 pm & then I fall flat. May never become a late night, club hopping, partyer. Sigh!

[Lynayah]

After 2 weeks gluten-free & 2 months on massive doses of iron, my husband out of the blue said "you look great!" I was wearing old jeans & a sweatshirt. He said I just look more "sparkly", more energetic. I do feel more energetic until about 7 pm & then I fall flat. May never become a late night, club hopping, partyer. Sigh!

I hope your words will reach those who have yet to realize what is wrong with them. Great post.

I get you about the 7 PM thing. My family keeps joking that if I watch something on TV, I'll have to TIVO it and watch it a at least ten times . . . because I fall asleep after five minutes!

[AmyT]

Sandsurfgirl,

This weekend I read your post via Twitter on my phone. I was away for the weekend when I first read it, bizzarly I thought I had written it. I had to double check to see if I wasn't the original poster. My story and yours are absolutely identical!!! It is amazing. The first thing I noticed that within a few days my skin was much better. I just turned 40 in Nov, and I self diagnosed myself in Jan. Over the last year or two I had lost interest in doing most activities too. It was an odd disinterest that I couldn't quite place, more like, I was too tired, didn't want to do anything extra, thought I was too busy doing other things (mostly nothing:() At first I thought it was a natural wave of life. Now being gluten-free for almost 2 full months, I am so excited to do everything I am just a spazzzzz!!! I just got back from 2 days of downhill skiing and today I cross country skied with my kids and then went sledding with them. When I was at the top of the sledding hill, I was about in tears about how happy I was just having fun with my kids. I wasn't impatient or annoyed. It brought tears of joy to my eyes!!! And now I don't feel, sore, achey, tired or crancky! I actually thought about going for a run.

My goal this year is to get a paddle board. I am definitely going to get one. Going to give it to myself as a much needed reward!!

I love this forum and I wish I could meet you all in person. The support is so great.

Tomorrow I go in for my yearly physical and I will get about an hour with my dr. who was pretty skeptical 2 months ago. I'm not sure I am going to convince him of anything so I am happy to have you all to give me the support I need. I hope I can be there for you all too!!!

Thanks everyone for sharing your story!!!