I am currently awaiting my test results from casein/gluten sensitivity from Enterolab. In the meantime (2 more weeks...) I want to feel a little better at least, in any way I can. What I am wondering is, how soon does one usually feel better if the problem is gluten? I have been gluten free for 3 days now (at least, I think I have, though we do use a wooden spoon for spaghetti and rice around here)

Also, what do you guys think about the chances that this monster in my body is gluten, and not some other problem, like yeast...bacteria....etc.?

Symptoms: chronic upper back muscle ache, knee pain from running that hasn't healed despite taking a month off, gastroparesis (diagnosed July 2007), feeling like I am full hours after eating a normal meal, "IBS" diagnosed January 2006, chronic burping, high liver enzymes on 2 occasions, fatigue (chronic), lightheadedness after exercise, diarrhea when running, anemia off and on throughout adolescence and college (not currently!- yay)....recent weight gain, though I take full credit for that! oh, and dental enamel erosion. I am only 25. The digestive stuff has only been going on for the past 3 years or so.

If I overeat (of course, this usually includes lots of gluten and "junk", I wake up the next morning looking like the GoodYear Blimp and my face is all puffy. I feel like I was run over by a truck.

I have had biopsy done in October of last year and was negative, also one in january of 2006 that was negative, though blood test in summer of 2006 showed elevated AGA IGG levels....haven't tested blood since then. Don't know if I am just kidding myself and HOPING it's gluten, then I could feel better by making a simple change. What do you guys think?

Please-- could somebody respond and let me know if you have had anything similar to this? I feel like I am floating around in the dark. My backache is still terrible, though burping has subsided after gluten free (and appetite is up)

hi, Three days is not long enough to tell one way or another. Just stick with the diet and throw out that wooden spoon if you used it with gluten pasta.
I feel your frustration. Just so you know, there are people who have had negative biopsy. If it is taken from a spot with no damage, you could still have it somewhere else.
I have had some of your symptoms. Before going gluten free I also felt full for hours. I also have been diagnosed with IBS, anemia, chronic fatigue, knee pain, upper back muscle pain, and lightheadness after excercising. I have been gluten free for about 6 weeks. My pain in my shoulder is sooo much better, but it did take a few weeks. It hurt so bad and then just was like 80% better over night. I know that my results from the diet have proven to me that gluten is a big problem for me. I have other symptoms too than the ones I listed. I got accidentally glutened and one of them was SO terrible. That was proof enough for me. I
I know it is hard to wait. My own results will be here anyday. good luck.

hi- thanks for the reply. I guess I hear about people feeling so much better "overnight" sometimes, and was hoping for the same. I don't mind the waiting to feel better so much, I just want to know whether or not gluten is bad or good for me. Anyway maybe everything will come back negative..and then what?!

I did notice a *slight* improvement in my backache yesterday, but it came back with a vengeance while I was working out on the elliptical last night.


This morning I woke up feeling bloated like a balloon (upper gi bloating) until i ate something. That always happens...bloating till I eat something, especially if really hungry...and then I'll feel full for a long time if there is anything remotely fibrous and hard to digest (read: veggies bad!)

About the wooden spoon...really? even if I scrub it down well? And the pots.... Pretty frustrating to think that maybe i have been glutening myself for the last few days and haven't made any progree just for that. Is there some kind of continuum here to the way people react, maybe? Like full-blown celiacs shouldn't have wooden spoons used for pasta, but gluten intolerant people can....or what?

To add to my endless questioning.... what is worse, casein or gluten? Are more people generally intolerant of one or the other? And for those who are intolerant to both, to which to you get a worse reaction and are the reactions "different" in the way they feel? Wondering if casein rather than gluten may be my problem....and also if it's possible to be intolerant of casein but NOT gluten--- i feel like people are always first gluten intolerant and THEN intolerant of other things (casein, soy, eggs, etc), but never just those other things without gluten intolerance.