I just got diagnose with Celiac disease in November. I know I had symptoms for about two years prior to my diagnosis. So does that mean that all those years before, my intestines were being damaged or just the two years I had symptoms? I haven’t seen my gastroenterologist yet to ask him, but I’m curious.
Posted on July 30th, 2009 by Bob
Filed under: Celiac Disease in Children
Your intestines are constantly replacing dead or damaged cells. There is also such a large surface area in your intestines that any permanent damage that might have been done will be compensated for when you go gluten free and stop the damage from being done.
I have read where people who weren’t diagnosed until they were in their 70s were still able to regenerate healthy gut after going gluten free. I’m sure there was permanent damage, but our bodies are built to fix a lot of problems that come our way.
I’m currently reading a book called "Celiac Disease, a hidden epidemic," by Dr. Green. I would highly recommend that you either buy this book or check it out from your local library. Dr. Green explains the disease and answers most of the questions you either have or will have once you’re further along in understanding the disease.
When my husband was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in May, the most helpful site I found was Silly Yaks, a US based Yahoo! group. I live in Canada and was allowed to start a Silly Yaks Canada chapter to address issues that were more Canada specific. It is free to join our groups and membership is free. You’re very welcome to drop in and take a boo. Hopefully one or more of our members will be able to answer your questions.
I don’t think there is anyway to know. You obviously had it problems with your intestines for the two years you had symptoms and probably a few years before that as the damage started but I don’t know of any tests or rule of thumb that would tell you it started so many years prior to symptoms showing up.
The good news is that if you adhere to a strict gluten free diet, your intestines will heal and hopefully all the damage will undo.
I was diagnosed at 50 with CD and had symptoms for maybe 10 years if not longer and hve been gluten free for over 5 years, don’t seem to be having any further trouble at all. I basically feel like I was better after about 3 months of gluten free diet. It probably took a little longer for my intestines to completely return to normal.
Good luck, stay gluten free. Concentrate on all the choices you can have, not what you can’t have
I have always wondered the same thing. The doc said that unless I had a biopsy before we will never know.
BTW I am 37 gluten free for 12 years.
Good luck!!