Placebo or really working?

Post by **tex** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 8:41 pm

Anne,

Have you tried taking an antihistamine to control/prevent the itching?

Tex

H@ns · Post by **H@ns** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:58 am

Hi Anne,

I have been on a GF diet for 10 weeks now and most what yOu describe happened to me to. I felt a little better bowelwise, got itchy sessions and had sudden itchy rashy spots popping up on my knuckles. Fatigue and pain in hands, feet didn't disappear though.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 6:35 am

Anne, come to think of it I had a stretch of time shorty after going GF that I experienced itchiness. Occasionally that issue pops back up but it's hard to tell if it's seasonal allergies, which have become worse for me over the years or related to histamine in foods that I'm still figuring out. I also had a nasty rash/welts that would appear on my cheekbones but that's been a while. I'll bet with time your skin issues will subside if you keep with the GF diet. I've found Allegra, Zyrtec , Benadryl, and Nasal Crom to be helpful.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:03 pm

Wonderful news, Anne! It's great that Norman is visiting just once a day so quickly. I hope your success continues.

Gloria

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:20 am

Good news Anne! I can't remember your history....are you able to get Norms by just going GF...no meds? If so that is amazing! I went 3 months of being GF before I got on the Pepto as my GF diet was not working on the D so much. Gas, bloating and nausea did get better though. I can tell now that I'm down to 2 Peptos a day that I may have to give up yet another food. Some gurgling and nausea have re-appeared today. Hoping it's short-lived and that it had to do with the tiny bit of salad I had last night.

I could eat absolutely anything I wanted while on Pepto (didn't dare though) and I would have had no reactions. I ate Gluten big time while taking Imodium and I didn't have one symptom.

I've got some Irish in me but have never been to Ireland. Must be beautiful!

Terri

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:38 pm

H@ns wrote:Hi Anne,

I have been on a GF diet for 10 weeks now and most what yOu describe happened to me to. I felt a little better bowelwise, got itchy sessions and had sudden itchy rashy spots popping up on my knuckles.

Hi Hans,
That is really interesting! I have got antihistamines but will try and weather this to see if the itching eases - I am using prescription emollient cream which I had anyway to deal with the itching! I will probably give it a couple more weeks and then maybe try a low dose antihistamine if necessary. I suffer with hay fever from late March to October so have a good stock of them!
Anne

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:05 pm

tex wrote:Anne,

Have you tried taking an antihistamine to control/prevent the itching?

Tex

Hi Tex,
I am using emollient cream which is helping but I will give it a couple of weeks to see if it settles naturally! I cannot believe how much better I am feeling!!!

This is day 14 GF and for the last 7 days the maximum number of poops in a day has been 2!! Most days i.e. 5 out of the last 7 has been 1 a day. And all type 3 or 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart. :poopbanana:

Add to that I feel less fatigued - still a bit tired - but not like before! I chatted with my Mum tonight - I am going for dinner on Sunday - and she wanted to check the menu with me!!! How cool is my 79 soon to be 80 year old Mum!!!

A colleague at work has even commented on how my mood has improved (it really helps when you wake up in the morning not totally exhausted)! And all of this in 2 weeks!

I still haven't heard from the hospital, which here normally suggests "normal" result i.e. not coeliac but I will be taking the article that someone (apologies for not remembering who!) posted here, on the article published in the BMJ on Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity when I next go to the hospital - I guess that is my diagnosis and I should find out Monday when I see my GP. Given how good my response has been so far I have only one last doubt which is, if this is a placebo effect (despite the article's findings!!) how long would that effect last before symptoms returned assuming I maintain on my current 9mg budesonide dosage and maintain my GF diet (and I am being really careful on it!!!)?:shrug:

But given where I was back in May/June/July/Au.. yeah you know!! What an amazing difference!!! I am a very happy person at the moment!

The icing on the cake will be if I can get off steroids as well! But, given people's experiences here, and what I have learnt over the last 7 months on here, I know I may need them in the future BUT diet wins!!!

Anne

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:17 pm

tlras wrote:Good news Anne! I can't remember your history....are you able to get Norms by just going GF...no meds?
I could eat absolutely anything I wanted while on Pepto (didn't dare though) and I would have had no reactions. I ate Gluten big time while taking Imodium and I didn't have one symptom.

I've got some Irish in me but have never been to Ireland. Must be beautiful!

Terri

Hi Terri,
Sure the Irish got everywhere!!! But are we not all related within 6 generations or something??? But yes, Ireland is beautiful!
I am very lucky to have had the chance to come in live in the country where my parents were born (I was born in Brussels, Belgium!) - technically that makes me a Brussels Sprout (which happens to be my favourite vegetable!)

I am currently since last August on 9mg budesonide - that had been preceded by 2 weeks on 40mg prednisalone, then 2 weeks 30mg (if I remember right!). I was taken off Asacol about 6 weeks ago - which also saw a significant improvement! I was never convinced Asacol worked well for me - it would appear it aggravated my symptoms in the sense that a side effect is diarrhea!!!

I am certainly hoping that as when I start to reduce the steroids, my condition continues to do well (I have the great luck of an excellent consultant, supported by an excellent GP, who listen, are enlightened etc. Plus I get my meds currently for free!). He has indicated that longer term usage of steroids is a possibility - I hope he will be convinced when I see him next, that the diet is my medicine!!

Thank you!
Anne

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:19 pm

Gloria wrote:Wonderful news, Anne! It's great that Norman is visiting just once a day so quickly. I hope your success continues.

Gloria

Thank you Gloria!
I wouldn't be where I am now had it not been for you guys! You kept me sane (despite all telling me what I now realise!!!!) to go GF and it will really help!! I am so lucky to be responding this well! I just pray that it continues but I feel so much better!!!!

Anne

Denise · Post by **Denise** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:10 pm

Anne,

I wish you all the best! It is a tough road but it will pay off in the long end!

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:07 pm

Hi Everyone!
Thought I would just provide a quick update! After nearly 2 months GF I continue to have 1 or 2 Norman's a day!

And my energy levels are coming right back up and that is despite my cold ending up a pleurisy!

Antibiotics were necessary but as I haven't had any for a long time, and my GP knows I don't like to take them, when he insists ... I do actually do as I am told! He remains very pleased with progress and totally agreed with the non-coeliac gluten sensitivity diagnosis! Obviously, when I do come off budesonide then that will be the real test but I am just enjoying the fact that I am getting better - as is my cooking!

Anne

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:43 pm

That's great news, Anne!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:28 pm

You are able to eat fruit and cheese?! I'm jealous :)

Leah