How Long Will It Take To Recover From Celiac Disease & How Long Does The Symptoms Last?

Celiac disease is a type of disorder, where having foods containing gluten triggers immune response in the human body. This triggering response causes inflammation and damages to villi and small intestines. Celiac disease is one of the severe conditions, which may cause a variety of negative symptoms. These include nutritional deficiencies and digestive problems.⁽¹⁾

In most of the cases, small intestines of adults fail to recover completely from the inflicted damage due to celiac disease. In contrast, children suffering from celiac disease often succeed to have a full recovery. However, a positive thing, in this case, is that adults even though fail to recover completely feel better as their small intestine heals.

When you, in this case, gluten present in barley, wheat and rye incites your immune system and in turn, attacks the small intestinal lines. This leads to villous atrophy, where your tiny villi of the intestine wear and tear as well as leave you unable to digest your food properly. Thus, if you want to get a quick recovery, you have to start a gluten-free diet immediately after you diagnosed with celiac disease. This helps you faster healing of your villi. In most of the cases, celiac disease patients following a gluten-free diet plan consistently get complete recovery in approximately 2 or 3 years.⁽⁴⁾

Once you stop having any of the foods and beverages containing gluten, you will experience slow but consistent improvement in your symptoms. While continuing a gluten-free diet, you will expect to feel better within only a few days. Your villi and/or small intestines will heal completely within 6months to 1year, even though the exact period depends on the age of a child or adolescence. On the other side, elderlies may require 2 or 3 years period to overcome their underlying symptoms or managing them, so that their body heal properly.⁽⁵⁾

Symptoms of celiac disease vary largely among adults and children. Accordingly-

Digestive symptoms are relatively more common in children and infants suffering from celiac disease. Especially, children experience the following major symptoms-

• Pain and bloating in the abdominal region
• The chronic form of diarrhea
• Constipation
• Vomiting and nausea
• Fatty, pale or foul-smelling stool
• Anemia or deficiency of iron
• Excessive weight loss
• Behavioral problems and irritation
• Fatigue
• Defects in dental enamel of one’s permanent teeth
• Short stature
• Delay in puberty and growth
• Failure in thriving
• ADHD i.e. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity⁽²⁾

Adults with celiac disease are less likely to experience any digestive symptom and only one-third of people experience diarrhea. Instead, they likely to have-

• Anemia i.e. unexplained deficiency of iron
• Pain in joints and bones
• Fatigue
• Anxiety or depression
• Osteopenia or osteoporosis i.e. loss of bone
• Arthritis
• Migraines or seizures
• Disorders in biliary tract and liver, which include fatty liver, transaminitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Missed menstrual periods
• Canker sores in the mouth
• Recurrent miscarriage or infertility
• Itchy skin rashes also known as dermatitis herpetiformis⁽²⁾

The celiac disease does not have any proper cure. Thus, the treatment, in this case, is to follow a gluten-free diet. The logic behind this is simple i.e. when you have a strict adherence towards free from gluten diet, your intestines and villi will heal very soon. Moreover, you will expect to resolve your chronic symptoms and decrease your risks to cause bowel stricture, ulcers, intestinal cancer, and osteoporosis.

Also, doctors may recommend a few of the additional therapies combined with the mentioned diet plan to give you immediate relief. Celiac disease often causes anxiety and depression. However, by working closely with the doctor, you will expect to manage your condition and lead a productive life.⁽³⁾

Therefore, following a proper gluten-free diet is the key to achieve faster recovery and heal of villi or small intestines. Simultaneously, avoiding gluten is the best possible way to put an end or at least manage your underlying symptoms of celiac disease.

References:

Also Read:

• Celiac Disease: Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Symptoms, Investigations, Treatment
• Link Between Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes
• Is Celiac Disease A Serious Condition & Can It Be Reversed?
• Lifestyle Changes For Celiac Disease
• Is Celiac Disease Progressive & Alternative Treatments for It
• What Are the Ways To Prevent Celiac Disease & Does It Reoccur?
• What Happens To Untreated Celiac Disease & When To Go To Doctor?