I heard that, after children start a gluten-free diet, we should notice a significant difference in their health after just one week. Adults don't usually notice a difference until after a few months.
My 5 year old daughter has been on the gluten-free diet for 9 days and I've noticed just slight changes - a softer tummy at night, but still quite distended, still bags under the eyes, etc.
I'd like to know of your experiences. How soon did you notice a difference in your child's health?
Ana

I would not expect a change so soon. I was 16 when I went on the diet (I am 18 now)and it took me 8 months to get back to normal. I saw major improvements after just the 3rd month or so but I had many up and down days until about month 8.
Some people may feel better very soon after eliminating gluten while others may take a very long time...it varies.
At this point you are very new to the diet and there is alot of stuff to learn about what gluten can be hidden in and what you have to change as far as foods and even products go.
Do you have a list of the safe and forbidden foods and ingredients? There are many helpful lists available that make life alot easier for us. Feel free to email me if you would like them.

My daughter was about a year old when diagnosed and was coming off a feeding tube because she was so sick. It took about a month to see any difference at all but after about two months she seemed to be improving faster and faster by about 6 months she was almost back to normal.

since your daughter is older it may take longer to see a diference, but it will come and when it does she will feel so much better.


just remember that changes happen a little over a long time, kinda like kids grow taller, you don't really notice it when it happens, but all of the sudden they are an inch taller and it seems like a big difference.

It could take awhile. You're lucky if you see improvement within the 1st month. It could take anywhere from 2-6 months normally--after that, it could be that the villi are still blunted, but then you know it's time to check for other problems.

You have gotten alot of good answers so far, but let me add this.. the amount of time it takes depends on 3 big factors... only 1 you can control...

1) How good are you at being gluten-free? Every bit of gluten sets you back! Every hidden morsel, cross contimaination, etc.

2) How much damage was done? In your case it sounds like it was extensive... the more damage, the longer the healing.

3) How fast does the person heal? A 5 year old should heal very fast... once they get enough nuturtion following agian. But even at "very fast" it could take a while, esply if there was exentsive damage preventing proper nutrition at first.


So attack #1 with all you got, and pray about the rest. My son who is 2 showed remarkable improvement in 1 week, but was not nearly as bad as you decribe.

Thats just my take...

Alos... be watching for addtional food allergies and intorlences... often they have some that will go away once they heal....and some pppl just have multiple issues.

It was 4 days for my toddler. The dark circles started to abate, he started to gain weight and fill out within 2 months. He doesnt look pale anymore!!! I was severely anemic after his birth so everyone kept saying "you think hes pale and anemic because you are!"Thank God for a mothers intuition..The improvement was quick and dramatic.

Everyone is different, but I think for most people, it takes a few months. I was 22 when I was diagnosed and I started noticing improvements after 6 months. I finally started feeling somewhat normal after 1 year.