I was tested for celiac about 10 years ago, and I didn't have it then, but I decided to cut gluten out, too, since I'd heard that some pwp felt it was helpful to cut out gluten.
After about a week, I started noticing that my balance - which has become rapidly worse and worse - was better. Every once in awhile, my balance felt... normal. You must understand that balance has been the PD symptom that drives me the most crazy. I was sure the low FODMAP diet would help my gut, and it did. My gut felt better, even if my diet was boringly bland. But by week 2, my balance was still going in and out, but when I'm out of the house, I don't feel like I'm about to tip over. In the house I'm not cruising furniture, walls, and doorways. I'm still walking awkwardly (PD problem of long standing), but walking doesn't make me constantly feel like I'm on a funhouse ride.
I figured this might help my gut, and it has, but my balance?
I also notice that my stance isn't as broad. I had been placing my feet wider and wider to give myself a stable base; not doing that now.
The last thing - those tiresome pins and needles in my right foot and hand are dissipating. I still feel numb in my foot, but the tingling is almost gone. Still feels a bit numb. No impact on gut (but it turns out there are people who are gluten-sensitive who don't have abdominal symptoms).
All the rest of the annoying PD symptoms are still here: excruciatingly slow handwriting, finger tap is still slower on my right, I still walk like Lurch, I still have to run to pee (and then wait for all the pee to dribble out), I still can't smell a lot of things. I still have orthostatic hypotension (if I'm not careful I can faint when I stand up). My speech is still quiet. I'm still stiff. I still hunch forward when I forget to stand straight. I still have trouble maintaining stability when I turn. I still have trouble remembering words, and still have problems with multi-tasking.
All the things that exercise has slowed progression on are still here (most of the list above). The thing that exercise didn't improve (or slow down) was my balance and my neuropathy - and both are now better. Not perfect, but pretty much where I was a 6 months ago - I walk like a drunk and I have to remember to pick up my feet. I still need a cane, but I'm no longer considering a rollator to make it easier to stay upright.
I've been adding back dietary items to see how my gut handles them, and they influence my gut - but I have not added back gluten. Tried pea protein - no impact on balance. Tried cooked onions - no impact on balance. Tried dairy - no impact on balance. Tried beans - no effect on balance. If I eat something that has a little gluten in it - for instance granola made with organic oats, but not oats grown separately from wheat - my balance is off and my neuropathy-foot tingles.
Turns out, there is a gluten ataxia - balance. Hmm. There's even a gluten-caused neuropathy - the pins and needles. Double hmmm.
I'm still watching to see if there will be more improvement. Supposedly it takes about a month for your gut to heal itself from gluten if you have celiac. Will it take that long for the inflammation that has been influencing my brain to dissipate? Longer? Will there be any permanent damage (and how could I tell)?
Update: Oops, turns out I had some gluten and my balance went wonky. Head suddenly felt like a tilt-a-whirl, but why? Turns out the dry roasted peanuts I had been snacking on are packed in a facility that also packs wheat. It's called cross-contamination. Who knew? Also, corn starch turns out to be often contaminated, too, so I have to look for that, as well. Ticked off royally, because I was really enjoying being funhouse-free. By the way, despite the crazy-feeling head, I have no gut disturbance. But turns out that happens to some people.
Gluten-free eating is, let me tell you, a royal pain - it takes a lot of research. But if this gives me back adequate balance, will I live with the inconvenience? In a heartbeat.
Images from Pixabay.
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