Gluten-free and my PD at Three Months

Parkinson's disease seems to open itself to a low-gluten diet

Back in July, 3 months ago, after my wife and I had done a lot of reading about Celiac Disease, I decided to try a diet without gluten for at least three months.   I hoped it would help me with some of the  Parkinson's symptoms I was suffering: sleep problems, constipation, tremor, urinary frequency, ED and stiffness/rigidity (especially getting in and out of the car. Getting dressed and undressed was also becoming an increasing problem.

I know that I should have gotten tested to see if I actually have Celiac Disease before starting the diet, but I read anecdotal reports from other PWPs who tried the diet without being DX'd and saw a reduction of their symptoms.  I really don't think that I have Celiac Disease but I might have enough intolerance to be helped.

 

My wife has made some wonderful no gluten meals and is very careful to balance flavors so that they often seem to be better tasting than full gluten meals. So staying on the diet hasn't been a problem for me, but it will be when I have to travel?  As long as someone still makes re-fried beans it won't be.  Do you know that you can make salsa using cider or rice vinegar?  My wife promises to come up with a great gluten-free stuffing to go with the turkey breast so that I'll have something for which to be thankful.

RESULTS after 3 Months: 

• Sleep problems reduced. Now I only wake up to urinate 2 or 3 times a night
• Constipation Is gone and I'm regular as I'm going to be with PD
• Tremor hasn't lessened or stopped           
• Urinary Frequency seems to be worse.  I had hoped for assistance from the dietary change but it did not happen. But there is good news,  my urinary frequency is helped by nettle root and the pumpkin seed oil I'm taking for ED.  It's better for my confidence if I wear Depends when I am at the gym to exercise or traveling, although I don't actually seem to need them as much as I need to be free of worry.
• Erectile Dysfunction feels slightly better. ED seems to be helped by pumpkin seed oil and pycnogenol.
• I'm still having problems with Flexibility - arthritis doesn't help and neither did cutting back on the weekly massages but at least the problems aren't worse...they just feel that way because I still have them. I'm trying to reduce my stiffness by doing stretching exercises at the gym and at home. The stiffness reduces my range of motion and makes normal actions more difficult.  

I intend to continue with our low-to-no gluten diet to see if it can bring more improvement to my health.  Most of us want to make that magic change and see all of the symptoms vanish and it is frustrating when they don't.  But there is always something else around the corner.