<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who replied to my query regarding recovery
rates.  This list is such a lifesaver.  My husband has already felt
much encouraged from the shared information as well as just the fact
of personally hearing from people who are going through the same
thing.  I wish I had time to reply to everyone, but my time at the
computer is limited, so I'll summarize the main gist of the replies.
 
The range of recovery to "feeling good" seems to vary a great deal in
individual cases, ranging anywhere from 6 months to 5 years.  A
couple replies indicated that they were still having bad bouts after
5 years, and one after 15 years feels pretty good but never regained
muscle tone.  One person mentioned that the GIG group in Seattle said
that in a survey of their patients it usually took 6 months to 2
years, with some feeling good at first, but hitting a wall at 6
months, then at 2 years realizing that they felt good again.
 
There were lots of good suggestions on things to do and look for:
 
1.  Doctors can do an intestinal permeability test to see if  "leaky
    gut" is the problem.
2.  Check with doctor for other problems besides celiac such as low
    thyroid, hypoadrenia, diabetes, hypoglycemia, etc.
3.  Check for hidden gluten
4.  Avoid all processed foods and eat only whole fresh foods prepared
    at home.
5.  Try avoiding some of the major problem foods other than gluten
    such as dairy, soy and citrus.
6.  Keep doing mild exercise and gradually work up strength as you
    can.
7.  Iron IV's can be given for anemia
8.  Try folic acid
9.  Might be refractory sprue and require steroids
10.  sublingual vitamins that absorb in the mouth
11.  Mega vitamins
 
This brings me to another question.  We have found sublingual B
vitamins, but does anyone know of a source for sublingual iron?
 
Thanks again to everyone who replied!  This was a bad week that was
greatly improved by all your encouragement and support!
 
Cyndee Burgess
Reserve, New Mexico