Gluten Ataxia Treatment in India

Sophia Gupta, a 42-year-old architect and...

Sophia Gupta, a 42-year-old architect and mother of two, had always been active and precise in her work. Over the past 18 months, she began experiencing a frustrating loss of coordination. She would stumble occasionally, her handwriting became shaky and illegible, and she struggled with fine motor tasks like buttoning her daughter's clothes. Initially attributing it to stress and fatigue, the symptoms worsened. Her primary care physician, after ruling out common causes, referred her to a neurologist. The neurologist, noting her long-standing but mild digestive issues she'd never connected, suspected Gluten Ataxia, a neurological response to gluten. The recommendation was a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet as the primary treatment, alongside physical therapy. Sophia felt overwhelmed and skeptical; giving up gluten felt like an immense lifestyle sacrifice for a neurological problem. The first month was emotionally and logistically difficult, mourning foods tied to her cultural and family life. However, after 3-4 months of strict adherence, the unsteadiness began to noticeably improve. By eight months, her balance was vastly better, and the tremor in her hands had significantly reduced. The emotional journey moved from frustration and denial to reluctant acceptance, and finally to profound relief and empowerment. Controlling her diet gave her control back over her body, transforming her view of food from a source of comfort to a source of medicine.