Gluten-free for 4 years, went back to gluten and severe IBS-C

[longbeardscott]

Hi - I'm new to the group and wanted to share my story to see if anyone has ever heard of this.  I was paleo/gluten-free for four years.  For some reason, I got lazy and went back to gluten/wheat products.  At about the same time, I got a really bad case of heartburn from a trip through Taco Bell.  It lasted for several days so I went to my GP who prescribed Cipro because he thought I got a bug that was creating an ulcer.  The heartburn went away, but I immediately started to get diarrhea, gut pain, gas, bloating, etc.  This lasted for a year, then in morphed into non-stop constipation, constant gut pain, fatigue, depression, gas, and bloating.  I have had this for 3-1/2 years and have been diagnosed by two gastroenterologists with IBS-C and will be going to the Mayo Clinic in August because I don't respond to treatment and it only seems to be getting worse.  I have been tested for celiac disease and came up negative.  

Question:  Since I was gluten free for four years, is it possible that the combination of the stomach bug, Cipro, and returning to gluten has created a severe gluten sensitivity?  I stopped all gluten/wheat two days ago but I can't tell yet whether it's any better.  Is this just wishfull thinking that if I cut out gluten for a while my symptoms will improve?  Has anyone heard any similar stories?  My life has literally become a living hell.                 

[Scott Adams]

Keep seeing your doctors about this, but yes, gluten sensitivity can cause issues like you are experiencing. A gluten-free diet for a few months might help you determine if your condition is caused by gluten.