So Tired of the Stomach Issues

[Ginger38]

My stomach hates me …. And I’m so sick of dealing with all these gastrointestinal issues .. especially the embarrassing ones.  I got divorced 5 yeas ago and am in a new relationship … these issues have really caused me major insecurities to the point I just try not to eat or at times have eaten very little and taken Imodium and I know that’s not good. 

I can’t even eat salads anymore.

Does this ever get better? 

 

 

[Scott Adams]

Normally it does get better, but it takes being 100% gluten-free for months, and sometimes up to a year or two to fully heal your gut. During the healing process you may also have intolerance issues to other foods, so have you tried keeping a food diary to identify these? Such additional intolerances usually go away after your gut fully heals.

You may also want to try taking gluten-free amino acids like glutamine and tryptophan, which have been shown in studies to help heal the gut. 

If you eat in restaurants consider AN-PEP enzymes like GliadinX (a sponsor here), which can help to mitigate cross contamination issues.

[Ginger38]

20 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Normally it does get better, but it takes being 100% gluten-free for months, and sometimes up to a year or two to fully heal your gut. During the healing process you may also have intolerance issues to other foods, so have you tried keeping a food diary to identify these? Such additional intolerances usually go away after your gut fully heals.

You may also want to try taking gluten-free amino acids like glutamine and tryptophan, which have been shown in studies to help heal the gut. 

If you eat in restaurants consider AN-PEP enzymes like GliadinX (a sponsor here), which can help to mitigate cross contamination issues.

Yeah I keep screwing up so I feel like I keep starting over and that’s probably a large part of the issue. I forget how long true healing and resolution of issues can take. 
 Thanks for the info. I will look into those amino acids.

I am trying to keep a food log, but during the healing process are there foods that are better to eat and easier to digest and foods to avoid? 
So you just take those pills if you eat out regardless? 

[Scott Adams]

The two things celiacs may way to avoid for a while would be oats (even GF oats) and dairy/casein, at least for a few months. Other common issues people have are with chicken eggs, corn, soy, and nightshades. 

Regarding eating out, which super sensitive people and newly diagnosed people may want to just avoid altogether for a few months, if you are like me and can't imagine a life without going to restaurants it's still important to follow the basics and find ones that have a gluten-free menu or have marked GF items on their menu, and ask questions about how careful they are to the server and perhaps the chef or manager (if they are not too busy). After I get my gluten-free meal I still take a couple of enzymes with it just in case. I used to get issues ~25% of the time, but with the enzymes don't have any issues with eating out.

[Ginger38]

2 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

The two things celiacs may way to avoid for a while would be oats (even gluten-free oats) and dairy/casein, at least for a few months. Other common issues people have are with chicken eggs, corn, soy, and nightshades. 

Regarding eating out, which super sensitive people and newly diagnosed people may want to just avoid altogether for a few months, if you are like me and can't imagine a life without going to restaurants it's still important to follow the basics and find ones that have a gluten-free menu or have marked gluten-free items on their menu, and ask questions about how careful they are to the server and perhaps the chef or manager (if they are not too busy). After I get my gluten-free meal I still take a couple of enzymes with it just in case. I used to get issues ~25% of the time, but with the enzymes don't have any issues with eating out.

I eat a lot of dairy (cheeses and milk) and eggs because of my sugar issues. I do eat gluten-free oatmeal sometimes and I love corn. What are nightshades? 

I just don’t know what the heck to eat that’s not terrible for sugar and I can digest that doesn’t cause diarrhea. Broth and any idea what else? 

So every time I have any amount of gluten it’s like starting over I assume? And once 100% gluten-free it can take a year for issues to resolve?
 

[Scott Adams]

The nightshade family of plants, which cause inflammation in some people, include eggplant, tomatoes, chilli peppers, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae

[Ginger38]

6 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

The two things celiacs may way to avoid for a while would be oats (even gluten-free oats) and dairy/casein, at least for a few months. Other common issues people have are with chicken eggs, corn, soy, and nightshades. 

Regarding eating out, which super sensitive people and newly diagnosed people may want to just avoid altogether for a few months, if you are like me and can't imagine a life without going to restaurants it's still important to follow the basics and find ones that have a gluten-free menu or have marked gluten-free items on their menu, and ask questions about how careful they are to the server and perhaps the chef or manager (if they are not too busy). After I get my gluten-free meal I still take a couple of enzymes with it just in case. I used to get issues ~25% of the time, but with the enzymes don't have any issues with eating out.

So just wondering Do You have any suggestions on  a decent diet that is easier on my digestive system until my intestines heal some? I need protein bc of my sugar. I just truly don’t know what to eat. Especially for breakfast… 
As far as nightshades, that’s interesting bc tomato based foods and spices/peppers etc have been causing me some bloating pain and gas. I Notice nausea after eating these things in abundance. I also notice it changes my bowel movement colors. Seems I don’t digest it at all or something 

[Scott Adams]

Some people claim this diet is helpful for those with ongoing issues after maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet:

 

[knitty kitty]

@Ginger38 

I've found the Autoimmune Protocol Diet very helpful in healing.  The AIP diet was developed by a Celiac doctor, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne.  It has been scientifically shown to promote healing in the intestines. 

The AIP diet removes dairy, eggs, all grains, legumes, nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers), nuts and seeds.  It's mostly meat and veggies and some fruit.  

Celiac Disease can cause Histamine intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.  Mast cells produce histamine as part of the immune response.  Sometimes these mast cells overreact and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine supplementation helps these mast cells to NOT release histamine.  Choosing low histamine foods allowed on the AIP diet helps.  High histamine foods, foods that naturally contain high histamine levels, are fermented things like pickles, wines, Kefer, and sauerkraut, and citrus fruits like oranges.  Bone broth has high histamine, too.

I started feeling better within a few weeks. 

Have you talked to your doctor or nutritionist about supplementing vitamins and minerals while you are healing and might not be absorbing these important micronutrients?  High dose Thiamine and supplementing the other B vitamins, Vitamin D, and magnesium has really been helpful, too.  

Hope this helps!

[Ginger38]

12 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Some people claim this diet is helpful for those with ongoing issues after maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet:

 

Well my diet keeps getting messed up so I do think that is contributing 

[Ginger38]

12 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

@Ginger38 

I've found the Autoimmune Protocol Diet very helpful in healing.  The AIP diet was developed by a Celiac doctor, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne.  It has been scientifically shown to promote healing in the intestines. 

The AIP diet removes dairy, eggs, all grains, legumes, nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers), nuts and seeds.  It's mostly meat and veggies and some fruit.  

Celiac Disease can cause Histamine intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.  Mast cells produce histamine as part of the immune response.  Sometimes these mast cells overreact and release histamine at the slightest provocation.  Thiamine supplementation helps these mast cells to NOT release histamine.  Choosing low histamine foods allowed on the AIP diet helps.  High histamine foods, foods that naturally contain high histamine levels, are fermented things like pickles, wines, Kefer, and sauerkraut, and citrus fruits like oranges.  Bone broth has high histamine, too.

I started feeling better within a few weeks. 

Have you talked to your doctor or nutritionist about supplementing vitamins and minerals while you are healing and might not be absorbing these important micronutrients?  High dose Thiamine and supplementing the other B vitamins, Vitamin D, and magnesium has really been helpful, too.  

Hope this helps!

Thanks. I take vitamin d and am trying to take B1 again. I also take a multi vitamin for immunity support 

so can you please tell me some examples of what you eat? I keep Asking that but am not having any luck getting responses.. especially breakfast if no eggs or oats and I need protein 

 

[Rogol72]

@Ginger38 ... I agree with @Scott Adams and @knitty kitty about the AIP diet. I follow the AIP diet most of the time because I have trouble with nuts, seeds, gluten-free oats, dairy and nightshades. Dairy is just as bad as gluten for some Coeliacs. Eggs don't seem to bother me at present though. It's not a forever diet, just until your body heals, and your body needs adequate minerals and vitamins to heal. Minerals are cofactors and make the enzymes in the body work and hence the Vitamins will work properly.

I don't take a multivitamin, but I do take the following ...

B1, B Complex, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Calcium Citrate, Zinc and Iron when needed.

Trace Mineral Complex for selenium, chromium molybdenum, manganese, copper etc.

Sea Mineral Complex for the ultra trace minerals

I eat fruit and vegetables (except nightshades), red meat, poultry and fish.  For breakfast, sometimes I'll have eggs and clean bacon (we call them rashers this side of the Atlantic! ). Or a bowl of chopped fruit, sometimes avocado and bananas. Any combination will work once you get your head around it.

[GF-Cate]

1 hour ago, Ginger38 said:

so can you please tell me some examples of what you eat? I keep Asking that but am not having any luck getting responses.. especially breakfast if no eggs or oats and I need protein 

 

I often don't eat what are thought of as "breakfast foods" in the morning. Anything you would eat at other meals works in the morning too. Some examples I eat as my first meal of the day include:

- leftovers from dinner the night before

- soup or chili (top with cheese or add beans for extra protein)

- salad topped or roasted veggies with a serving of protein & homemade olive oil dressing

- chicken sausages (such as Al Fresco or Aidells brands)

- fish or shrimp

- a scoop of nut butter or peanut butter & almond flour crackers

- ground turkey & veg meatballs -- I make a big batch in the food processor and freeze a bunch for easy meals or snacks. I don't use a recipe & add onion & mushrooms to mine as well, but a recipe like this can be easily adjusted to your preferences: https://savorylotus.com/loaded-veggie-turkey-meatballs/

- foods made in the Crock Pot (long/slow cooked meat & veg can be easier to digest when intestines are healing)

Not all of these are AIP, but if you decide to do AIP or Whole 30 or just want more ideas, there are tons of recipes, meal plans and grocery lists for both eating plans available online.

I generally put a scoop of collagen powder in my morning coffee & wait to eat until mid-morning or closer to lunchtime. Just my preference to do two meals/day + simple snacks.

[Ginger38]

1 hour ago, Rogol72 said:

@Ginger38 ... I agree with @Scott Adams and @knitty kitty about the AIP diet. I follow the AIP diet most of the time because I have trouble with nuts, seeds, gluten-free oats, dairy and nightshades. Dairy is just as bad as gluten for some Coeliacs. Eggs don't seem to bother me at present though. It's not a forever diet, just until your body heals, and your body needs adequate minerals and vitamins to heal. Minerals are cofactors and make the enzymes in the body work and hence the Vitamins will work properly.

I don't take a multivitamin, but I do take the following ...

B1, B Complex, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Calcium Citrate, Zinc and Iron when needed.

Trace Mineral Complex for selenium, chromium molybdenum, manganese, copper etc.

Sea Mineral Complex for the ultra trace minerals

I eat fruit and vegetables (except nightshades), red meat, poultry and fish.  For breakfast, sometimes I'll have eggs and clean bacon (we call them rashers this side of the Atlantic! ). Or a bowl of chopped fruit, sometimes avocado and bananas. Any combination will work once you get your head around it.

Thank you! I figured a multi vitamin was necessary? 

[Ginger38]

29 minutes ago, gluten-free-Cate said:

I often don't eat what are thought of as "breakfast foods" in the morning. Anything you would eat at other meals works in the morning too. Some examples I eat as my first meal of the day include:

- leftovers from dinner the night before

- soup or chili (top with cheese or add beans for extra protein)

- salad topped or roasted veggies with a serving of protein & homemade olive oil dressing

- chicken sausages (such as Al Fresco or Aidells brands)

- fish or shrimp

- a scoop of nut butter or peanut butter & almond flour crackers

- ground turkey & veg meatballs -- I make a big batch in the food processor and freeze a bunch for easy meals or snacks. I don't use a recipe & add onion & mushrooms to mine as well, but a recipe like this can be easily adjusted to your preferences: https://savorylotus.com/loaded-veggie-turkey-meatballs/

- foods made in the Crock Pot (long/slow cooked meat & veg can be easier to digest when intestines are healing)

Not all of these are AIP, but if you decide to do AIP or Whole 30 or just want more ideas, there are tons of recipes, meal plans and grocery lists for both eating plans available online.

I generally put a scoop of collagen powder in my morning coffee & wait to eat until mid-morning or closer to lunchtime. Just my preference to do two meals/day + simple snacks.

Thank you so much!!! I can’t skip breakfast bc my sugar bottoms out. So I’m guessing you avoid red meat? 

[Ginger38]

17 minutes ago, Ginger38 said:

Thank you so much!!! I can’t skip breakfast bc my sugar bottoms out. So I’m guessing you avoid red meat? 

Also I can’t eat salads anymore (or at least for the time being) they run right through me, it’s like I can’t digest them 

[GF-Cate]

On 1/21/2023 at 11:25 AM, Ginger38 said:

 So I’m guessing you avoid red meat? 

I actually do eat red meat, but looking at my list I can see why it seems like I might not! Just not as appealing to me in the morning as other proteins. I do sometimes eat it as a first meal, but more often at dinner 🙂

[GF-Cate]

On 1/21/2023 at 11:44 AM, Ginger38 said:

Also I can’t eat salads anymore (or at least for the time being) they run right through me, it’s like I can’t digest them 

I also couldn't digest raw veg well while my gut was healing. Cooked/roasted veggies or veggies cooked in soups (or pureed soups) makes them easier to digest. 

[Scott Adams]

On 1/21/2023 at 8:23 AM, Ginger38 said:

Thank you! I figured a multi vitamin was necessary? 

Most celiacs, and especially those who are still recovering and have ongoing symptoms, probably need a good multi-vitmin & mineral, for example One A Day.

[knitty kitty]

On 1/21/2023 at 10:44 AM, Ginger38 said:

Also I can’t eat salads anymore (or at least for the time being) they run right through me, it’s like I can’t digest them 

If iceberg lettuce is causing a problem, switch to Romaine lettuce.  Iceberg lettuce is mostly cellulose which can be difficult to break down.  Romaine lettuce is a good source of Thiamine.  

Thiamine supplements will help.  Thiamine works with the other seven B vitamins, so a B Complex supplement, magnesium (also works with Thiamine) and Vitamin D (helps reduce inflammation) are good ideas for supplementation.

[knitty kitty]

@Ginger38,

I follow the Autoimmune Protocol Diet (AIP diet).  Meats and veggies mostly.   

The artificial construct of "breakfast foods" can go out the window.  Just focus on choosing healthy foods that are nutrient dense. 

"Eat to live, don't live to eat."

Personally, I like liver and onions for breakfast.  

😸

[knitty kitty]

Removing dairy will help reduce inflammation and digestive issues.

Mucosal reactivity to cow's milk protein in coeliac disease

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17302893/

"A mucosal inflammatory response similar to that elicited by gluten was produced by CM protein in about 50% of the patients with coeliac disease. Casein, in particular, seems to be involved in this reaction."

 

[Ginger38]

On 1/21/2023 at 9:58 AM, Rogol72 said:

@Ginger38 ... I agree with @Scott Adams and @knitty kitty about the AIP diet. I follow the AIP diet most of the time because I have trouble with nuts, seeds, gluten-free oats, dairy and nightshades. Dairy is just as bad as gluten for some Coeliacs. Eggs don't seem to bother me at present though. It's not a forever diet, just until your body heals, and your body needs adequate minerals and vitamins to heal. Minerals are cofactors and make the enzymes in the body work and hence the Vitamins will work properly.

I don't take a multivitamin, but I do take the following ...

B1, B Complex, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Calcium Citrate, Zinc and Iron when needed.

Trace Mineral Complex for selenium, chromium molybdenum, manganese, copper etc.

Sea Mineral Complex for the ultra trace minerals

I eat fruit and vegetables (except nightshades), red meat, poultry and fish.  For breakfast, sometimes I'll have eggs and clean bacon (we call them rashers this side of the Atlantic! ). Or a bowl of chopped fruit, sometimes avocado and bananas. Any combination will work once you get your head around it.

Thank you, this is helpful 

On 1/23/2023 at 7:46 PM, gluten-free-Cate said:

I also couldn't digest raw veg well while my gut was healing. Cooked/roasted veggies or veggies cooked in soups (or pureed soups) makes them easier to digest. 

Wonder if I should try eating baby foods?? 

[knitty kitty]

@Ginger38,

When recuperating, I would buy a Chuck roast, cut it into small chunks, and freeze it.  

I would throw a chunk in my small crock pot with carrots or frozen vegetables like okra and let it cook on low all night.  By morning, it's very tender and mushy.  (Don't use potatoes or corn.)  

I would eat small amounts throughout the day.  Yes, it is like feeding a baby.  

I like to make small amounts at a time.  Leftovers tend to become higher in histamine levels the longer they are left over.  

Hope this helps!

Edited February 1, 2023 by knitty kitty
Typo

[Ginger38]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@Ginger38,

When recuperating, I would buy a Chuck roast, cut it into small chunks, and freeze it.  

I would throw a chunk in my small crock pot with carrots or frozen vegetables like okra and let it cook on low all night.  By morning, it's very tender and mushy.  (Don't use potatoes or corn.)  

I would eat small amounts throughout the day.  Yes, it is like feeding a baby.  

I like to make small amounts at a time.  Leftovers tend to become higher in histamine levels the longer they are left over.  

Hope this helps!

Thank you.. this is helpful! Keep the tips coming