I Am Ready To Eat Gluten!

[cap6]

Here I thought I had the perfect "recipe" for my chronic constipation. It worked for about 2 months and then just quit. Right now I think I would eat some gluten just to get D - anything but this C. I have been living on 3 Ducolax, every night for 2 weeks. The dr gave me Lactulose on Friday but that isn't working. After 6 days of little to no poop I got desperate and did the "colon cleanse" yesterday. Drink two 64oz gatorades and two of the 238 mg bottles of miralax. Well, it helped a little but today when ever I eat something I am bent over with bloating. The dr office just brushes me off so don't know if I can get in to see the dr tomorrow. I am getting pretty desperate!

Oh... I just had to vent. I have been gluten-free since March & doing pretty good - except for this C!!!!!

[shopgirl]

Have you looked for other foods that could be causing it? Dairy/casein? Soy? Are you eating plenty of leafy greens, fruit, vegetables? Drinking a good amount of water? Exercising?

C was my number one gluten symptom and it hasn't totally eased off since I went gluten-free a couple months ago but I can alleviate it by eating a big spinach/lettuce salad every day with a good serving of plain olive oil on top. Fruits and veggies throughout the day. Water.

Give us a few more details and we might be able to help but don't go back to gluten. Not worth it.

[bridgetm]

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy on the 30th out of concern of Crohn's or some other IBD (upper scope, 2 MRIs and a pill cam showed no abnormalities). The thought of eating a real Christmas cookie is looking more attractive than 3 dulcalax, 64 oz of Gatorade and Miralax and magnesium bromide. Who needs drugs when wheat protein could be incredibly successful?? Of course, I'll go the drug route... at least they won't put me to bed for 48 hours.

I can relate to your frustration though. My main symptom with gluten was diarrhea. When I get trace CC'd consistently (happened a few days in a row last week) I get the D but almost simultaneously I also get C. It feels like C, like my system had just shut down, but I'll still get D-like BMs. I make at least one meal a day a simple bowl of white rice with some salt and, of course, lots of water throughout the day helps to balance things out.

[mamaw]

I feel your pain! I was in the hospital for aweek because of thet same issue.... I have no problems -- its just I have weak bowel muscles... I've been checked & tested many times. My dad had the same issue. Here is what I do: miralax twice a day & mineral oil as dirested. Once I start being reg or the stool gets like the big D I slack off a day or more then start back up with miralax once a day.

good luck...

[cap6]

Thanks for your replies. I do feel like just curling up and crying like a baby at times.

I drink a lot of water, 5 or 6 bottles a day as am always very thirsty. Water is about all I drink other than a glass of wine here and there.

Food wise - not much what I would call "junk". Veggies, fruit, chicken mostly. We do very little processed stuff any more, our dinners and stuff are all well balanced. Since I can't eat close to all of the advised serving of healthy stuff every day I figure there is no room for the junk or processed stuff.

Metamucil 2 x's a day. Flax seed oil & probiotic every day.

I don't eat much dairy -about all would be a bit of cheese sprinkled on a meal. Don't like milk and use very little butter. Don't use soy that I am aware of but am going to check all of the stuff in the cupboard for any hidden ingredients that I may have missed.

Have had this C issue on and off all of my life but never quite as bad as right now. I am going to try to get in to see the dr today but I think they are getting tired of seeing me every couple of months. But what else is there to do? It's weird as last year I missed Christmas as was so very sick (not diagnosed yet) and feel like "here it comes again". I am not trying to be negative I just feel very negative today. Usually am a pretty up beat person but I swear there are times when this disease really tests you!

As for a cookie - even a bite is sounding like a welcome relief right now!

[polarbearscooby]

Its good to know I'm not the only one, because I've had times when Ive considered eating gluten just to go...but I've been to embarrassed to ask about it...

I've had the issue my whole life, and it got worse after my gallbladder was taken out. I actually ended up in the ER because we though I might have busted an internal stitch, but my doctor told me my entire bowel, all the way up to my stomach, was um. Full. Then two years later I got diagnosed and I was free of the D and the C....until my first glutening, then it happens like clock work, D 30 mins after for 2 hours, then after that C for up to a week.... and once it's all gotten out of my system I'm fine until my next accident.

I ALWAYS drink plenty of water, we buy by the case now, I drink 4-6 bottles a day...

I eat veggies (although probably not as much as I should...)

I don't drink milk, the only dairy I get is from a vitamin and cheese on things like Tacos and Pizza (what?! I'm a college student! lol)

Anyway thank you for finally breaching this subject!!

[cap6]

my pleasure. Lol !!! I think that this is a topic that concerns all celiacs to some degree but not necessarily one that is easy to bring up. But desperation does force us I guess and it's good to feel so safe to talk on this board.

[polarbearscooby]

  On 12/13/2010 at 4:40 PM, cap6 said:

my pleasure. Lol !!! I think that this is a topic that concerns all celiacs to some degree but not necessarily one that is easy to bring up. But desperation does force us I guess and it's good to feel so safe to talk on this board.

Very true!

Thanks for having that courage!

[jenngolightly]

  On 12/13/2010 at 4:19 AM, cap6 said:

Here I thought I had the perfect "recipe" for my chronic constipation. It worked for about 2 months and then just quit. Right now I think I would eat some gluten just to get D - anything but this C. I have been living on 3 Ducolax, every night for 2 weeks. The dr gave me Lactulose on Friday but that isn't working. After 6 days of little to no poop I got desperate and did the "colon cleanse" yesterday. Drink two 64oz gatorades and two of the 238 mg bottles of miralax. Well, it helped a little but today when ever I eat something I am bent over with bloating. The dr office just brushes me off so don't know if I can get in to see the dr tomorrow. I am getting pretty desperate!

Oh... I just had to vent. I have been gluten-free since March & doing pretty good - except for this C!!!!!

Are you only gluten-free? Dairy, soy, or corn might be causing constipation. That's what happens to me.

[cap6]

I eat little to no dairy but will take a look at the corn & soy. Thank you!

[sandsurfgirl]

Get a good old fashioned enema. Not the little bottle of Fleet's. Get the one that's like a hot water bottle but it has a tube attached. It is natural, safe and the best thing to get immediate relief without taking more medications, etc.

It holds like a quart of water but only a little bit will go in at a time. This is gross, but hey we're celiacs. We dont' care right? The best thing to do is to lay on your back first. Then after you go to the bathroom, lay on your right side. Bathroom. Tummy or hands and knees. Bathroom. Then left side.

You'll feel so much better if you try it.

[cap6]

gulp! I am ready for that step. Also have a dr appt on thursday. Here's hoping something breaks loose. No pun intended!

[Judy3]

Glad to know that I'm not the only one!!! I went from D 15 times a day before the gluten free diet and now it's C most of the time...

I thought it was just me!!

[cap6]

do we really want to talk about it? lol I've never discussed so many bodily functions before going gluten-free!!

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 12/14/2010 at 3:26 AM, cap6 said:

I eat little to no dairy but will take a look at the corn & soy. Thank you!

Good idea to give up the soy. You maybe should give them up one at a time. Soy was the C offender for me. Even a little bit binds me up painfully for days. My system doesn't tolerate flax seed in any form so I couldn't use anything with that for relief.

[cap6]

soy is being cut as of now. I am trying to get a referral to see the GI at the Celiac Foundation in San Diego. My dr approved it now if only my insurance will.

[FooGirlsMom]

Along with the corn & soy for allergic reacion, do you eat the higher fiber grains like quinoa, buckwheat, etc? Rice can be constipating (that's why I'm eating it I have the opposite problem). Winter is difficult sometimes but along with the fiber, drinking your 64+ ounces of water a day should help.

Sure hope you feel better soon!

FooGirlsMom

[Gutsy Girl]

Hey, something caught my eye in the OP's post. You drink wine once a day or sometimes.

I've found it hard to find gluten free wine. Please correct me, others, if I'm wrong. But wine is very often CC and on the general no-no list unless you've DEFINITELY found a brand that is 100% gluten free.

Is it possible that this is a source of the problem?

[Looking for answers]

I'll add one more thought...are you getting enough good fats? Sometimes the lack of it can really bind me up. Avocados, olive oil, fish oils, etc really help.

[ravenwoodglass]

  On 12/16/2010 at 4:44 PM, FeelingAlone said:

Hey, something caught my eye in the OP's post. You drink wine once a day or sometimes.

I've found it hard to find gluten free wine. Please correct me, others, if I'm wrong. But wine is very often CC and on the general no-no list unless you've DEFINITELY found a brand that is 100% gluten free.

Is it possible that this is a source of the problem?

Wine shouldn't generally be an issue. Wine coolers in the US are a malt beverage and those are of course out. There has been occasional talk about wine barrels and a flour paste used to seal them but I think that is rare. Wine does however contain sulfites naturally and some people are sensitive to those but that is not a gluten issue.

[cap6]

wine has never been an issue - thank goodness! And I'm glad to hear it comfirmed as gluten-free. Whew! I am going to look at the fats as I don't use a lot of fats. I need to learn what & how to use properly. I have never been much of a cook so along with Celiac comes learning to cook!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement.

[shopgirl]

  On 12/17/2010 at 5:28 AM, cap6 said:

wine has never been an issue - thank goodness! And I'm glad to hear it comfirmed as gluten-free. Whew! I am going to look at the fats as I don't use a lot of fats. I need to learn what & how to use properly. I have never been much of a cook so along with Celiac comes learning to cook!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement.

Olive oil helps. Put a good table spoon of it on a green leafy salad. Some people even eat it straight before bed.

Sometimes bad fats can help too. I don't eat a lot of red meat but a homecooked hamburger hasn't failed me yet.

[Marz]

Aaah, I feel your pain I only ever suffered from c after going gluten free! Strange but true

I've also thought sometimes C is worse than D, because it's not just one or two episodes on the loo, it affects you for several days!

I found that Magnesium supplements (like for sportsmen) helped a lot, I have one that also includes Vit B - needed for Mg absorption. I was also having muscle twitches/cramps, which led me to believe I had a Mg deficiency - not sure if you suffer from this as well?

Do a search on this forum, you need Mg with amino acids, or something else, not Magnesium Oxide because that doesn't get absorbed in your intestine. You need the Mg in your muscles, not inside your intestine. Basically Mg is essential for smooth muscle function, and there's a theory that with celiacs you don't absorb as much Mg as you need, hence the extra supplement.

Don't take supplements if you have a kidney problem though- Mg is excreted via kidneys, and if you have kidney disease etc, the Mg can build up to toxic levels in your body.

Once your body has enough Mg, your intestines should start contracting properly and get things "moving"

I also found flours, brown rice, too much fiber can cause constipation. Like brown rice, bananas, pea/buckwheat flour. Not sure if you're eating a lot of baked goods/gluten-free substitutes? Some people find extra fiber actually worsens the problem instead of making constipation better.

I'm sure you're getting enough fiber, I think most celiacs get lots of fruit/veggies in their diet

[cap6]

that's an interesting thought Marz. Several years ago I went through a period of time where I had leg twitches, thought it was restless leg syndrome but added mg & potassium & it went away. Eventually dropped the supps and had no more trouble, however, I think that I will mosey over to the health food store & check out some mg with the amino. What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks