Warning - Tmi Poop Question Ahead

[Celtic Queen]

Sorry for handing out too much information here, but I really don't know who else to ask on this one.  I'm recovering from my last glutening, which was about 4 weeks ago.  One thing I've noticed late in my recovery cycle is that my stools get really crazy.  The first week after being glutened I get the usual "Big D."  Then the next week or two they're normal.  Then about week 4 or 5 they become really strange.  They feel solid when they're inside me, but when I go to the bathroom, they totally fall apart in the toilet.  It's not watery, like diahrehea (sp?),  but comes out solid then separates into thousands of tiny pieces. Sometimes some mucus will come out too. I also noticed that when I have these kind of BMs, I have the sudden urge to go to the bathroom and I can't control it, like with a normal BM. 

 

So, if anyone hasn't gotten totally grossed out by my post yet and is still reading, here are my questions:

 

Does anyone else have this issue?

 

Is this a normal part of my intestines recovering from gluten or do I need to look to another food intolerance as a cause?  I've been gluten-free for 2 years.  I'm only doing gluten-free at the moment, but probably need to get rid of the dairy too as I have really bad sinus problems.  Could casein be a cause?

 

Do you think this is something I should go see the doctor for?  I had such a bad experience when I went to the gastro doctor that I hesitate to go again.  But if I need to visit a gastro dr., I can do some looking around and find a better one, I guess.

 

Thanks for any help and advice you can give me.  And sorry if I grossed anyone out

[w8in4dave]

I have had that problem and I think mine was caused from Lactose. No worries about TMI we have all been there. Very frustrating! 

[moosemalibu]

I am new to this whole thing as I've just been diagnosed but I definitely have the myriad of stool qualities that you describe and the scattered little bits seem to be the most disturbing to me too! I removed dairy from my diet and it has improved. Whenever I get it it's usually after I accidentally consume dairy.

[cyclinglady]

You have your answer!  Give up the milk for a while.  Sounds more like a milk allergy (sinus congestion), but can be lactose at the same time!  It could be other foods too, but start with most obvious -- milk. 

[Celtic Queen]

Thanks for the help everyone.  And for not being scared off by my post  Looks like I will be giving up the dairy.  I've known for a while that I should but I think I've been resisting because my favorite foods all have dairy - chocolate, yogurt, cheese, etc.  It's been much easier for me to give up the wheat than it will be to give up the dairy.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to find some new favorite foods.

[niese]

I had the same issue as well.  I too had to give up dairy but I have fallen in love with Silk Almond unsweetened milk.  My "D" lasted for 5 months my new GI doc put me on Budesonide and my "D" stopped.  Are you taking any probiotics and digestive enzymes they usually will help.  

[moosemalibu]

I am thinking I need probiotics and digestive enzymes. What brands seem to be working for those in the US?

[Celtic Queen]

I haven't been taking either probiotics or digestive enzymes.  I'd love to hear some recommendations on those too.

[niese]

I haven't been taking either probiotics or digestive enzymes.  I'd love to hear some recommendations on those too.

Digestive Enzymes I take Digest All Plant Enzyme I order them from Open Original Shared Link  they are gluten free as well.  I order alot of gluten free items from swanson vitamins epecially my baking needs like flour they have thousands for gluten free items very cheap.  I take Trubiotics they are also gluten free and I get them at WalMart.  I have also taken Culturelle from WalMart as well.  I am sure other people can recommend brands as well.  What works for one may not work for another.  But these work well on me.  

[janpell]

I had that happen and found that it was pea protein that caused it for me. It is so confusing at first because I am sure that I had gluten or too much dairy or a stomach bug and never suspected much else.  Because I had to limit my diet so much it took me about four encounters to figure out it was the pea protein that is added to some gluten free products. Probiotics will probably help.