Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

From Constipation To Diarrhea?

funkflex

Recommended Posts

funkflex Rookie
funkflex
Posted

Hi

 

I am 10 months gluten free, and starting about 2 months ago my stools became looser and looser. It is now bordering on diarrhea, although it is still kind of hard to get out, i.e. still a little constipated but not at all like it was 6 months ago.

 

Is this normal?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

That has happened to me, but I don't think it is exactly the norm.  Are ther any other changes in your life that could cause it?

  • 2 weeks later...
funkflex Rookie
funkflex
Posted
  • Author

That has happened to me, but I don't think it is exactly the norm.  Are ther any other changes in your life that could cause it?

 

I don´t think so. Well, we are two atleast then...

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Sometimes, when we remove gluten from our diets, we have removed a big fiber source.  Also, gluten-free bread products do have some ingredients, like gums, that you wouldn't normally eat.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I think my problem with D is due to thyroid medication and some increased vitamins like magnesium. I used to be hypothyroid (causes C) and am on the lower end of normal for Mg, I now take thyroid hormones and many larger doses of vits (as ordered by a doctor). I also greatly increased the amount of nuts I eat and they can have a laxative effect.  So, that's partially why I wondered if you had other possible causes in your life.

 

Hope it gets better for you.

nutritionguy Rookie
nutritionguy
Posted

Hi

 

I am 10 months gluten free, and starting about 2 months ago my stools became looser and looser. It is now bordering on diarrhea, although it is still kind of hard to get out, i.e. still a little constipated but not at all like it was 6 months ago.

 

Is this normal?

Some medications might have this type of side effect.  Are you taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications?  Also, probiotics may be helpful with alleviating this--though figuring out the primary cause if possible is very important.  Are you taking any probiotics?

funkflex Rookie
funkflex
Posted
  • Author

Yes I do take probiotics. I just find it strange that it went from C to D. Hopefully it´ll normalize with time.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nutritionguy Rookie
nutritionguy
Posted

Yes I do take probiotics. I just find it strange that it went from C to D. Hopefully it´ll normalize with time.

Taking probiotics is good.  However, if you are still on antibiotics, the good from the probiotics could be totally negated.  The problem is that antibiotics may be killing healthful bacteria in your intestines and allowing inflammatory bacteria to proliferate.  If you are still taking antibiotics and you are still having diarrhea, there is an extremely high likelihood that the antibiotics are the root cause of your problem.  Medication side effects (including diarrhea) as a result of antibiotics (especially long term antibiotics) are not uncommon.  And I would guess that in celiacs whose intestines have not yet had a chance to completely heal, the chance of this would be even greater.   You really should seriously consider talking with your doctor about alternative treatments for your acne with him/her if the diarrhea is still ongoing.  I only say all of this because you still seem to be puzzled as to why this diarrhea is occurring... 

  • 2 weeks later...
funkflex Rookie
funkflex
Posted
  • Author

Taking probiotics is good.  However, if you are still on antibiotics, the good from the probiotics could be totally negated.  The problem is that antibiotics may be killing healthful bacteria in your intestines and allowing inflammatory bacteria to proliferate.  If you are still taking antibiotics and you are still having diarrhea, there is an extremely high likelihood that the antibiotics are the root cause of your problem.  Medication side effects (including diarrhea) as a result of antibiotics (especially long term antibiotics) are not uncommon.  And I would guess that in celiacs whose intestines have not yet had a chance to completely heal, the chance of this would be even greater.   You really should seriously consider talking with your doctor about alternative treatments for your acne with him/her if the diarrhea is still ongoing.  I only say all of this because you still seem to be puzzled as to why this diarrhea is occurring... 

 

I am not on any antibiotics (should I be?).  Yes youre right I have some minor acne, but I did I write about it here?

 

Seems that my gut is swinging back and forth between diarrhea and constipation. Right now it´s further on the constipation side of things...

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

Funkflex,

 

No, you should not be on antibiotics, unless of course they are prescribed by your doctor.  A lot of dairy may cause some constipation.  Since you are swinging back and forth it is probably the food your eating.   Moderate dairy, chocolate, breads and pastas.  Eat more greens, fruits and nuts.  Hopefully you will start to normalize. 

 

Good Luck,

 

Colleen

nutritionguy Rookie
nutritionguy
Posted

I am not on any antibiotics (should I be?).  Yes youre right I have some minor acne, but I did I write about it here?

 

Seems that my gut is swinging back and forth between diarrhea and constipation. Right now it´s further on the constipation side of things...

 

Unless you have a specific infection that requires antibiotics to maintain or restore your health, you should probably not be on them.  And acne, in my opinion, is usually not one of them.  And yes, you did write about your acne and being on antibiotics for it someplace on this website, although I don't see any mention of it in the thread of postings above, nor do I remember exactly where I saw you post this.

 

Good, you are making progress, although it sounds like you probably still have a bit of a way to go in improving your diet.  But before looking at your diet in more depth, i need to ask the following:  Do you exercise daily?  Exercise is probably one of the most powerful things you can do to reverse constipation and keep your bowels moving regularly.  Thirty minutes continuous walking is ideal if you are physically up to that much; and if you aren't physically up to that much, as many minutes as you can comfortably do without overexerting or pushing yourself is a good way to start. 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,485
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    sammiller
    Newest Member
    sammiller
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.4k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      10 years later, my celiac is progressing

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hashimoto's is a type four hypersensitivity.   Read what this doctor did about hers... https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos/ She adopted a Paleo diet. Once you get your inflammation down, and your nutrients up, your body's immune system can calm down and quit reacting to every little thing.
    • GardeningForHealth
      10 years later, my celiac is progressing

      By GardeningForHealth · Posted

      Most doctors would dismiss the experiences I have described here, including my food diary, as somatic reactions, and begin to think of me as a hypochondriac--so I am very careful about what I share with doctors.  Most of the research done so far in the medical field has focused on Type I hypersensitivity: classic IgE-mediated allergic responses. I wasn't even aware of Type IV (or had forgotten about it) until knittykitty reminded me about it with her post. But even when talking about an allergist, does an allergist understand that Celiac is a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction? And if so, would an allergist believe or understand that other foods can cause a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction? And if so, are there objective tests that prove these non-gluten reactions, such as a hypothetical Type IV hypersensitivity reaction to apples, plums, sausage, cassava flour, etc? I do not believe these tests exist right now.  And lets say that these tests did exist, and I could take them, and obtain objective proof (besides my food diary) of my reactions to these foods. Now what? Is there a treatment besides avoiding those foods? I am not aware of it. I would simply be told: avoid all of those foods forever.  And that is not reasonable either. Avoid all of those foods forever? Really? There are times that I feel malnourished. I then will eat a food from the bad list, and suddenly feel much better nourished, but then I have a reaction that begins the next day or the day after that, and lasting many days afterwards. The reaction is always the same: brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, headache, significant enough to impair any productivity. I have been on this elimination diet for about 3 months now, but each time I attempt to re-introduce a food item that I initially reacted to, I have the same reaction. Therefore, I do not believe it will ever be safe in the future to re-introduce a food back into my diet safely. This is a big problem with no solution.
    • aperlo34
      Eye irritation 2.5 months into gluten free diet

      By aperlo34 · Posted

      Title says it all. I’m at 4 months since Dx/starting gluten-free diet but the last month and a half I’ve had pretty irritated eyes. Originally they started really dry and sensitive to light, especially in the morning. Saw the eye doc and he said eye strain/dry eyes due to season change/radiators turning on in my apartment. I’ve been using a heat mask and eye drops and that helped a lot. However my eyes still feel tired and red and gunky, but not really dry anymore. Just a bit irritated.    any thoughts?   THANKS!
    • Mmar
      Refractory Celiac - doctor?

      By Mmar · Posted

      Hello! I have been on a strict gluten-free diet for 20 years after my initial diagnosis, but in July had an endoscopy that showed villous atrophy (but multiple ttgs have all been normal). I have gone through everything in my house to eliminate any gluten and have been eating almost no processed foods, and will be getting a second endoscopy in a month because my GI doctor thinks it could be refractory celiac. She told me that if it’s refractory, I would need to see a “specialist” because she doesn’t know enough.  I live in Philadelphia and the Celiac Center at Jefferson has 0 appointments with any doctors, I keep trying. Does anyone know of either a doctor in Philadelphia that treats refractory celiac or a doctor elsewhere that does virtual appointments to treat refractory? Thank you!
    • knitty kitty
      10 years later, my celiac is progressing

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @GardeningForHealth, On my journey, I found following the Autoimmune Paleo Diet most helpful in reducing reactions to various foods.  It's very restrictive, but it really helps improve gut health.  It's worth the effort for a few weeks or months. Tea from any grocery store; Tea, organic; Tea, grown in USA, never-sprayed, loose leaf Tea contains TANNINS which can inactivate Thiamin resulting in Thiamin deficiency.  Tannins inhibit the absorption of other vitamins and minerals, especially iron. Tannins can inactivate digestive enzymes.  So drink tea between meals.  Choose a tea with lower levels of tannin, like green tea or Oolong tea.  Oolong tea contains amino acid Theanine which reduces inflammation in the digestive tract. Dairy; Rice, any brand, even after washing 3 times Many people develop Lactose intolerance because damaged villi in the intestinal lining of the digestive tract cannot produce the enzyme Lactase needed to digest the sugar in dairy, Lactose.   Many people with Celiac Disease react to the protein Casein the same as they react to the protein Gluten.  This is because both Casein and Gluten, as well as the protein in rice, carry a similar segment of a protein building block chain (33 mer peptide) that triggers the autoimmune response in Celiac Disease.  Basmati rice is less likely to carry this protein chain and may be better tolerated.  Don't wash rice before cooking.  The added vitamins get washed away.  Some of those grains of rice are extruded vitamins.  They dissolved into the cooking water and are reabsorbed into the grains as the rice cooks. Organic catchup, Potatoes; Tomatoes are a member of the Nightshade vegetables which have been shown to increase gastrointestinal permeability and "leaky gut syndrome."  Potatoes, Peppers and Eggplant also belong to the Nightshades, and should be avoided until healed.  Catsup usually is acidic which can be irritating to the digestive system. Any and all brands of gluten-free breads and dessert items; Cassava flour; Gluten-free flour Often these contain cross contamination with gluten.  @Scott Adams recently posted a new article about this.  Gluten free products are not enriched with vitamins and minerals needed to digest and process them.  They are high in insoluble fiber and saturated fats.  These may also contain microbial transglutaminase, see below. Sausage, Any processed meat These foods contain microbial transglutaminase, a flavor and texture enhancer, called "meat glue" in the food processing industry, which triggers and provokes anti-gluten antibodies to attack the microbial transglutaminase as well as the tissue transglutaminase produced by our own bodies as with Celiac Disease.  We have articles about microbial transglutaminase, too.  Cassava also contains Thiaminase, an enzyme which destroys Thiamin. Cucumbers from a grocery store, but not from my garden, Most apples, Zucchini, Plums Cucumbers, like these other fruits and veggies, contain lots of soluble fiber, pectin, which intestinal bacteria can ferment and then make short chain fatty acids, which are beneficial.  So that's a good thing.  However, commercially produced breeds of veggies and fruits may contain higher levels of pectins than historically home grown varieties.  Excess consumption of pectins can result in gas, bloating and diarrhea.   Bottled spices  There's an article (perhaps @Scott Adams can help us find, please) about how some spices can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Gluten-free dairy-free ice cream These can cause reactions if one reacts to oats.  Products made from nuts or nut milks may contain high levels of lectins which are hard to digest and can cause all the usual symptoms.   Smoke from a fire; Strong cleaning chemical fumes These contain Sulfites.  Developing a hyperensitivity to Sulfites is possible in Celiac Disease.  We can be low in vitamins and minerals needed to process Sulfites.  I have Hypersensitivity Type Four where the immune system identifies Sulfites as something to be attacked.  Celiac Disease is another Hypersensitivity Type Four disorder. Packaged sweet potato chips; Packaged plantain chips;  Rice; Any and all brands of gluten-free breads and dessert items; Cassava flour; Gluten-free flour; Gluten-free dairy-free ice cream A High Carbohydrate diet can lead to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  Adopting a Paleo diet like the AIP diet is a great way to change your gut biome without using antibiotics which kill off the bad with the good bacteria.  Taking probiotics may not be very effective as long as SIBO bacteria are entrenched in the digestive tract.  You change what you eat and you change what grows inside you.  You starve out the bad SIBO bacteria, repopulate and feed the good ones.  Supplementing with Benfotiamin helps because thiamine has antibacterial properties that keeps the bad bacteria in check and benefits the good bacteria.  Benfotiamin is needed to process all those carbs turning them into energy instead of them turning to fat.   I hope this has been helpful.
×
×
  • Create New...