Bladder Problems And Gluten Sensitivity?

[aurora]

I don't have celiac's but a gluten sensitivity but also have major bladder problems! does anyone know if there is a link? I had an endoscopy just to look inside my bladder and the bladder wall was very inflamed - has anyone else experienced this or is it totally unrelated? I have only just found out about the gluten thing so don't know yet if a gluten free diet will help or not.

[Felidae]

I don't know if I have celiac, but I responded positively to the gluten-free diet. I have taken one cranberry pill a day for about six years now. This is because I used to get frequent bladder infections. I don't know if going gluten-free would have changed the bladder infection rate, so I religiously take my cranberry pill.

[cornbread]

Before I went gluten-free I used to need to urinate all the time, and often felt like I had cystitis. Since going gluten-free the problems have vanished. When I get glutened, the frequency returns.

[ravenwoodglass]

I don't have celiac's but a gluten sensitivity but also have major bladder problems! does anyone know if there is a link? I had an endoscopy just to look inside my bladder and the bladder wall was very inflamed - has anyone else experienced this or is it totally unrelated? I have only just found out about the gluten thing so don't know yet if a gluten free diet will help or not.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've gotten a great deal of relief from the gluten-free diet. It still feels like I am peeing glass when I get glutened, and I will also have microscopic bleeding when that happens. But if I am gluten-free I have no problems and have even seen an improvement in incontinence problems I had since childhood. For me there is a definate connection.

[Striss]

Over the last 3 years, I've been having a lot of bladder issues...Having to make very frequent bathroom visits all the time. I started the gluten-free diet about a week ago and already it's beginning to clear up a little bit. I'm very happy to find somebody else who's also had the same results.

[julie5914]

Bladder problems are assiciated with candida. I know some doctors don't think candida is a real thing, but I know someone who has it and was diagnosed by a GI doc. They saw the yeast during endoscopy (esophagus).

[floridanative]

For years I've have to urinate three times more than any of my friends/family. It isn't uncommon for me to go when I get to a restaurant, then go again before I leave. I was told by a doctor years ago that I probably have a small bladder but maybe it's related to celiac disease?.. Anyway, my question is does anyone out there ever have bright yellow urine? I'm talking about reg. Gatorade yellow. This has just started this week and I haven't been drinking anything yellow. Just lots of water, coffee and tea as usual. And it is not like that every trip. Anyone ever heard of this?

[skbird]

Hey Floridanative - are you taking B complex supplements? That will turn your pee Gatorade yellow (very descriptive!).

I have been having bladder issues this past year but I think it has something to do with possible endometriosis. Coincidentally, this has started since I went gluten-free.

Stephanie

[WRowland]

I'm 52 and was having increasing problems with both urinary and fecal incontinence before I found my gluten problems. Researching my osteoporosis lead me to celiac.

So I've been eliminating gluten for about three months now, progressively better, but still not perfect. Both problems have improved so much that I no longer think about them.

Dr. Fine says that there is nerve damage, especially to the sphincter muscles that close off bladder, rectum and stomach. So acid reflux and bladder and fecal incontinence are definitely associated with gluten sensitivity and celiac.

[floridanative]

Hey Floridanative - are you taking B complex supplements? That will turn your pee Gatorade yellow (very descriptive!).

I have been having bladder issues this past year but I think it has something to do with possible endometriosis. Coincidentally, this has started since I went gluten-free.

Stephanie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh my gosh!! Yes I just started taking a B-complex vitamin per my derm. recomendation until I get biopy/start diet. Thanks so much!!!

Tiffany M.

[mookie03]

I don't have celiac's but a gluten sensitivity but also have major bladder problems! does anyone know if there is a link? I had an endoscopy just to look inside my bladder and the bladder wall was very inflamed - has anyone else experienced this or is it totally unrelated? I have only just found out about the gluten thing so don't know yet if a gluten free diet will help or not.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was wondering this same thing! I have had 2 seemingly unrelated problems for my whole life- recurring UTI's and terrible problems w/ chronic diarrhea. I have finally solved one of the problems (i have a gluten sensitivity if not celiac disease) but the UTI's are a mystery. I have had several procedures done (when i was 4, 9, 12, and 18) to figure out what is causing them but they couldnt come up w/ an answer (except for the inflammation and an "extra lining" i have. I havent had one since going gluten-free but it has only been 5 months. Think we are onto something here???

Stefi

[Rusla]

I was wondering this same thing!  I have had 2 seemingly unrelated problems for my whole life- recurring UTI's and terrible problems w/ chronic diarrhea.  I have finally solved one of the problems (i have a gluten sensitivity if not celiac disease) but the UTI's are a mystery. I have had several procedures done (when i was 4, 9, 12, and 18) to figure out what is causing them but they couldnt come up w/ an answer (except for the inflammation and an "extra lining" i have.  I havent had one since going gluten-free but it has only been 5 months.  Think we are onto something here???

Stefi

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have had bladder and kidney problems since I was 2 years old and almost died from it then. I have had 2 bladder and 2 kidney surgeries and I would be interested in finding out if this is something that happens with Celiac. No one else in my family has had this problem

[floridanative]

[

quote=cornbread,Oct 19 2005, 10:39 PM]

Before I went gluten-free I used to need to urinate all the time, and often felt like I had cystitis. Since going gluten-free the problems have vanished. When I get glutened, the frequency returns.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[tammy]

I too have chronic bladder infections according to my lab work but no symptoms. I have been on the gluten-free diet since December 2002!!!!

I had symptoms in my early twenties and it seemed corrected when I started taking a regular dose of probiotics and cranberry juice.

Now, I am considering an ultrasoundbut wonder if I will always have this?

[mookie03]

I too have chronic bladder infections according to my lab work but no symptoms. I have been on the gluten-free diet since December 2002!!!!

I had symptoms in my early twenties and it seemed corrected when I started taking a regular dose of probiotics and cranberry juice.

Now, I am considering an ultrasoundbut wonder if I will always have this?  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have had many ultrasounds and none have been productive. Cranberry works best for me- and intermittent antibiotics (on an as-needed basis). You are lucky you have no symptoms though- mine are terrible!!!

[gabby]

My bladder problems turned out to be sugar related. I used to get between 4 and 6 UTIs every year for about 10 years. I also had the scopes, x-rays, cat scans, etc. But they couldn't figure it out. Because of an insulin problem, I had to go on a no sugar and low glycemic index diet which I follow to this day (along with a gluten-free diet). The bladder problems vanished.

Until....

I had to have a glucose tolerance test done. So I had to drink a big glass of glucose liquid and test my sugar every 15 minutes. I got the shakes, could barely stand up, and then walked into a wall that I didn't see. The next day I woke up with the mother of all UTIs. So I have adopted the low glycemic index diet for life...and it seems to be keeping the bladder problems at bay. Be careful with cranberry juice...it is pretty much pure sugar.

When you do get bladder discomfort, try drinking a big glass of room temperature water with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Avoid all sugar including fruits until it goes away. And drink tons of water.

There is a great book called: You don't have to live with cystitis (can't remember the author).

Hope this helps,

Gabby

[danikali]

For years I've have to urinate three times more than any of my friends/family. It isn't uncommon for me to go when I get to a restaurant, then go again before I leave. I was told by a doctor years ago that I probably have a small bladder but maybe it's related to celiac disease?.. Anyway, my question is does anyone out there ever have bright yellow urine? I'm talking about reg. Gatorade yellow. This has just started this week and I haven't been drinking anything yellow. Just lots of water, coffee and tea as usual. And it is not like that every trip. Anyone ever heard of this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's quite amazing to read all of this because I NEVER thought my bladder problems could have had anything to do with gluten. But YES, I urinate SOOOOO frequently, I also thought I had interstitial cystitis because for a while, I had burning every single day, but NO INFECTION found by doctors! My doctor also told me I have a small bladder, and irritable bladder, and there is nothing I could do about it. I also took cranberry pills, they used to work, but eventually, I was taking them all day long and realized they weren't doing anything anymore. Allllso, my urine is most of the time bright yellow, like you said. Also, I noticed, when I am feeling sick (not done with tests yet to judge my gluten problems), but my urine smells like a chemical, very weird. No doctor knows what I am talking about. Anyone else notice anything like that?

[kelliac]

Allllso, my urine is most of the time bright yellow, like you said. Also, I noticed, when I am feeling sick (not done with tests yet to judge my gluten problems), but my urine smells like a chemical, very weird. No doctor knows what I am talking about. Anyone else notice anything like that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you take vitamins? That could cause bright yellow, as does concentrated urine from lack of enough fluids. Other causes but we won't go there yet.

[mightymorg]

This is an interesting possible connection. I'm not officially diagnosed with anything yet (go back to the GI a week from today), but no matter what my fluid intake is I always have to go pee! Plus, I had hemmoragic (sp?) cystitis a month and a half ago. It was my first one, but man, I thought I was going to die, it hurt SO bad!!

[danikali]

Yeah, I know what you mean about vitamans. Actually, I know it's bad, but I haven't taken a multi for a while......I always forget. But no, it's not that. And I do drink a lot of water and herbal tea, and sometimes it is still yellow.

[Puckster]

I've had regular, horrible UTI's as well. I just went gluten-free a month ago and haven't had one yet (fingers crossed). I just wanted to mention that there's a supplement called D-Mannose out there that really helps with UTIs. It's a simple sugar that our body cannot absorb and for some reason bacteria in the urinary tract attach to the sugar when we pee and vioal! All washed out. I'm pretty sure D-mannose is the thing in cranberry juice and cranberry supplements that helps with UTI's. It's much stronger than cranberry supplements, is a little more expensive and tastes great! You can find it at health food stores near the cranberry supplements.

[floridanative]

It's quite amazing to read all of this because I NEVER thought my bladder problems could have had anything to do with gluten. But YES, I urinate SOOOOO frequently, I also thought I had interstitial cystitis because for a while, I had burning every single day, but NO INFECTION found by doctors! My doctor also told me I have a small bladder, and irritable bladder, and there is nothing I could do about it. I also took cranberry pills, they used to work, but eventually, I was taking them all day long and realized they weren't doing anything anymore. Allllso, my urine is most of the time bright yellow, like you said. Also, I noticed, when I am feeling sick (not done with tests yet to judge my gluten problems), but my urine smells like a chemical, very weird. No doctor knows what I am talking about. Anyone else notice anything like that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I found out from skbird that my b-complex was making my urine yellow. But this brings up another stupid thing the hemotologist said to me yesterday (others may have read about my experience on another thread) but I forgot to mention the following comment. I told the doc (who I'd never met before) that I have the frequent urination problem and wanted to know what that could indicate. I told him I finished lunch and a cup of tea at 12:20 and did not consume one more ounce of liquid after that. I left the house at 1:45 pm for my appt. with him and had used the bathroom FIVE times from 12:30 to 1:45. Okay so here is his response - 'well I bet you're really fun to travel with' and he laughed. I was glad I was in a chair or I may have fallen off his exam table. I could NOT believe he could be that insensitive. He ran the Celiac panel tests I wanted so I have to be happy about that and forget what a jerk he was.