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Calming Intestines?

BeckyW

By BeckyW
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted

I have Celiac disease and 2 other auto immune diseases.  I never eat gluten but my intestines still have absorption issues.  I have trouble sometimes where my body absorbs meds too much and other times it doesn't absorb enough.  Making my TSH level and calcium levels fluctuate.  Does anyone else have issues with this?

 

Also, has anyone found anything to take to keep the intestines "calm".  Something to keep it healthy feeling and not feeling like you always have a stomach ache?

 

Thank you for any help you can provide.  This is a constant battle.

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Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted

Do you possibly have issues with other foods? I was avoiding gluten and lactose, but every now and then I would still get stomach cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, etc. It didn't make sense! I started doing elimination diets and found I had an issue with yeast, and all legumes (soy, lentils, chickpeas - etc) maybe you are eating something else that is causing you these issues?

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
  • Author

I do have alot of other food issues. Soy is the biggest offender and then dairy.  I just can't always avoid them all but try my best to.  Sure isn't easy, is it?

Waitingindreams Enthusiast
Waitingindreams
Posted

Avoiding soy is definitely tricky. I'm lactose intolerant, so although I knew I'd miss dairy, it was time I gave it a rest. I eat lactose free dairy sometimes and I have no issues. (At least none that I can tell)  if soy is an offender, you might possibly be sensitive to other legumes as well..such as peanuts. Do you eat a lot of peanut butter,or hummus? What are you eating that contains soy? Soybean oil is in a lot of canned soups, and I found out there was soy lecithin in my minute brown/wild rice. Ugh! I ate that all the time! I switched to buying steamfresh frozen brown rice, the only ingredients are rice and water. I've been avoiding all canned soup - I can't find any that are gluten, yeast, dairy AND soy free. UGH!

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (dx 20 years). It really went crazy the two years prior to menopause and my celiac disease diagnosis. I would swing from hypo to hyper within days. Trying to figure out my Armour thyroid replacement was probably driving my doctor crazy. I worried more when I hit the hyper stage as it affected my eyes and my mom (Graves) has permanent damage from all the years she ran hyper. It did not help my osteopenia either!

I think the gluten-free diet, going through menopause with the help of HRT and avoiding foods that triggered symptoms helped calm down my system. I take my Armour sublingually even though it probably does not absorb (can not find enough studies to support) but at least it is well dissolved and can be absorbed easier.

My dosage, though high, is stable for the past six months, but going gluten-free has not improved my thyroid. Antibodies have come down and I am no longer swinging, so I can not complain.

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

When I have cramping, a warm water bottle on my belly can help sooth it.  I also use helichrysum essential oil a couple of drops rubbed in over the area.

 

Dee

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
  • Author

I do use a warm rice bag on my tummy when it is upset. I wish I could find something to just soothe it quickly rid of discomfort.  What is the helichrysum essential oil?

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1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

It is used in natural medicine.  It is an oil derived from a helichrysum plant.  My essential oil book says that a couple of drops  can be rubbed on the skin above the cramps to help ease them.  I use this with a hot water bottle.  I purchase these at local health food stores and even my local grocery store sells some common oils.

 

Dee

CathyO Rookie
CathyO
Posted

I started drinking Aloe Vera about 2 months ago.  It has made a huge difference for me.  We went on a camping trip and I forgot to take any with me, and I sure could tell the difference after 2 days without.

 

This is what I drink: 

 

http://images.iherb.com/l/GAV-10064-1.webp

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the suggestions on the oils.  I will make a trip to the health food store this week and see what is available.

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

I started drinking Aloe Vera about 2 months ago.  It has made a huge difference for me.  We went on a camping trip and I forgot to take any with me, and I sure could tell the difference after 2 days without.

 

This is what I drink: 

 

http://images.iherb.com/l/GAV-10064-1.webp

 

Hi Cathy,.

 

I remember watching a TV show, I think it was Anthony Bourdain or that other guy.  Anyway, I can't remember what city it was (Aisa) and the populus swore that by drinking Aloe Vera everyday it would manage all types of ailments.  This stuff was fresh and very thick and it tasted awful.  Otherwise I don't know anything else about it.  

 

I hope it continues to help you even tho I don't know how you can get it down...lol

 

Colleen

CathyO Rookie
CathyO
Posted

Hi Cathy,.

 

I remember watching a TV show, I think it was Anthony Bourdain or that other guy.  Anyway, I can't remember what city it was (Aisa) and the populus swore that by drinking Aloe Vera everyday it would manage all types of ailments.  This stuff was fresh and very thick and it tasted awful.  Otherwise I don't know anything else about it.  

 

I hope it continues to help you even tho I don't know how you can get it down...lol

 

Colleen

What I use is like drinking water. Clear, odorless, colorless and tasteless.

I wouldn't be able to drink the other stuff.

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

What I use is like drinking water. Clear, odorless, colorless and tasteless.

I wouldn't be able to drink the other stuff.

 

Ah....cool.  Much more palatable.  The fresh stuff was like goo....and stringy.  

 

Colleen

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I was looking at my previous posting today and thought I must addressed a different topic! But I did not. Though it is clear now that I was rambling!

Becky, is your doc trying to address your fluctuating TSH levels? Going into a hyper stage can wreak having on your intestinal system by speeding thing up. Going hypo can slow things.

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
  • Author

Cyclinglady - I have an appt with a new Endocrinologist on June 9th.  For now my family doctor is treating my thyroid.  No one really knows how to treat it. When it is hyper they lower the synthryoid, when it is hypo they raise it.  I can't seem to find a dose that maintains.  My body is like swinging all over the place.  I am moody, shedding hair, weight loss then gain, and the symptoms just go on and on.  I just don't know how to regulate it and neither do the doctors.  It is really making life difficult.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Becky, I can relate. I had been having swings the two years prior to my celiac disease dx and almost a year after. It was crazy. I really worried about the hyper times as my mom has Graves and has permanent eye damage. Luckily, I have not changed my thyroid dosage in months! Yeah!

I think it was really related to hormonal changes. I blame it on perimenopause. Now that I am on the other side (menopause), and maintaining a gluten-free diet, I think my thyroid has been able to calm down. It helps that my body is probably absorbing my Armour Thyroid now. Just a few years ago, it was formulated so that you could take it sublingually if you wanted. Now, I keep it under tongue after chewing it and then swallowing it with water. I have no evidence that this works, but it makes my brain happy and that is always your first line in defense when healing!

I have no solutions for you. Sorry! Good luck on your doctor's appt.!

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