What The Heck Am I Eating That's Causing Problems?

[jkrc717]

I recently found out that I have celiac. Since then, I've been living off red meat, fruit(apples) and gluten free supplements(says so on the bottle) until I get used to this and figure out a decent diet plan. 

 

Today especially my stomach is bloated, my poop has bright yellowish spots on it(gross) and I feel sick. 

 

I don't understand what I'm eating that's causing this! Ugh!

[BlessedMommy]

Can you not tolerate vegetables, eggs, nuts, beans, and gluten free grains like rice or quinoa? Why just meat and fruit?

[jkrc717]

Can you not tolerate vegetables, eggs, nuts, beans, and gluten free grains like rice or quinoa? Why just meat and fruit?

It's because I just recently found out and totally clueless. I'm now just starting to figure this out and hired a dietitian who created a meal plan for me just yesterday. So that's what I've been living on for that time being to be safe and for some needed calories, fat and protein. However, none contain gluten so this is frustrating. 

 

You mentioned nuts. I thought nuts had gluten. The wheat in them? Now I'm confused again. I even question the meal plan my dietitian created. 

[mamaw]

If  that  is all your  eating  then you are  not  getting  a balanced  diet.....And  your  body  is  fighting  back  .......You need  to  eat  a clean  healthy  diet  ie:  grass fed  beef,  wild  caught  fish,  organic  chicken,  veggies  steamed  ( raw  is  harder  to digest) &  some  fruits.... and  yes  a  few  healthy  snacks so  you don't  feel food  deprived....good  ole  natural water.... probiotics  &  digestive  enzymes  to  help  your  digestion.... of  course  other  vits  &  mins.......if  you need  them...  blood  work  can help  determine  what  ones  you need...

Stay  away from  processed foods,  spicy  stuff,  limit  dairy  for a few  months  to give  the body  a  chance to  recover.....

[bartfull]

It takes a while to feel better and to heal. In the meantime you really should be eating a bigger variety. Instead of just red meat, how about poultry, pork and fish? Instead of just apples, how about fresh veggies like broccoli or carrots? And there's really no need to go grain free. Rice should be OK for you. And if you don't want rice, how about potatoes or sweet potatoes?

 

The supplements may be helping but you're still not getting all the nutrients you need from them. Nor the fiber. I know if I were living on red meat and apples I would have stomach/bathroom problems. Your body is trying to heal itself so you should be giving it the fuel it needs to do so.

 

And don't be surprised if you don't suddenly feel better. It took a while to damage your gut so it will take a while to heal. Slow and steady. Eat right. Drink lots of water. Take probiotics. The healing will happen.

[jkrc717]

Thanks for the advice everyone. This is so new to me. I don't know anything about food. Literally. I used to just eat whatever. I was one of those people that would pronounce TSP as it's spelled. I'm not a very good cook at all. 

 

I also have hyperglycemia. Possibly pre-diabetes. Too many carbs at one time spikes my blood sugar. 

 

I have to go gluten free, make sure excess carbs aren't spiking me and gain weight. This is tough. 

 

I've started taking a multivitamin. I don't know what digestive enzymes are. Should I take a probiotic? Anything else?

 

I'm making a list. 

[bartfull]

I don't know a lot about hyperglycemia but I looked it up. Are you under a doctor's care for it? It sounds like it could easily lead to diabetes. But I found some info on a good diet: Open Original Shared Link

 

If you scroll down to the heading "A balanced plate", they talk about things like broccoli and sweet potatoes being good for you. I would think a salad would be good too. There are good gluten-free dressings out there, or you could do vinegar and oil.

 

Yes, probiotics are really really good for you. Find one with billions organisms if you can. Most stores now carry them - pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, not to mention health food stores.

[bartfull]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I was just like you - I ate whatever came to hand (usually junk food) and couldn't cook. I'm still not the greatest cook and it's hard to become motivated because I live alone. So I cook simple meals like chicken with rice and broccoli. I cook in big batches and freeze individual servings so I can just grab a ziplock bag out of the freezer on my way to work. Even potatoes or sweet potatoes can be cooked ahead. I'll bake half a dozen at a time. I admit the sweet potatoes get runnyin the ziplock bag, but the potatoes themselves are fine.

 

There is a learning curve that can seem pretty steep at times but I know if I could do it, you can too. Check out the recipe section. Then check out the "What's for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner" sections. It'll give you some ideas.

 

Don't be afraid of food.  And don't be afraid to ask questions here. We're glad to help all we can.

[jkrc717]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I was just like you - I ate whatever came to hand (usually junk food) and couldn't cook. I'm still not the greatest cook and it's hard to become motivated because I live alone. So I cook simple meals like chicken with rice and broccoli. I cook in big batches and freeze individual servings so I can just grab a ziplock bag out of the freezer on my way to work. Even potatoes or sweet potatoes can be cooked ahead. I'll bake half a dozen at a time. I admit the sweet potatoes get runnyin the ziplock bag, but the potatoes themselves are fine.

 

There is a learning curve that can seem pretty steep at times but I know if I could do it, you can too. Check out the recipe section. Then check out the "What's for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner" sections. It'll give you some ideas.

 

Don't be afraid of food.  And don't be afraid to ask questions here. We're glad to help all we can.

I really appreciate this and everyones help. I'm so overwhelmed by all of this. It gets emotional. I know that once I figure out the right diet plan for me that it won't be such a big deal. Figuring this out, getting started and staying consistent is the hard part. I have so many symptoms and feel like total carp all day and night. Thank you for the encouragement. 

[cap6]

No processed foods.  Those processed foods, even if gluten free, can be so hard on your poor raw gut to digest.  Go for the fresh (organic grass fed if you can) meats, poultry and plenty of cooked veggies.  Go for the easy to digest ones like carrots, spinach, zucs, green beans.   You might want to check out the book,  Practical Paleo, A Customized Approach to Health by Diane Sanflippo (avail at Amazon or Barnes & Noble).  Even if you don't want to eat Paleo (which is a grain-free diet/lifestyle) it is an excellent place to start.  Not a cook?  Me either.  This book has a ton of gluten free, whole food recipes that are easy.  Easy to follow, easy to prepare.  The book also has a 30 day meal plan all mapped out for you.  This is a frustrating time for you, make it as easy as possible. 

[bartfull]

Also, go to the coping section here and read the Newbie 101 thread. It'll help you to avoid the mistakes a lot of us made at first. And while you're there, read the thread Blessed Mommy started today about the gains she has made. It'll give you lots of encouragement.

[jkrc717]

Thank you very much again everyone. Your all good people. 

[mamaw]

digestive  enzymes ie:  We  use  digest  gold!  It  breaks  down  the  carbs, proteins  &  starches in the  food  you  eat  helping  the  gut  handle  the  food  so as  not  to  cause  a lot  of  issues...  Think of  probiotics  as  the  gentle  warriors who provide  the gut  with  friendly  flora...... you need   both........

[notme]

i can't eat multivitamins  :/  (nothing to do with gluten)  funky colored poo and all that.  my doc checks my vitamin levels and i am fine and i take no supplements.  once your gut starts healing, you'll be able to absorb more and more nutrients & vitamins/minerals just from eating a healthy diet.  i am curious what your meal plan was from dietitian?   if you think you're reacting to something in particular, keep a food journal - makes it much easier to pinpoint the culprit.  if you have significant damage to your intestines, you may want to skip dairy for awhile.  also, in the beginning, you're still very sensitive, so give it a minute!    

[jkrc717]

i can't eat multivitamins  :/  (nothing to do with gluten)  funky colored poo and all that.  my doc checks my vitamin levels and i am fine and i take no supplements.  once your gut starts healing, you'll be able to absorb more and more nutrients & vitamins/minerals just from eating a healthy diet.  i am curious what your meal plan was from dietitian?   if you think you're reacting to something in particular, keep a food journal - makes it much easier to pinpoint the culprit.  if you have significant damage to your intestines, you may want to skip dairy for awhile.  also, in the beginning, you're still very sensitive, so give it a minute!     

I just received the meal plan yesterday. Went shopping today at an organic health food store. So tomorrow I will start it. 

 

I lost a lot of weight so I'm on a 3,000 calorie a day meal plan until i get my weight up. 

 

The plan includes..

Gluten free corn flakes, almond milk, egg. chicken breast, brown rice, salad, olive oil and vinegar, hummus, peanut butter, apple, cooked vegetable, nuts, gluten free corn chips, split lentil soup

 

If any of that looks suspect to any of you, please let me know. Beause of hyperglycemia, the only thing that worries me is the amount of servings I am supposed to have to reach 3,000 cals is about 300 grams of carbs a day. My dietitian says mixing carbs with fats and protein should be fine. 

[IrishHeart]

Read the book "Real Life with Celiac Disease" by Melinda Dennis and Daniel Leffler. It will help immensely.

 

Hang in there. You're going to be okay.

[mamaw]

side  note,  for  some  celiac  people  corn causes  many  problems.. One  reason  is   corn  is  CC  a lot  &   we  tend  to  go overboard  on  corn as a replacement  for  wheat....I  would look  at  non gmo  corn  snacks....A little  corn  chips  is okay  but  don't  go   overboard....There  are  some  tasty  gluten-free  pretzels, also  kale  chips, &  other  healthy  snacks  that  are gluten-free....Salba  chips , lentil  chips hummus  chips ......

Once  you  adjust  to living  gluten-free things  will even out  with  your  gut.......

Another  thought  is  the newly  dx'd  are often  told  to  avoid  a lot of  dairy  in the beginning....dairy  is alos broken down  at the  tips of the villi....

Do  a  search for  bone  broth  soup  it  will make  your tummy  feel  better....

[notme]

I just received the meal plan yesterday. Went shopping today at an organic health food store. So tomorrow I will start it. 

 

I lost a lot of weight so I'm on a 3,000 calorie a day meal plan until i get my weight up. 

 

The plan includes..

Gluten free corn flakes, almond milk, egg. chicken breast, brown rice, salad, olive oil and vinegar, hummus, peanut butter, apple, cooked vegetable, nuts, gluten free corn chips, split lentil soup

 

If any of that looks suspect to any of you, please let me know. Beause of hyperglycemia, the only thing that worries me is the amount of servings I am supposed to have to reach 3,000 cals is about 300 grams of carbs a day. My dietitian says mixing carbs with fats and protein should be fine. 

mleh - i buy the nuts from nuts.com they are certified gluten-free.  lots of them are processed on shared equipment <and they don't have to share that info unless they label something gluten free.  welcome to my world, lolz, i am supposed to have a high caloric intake diet.  i love almond butter and it is good fat  you can have lots of stuff - are potatoes or sweet potatoes on your list?  check out the what's for dinner chat and there are people with many different restrictions (some which may match your own) and get some ideas.  we think it's a great idea to eat very 'clean' very plain food at first, but you will start to heal and be able to add many things back, hopefully  just see what works for you.  oh, and the 'myfitnesspal' is fabulous for calorie counting (although, i do cheat and never enter my activities/exercise lolz)  you will be fine.  your dietitian seems helpful - good for you!  many of us were given our diagnosis and a pat on the head:  go forth and be (gluten) free!!  and released into the wild (o my gosh what do i have for my next meal??)  i think i had a tomato with some parmesan cheese i had no clue.   

[Tricia7]

what about the pan you're using to cook the meat? is it nonstick teflon and have any scratches in it? some say you can clean it, and some say you need to replace it, if you're still getting sick maybe try replacing the pan.

[jkrc717]

Right now I'm having pretty bad stomach cramps and bloating. I'm trying to figure out what's causing this. It might be the almond milk or eggs. I can't think of anything else that might be causing it. 

[RMJ]

I can't get gluten free corn flakes at my grocery store (the corn flakes they have has malt extract which may have gluten) so I have Corn Chex instead.

[C-Girl]

Welcome to the wonderful world of celiac disease! If you're feeling bloated, it might be the fruit you've been eating. Talk to your nutritionist about FODMAPs, eliminating them might help solve the bloating.

 

Also - if the diet doesn't work for your symptoms, please have your GI test you for microscopic colitis. It's apparently quite common among celiacs, but not the general public, so they have to know to look for it. It can cause pain, bloating, diarrhea, steatorrhea (that icky, floaty, yellow glob poops that are mostly fat). Often times a gluten-free diet will not solve these symptoms, even though your small intestine might be healing and your antibodies returning to normal.

 

And if you're on a budget, don't get too hung up on shopping at Whole Paycheck. There are plenty of healthy options at a regular grocery store, but do stay away from the junk food (says the girl who got chided here for eating a Reese's PB cup for dinner - they're gluten-free!). Also, get rid of dairy, caffeine and alcohol. They'll all irritate your gut.

 

I went through a severe elimination diet that had me down to basically rice and eggs before the microscopic colitis diagnosis. It was infuriating. A three month course of steroids made me normal for that time, but now I'm off them, it's back to a lot of the same, only a little less severe. Hoping time will fix the problem, but if not, back on the drugs I'll go.

[jkrc717]

Right now my doctors want to wait and see. I don't know about any of you, but I usually have a difficult time with my docs. They don't usually listen and it's always "wait and see". "We'll see you back in 3 weeks, in a month, in two months" etc. That's usually the worst part about everything for me. Waiting and not knowing. All i can say is.. ugh! Thanks again everyone.  

[Monklady123]

Well...if it were me I would say the apples. I cannot eat them without getting indigestion. ugh. 

 

Here's my story if any of it might help you figure it out.

 

Diagnosed "probably celiac", based on blood work that was "suspicious". I didn't question her too much because by then I'd gone off gluten and felt 200% better. I didn't care to do the gluten challenge in order to have an endoscopy because I don't care that I don't have an "official" label. All I knew was that I felt better.

 

I went off gluten and ate everything else. Lots of corn, of course, because of corn chex and corn tortillas etc. Fast forward to about six months ago. Suddenly I realized that much of the time I had terrible indigestion and often bloating after eating. I was SURE there was no gluten in anything I'd eaten because when I've done the cooking and it's chicken and potatoes and green beans....well, there's no gluten. 

 

I began to wonder if it was the corn, or other grains. So, as an experiment I went off of all grains. And wow, felt 200% better again! My plan had been to add them back in one at a time so I could see which one it was. But almost before I could do that I had an appointment scheduled with my doctor for a regular checkup. And to my surprise my blood work showed an elevated a1c, which indicates what she called "pre-diabetes". Her prescription was to lose weight, exercise and cut down on carbs. NOT no-carb which she said is not healthy (in her opinion).

 

She recommended a nutritionist, and two books: "The Glycemic Load Diabetes Solution" by Rob Thompson, MD, and "The Insulin Resistance Diet" by Cheryle R. Hart, MD, and Mary Kay Grossman, RD. The nutritionist also said that both were good basic info about carb-protein "linking". Basically you have to not have a lot of carbs all at once, and what you do have you need to eat with protein. So my breakfast of coffee and two slices of Udis with butter and jelly, followed by Corn Chex with fruit and milk was just about the worst thing I could eat. That explained my sudden ravenous hunger and shakiness mid-morning. ugh

 

So now my breakfast might be one piece of toast with an egg, or cheese and sliced turkey, or cottage cheese with a small amount of fruit, and maybe some almonds. And no apples, because fruit is carbohydrates and for some reason apples upset my stomach. That breakfast holds me till lunchtime! And at lunch I'm just ordinary hungry, not ravenous must-eat-everything-in-sight-especially-bread-with-butter hungry. lol

 

My doctor said that indigestion can be a sign of pre-diabetes and that explains why I felt so much better when I cut out grains. Also I had been eating a lot of potatoes since I figured they're gluten free and bland for my stomach. Nope, they may be bland but they're carbs.

 

So basically I've given up all "white" and "processed" carbs. I still eat fruit, but not a HUGE smoothie worth of it first thing in the morning. I still put some sugar in my coffee -- I like the sweetened creamers and I'm not messing with my coffee.   Priorities you know. lol.

 

 So those are my experiences, and maybe something in there might strike a cord for your situation. I know how frustrating it is to still have uncomfortable symptoms and not know what's causing it! 

 

 

[cap6]

I might nix the corn, rice and dairy at first.  Those can be really tough to digest especially in the beginning.  If you aren't healing fast or still have problems look at those food items.