Sudden malabsorption boom?

[AAtroposP71]

Hey everyone, new to the forum, but I've been reading it as a guest for awhile and couldn't find anything in particular on this so I figured I'd just ask.

A little background first:

29 year old male. Ate nothing but grains most of my life, pasta was like dog food to me. It was my go-to whenever I was hungry because it was cheap and easy to make. Came down with a bad case of viral gastroenteritis in Dec. '16 that put me in the hospital twice. Was back at work 2 1/2 weeks later. Lasted about a month, then started feeling weird, like I was drugged, and started having weird dizzy, nearly fainting spells and would get dark circles around my eyes when it would happen. My mom said I looked like a raccoon. I changed my diet and was forced to quit my job, but I went up and down with this for 3 months before I figured out that I'd feel immediately worse right after I ate something high gluten. (i.e., a bowl of pasta.) Realized that my aunt who is a celiac had hers switched on the same way, a bad stomach flu.

I've been completely gluten free for around 2 months now, and in general it seems to be improving. I'm also dairy free, grain free, nightshade free, I read all labels, cook all my own food, etc. Basically all I eat is chicken, beef, sweet potato, peas (I steam them), baby carrots, celery, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and pink sea salt. I buy organic where I can afford to. I don't eat out. There's no chance of cross contamination.

ANYWAY, here's the problem. I was having a good streak a couple weeks ago where I felt like I had a little more energy and the weird, dreamlike brain fog feeling was letting up a bit. Around this time I discovered almonds. I bought the raw ones and roasted them myself in extra virgin coconut oil, as I didn't trust the oil the pre-roasted ones were fried in.

For awhile they seemed to help my energy levels, but over the next week or so my energy level started steadily dropping. I suspected the almonds as nothing else had changed and I had been eating a lot of them, (I'm a constant nibbler) and cut them out about 4 days ago.

The past 2 days or so, I have been so weak that I can barely get up out of bed. I can eat a good sized meal and literally an hour later feel like I haven't eaten in 3 days. I get so weak I start to shake, and it feels like my body is eating itself. I have always been short and skinny (I'm about 5'4 and was ~108 lbs in December) but last time I was at the doctor about a month ago I had dropped to 98. My mother says I look even skinnier than I did a week ago. We don't have a scale but I suspect I've dropped even more weight now that I've been feeling like I'm absorbing absolutely nothing.

I feel like I'm dying of starvation (and probably am) even though I'm eating constantly. I've had malabsorption problems this whole time of course but it hasn't been this bad up until now. I do take digestive enzymes with meals but in this stretch they haven't been helping at all. I also check all the pills I take for gluten and other bad things. Besides those I'm just taking a good multivitamin. I've ordered sublingual B12 and D3 but they probably won't be here for another week. Doctors won't help of course. I try to get in with them and they schedule me an appointment in 3 months. Useless.

I guess what I'm asking is, is it normal to go through rough patches like this where the malabsorption is worse than normal? I'm feeling like it's completely out of my control and I'm honestly getting pretty scared that I'm going to starve to death.

[GFinDC]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I'd drop the almonds if you think they might be a problem for you.  We can have temporary food intolerances that go away after some months/years healing.  I'd also stop the celery as it is a considered a top 14 major allergen in Europe.  I can't do celery or carrots myself.  If you stay off it for a month and then  try it again that usually is a good test.

You could try broccoli or brussels sprouts instead.  They have lots of good nutrition on them.  And eat lots of meat!  Your body needs good protein to heal and replace damaged tissue.

Yes, it's possible to have multiple periods of poor digestion during the recovery process.  And even some periods of good digestion at times.  It can be a slow process to recover from celiac disease damage.  18 months or more is not unlikely.  That doesn't mean you won't be trending upward during that time.

I like SO Delicious brand coconut yogurt.  Maybe it would help you.  And also Me + My Gluten Assist from CVS.  It's digestive enzyme that may help.

[AAtroposP71]

Huh, didn't know that about celery. I do seem to be able to tolerate it fine and I don't really eat a ton of it anyway. I do think my current pothole in the road is the almonds. I've read that they contain high levels of a certain antinutrient that blocks absorption of certain vitamins/minerals. I can't remember what any of them are right now but it would make sense given my current predicament. I'll continue to stay off them and see if I start improving.

And yes, I eat a TON of meat. Chicken, beef, gluten free bacon, etc. I mass cook ground beef and just eat it straight up with a little salt and garlic powder. I get the 20% fat as I've read your body needs fat. (And that your brain is made of mostly fat.) I simply call it "Bowl of Beef". 

It's good to know that it's normal to have these rough patches. I always expect them but when they happen I get scared no matter how much I try to tell myself it's normal. I do suspect that I've been at least a little intolerant to gluten for years before going full blown celiac. Looking back, the last couple years I've always been tired and would get motion sickness on swingsets and other strange things. I always brushed it off as getting older and my terrible diet and lack of exercise. Since my brain still worked fine at the time I didn't really care.

Coconut yogurt eh? I'll have to look into that. I have sampled a little plain goat milk yogurt and it didn't seem to mess me up but I've still decided it's better to avoid dairy completely for now. I read it's kinda rough on your stomach even if you're not intolerant. It sucks because I LOVE cheese, but I'm more interested in healing as quick as possible rather than indulging.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Ennis-TX]

Hmm with the almonds roast them DRY on a baking sheet 275-300F on bake in a oven for 19-21mins for desired level of roast.

I use Liquid Health for my b-vitamins the Stress and Energy one + the Neurological Support one 1 tbsp each 3 times a day before meals seems to work wonders.

Sounds like your paleo with your diet avoiding grains, try Julian Bakery Breads they are very simple grain free breads with nut meals and egg whites. I have posted a few recipes for making your own breads and stuff in the recipe section.

If your like me with the issues I really do suggest taking protein powder shakes from a protein like Nutra Key V-Pro and MRM Veggie Elite, or MRM meal replacement and making a shake with it almond butter, coconut yogurt, and almond milk. I sip on these during the day.  I might also suggest BCAAs to prevent muscles loss.

I think you could really benefit from enzymes, look into a Super Papaya enzyme complex. Might suggest taking extra bromine also, I find this works wonders with a high fat/protein diet.

Oh and cheese look up Julian Bakery Paleo cheese for mail order, but if you can find it in store there are many other non dairy cheese I make my own cheese sauces all the time and slather them on everything.

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/117090-gluten-free-food-alternatives-list/

All sorts of foods for various diets, all gluten-free have some options for paleo/keto also.

[AAtroposP71]

The only reason I'm grain free is because they're all apparently to some extent inflammatory. The same goes for dairy. I remember feeling a little weirder right after eating some brown rice, but it was only a couple days after going gluten free so it might've been nothing, but I'm trying to avoid taking chances.

I do know I cross react bad to corn, in particular it seems cornstarch. I tried a few of those Snyder's gluten-free mini pretzels last month and immediately felt like someone drilled a hole in my forehead and was pulling my brain out through it in a string. Checking the ingredients list they're FULL of cornstarch. I didn't have that reaction from a couple gluten-free vanilla wafer things that were made with milk, soy, and I believe rice.

Idk, maybe I'm over sheltering myself, I mean most of the vitmains/suppliments I've tried have a little soy or rice or something in the capsules. I go by the phrase better safe than sorry. I hope someday I'll be alright to eat that stuff. I would love to have pizza, pancakes and ice cream (cones) in my life again, even if they are gluten-free alternatives. For now though, anything with grains in it sketches me out. I'm only 2 months in, so I know I have a long way to go.

Ennis, I see you've been on the forum for a couple years so I'd assume you're well into this yourself. When you started gluten-free did you have any weird reactions to non-gluten things that you can eat now? EDIT: Just read your post a few topics down about food reintroduction. Ask a stupid question. lol.

[Victoria1234]

26 minutes ago, AAtroposP71 said:

The only reason I'm grain free is because they're all apparently to some extent inflammatory. The same goes for dairy. I remember feeling a little weirder right after eating some brown rice, but it was only a couple days after going gluten free so it might've been nothing, but I'm trying to avoid taking chances.

I do know I cross react bad to corn, in particular it seems cornstarch. I tried a few of those Snyder's gluten-free mini pretzels last month and immediately felt like someone drilled a hole in my forehead and was pulling my brain out through it in a string. Checking the ingredients list they're FULL of cornstarch. I didn't have that reaction from a couple gluten-free vanilla wafer things that were made with milk, soy, and I believe rice.

Idk, maybe I'm over sheltering myself, I mean most of the vitmains/suppliments I've tried have a little soy or rice or something in the capsules. I go by the phrase better safe than sorry. I hope someday I'll be alright to eat that stuff. I would love to have pizza, pancakes and ice cream (cones) in my life again, even if they are gluten-free alternatives. For now though, anything with grains in it sketches me out. I'm only 2 months in, so I know I have a long way to go.

Ennis, I see you've been on the forum for a couple years so I'd assume you're well into this yourself. When you started gluten-free did you have any weird reactions to non-gluten things that you can eat now? EDIT: Just read your post a few topics down about food reintroduction. Ask a stupid question. lol.

Go to ennis 's profile page and read his story in the meantime.

personally, like many of us, I couldn't have milk for the first year or so.... now I enjoy it again.

listen to your body and pull what bothers you. Also start a food diary if you haven't already. Note the foods in detail and how you feel. Sometimes reactions don't happen for a couple days and by then you may have forgotten what you ate. Plus it's good to look back on later, months later, to judge your progress.

[Ennis-TX]

44 minutes ago, AAtroposP71 said:

The only reason I'm grain free is because they're all apparently to some extent inflammatory. The same goes for dairy. I remember feeling a little weirder right after eating some brown rice, but it was only a couple days after going gluten free so it might've been nothing, but I'm trying to avoid taking chances.

I do know I cross react bad to corn, in particular it seems cornstarch. I tried a few of those Snyder's gluten-free mini pretzels last month and immediately felt like someone drilled a hole in my forehead and was pulling my brain out through it in a string. Checking the ingredients list they're FULL of cornstarch. I didn't have that reaction from a couple gluten-free vanilla wafer things that were made with milk, soy, and I believe rice.

Idk, maybe I'm over sheltering myself, I mean most of the vitmains/suppliments I've tried have a little soy or rice or something in the capsules. I go by the phrase better safe than sorry. I hope someday I'll be alright to eat that stuff. I would love to have pizza, pancakes and ice cream (cones) in my life again, even if they are gluten-free alternatives. For now though, anything with grains in it sketches me out. I'm only 2 months in, so I know I have a long way to go.

Ennis, I see you've been on the forum for a couple years so I'd assume you're well into this yourself. When you started gluten-free did you have any weird reactions to non-gluten things that you can eat now? EDIT: Just read your post a few topics down about food reintroduction. Ask a stupid question. lol.

Hmm I have a cauliflower pizza crust recipe I shared, there is also califlour foods crust which are great, free of grains, and the plant based one is dairy free, allergic to corn myself so thank god for it (had one yesterday with homemade sauce, hemp cheese sauce, and beyond meat beefy crumbles) Alternatively I have a recipe for a keto grain free tortilla/flatbread/pizza/pancake. You can seasoning how ever you want and adjust thickness by using different sized pans, pretty much a multipurpose safe bread recipe.  I will go and post it in the recipe section. Been using it for years and never wrote it down.

[Ennis-TX]

17 hours ago, AAtroposP71 said:

Ennis, I see you've been on the forum for a couple years so I'd assume you're well into this yourself. When you started gluten-free did you have any weird reactions to non-gluten things that you can eat now? EDIT: Just read your post a few topics down about food reintroduction. Ask a stupid question. lol.

While I slept on this thought there was a few things not mentioned, for about 2-4 months I had issues with some foods which are now stables.   I became intolerant to pea protein, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, bananas.  These all came up within the first month of going gluten-free and the seeds one resolved in the first 2 months the pea protein could be reintroduced about 4 months later give or take and I think I went a year having reactions to raw bananas .....oddly they did not bother me cooked in baked goods but raw ones did.   Most recently I was able to reintroduce sesame seeds to my diet, after 3 years of them making me violently sick, I am enjoying proper Asian stir fries again with sesame oil.  I thought I could try peanuts again and Thursday tried less then a 1/4 tsp peanut butter....yeah that involved praying to the porcelain god for the next hour lol still have that intolerance/allergy.