Stool bulking

[AquaGuy]

So...uncomfortable topic.

I’ve not been diagnosed with anything yet (not sure as ever will because I have a phobia of blood so a blood test is definitely out of the question for a while).

I quit gluten in December and after 3-4 days of no gluten I had my first log-like stool, and it has not been like that for around 6 months as for months I was just having thin/ribbon stools. And since that time, while it doesn’t happen every day just a few times a week, I only get thin stools occasionally now. I was incredibly worried for months, for obvious reasons.

Also, I can walk into a room and remember why I went in there for the first time in years and it feels amazing. I can think clearer. I am still having some stomach pains though, and occasional diarrhoea so I still feel a little worried...but surely it can’t be anything sinister if my diet is making a difference, and I’m only 22 which means my age is on my side...and I eat almost nothing processed and up to 10 portions of fruit and veg a day (and I’m vegan).

Is that a sign that I do have some sort of intolerance to gluten, even if not necessarily celiac? I know no one can diagnose over the internet, I’m not really asking for that. 

Thanks. Peace.

[Ennis-TX]

Well if not a blood test you can go for a endoscope and biopsy >.> heck you can ask they take your blood while your under sedation for the scope. This will involve a gluten challenge, IE you have to eat gluten daily they say 1-2 slices of bread a day or a tsp of vital wheat gluten for 8-12 weeks for blood test or 2 weeks for just the scope. They will check for damage to you villi this way. NOW I might go further and suggest a colonscopy also if you want to check the large intestines for any issues.
https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/diagnosis/


NOW for you stool issues, you need more insoluble fiber from nuts, seeds, etc, not the stuff from fruits and veggies that your gut bacteria can break down IE soluble. I personally eat a mostly vegetarian diet of egg whites and rare treats of meats for other health reasons. I consume a very high fiber diet. Consider using WHOLE seed and shell pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds along with adding chia seeds and flax meal to your diet. For high fiber look at nut based flour baked goods, replace eggs in recipes with flax eggs and butter with Nutiva butter flavored coconut oil to make them vegan and add fiber. Coco nibs are a great treat and good fiber. Psyllium Husk can be used in baked goods also to give a fiber boost and bulk stools, I use it as a baker in my loafs to give them a tougher texture.

[cyclinglady]

Well, you might have celiac disease, but you could also have Crohn’s Disease (which is often diagnosed when you are young.....) or Ulcerative Colitis.  Honestly, it could be anything.  Going gluten free can help many other illnesses often because people tend to eat a bit better. Basing everything on symptoms is hard as so many illnesses have symptoms that overlap.  

Please consider talking to a doctor.  

[GFinDC]

Hi Aquaguy,

It's good that your symptoms improved from going gluten-free.  That's great to have a diet based solution to a health problem.  I think your stool symptoms could be caused by inflammation in the gut IMHO.  It could be celiac disease causing your symptoms but could be something else too.  If you aren't willing to be tested then stick with the gluten-free diet and see what happens.  Be aware though that it can take 18 months or more to heal from celiac disease damage, so some symptoms can linger on after going gluten-free.

Malabsorption of nutrients is a common problem for people with celiac disease.  In celiac disease the immune system attacks the villi lining the small intestine and that damage interferes with the ability to absorb vitamins and minerals etc.  This article discusses vitamins that people with celiac tend to be low on.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820055/

This one talks about nutrients that vegetarians tend to be low on.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-supplements-for-vegans#section8

You can see there are some common nutrient deficiencies for the two groups.  So if you are vegetarian and have celiac disease you have a double whammy against your nutrient levels.  So supplements may be helpful.