What Does "celiac Disease Causes Damage To The Intestines" Mean.

[marciab]

My GP put me on the food allergy / sensitivity diet 6 months ago and I added rye, barley and oats 1 month later after learning about gluten on the internet. Anyway, I was feeling much better as long as I watched what I ate. I am still in the process of discovering my food sensitivities.

Now an old problem has re-occured. All solid foods are causing bloating, gas and pain. Smoothies and liquids are fine, but even rice doesn't want to go down. This has been a problem for me off and on for as long as I can remember, so consequently and on the bright side, I have never been overweight. So, is this why celiacs are normally thin ? For the past few years I've had trouble with meats, capsules and foods with skins, such as apples. Do people with celiac disease lose their digestive enzymes ? Is this normal for celiacs ?

I haven't been tested yet for celiac disease. I was in constant pain 6 months ago and am not in any hurry to go back there. I know it is recommended, I just want to live pain free a little while longer.

Thanks

[Nancym]

You might try to look into the SCD Diet. When you're into the "everything hurts" stage it can help you. I'm just starting it myself.

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[Rachel--24]

"Damage to the intestines" means absorption and digestive problems. You would no longer absorb critical nutrients from your diet and and lack of enzymes (such as the enymes to digest lactose) cause digestive troubles. Celiac leads to more serious complications if left untreated.

[tarnalberry]

damage to the intestines is just that: the chemical process that causes the immune system to recognize and react to gluten proteins makes a molecule that degrades the villi - hair like "appendanges" - in the intestines that actually do the work of secreting enzymes for digestion and taking up the broken down by-products of that digestion. when the damage is really bad, the villi are *completely* wiped out. (yes, they can regrow in almost every case - but it may take time.)

[marciab]

Thanks. But, I'm still confused. Since the villi are damaged and the intestines can not release the enzymes to digest food, can taking digestive enzymes help ? Can the healing process be sped up ? I've been disabled with chronic fatigue / fibromyalgia for 16 years, so I'm thinking this could take awhile.

Not sure I am ready for the SCD diet. I really am not looking forward to any more diet restrictions.

But at this point, I may have to.

[Rachel--24]

Thanks. But, I'm still confused. Since the villi are damaged and the intestines can not release the enzymes to digest food, can taking digestive enzymes help ? Can the healing process be sped up ? I've been disabled with chronic fatigue / fibromyalgia for 16 years, so I'm thinking this could take awhile.

Not sure I am ready for the SCD diet. I really am not looking forward to any more diet restrictions.

But at this point, I may have to.

Digestive enzymes can help with digestion but any foods you notice as problematic should be avoided during healing. Its normally suggested that dairy be eliminated during the first months. I dont think digestive enzymes can speed up healing though. That would depend mainly on how badly you are damaged, how fast your body can repair itself, and of course how strict you are about avoiding gluten...even from small amounts such as cross-contamination.

[tarnalberry]

digestive enzymes may help a bit, but you can't take a pill that covers all the enzymes your body makes. the surface area of the villi is also what *absorbs* the by products, and there's no supplement that will do that for your body, so until those are healed to at least some degree, you may have absorption issues.

the only thing that speeds up the healing process is being nice to your body (don't eat foods it doesn't like, try to avoid getting sick (and putting an additional energy requirement on your body), and generally be healthy (eat well, exercise, all that stuff).