Celiac disease, IBD, or just IBS?

[Luella]

Hello, I have recently found out from my mom that the symptoms I get when pooping are not normal and she has scheduled for a full check up. Unfortunately, our country started a full lockdown so we had to postpone our appointment. I'm posting the symptoms I have and hopefully some of you could identify and provide some tips on how to prepare for the test, because some diets are almost impossible for me to follow through without help

- I have IBS. I poop once every 3-4 days, it's either constipation or diarrhea, no in between, but I'm mostly constipated. My doctor told me to drink more water but it doesn't help, it just makes me pee every 15-20 minutes. I've tried a vegan diet but it made me more constipated and my stool turned green. My family don't eat meat often so I know eating too much meat isn't the problem. Probiotic supplements and medication/laxative do occasionally help me poop more often but do not change the consistency of my stools. I have anal fissures every time I poop so it's mentally and physically challenging for me to poop more than once every 3 days if I don't find a remedy to soften my stool. It is almost impossible for me to pass stools after having wheat in my diet even if it's only for a few days. The times when I've had noodles for breakfast for 3 days straight, the poop would get stuck halfway through the rectum. I felt so claustrophobic and hopeless I had to get a stick to remove it but there was a time when even that didn't help and I had to use my hand to pull it out. My dad has constipation too but he suffers much less pain when pooping. I think he doesn't care that much about it because he has other issues to deal with, like severe migraines and sinus problems

- I'm lactose intolerant, but it actually helps in my case. Unlike when I had probiotics or medication which cause stomach cramps and don't always help with with pooping more often, the sloshy gut that comes after drinking milk doesn't cause stomach pains, and the diarrhea that comes after doesn't cause anal fissures. I try to eat cereal with milk every breakfast to help with pooping, but I'm still worried about the health consequences of eating like this every day.

- I used to be anemic, but after taking iron supplements my most recent results are normal. I suffer from low blood pressure occasionally. I used to not being able to get out of bed without completely losing sight and hearing, would need lie down face up and breath heavily for about an hour or I would blackout. I still feel faint, but not as often anymore.

- My BMI is 17.1, so I'm a little underweight. Other than occasional low blood pressure and anemia, I don't think there are any other complications due to my weight

- I don't know if this is related but I have vitiligo. I have a sizeable white patch between my shoulder blades and two very small spots on my scalp. My dermatologist had prescribed creams to stop the white patches from spreading and they haven't grown larger ever since.

 

Are these symptoms of celiac disease or something else entirely?

I'm anxious about getting put on a gluten diet. How do I manage my constipation when I get on a gluten diet before a celiac test? Should I continue to drink milk when I'm on the diet?

 

[Scott Adams]

Anemia is a classic symptom of celiac disease, as is low BMI (see article below).  Vitiligo could also have an association. In any case, getting a celiac disease blood screening would be the best way to find out, and you must continue to eat gluten daily until all tests are completed for the results to be accurate. Since there is no way for you to see a doctor now, is it possible for your to do a home test kit like this one? https://www.imaware.health/

Also, have you tried eating prunes and/or dates for your constipation?

 

 

[cyclinglady]

If you do end up getting an endoscopy, you should follow the preparation instructions.  They only biopsy the upper end of the small intestine just where the stomach empties into it.  I think you are confused with a colonoscopy.  If you get that test, ask your GI for additional preparation time.  You will just have to consume a liquid diet (jello, broth, etc) for a few extra days if constipation is an issue.  

[Awol cast iron stomach]

On 4/7/2020 at 7:56 AM, Luella said:

I'm anxious about getting put on a gluten diet. How do I manage my constipation when I get on a gluten diet before a celiac test? Should I continue to drink milk when I'm on the diet?

Are you not currently on a gluten  diet?

As others said the Drs will need you on one to rule in/ rule out celiac and other conditions. 

Are they doing both an endoscope and colonoscopy? I had colonoscopy prior to my gluten intolerance diagnosis, but the one who confirmed gluten was an issue was the only one to endoscope me. So in my opinion I would confirm you are getting endoscope or both endoscope / colonoscopy.

As Scott said prune juice helps. Honestly if gluten is a problem and it constipates you not much relieves it long term like gluten-free diet. However you have to rule in/out.

Not sure they will want you on probiotics for scopes . Good question

Prunes, dried fruit, psyllium husk, warm water, stool softeners. One of my Drs when I had to do the challenge suggested miralax.

The scope prep mix works beyond comprehension. I started minimal solid food diet before . Honestly by the time of my scopes I eagerly awaited the prep drink ( disturbing) and could not wait to get and IV as I was so dehydrated. Yes I stop absorbing water properly.

Can it be celiac or NCGS ? Can be some of us get mainly  constipation and swelling / bloating versus constant diaherria weight loss.

Good luck have it checked out. As some of us were misdiagnosed 20 plus years .

 

Edit: sorry I forgot your milk inquiry. I stayed on milk during my testing. After testing and food elimination diet I went off cow milk /products it caused issues. I am still off cow milk and cow dairy products. I use almond and coconut.

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2020 by Awol cast iron stomach
One more thought

[Posterboy]

On 4/7/2020 at 7:56 AM, Luella said:

- I don't know if this is related but I have vitiligo. I have a sizeable white patch between my shoulder blades and two very small spots on my scalp. My dermatologist had prescribed creams to stop the white patches from spreading and they haven't grown larger ever since.

Luella,

I didn't see this before...so I am little late but you might have a Thyroid problem...

See this article entitled "Skin Findings in Thyroid Diseases"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19327604/

Skin issues also show up in SIBO here is an article that shows how Rosacea is linked to SIBO/IBS

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-link-between-rosacea-and-ibs-sibo-4000518

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,

 

[cyclinglady]

30 minutes ago, Posterboy said:

Luella,

I didn't see this before...so I am little late but you might have a Thyroid problem...

See this article entitled "Skin Findings in Thyroid Diseases"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19327604/

Skin issues also show up in SIBO here is an article that shows how Rosacea is linked to SIBO/IBS

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-link-between-rosacea-and-ibs-sibo-4000518

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,

 

I disagree.  SIBO and Rosacea is just a theory based on the link you provided).  I have Rosacea (more than 30 years diagnosed) and I do not have SIBO.  Other theories are that Rosacea can be triggered by food intolerances or that it is linked to autoimmune thyroid or autoimmune gastritis (I have those as well).   My Rosacea is definitely triggered by my garlic and onion intolerance.  Red wine (tannins) also affect my Rosacea.  

The poster has Vitiligo which is another autoimmune disorder.  Of course, once you have one autoimmune disorder, you can develop more.  

[Posterboy]

Cyclinglady,

I was rushing....I do that sometimes....trying to answer two or threethreads without enough to time to answer properly...

the very well health article said the association was 70pct.... quoting...

"In about 70 percent of the study subjects, individuals having rosacea and SIBO were cleared of both ailments after following a course of antibiotics. This finding supported the hypothesis that an overgrowth of gut flora can, in many cases, lead toward development of rosacea as well."

I had a link for Vitiligo but since other showed its association in/to thyroid autoimmunity and  why I said they should look into checking  with their doctor's about their thyroid.

I had a friend at work who had Vitiligo....I tried to  help them....but they wouldn't listen..

I didn't know at the time it could be related to a thyroid problem. People don't associate the two often...

Here is the link/study on Vitiligo in Thryoid Autoimmunity...entitled "Association between Vitiligo and Thyroid Autoimmunity"

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jtr/2011/938257/ 

It turns out to be about 1/5 will have a thyroid problem too...enough to be troublesome but probably not enough for doctor's to associate these diseases...

It (Vitiligo) has also been associated with low stomach acid...and why/what I was trying to help my friend with...but he wouldn't listen...here is research about that association as well..

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673674904838

No stomach (Achlorhydria) is  in Vitiligo  at about 1 in4  and maybe as much as 40 percent has Low  Stomach acid (Hypochlorhydria) in Vitiligo…

Sorry for the confusion...I rushing...

Again I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,