GI symptoms after going gluten free

[Audrey22]

Hi folks,

I recently got diagnosed with Celiac and have only been gluten-free for 1.5 weeks, unsurprisingly still having lots of GI problems, running to the bathroom 6-8x per day with watery stools. I'm wondering how long it took other folks to see their GI issues resolve after going gluten-free and how long it took your intestines to heal. I'm so miserable, I just can't wait to get back to some semblance of normal digestion!

Thanks for your input.

 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Audrey22!

If you are truly eating gluten-free, your symptoms should improve within a few weeks. Complete healing of the gut typically takes around 2 years. Having said that, there are several things you need to be aware of:

1. Several recent studies have revealed that most people who claim to be eating gluten-free are actually eating a reduced amount of gluten than before. This is particularly true of people who still dine out. There is much more to eating gluten-free than avoiding major sources of gluten such as bread and pasta.

2. There is quite a learning curve with regard to how gluten is hidden processed foods by the food industry. There is terminology to become aware of that masks the presence of gluten and there are issues with cross contamination in the growing, transport, storage and processing of many foods that you would never dream would have gluten in them. Would you ever imagine that wheat is a principle ingredient in most soy sauces and that practically all caned soups use wheat starch as a thickener. Would you imagine that canned tomato soup has wheat starch in it? It does. Wheat starch is a cheap thickener and used in many canned soups/stews. When you buy a box of corn-based cereal did you look for added flavorings and ingredients that could contain gluten, like "malt flavoring?" Malt is made from wheat and rye.

3. Are you and other family members in your house sharing toasters, peanut butter jars, cutting utensils?

4. When you dine out, do you know that your non gluten food is being cooked on separate grills and pans and that the kitchen staff is not using the same spatulas and knives they are using with gluten containing food?

5. Are you still eating oat products? About 10% of celiacs react to oat protein the same way they do wheat, barley and rye.

6. Have you checked your meds and supplements for wheat starch used as a filler?

7. Are you sure you're tummy's unhappy state is not being caused by some other food intolerance/allergy? It is very common for celiacs to develop intolerances/allergies to some foods that do not contain gluten. Chief among them is dairy, soy, eggs and corn. But it can be almost anything. Celiac disease results in a dysfunctional immune system, particularly when it comes to food. You should do some research on "leaky gut" syndrome, a condition that allows larger than normal protein fractions from the food we eat to enter the blood stream where it may be detected by the immune system as an invader.

Our standard advice is to avoid processed foods and eating out as well as oats (at least at first). Instead, eat simple, basic foods such as fresh meat, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables until you can get some things sorted out.

It all sounds so overwhelming and limiting, doesn't it? We've all been there and adjustments do happen over time.

Edited March 7, 2021 by trents

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum, this article might be helpful:

 

[Audrey22]

Thank you both for your input and helpful resources

[zenith12]

On 3/6/2021 at 10:57 PM, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Audrey22!

If you are truly eating gluten-free, your symptoms should improve within a few weeks. Complete healing of the gut typically takes around 2 years. Having said that, there are several things you need to be aware of:

1. Several recent studies have revealed that most people who claim to be eating gluten-free are actually eating a reduced amount of gluten than before. This is particularly true of people who still dine out. There is much more to eating gluten-free than avoiding major sources of gluten such as bread and pasta.

2. There is quite a learning curve with regard to how gluten is hidden processed foods by the food industry. There is terminology to become aware of that masks the presence of gluten and there are issues with cross contamination in the growing, transport, storage and processing of many foods that you would never dream would have gluten in them. Would you ever imagine that wheat is a principle ingredient in most soy sauces and that practically all caned soups use wheat starch as a thickener. Would you imagine that canned tomato soup has wheat starch in it? It does. Wheat starch is a cheap thickener and used in many canned soups/stews. When you buy a box of corn-based cereal did you look for added flavorings and ingredients that could contain gluten, like "malt flavoring?" Malt is made from wheat and rye.

3. Are you and other family members in your house sharing toasters, peanut butter jars, cutting utensils?

4. When you dine out, do you know that your non gluten food is being cooked on separate grills and pans and that the kitchen staff is not using the same spatulas and knives they are using with gluten containing food?

5. Are you still eating oat products? About 10% of celiacs react to oat protein the same way they do wheat, barley and rye.

6. Have you checked your meds and supplements for wheat starch used as a filler?

7. Are you sure you're tummy's unhappy state is not being caused by some other food intolerance/allergy? It is very common for celiacs to develop intolerances/allergies to some foods that do not contain gluten. Chief among them is dairy, soy, eggs and corn. But it can be almost anything. Celiac disease results in a dysfunctional immune system, particularly when it comes to food. You should do some research on "leaky gut" syndrome, a condition that allows larger than normal protein fractions from the food we eat to enter the blood stream where it may be detected by the immune system as an invader.

Our standard advice is to avoid processed foods and eating out as well as oats (at least at first). Instead, eat simple, basic foods such as fresh meat, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables until you can get some things sorted out.

It all sounds so overwhelming and limiting, doesn't it? We've all been there and adjustments do happen over time.

Did you realize millions of food allergies go hand in hand with celiacs? Gluten is the least of their worries. I am alergic to almost all foods, except the ones I am eating that I know that i am not. I have never felt better in my life after learning most celiacs become allergic to all grains PLUS milions of other foods. 

I have become allergic to citris, fish, shell fish, all grains, all poultry,  peanuts, all chemicals,  all peppers, BEETs,  broccoli, peach, and many more.

This is all i eat and never felt better in my life. Watermelon,  bananas, blueberries, almonds, almond bread Base culture, beef, cabot cheese,   potatoes, sweet potatoes. That is it.  I just had an allergic reaction to BEETs.   Anything else i try outside that area I just mentioned takes a lot of guts. I hope i haven't became allergic to milk cocoa or raw sugar. Don't  know till I try. Good luck.   OH i can eat eggs too but don't like them .

 

Thanks for warning celiacs about this common problem with food allergies and disfuntional immune system. THEY need to know. Other wise they are gonna think like i did at first:  "oh i am getting trace amounts of gluten in me from the gluten-free foods" .   NO  i was allergic too all grains and then some.

[BuddhaBar]

On 3/7/2021 at 2:49 AM, Audrey22 said:

Hi folks,

I recently got diagnosed with Celiac and have only been gluten-free for 1.5 weeks, unsurprisingly still having lots of GI problems, running to the bathroom 6-8x per day with watery stools. I'm wondering how long it took other folks to see their GI issues resolve after going gluten-free and how long it took your intestines to heal. I'm so miserable, I just can't wait to get back to some semblance of normal digestion!

Thanks for your input.

 

I took several months, but don't worry, it will gradually get better. You won't have watery stools 6-8x per day for 6 months and then it suddenly stops.❤️