Could it be gluten? -- these symptoms seem to come from nowhere!

[ava-cado]

Hi! I'm a newbie. I was diagnosed (bloodwork) over a year ago. Sorry, this is gonna be a loooong post, but any advice is so so so appreciated! 

I've struggled since diagnosis with "hidden" gluten. When I first went gluten-free, my cognitive symptoms went away (intense fatigue/brain fog) but my digestive issues stayed the same. My doctor recommended a low FODMAP diet which provided some relief, but I was still dealing with really intense bloating, indigestion, and D for months. Even though I never dined out, my entire household was gluten free, I ate mostly whole foods, etc. Flash forward to Dec 2020, I had some follow-up bloodwork done and my TTG IgA was still super high! It turns out a B-vitamin supplement I was taking (which was marked "no gluten containing ingredients" but must have been cross-contaminated) was a big culprit. I also cut out all grains that weren't third-party certified gluten-free. My digestion quickly improved -- no more pregnant-looking bloating, no more indigestion, and my poop was beautiful (if you don't mind my saying).

I experienced several months of no symptoms, but it's all come crumbling down in the last few weeks since I've started living somewhere else. About three weeks ago, my partner and I moved to a little rental property. It's pre-furnished including all the cookware etc. As soon as we got here, my bloating and fatigue returned with a vengeance! My bloating is often accompanied with stomach pain, especially at night. And I have a super fun new symptom which I've never had before, constipation. 

I did some sleuthing and I figured out it might be the wooden cutting board/cooking utensils, but it has been two weeks since I used those and my symptoms have not abated. I am still struggling with constant bloating, and I can only have a complete poop when I use a laxative (but I have never really used laxatives before and I definitely don't want to make a habit of it).

Can anyone think of what it might be? Are there any hidden gluten sources I'm not accounting for?

As far as I can tell, it shouldn't be the cookware (I switched it all out except for the stainless steel pot) and it shouldn't be what I'm eating (I'm eating all normal things that I have always eaten with no issues, all certified gluten-free and mostly whole foods/little to no added sugar, and never dining out, plus my boyfriend is gluten-free too).

I am skeptical of the idea that this is just lingering symptoms from getting accidentally glutened when I first got here, before I knew to switch out the wooden cutting board and stuff, because my symptoms have not gotten any better as the days go on. Is it normal for symptoms to persist this long, even if I haven't been exposed to gluten since?

Just to be transparent, my hair/skincare products are all gluten-free, I eat a decent amount of fiber (at least 25g/day), I drink plenty of water, and I exercise regularly -- so I don't think I have any lifestyle factors that would cause constipation/bloating. Plus I'm still on modified low FODMAP.

[trents]

It is common for celiacs to develop other food intolerances. It could be almost anything but chief among them seem to be dairy and oats. Oat protein produces the same reaction as gluten in about 10% of celiacs. Because of the "leaky gut" produced by damage to the small bowel lining, larger than normal protein fractions from the food we eat cross into the blood stream and can be flagged as invaders by the immune system, things that are not normally interpreted by the body as harmful. Celiac disease results in a dysfunctional immune system that is hyper vigilant. Have you thought about keeping a food diary to identify patterns?

[Scott Adams]

I agree with keeping a food diary to find additional food intolerance issues. I also wonder if you’re not getting too much fiber, which can cause bloating and constipation. 

[ava-cado]

On 4/21/2021 at 10:51 PM, Scott Adams said:

I agree with keeping a food diary to find additional food intolerance issues. I also wonder if you’re not getting too much fiber, which can cause bloating and constipation. 

Reducing fiber helped a bit. Thank you!

I have also started a food diary. But things seem to be improving slowly on their own.