Poop advice!

[Mombles]

Sorry for the question. Orange/pale coloured smelly, soft poop prompted me to go to the doctor and I’m waiting for a gastro appointment. Meanwhile, suspecting gluten, I went gluten free. I was gluten-free for 2 weeks then realised I’d need to be on it for tests. The reaction was massive. Pain, wind, fatigue etc. So, I’m back gluten-free and have been for a month. All through though, I’ve had no change to the poop situation. Still soft, smelly and orange/pale. I’m only just over a month now totally gluten-free. Is this normal? I can’t say there’s been no gluten mistakes but I’ve had no pain like before. In UK. Does it sound like gluten is the problem? Takes ages to see a Dr in UK but it will be free when I do! Worrying it could be other causes. 

[Scott Adams]

If the cause of your symptoms is gluten, and it certainly sounds like some of your symptoms are gluten-related, as they improved on a gluten-free diet, then normally you would see some improvement by now. But if you have celiac disease, you could have flattened villi which will take time to heal, and it can take up to 2 years to recover, although most celiacs do recover sooner if they are 100% gluten-free.

Is it possible you are still getting gluten by eating out, or via supplement or medications? Do you include oats in gluten-free your diet? Around 9% of celiacs cannot tolerate even gluten-free oats. Likewise, many people have casein/cow's milk issues, so you may need to experiment a bit to see if other things may be causing the issue.

This article may help:

 

[Mombles]

11 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

If the cause of your symptoms is gluten, and it certainly sounds like some of your symptoms are gluten-related, as they improved on a gluten-free diet, then normally you would see some improvement by now. But if you have celiac disease, you could have flattened villi which will take time to heal, and it can take up to 2 years to recover, although most celiacs do recover sooner if they are 100% gluten-free.

Is it possible you are still getting gluten by eating out, or via supplement or medications? Do you include oats in gluten-free your diet? Around 9% of celiacs cannot tolerate even gluten-free oats. Likewise, many people have casein/cow's milk issues, so you may need to experiment a bit to see if other things may be causing the issue.

This article may help:

 

Thank you. That’s really helpful. Yes, still eating (gluten-free) oats. I love my porridge 🤦‍♀️. May have to take things a bit further…….

[Wheatwacked]

CHOLINE - THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT OF THE BODY

Lack of enough bile will give your symptoms. Could be caused by a long-term low-fat diet. Could be not enough choline in your diet. Bile is needed to absorb fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K so in addition to a choline deficiency you might be deficient in them.. Another indicator might be high homocysteine in a blood test. Choline, B12, B6, and folate work together.

Since Celiac Disease causes malabsorption in the small intestine, you could also be low in the other B vitamins, zinc. Potassium is absorbed in the small intestine also and to compound the problem diarrhea causes potassium loss.

The RDA, the minimum daily requirement for choline is the equivalent of 4 large eggs or 15 ounces of steak or 10 cups of cooked broccoli. The safe upper limit RDA is around 28 eggs a day, 3500 mg of choline. Hypervitaminosis of choline doesn't happen until around 7500 mg (around 75 eggs a day) and the most common effect is body odor and low blood pressure.

Look for a multivitamin like Geritol Multivitamin, that has more than the RDA  and add to that a choline or phosphatidyl choline supplement.

 

[Mombles]

6 hours ago, Wheatwacked said:

CHOLINE - THE MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT OF THE BODY

Lack of enough bile will give your symptoms. Could be caused by a long-term low-fat diet. Could be not enough choline in your diet. Bile is needed to absorb fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K so in addition to a choline deficiency you might be deficient in them.. Another indicator might be high homocysteine in a blood test. Choline, B12, B6, and folate work together.

Since Celiac Disease causes malabsorption in the small intestine, you could also be low in the other B vitamins, zinc. Potassium is absorbed in the small intestine also and to compound the problem diarrhea causes potassium loss.

The RDA, the minimum daily requirement for choline is the equivalent of 4 large eggs or 15 ounces of steak or 10 cups of cooked broccoli. The safe upper limit RDA is around 28 eggs a day, 3500 mg of choline. Hypervitaminosis of choline doesn't happen until around 7500 mg (around 75 eggs a day) and the most common effect is body odor and low blood pressure.

Look for a multivitamin like Geritol Multivitamin, that has more than the RDA  and add to that a choline or phosphatidyl choline supplement.

 

Thank you so much! That’s really helpful 🥰

[knitty kitty]

@Mombles,

Welcome to the forum!

The poop situation may be a result of fats not being properly digested.  Usually the gall bladder releases bile that contains enzymes that break down fats.  When it doesn't have enough Vitamin B1 Thiamine, the gall bladder doesn't make and secrete bile properly.  

Remember, Celiac Disease damages the small intestine where vitamins and minerals are absorbed, so malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies occur.  Checking for and correcting deficiencies is part of proper follow up care for us.  

Gall bladder problems can be a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  I include this article although I doubt you've been drinking, but drinking alcohol causes malabsorption of thiamine the same as what happens in Celiac Disease.  My gallbladder was removed, but my symptoms did not resolve until I took high dose Thiamine, same as the patient in the case below. 

Gastrointestinal Beriberi and Wernicke's Encephalopathy Triggered by One Session of Heavy Drinking

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6739701/

Do get checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Discuss with your doctor the benefits of supplementing with a B Complex supplement and extra Thiamine while you're healing.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

 

The AutoImmune Protocol Diet is beneficial in calming down the inflammation and promoting healing in Celiac Disease.  

 

Hope this helps! 

Keep us posted on your progress!