Newly diagnosed celiac with chronic constipation + antibiotics and celiac

[cantgonow]

For years and years I've had chronic constipation. Last year, my doctor gave me a laxative prescription that didn't work. Since then, my symptoms got much worse. I had stomach pain, brain fog, debilitating fatigue, headaches. I had never thought of celiac ever since I thought you had to have diarrhea. This year I got a new doctor and told her something is not right and I can't go to the bathroom normally despite trying to eat mostly fruits and vegetables, drinking enough water, etc. All my labs came back great, food allergies negative, but celiac panel was positive. Last month I had an endoscopy and biopsy which confirmed I do have celiac. 

I've been on gluten-free diet just about three weeks. My stomach pain and brain fog are mostly gone, fatigue is slowly subsiding, but constipation is still terrible. I understand it can take a while for villi to heal, but I feel awful. Last night I used an enema and it barely worked. After I used magnesium citrate, which worked a bit but not to desired effects. 

Now I'm paranoid maybe it's something worse like Crohn's or something else. Does anyone have experience with celiac and constipation?

Also, any insights on antibiotics and celiac? I'm convinced this journey started for me 17 years ago when I volunteered in a hospital and got MRSA and ended up on antibiotics for six months because nothing was working and the infection was spreading (the final one did). I've long suspected that period messed up my gut microbiome and now I feel I'm paying for it  Of course my mental health has been in the trash throughout the pain and suffering and now dealing with this huge adjustment. Any thoughts, advice appreciated. 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, cantgonow! Love your handle! Most appropriate.

We know that celiac genes are inactive until turned on by some triggering stress event. The MRSA infection you described would certainly seem to qualify.

Are you taking any supplements to correct the inevitable vitamin and mineral deficiencies that accompany celiac disease? Make sure all vitamins and supplements are gluten free. Costco's Nature Made line is a good choice and most of their products are gluten free and state so clearly on the label. We routinely recommend an adult multi plus a high potency B-complex, added sublingual B12, added magnesium and very importantly, at least 5000Iu per day of D3. Mag citrate is a form that is more easily assimilated than some other magnesium formulations and magnesium glycinate is another good one. Don't hesitate to take mega doses of B vitamins because they are water soluble and excess will just be peed out. This should seed up your recovery.

It is a fact that Crohn's and IBS are more prevalent in the celiac population than in the general population. Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster. So, if your constipation continues much longer I would check out some other possibilities.

[cantgonow]

9 minutes ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, cantgonow! Love your handle! Most appropriate.

We know that celiac genes are inactive until turned on by some triggering stress event. The MRSA infection you described would certainly seem to qualify.

Are you taking any supplements to correct the inevitable vitamin and mineral deficiencies that accompany celiac disease? Make sure all vitamins and supplements are gluten free. Costco's Nature Made line is a good choice and most of their products are gluten free and state so clearly on the label. We routinely recommend an adult multi plus a high potency B-complex, added sublingual B12, added magnesium and very importantly, at least 5000Iu per day of D3. Mag citrate is a form that is more easily assimilated than some other magnesium formulations and magnesium glycinate is another good one. Don't hesitate to take mega doses of B vitamins because they are water soluble and excess will just be peed out. This should seed up your recovery.

It is a fact that Crohn's and IBS are more prevalent in the celiac population than in the general population. Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster. So, if your constipation continues much longer I would check out some other possibilities.

Thank you! I take a multivitamin and probiotic and magnesium regularly. I have D and B12 but have not been consistent. Good to note about the D. Thanks for sharing about other autoimmune diseases. I've read that I have a much higher chance now with this celiac diagnosis. The good news is I have a GI follow up next Thursday. Will discuss these issues as I originally got tested because the constipation is so bad and gluten-free diet (so far) isn't helping as much as I had hoped. Grateful the other symptoms are subsiding though. 

[Wheatwacked]

After 3 month GFD I increased my vitamin D to 10,000 iu a day. On day 4 I looked at the bottle and exclaimed; "This truly is sunshine in a bottle" Somewhere around that time I started inviting people to my 130th birthday party in 2081.

You'll have good days and better days then bad days. 

These are the foods I eat: 

cottage cheese, meat, vegatables, watermelon, tart cherry juice, oranges, ripe bananas for calories, coffee with 100% Pasture fed milk.

This disease is all about malabsorption of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is essential to getting your autoimmune system back to normal. The RDA   only accounts for Rickets.  "Immune cells (B cells, T cells, monocytes, DCs) from multiple autoimmune diseases appear to respond to the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D." Vitamin D and the Immune System.

[cristiana]

Constipation is a real issue for many coeliacs.  I have a close relative who is suffering from constipation and she is about to be tested for coeliac disease.

I am not sure if you are a woman (forgive me if I've missed this info in this post!) but if so, it is worth considering that sometimes constipation can be linked with gynecological issues, such as prolapse, hormones, etc.  

[cantgonow]

2 minutes ago, cristiana said:

Constipation is a real issue for many coeliacs.  I have a close relative who is suffering from constipation and she is about to be tested for coeliac disease.

I am not sure if you are a woman (forgive me if I've missed this info in this post!) but if so, it is worth considering that sometimes constipation can be linked with gynecological issues, such as prolapse, hormones, etc.  

Yes, I am a woman and it does get worse during that time. But that's not now, so am wondering why it's still so bad on gluten-free diet. But it's only been 3 weeks...I know the healing process will be lengthy. 

[cristiana]

As you say, it has only been three weeks.

I've been through long stretches of having severe pelvic pain and bloating and my gastroenterologist recommended I had a pelvic scan just to make sure there weren't any non-coeliac issues going on, like problems with the ovaries, fibroids etc.   I was given a blood test too.  I found it reassuring to have these tests because the pain at times was so severe.  

[cristiana]

Something has just reminded me to mention, have you tried drinking peppermint tea?   I have IBS as well as coeliac disease and if I get constipated and bloated I find it very helpful.

[cantgonow]

2 hours ago, cristiana said:

Something has just reminded me to mention, have you tried drinking peppermint tea?   I have IBS as well as coeliac disease and if I get constipated and bloated I find it very helpful.

I do and it can help sometimes! Should try again. 

[knitty kitty]

Thiamine deficiency can manifest as constipation.  SIBO can contribute to Thiamine deficiency.

There's a section on gastrointestinal symptoms in thiamine deficiency in this article....

Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

And...I include this because these patients have malabsorption problems like Celiac people have malabsorption problems.

Constipation in patients with thiamine deficiency after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23970020/

Hope this helps!

[cantgonow]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

Thiamine deficiency can manifest as constipation.  SIBO can contribute to Thiamine deficiency.

There's a section on gastrointestinal symptoms in thiamine deficiency in this article....

Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

And...I include this because these patients have malabsorption problems like Celiac people have malabsorption problems.

Constipation in patients with thiamine deficiency after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23970020/

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much! 

[cristiana]

9 hours ago, cantgonow said:

I do and it can help sometimes! Should try again. 

I used to just wave the teabag in the water, now when I have peppermint tea I leave it there for a good couple of minutes.  Ditto chamomile for as an alternative to caffeine if I have gastritis or a UTI.  I think it helps to have it as strong as one can bear it.  I can't say I'm that keen on the taste but it does seem to help.

Edited June 24, 2022 by cristiana

[knitty kitty]

Have you tried Oolong tea?  It has little caffeine and lots of L-Theanine, an amino acid that helps healing, reduces stress and anxiety. 

  

[cantgonow]

9 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Have you tried Oolong tea?  It has little caffeine and lots of L-Theanine, an amino acid that helps healing, reduces stress and anxiety. 

  

I don't think so! I'll check it. Thanks!