My Stomach Hates Me

[Ginger38]

I have really been trying to watch the gluten and I don’t know if it’s just still intestinal damage causing my issues or I’ve messed up or what is going on, but my stomach hates me. I have had a lot of stomach pain and bloating lately and lots of diarrhea and urgency that has caused accidents, so embarassing. I don’t want to get in to much detail bc I don’t know what is acceptable here but based on bowel colors it appears to be gluten. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I feel like going back to just eating whatever bc what’s the point??  We are supposed to be going out of town on a trip in a few days and I’m really dreading it

[LCAnacortes]

I know your pain - I had the same problem and still have it sometimes.  The accidents are awful.  You get 2 seconds to make it to the bathroom. Not fun. Dairy can be a problem too - it can cause diarrhea/urgency.  And I was using open jars of jam, relish, mayo and soft butter among other things before I realized they were also contaminated.  All you have to do is double dip - spread something on regular bread and go back to get some more and it's contaminated and that can cause major issues. Your sponge can be contaminated and eating out can cause issues.  I am also supplementing - B vitamins and others because vitamin deficiencies were causing other issues for me. You are not alone. Hopefully things get better soon.   

[Ginger38]

On 7/9/2022 at 8:59 PM, LCAnacortes said:

I know your pain - I had the same problem and still have it sometimes.  The accidents are awful.  You get 2 seconds to make it to the bathroom. Not fun. Dairy can be a problem too - it can cause diarrhea/urgency.  And I was using open jars of jam, relish, mayo and soft butter among other things before I realized they were also contaminated.  All you have to do is double dip - spread something on regular bread and go back to get some more and it's contaminated and that can cause major issues. Your sponge can be contaminated and eating out can cause issues.  I am also supplementing - B vitamins and others because vitamin deficiencies were causing other issues for me. You are not alone. Hopefully things get better soon.   

Thank you.
 

So how long have you been gluten free and how long did it take the accidents to sort of resolve? It is awful. I was taking Imodium all the time but I’m not sure if I should be doing that.

I never thought about jars of things being an issue. We do eat out quite a bit but I do get gluten free but maybe it doesn’t really matter …

 

[LCAnacortes]

9 hours ago, Ginger38 said:

Thank you.
 

So how long have you been gluten free and how long did it take the accidents to sort of resolve? It is awful. I was taking Imodium all the time but I’m not sure if I should be doing that.

I never thought about jars of things being an issue. We do eat out quite a bit but I do get gluten free but maybe it doesn’t really matter …

 

Since early May 2022.  I just learned that we had a major celiac gene in our family and did some research and then went gluten free but boy - I mess it up all of the time.  There are a lot of ways that you can contaminate what you're eating.  We had to buy a new toaster. Your hair products and some supplements might have wheat in them. It's crazy. Things have not totally resolved yet. But since the beginning of May, I have only had a couple of blow outs.  And - way fewer "hurries".  Before I went gluten free - I would have a couple of blow outs a week - and I had stopped leaving my house because I couldn't be that far from a bathroom.  I didn't know what to eat - it was awful. Most of the issues I have had since going gluten free were caused by cross-contamination - using the contaminated relish and stuff like that. I knew where I messed up.  I was better almost immediately - meaning much fewer hurries.  My bathroom habits looked like it was before things got so bad. But I had to tell my body to calm down. One twitch and I'd go running and that wasn't needed anymore.  I should mention that I haven't been officially diagnosed.  I don't want to resume eating gluten to test for it. And - I am still having a bit of an issue - so it looks like I'll be eliminating dairy too. A lot of celiacs have problems with both. 

[Ginger38]

On 7/11/2022 at 8:44 PM, LCAnacortes said:

Since early May 2022.  I just learned that we had a major celiac gene in our family and did some research and then went gluten free but boy - I mess it up all of the time.  There are a lot of ways that you can contaminate what you're eating.  We had to buy a new toaster. Your hair products and some supplements might have wheat in them. It's crazy. Things have not totally resolved yet. But since the beginning of May, I have only had a couple of blow outs.  And - way fewer "hurries".  Before I went gluten free - I would have a couple of blow outs a week - and I had stopped leaving my house because I couldn't be that far from a bathroom.  I didn't know what to eat - it was awful. Most of the issues I have had since going gluten free were caused by cross-contamination - using the contaminated relish and stuff like that. I knew where I messed up.  I was better almost immediately - meaning much fewer hurries.  My bathroom habits looked like it was before things got so bad. But I had to tell my body to calm down. One twitch and I'd go running and that wasn't needed anymore.  I should mention that I haven't been officially diagnosed.  I don't want to resume eating gluten to test for it. And - I am still having a bit of an issue - so it looks like I'll be eliminating dairy too. A lot of celiacs have problems with both. 

Yeah I haven’t been officially diagnosed but have positive antibodies and definitely improve when I am on a strict gluten free diet. I messed up bad for a longer period time recently and it seems like this time around the healing process is going much much slower. I’m still having all kinds of issues. Maybe I’m getting it somewhere else too that I’m not aware of. Eating out is a nightmare- bc I’m sure even if you order gluten free there’s cross contamination. We are getting ready to go out of town and I’m pretty much dreading it bc I haven’t gotten completely well since this last round. And even more depressing I feel / look like I’ve gained 20 pounds. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I usually take Imodium as a precaution but I’m not sure that’s healthy long term, but I don’t want to have issues out in public🤦🏼‍♀️

[LCAnacortes]

14 hours ago, Ginger38 said:

Yeah I haven’t been officially diagnosed but have positive antibodies and definitely improve when I am on a strict gluten free diet. I messed up bad for a longer period time recently and it seems like this time around the healing process is going much much slower. I’m still having all kinds of issues. Maybe I’m getting it somewhere else too that I’m not aware of. Eating out is a nightmare- bc I’m sure even if you order gluten free there’s cross contamination. We are getting ready to go out of town and I’m pretty much dreading it bc I haven’t gotten completely well since this last round. And even more depressing I feel / look like I’ve gained 20 pounds. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I usually take Imodium as a precaution but I’m not sure that’s healthy long term, but I don’t want to have issues out in public🤦🏼‍♀️

I am so sorry.  I have definitely been on that road. I have a change of clothes with me at all times. I haven't bothered to take Imodium or whatever because it didn't seem to help. I don't eat out much and I tell my server I am gluten free so no croutons etc. Then I take notes on how it went.  If we did okay then I go there again. If not - then I don't. If you are sharing food with others - they need to get on board to a point anyway. Meaning don't touch the lettuce after touching bread - or the lettuce is now contaminated.  The 20 lbs could be water retention  I still deal with that too but it has been better since going gluten free.  Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) supplementing could help with that. Hopefully it helps to know you have friends right there in that boat with you.

[Ginger38]

On 7/13/2022 at 3:00 PM, LCAnacortes said:

I am so sorry.  I have definitely been on that road. I have a change of clothes with me at all times. I haven't bothered to take Imodium or whatever because it didn't seem to help. I don't eat out much and I tell my server I am gluten free so no croutons etc. Then I take notes on how it went.  If we did okay then I go there again. If not - then I don't. If you are sharing food with others - they need to get on board to a point anyway. Meaning don't touch the lettuce after touching bread - or the lettuce is now contaminated.  The 20 lbs could be water retention  I still deal with that too but it has been better since going gluten free.  Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) supplementing could help with that. Hopefully it helps to know you have friends right there in that boat with you.

Thank you! I probably need to start keeping a change of clothes with me. It’s so hard. I never thought about cross contamination in things like jelly, salad dressing, peanut butter etc. T have started trying to take a B1 supplement but sometimes it makes me nauseated. 
Yes it’s helpful to have people who understand 

[RMJ]

On 7/9/2022 at 4:55 PM, Ginger38 said:

I have really been trying to watch the gluten and I don’t know if it’s just still intestinal damage causing my issues or I’ve messed up or what is going on, but my stomach hates me. I have had a lot of stomach pain and bloating lately and lots of diarrhea and urgency that has caused accidents, so embarassing. I don’t want to get in to much detail bc I don’t know what is acceptable here but based on bowel colors it appears to be gluten. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I feel like going back to just eating whatever bc what’s the point??  We are supposed to be going out of town on a trip in a few days and I’m really dreading it

You say you’re really trying to watch the gluten, but you just posted on another thread that you eat the toppings off of a gluten-containing pizza crust.  You clearly need to be much more careful about gluten contamination.

[Ginger38]

3 hours ago, RMJ said:

You say you’re really trying to watch the gluten, but you just posted on another thread that you eat the toppings off of a gluten-containing pizza crust.  You clearly need to be much more careful about gluten contamination.

Thank you, I’m still learning and clearly have a lot to learn. Trying to figure out what I’ve been doing that I shouldn’t be doing. Sounds like peeling skin off chicken and toppings off pizza is not a good idea