Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Other Digestive Issues While Intestines are Healing?


Ginger38

Recommended Posts

Ginger38 Rising Star

During the intestinal healing phase and/or after healing, is it normal to have a change in the digestive system in general?

Do celiacs just have more tummy issues? Are there certain gluten free foods that you can no longer eat? Should I be sticking to a pretty bland diet for a good while ? 

Im having issues with reflux and just my stomach in general when I eat certain foods or certain types of foods 


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Rogol72 Collaborator
1 hour ago, Ginger38 said:

During the intestinal healing phase and/or after healing, is it normal to have a change in the digestive system in general?

Do celiacs just have more tummy issues? Are there certain gluten free foods that you can no longer eat? Should I be sticking to a pretty bland diet for a good while ? 

Im having issues with reflux and just my stomach in general when I eat certain foods or certain types of foods 

I've had issues with reflux having a HH. In my experience, any food or beverage item that will cause inflammation and/or bloating in the gut will cause reflux. Coeliacs are prone to developing IBS and SIBO which can cause reflux. I follow an AIP diet for the most part and take the supplements my body needs since fortified foods are off the menu. I've got it down to a fine art after much trial and error. I eat fruits and a lot of vegetables, mostly poultry and fresh fish and some red meat but not as much as I used to. It works for me.

Scott Adams Grand Master

Although it sounds counter-intuitive, some research has shown that reflux can be caused by low stomach acid, rather than high stomach acid. Many doctors, almost reflexively now, prescribe PPI's for reflux, and in such cases this makes the issues worse. 

Posterboy Mentor
On 7/31/2022 at 3:02 AM, Rogol72 said:

I've had issues with reflux having a HH. In my experience, any food or beverage item that will cause inflammation and/or bloating in the gut will cause reflux. Coeliacs are prone to developing IBS and SIBO which can cause reflux. I follow an AIP diet for the most part and take the supplements my body needs since fortified foods are off the menu. I've got it down to a fine art after much trial and error. I eat fruits and a lot of vegetables, mostly poultry and fresh fish and some red meat but not as much as I used to. It works for me.

 

3 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Although it sounds counter-intuitive, some research has shown that reflux can be caused by low stomach acid, rather than high stomach acid. Many doctors, almost reflexively now, prescribe PPI's for reflux, and in such cases this makes the issues worse. 

Rogol72,

If you are  not taking a PPI now.....then taking Niacinamide can help your GI upset....

See this abstract that shows why this is possible.

https://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/niacin-treats-digestive-problems.htm

About 20 years ago now Howard Hughes Medical Institute aka HHMI "Debunked" that GERD/Heartburn was caused by too high a stomach acid...

https://www.hhmi.org/news/excessive-growth-bacteria-may-also-be-major-cause-stomach-ulcers

But PPI use is as prominent as it has ever been......because It "Locks us in" to ever recovering from Low Stomach acid being misdiagnosed as high stomach acid instead....

I have written a blog post that might help you.

Here is another article that might help you as well....

https://chriskresser.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-but-doesnt-about-heartburn-gerd/

And this one explains how to use baking soda to do a home test to see if your Stomach acid is really too low or too high?.....

https://drjockers.com/5-ways-test-stomach-acid-levels/

And I will give you a hint if you don't get a chane to read the whole posterboy blog post....it comes down to timeline....

Quoting

"Timeline is important in any diagnosis.

IF your stomach acid was HIGH as you often hear (everywhere) you hear take a Proton Pump Inhibitor

aka acid reducer’s or PPIs  for heartburn/GERD (medical name for heartburn) then eating food

(carbs, greasy things) wouldn’t bother you.

The acid would cut it up but if it is already low/weak then even a little acid can burn your esophagus which is not coated like the stomach to protect you from high acid.

BUT if it is low to start with then food will WEAKEN our/your acid so that you lose the food fight your in and things (carbs/fats) become to ferment, rancidify and cause heart burn." etc. and the vicious cycle repeats!

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advice.

Good luck on your continued journey!

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Posterboy by the Grace of God,

Ginger38 Rising Star
3 hours ago, Posterboy said:

 

Rogol72,

If you are  not taking a PPI now.....then taking Niacinamide can help your GI upset....

See this abstract that shows why this is possible.

https://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/niacin-treats-digestive-problems.htm

About 20 years ago now Howard Hughes Medical Institute aka HHMI "Debunked" that GERD/Heartburn was caused by too high a stomach acid...

https://www.hhmi.org/news/excessive-growth-bacteria-may-also-be-major-cause-stomach-ulcers

But PPI use is as prominent as it has ever been......because It "Locks us in" to ever recovering from Low Stomach acid being misdiagnosed as high stomach acid instead....

I have written a blog post that might help you.

Here is another article that might help you as well....

https://chriskresser.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-but-doesnt-about-heartburn-gerd/

And this one explains how to use baking soda to do a home test to see if your Stomach acid is really too low or too high?.....

https://drjockers.com/5-ways-test-stomach-acid-levels/

And I will give you a hint if you don't get a chane to read the whole posterboy blog post....it comes down to timeline....

Quoting

"Timeline is important in any diagnosis.

IF your stomach acid was HIGH as you often hear (everywhere) you hear take a Proton Pump Inhibitor

aka acid reducer’s or PPIs  for heartburn/GERD (medical name for heartburn) then eating food

(carbs, greasy things) wouldn’t bother you.

The acid would cut it up but if it is already low/weak then even a little acid can burn your esophagus which is not coated like the stomach to protect you from high acid.

BUT if it is low to start with then food will WEAKEN our/your acid so that you lose the food fight your in and things (carbs/fats) become to ferment, rancidify and cause heart burn." etc. and the vicious cycle repeats!

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advice.

Good luck on your continued journey!

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Posterboy by the Grace of God,

So if your acid is low greasy / fattening foods will cause heartburn? Like bacon, cream cheese in a dip etc? 

knitty kitty Grand Master
16 hours ago, Ginger38 said:

So if your acid is low greasy / fattening foods will cause heartburn? Like bacon, cream cheese in a dip etc? 

Yes.  We need stomach acid (and bile from the gallbladder) to break fats apart.  

Posterboy Mentor
18 hours ago, Ginger38 said:

So if your acid is low greasy / fattening foods will cause heartburn? Like bacon, cream cheese in a dip etc? 

Ginger38,

I am afraid so....

See this Livestrong article that explains why this is so...

https://www.livestrong.com/article/467828-does-fat-slow-digestion/

It shows well how FAT delays stomach emptying…….combined with CARBs that ferment then you have the “Fire and gasoline” needed to trigger Heartburn/GERD etc….

Thinks of your many triggers……fatty or very sweet (chocolate etc.), bitter or acidic etc.

https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/features/top-10-heartburn-foods

Sweets (and/or CARBS) and Fats together is usually a bad combination for GERD etc.

Think Pizza.....fatty cheese, acid tomato sauce, carby crust etc......and that is something that routinely trigger GERD/Heartburn in people...

But if you separate your CARBS out and do either one or the other it will help you....

Or just go Low CARB for a while and you will see how it can help.

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advice.

Posterboy,


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Ginger38 Rising Star
4 hours ago, Posterboy said:

Ginger38,

I am afraid so....

See this Livestrong article that explains why this is so...

https://www.livestrong.com/article/467828-does-fat-slow-digestion/

It shows well how FAT delays stomach emptying…….combined with CARBs that ferment then you have the “Fire and gasoline” needed to trigger Heartburn/GERD etc….

Thinks of your many triggers……fatty or very sweet (chocolate etc.), bitter or acidic etc.

https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/features/top-10-heartburn-foods

Sweets (and/or CARBS) and Fats together is usually a bad combination for GERD etc.

Think Pizza.....fatty cheese, acid tomato sauce, carby crust etc......and that is something that routinely trigger GERD/Heartburn in people...

But if you separate your CARBS out and do either one or the other it will help you....

Or just go Low CARB for a while and you will see how it can help.

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advice.

Posterboy,

I thought it was caused by tomato based foods, but I also have issues with bacon and I had a high fat low carb dip that caused me issues. So I thought this was interesting…. Trying to figure out my diet and what I can eat 

knitty kitty Grand Master

Have you tried the Autoimmune Protocol Diet?  

It gave my tummy a break and I started feeling better quickly.  

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/aip-diet-autoimmune-protocol-diet

And...

https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/the-autoimmune-protocol/

Ginger38 Rising Star
7 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Have you tried the Autoimmune Protocol Diet?  

It gave my tummy a break and I started feeling better quickly.  

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/aip-diet-autoimmune-protocol-diet

And...

https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/the-autoimmune-protocol/

I have not, looks like there is not much to eat on that diet 

knitty kitty Grand Master

@Ginger38,

I had to make a mental adjustment with Celiac Disease.  I had to learn how to eat to live, not live to eat.  

Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

The AIP diet is a bit sparse without carbohydrates from grains and starchy vegetables, but removing those gives the digestive system a rest from dealing with irritating plant lectins and glycoalkaloids that can cause continuing inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is thought to be a factor in Celiac Disease activation.  (Gluten is able to slip through the leaking gut and travel in the circulatory system causing an autoimmune response.)  Cutting down on those carbohydrates also starves out "bad" bacteria in the gut.  These "bad" bacteria ferment undigested starches which can result in bloating, brain fog, and diarrhea or constipation and can spread from the large intestine where they belong into the small intestine where they are not supposed to be.  This is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  Take away the carbohydrates and the bacteria feeding on them die off.  Beneficial bacteria will replace them.  Certain probiotics can be taken to help repopulate with beneficial bacteria after the die off.  

After this, carbohydrates can be reintroduced slowly.  With a rested and repaired digestive system and altered intestinal flora, the body is better able to cope with the carbs.

Allowing the intestines time to heal is essential.  Providing the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed for repair by supplementing is beneficial while the digestive system heals.  

Yes, it can be a big mental change from thinking about eating for taste bud delight to thinking about eating for health.  

  • 2 months later...
Rogol72 Collaborator
On 8/4/2022 at 6:25 PM, knitty kitty said:

@Ginger38,

I had to make a mental adjustment with Celiac Disease.  I had to learn how to eat to live, not live to eat.  

Hippocrates: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

The AIP diet is a bit sparse without carbohydrates from grains and starchy vegetables, but removing those gives the digestive system a rest from dealing with irritating plant lectins and glycoalkaloids that can cause continuing inflammation and Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is thought to be a factor in Celiac Disease activation.  (Gluten is able to slip through the leaking gut and travel in the circulatory system causing an autoimmune response.)  Cutting down on those carbohydrates also starves out "bad" bacteria in the gut.  These "bad" bacteria ferment undigested starches which can result in bloating, brain fog, and diarrhea or constipation and can spread from the large intestine where they belong into the small intestine where they are not supposed to be.  This is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  Take away the carbohydrates and the bacteria feeding on them die off.  Beneficial bacteria will replace them.  Certain probiotics can be taken to help repopulate with beneficial bacteria after the die off.  

After this, carbohydrates can be reintroduced slowly.  With a rested and repaired digestive system and altered intestinal flora, the body is better able to cope with the carbs.

Allowing the intestines time to heal is essential.  Providing the nutrients, vitamins and minerals needed for repair by supplementing is beneficial while the digestive system heals.  

Yes, it can be a big mental change from thinking about eating for taste bud delight to thinking about eating for health.  

How long did it take you to heal on the AIP diet? Were you ever able to introduce nightshades? I tried potato salad this week, it was a very unpleasant experience. 

knitty kitty Grand Master
1 hour ago, Rogol72 said:

How long did it take you to heal on the AIP diet? Were you ever able to introduce nightshades? I tried potato salad this week, it was a very unpleasant experience. 

I had some bumps along the way, and severe nutritional deficiencies that needed attention and time to correct.  It wasn't a straight progression.  Some days it felt like "two steps forward and one step back", but I kept at it. Everyone is different. 

The longer I was on the AIP diet, the more my body "relaxed".  The inflammation left, the anxiety left.  I had to resist adding things back into my diet too quickly or too close together because I didn't want that inflammation back.  

I've tried adding nightshades back at various times.  Cherry tomatoes on a salad occasionally  are okay now, but spaghetti sauce is very scary.  So is eggplant.  Frozen or drive through French fries are a no go, but a baked potato is okay once in a while (no butter, no sour cream).  Peppers are not a good idea either.  I can do without jalapeno spicy.  

Oh, stay away from high fructose corn syrup.  Recently read an study from NIH that reported HFCS promotes SIBO by providing a substrate for bacteria to grow into the small intestine.  Really creepy.  

Mustard has been a problem for me.  Some potato salad has mustard in it.  Some has wheat added if you're buying prepared potato salad, so read the label.

Keep at it!  It will get better!

 

Rogol72 Collaborator
3 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

I had some bumps along the way, and severe nutritional deficiencies that needed attention and time to correct.  It wasn't a straight progression.  Some days it felt like "two steps forward and one step back", but I kept at it. Everyone is different. 

The longer I was on the AIP diet, the more my body "relaxed".  The inflammation left, the anxiety left.  I had to resist adding things back into my diet too quickly or too close together because I didn't want that inflammation back.  

I've tried adding nightshades back at various times.  Cherry tomatoes on a salad occasionally  are okay now, but spaghetti sauce is very scary.  So is eggplant.  Frozen or drive through French fries are a no go, but a baked potato is okay once in a while (no butter, no sour cream).  Peppers are not a good idea either.  I can do without jalapeno spicy.  

Oh, stay away from high fructose corn syrup.  Recently read an study from NIH that reported HFCS promotes SIBO by providing a substrate for bacteria to grow into the small intestine.  Really creepy.  

Mustard has been a problem for me.  Some potato salad has mustard in it.  Some has wheat added if you're buying prepared potato salad, so read the label.

Keep at it!  It will get better!

 

Thanks for this! I was curious about other people's experience on AIP and yours sounds all too familiar to me. It was homemade potato salad with new potatoes (skins on and chopped) and Hellman's Mayonnaise which contains paprika extract. I've read that the skins on potatoes have the most alkaloids. Nightshades are just as evil if not more than gluten! They send me into a funk for a whole day after consumption. I had been doing great and have had some bumps recently that are really frustrating ... tamping down inflammation is the key. I have noticed that mustard in store made potato salad is problematic also. Mayonnaise I believe has HFCS. Thanks again.

Rogol72 Collaborator

@knitty kitty, One other question, I also tried some bacon rashers two days in a row for breakfast. Between watching histamine foods, avoiding excess iodine and not being able to handle gluten-free oats, it's hard to find something filling to eat for breakfast! Here's the ingredients ... 

Irish Pork (88%), Water, Salt, Preservatives (Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite), Antioxidant (Sodium Ascorbate)

Can the nitrates and nitrites cause similar problems as alkaloids? It was a scary trip of agitation and anxiety that lasted two days.

knitty kitty Grand Master

I have problems with nitrates and nitrites.  Celiac people seem to produce more nitrites as part of the inflammation process anyway, so adding dietary nitrates and nitrites add to the load our bodies must cope with.

I usually get severe migraines after nitrite and nitrate exposure. 

Vitamin C is helpful.  Sodium ascorbate in the list of ingredients is Vitamin C.  

I found an article that explains more.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-nitrates-and-nitrites-harmful

 

Breakfast is a meal.  Think outside the box.  You can have other foods for breakfast.  You're not limited to bacon and eggs and oatmeal.

With Celiac Disease, you have carte blanche to eat hamburgers or steak for breakfast.  Whatever works for you.

There's the old adage...

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince or princess, and dine like a pauper.  

This philosophy fits in with fasting.  Fasting in the evening and overnight has been helpful for some Celiacs.  

You're doing great!  

Rogol72 Collaborator
44 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

I have problems with nitrates and nitrites.  Celiac people seem to produce more nitrites as part of the inflammation process anyway, so adding dietary nitrates and nitrites add to the load our bodies must cope with.

I usually get severe migraines after nitrite and nitrate exposure. 

Vitamin C is helpful.  Sodium ascorbate in the list of ingredients is Vitamin C.  

I found an article that explains more.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-nitrates-and-nitrites-harmful

 

Breakfast is a meal.  Think outside the box.  You can have other foods for breakfast.  You're not limited to bacon and eggs and oatmeal.

With Celiac Disease, you have carte blanche to eat hamburgers or steak for breakfast.  Whatever works for you.

There's the old adage...

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince or princess, and dine like a pauper.  

This philosophy fits in with fasting.  Fasting in the evening and overnight has been helpful for some Celiacs.  

You're doing great!  

I've heard that adage before and it is true!! Thank you so much for the encouraging words. It's been a very frustrating week. I've been eating Beetroot and Radishes every evening in a salad which are high nitrate foods ... so I guess the nitrate load caught up with me, I'll try something else.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,198
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Jamie0230
    Newest Member
    Jamie0230
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Clearly from what you've said the info on Dailymed is much more up to date than the other site, which hasn't been updated since 2017. The fact that some companies might be repackaging drugs does not mean the info on the ingredients is not correct.
    • RMJ
      To evaluate the TTG antibody result we’d need to know the normal range for that lab.  Labs don’t all use the same units.  However, based on any normal ranges that I’ve seen and the listed result being greater than a number rather than a specific number, I’d say yes, that is high! Higher than the range where the test can give a quantitative result. You got good advice not to change your diet yet.  If you went gluten free your intestines would start to heal, confusing any further testing,
    • Bev in Milw
      Scott is correct….Thank you for catching that!      Direct link for info  of fillers.    http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/Excipients.htm Link is on 2nd page  of www.glutenfreedrugs.com   Site was started by a pharmacist (or 2) maybe 15-20 yrs ago with LAST updated in  2017.  This makes it’s Drug List so old that it’s no longer relevant. Companies & contacts, along with suppliers &  sources would need to be referenced, same amount effort  as starting with current data on DailyMed      That being said, Excipient List is still be relevant since major changes to product labeling occurred prior ’17.           List is the dictionary that sources the ‘foreign-to-us’ terms used on pharmaceutical labels, terms we need to rule out gluten.    Note on DailyMed INFO— When you look for a specific drug on DailyMed, notice that nearly all of companies (brands/labels) are flagged as a ‘Repackager’… This would seem to suggest the actual ‘pills’ are being mass produced by a limited number of wholesaler suppliers (esp for older meds out of  patent protection.).      If so, multiple repackager-get  bulk shipments  from same supplier will all  be selling identical meds —same formula/fillers. Others repackager-could be switching suppliers  frequently based on cost, or runs both gluten-free & non- items on same lines.  No way to know  without contacting company.     While some I know have  searched pharmacies chasing a specific brand, long-term  solution is to find (or teach) pharmacy staff who’s willing help.    When I got 1st Rx ~8 years ago, I went to Walgreens & said I needed gluten-free.  Walked  out when pharmacist said  ‘How am I supposed  to know…’  (ar least he as honest… ). Walmart pharmacists down the block were ‘No problem!’—Once, they wouldn’t release my Rx, still waiting on gluten-free status from a new supplier. Re: Timeliness of DailyMed info?   A serendipitous conversation with cousin in Mi was unexpectedly reassuring.  She works in office of Perrigo, major products of OTC meds (was 1st to add gluten-free labels).  I TOTALLY lucked out when I asked about her job: “TODAY I trained a new full-time employee to make entries to Daily Med.’  Task had grown to hours a day, time she needed for tasks that couldn’t be delegated….We can only hope majorities of companies are as  conscientious!   For the Newbies…. SOLE  purpose of  fillers (possible gluten) in meds is to  hold the active ingredients together in a doseable form.  Drugs  given by injection or as IV are always gluten-free!  (Sometimes drs can do antibiotics w/ one-time injection rather than 7-10 days of  pills .) Liquid meds (typically for kids)—still read labels, but  could be an a simpler option for some products…
    • Ginger38
      So I recently had allergy testing for IGE antibodies in response to foods. My test results came back positive to corn, white potatoes, egg whites. Tomatoes, almonds and peanuts to name a few.  I have had obvious reactions to a few of these - particularly tomatoes and corn- both GI issues. I don’t really understand all this allergy versus celiac stuff. If the food allergies are mild do I have to avoid these foods entirely? I don’t know what I will eat if I can’t  have corn based gluten free products 
    • JForman
      We have four children (7-14 yo), and our 7 year old was diagnosed with NCGS (though all Celiac labs were positive, her scope at 4 years old was negative so docs in the US won't call it celiac). We have started her on a Gluten Free diet after 3 years of major digestive issues and ruling out just about everything under the sun. Our home and kitchen and myself are all gluten-free. But I have not asked my husband/her dad or her other siblings to go completely gluten-free with us. They are at home, but not out of the home. This has led to situations when we are eating out where she has to consistently see others eating things she can't have and she has begun to say "Well, I can't have <fill in the blank>...stupid gluten."  How have you supported your gluten-free kiddos in the mental health space of this journey, especially young ones like her. I know it's hard for me as an adult sometimes to miss out, so I can't imagine being 7 and dealing with it! Any tips or ideas to help with this? 
×
×
  • Create New...