The unsolved bloating mystery!

[Elisec4]

Hello! I was diagnosed with Celiac about 8 months ago and have been very strict gluten-free and DF since and still having bloating/distention that gets worse throughout the day until I look 6 months pregnant and very smelly gas and diarrhea/constipation. I have tried the following:

- SIBO test - negative

- Constipation med that made for even worse diarrhea

- low Fodmap diet - no change/made things worse

- pancreatic insufficiency test that said I had it - was on 2 different enzymes - neither did anything  - now the pancreatic doctor doesn’t think I have it

- 2nd endoscopy - small intestine looks healed up now

- colonoscopy - looked good

- CT scan - nothing notable except lots of stool built up in colon

—- side note: I also have osteoporosis at 27 years old - on bone building medications. I was also very low in many vitamins like b12 and low in calcium and iron - take supplements/b12 shots for this. 
 

Any thoughts on what else I could try or what else might be going on? Thank you in advance!!

[cristiana]

Hello Elisec4

I had bloating for some time after going gluten free, and from memory two things that really affected it were dairy and iron supplements.

The dairy bloating seemed to affect my lower left quadrant and so I was told to try going lactose free for about three weeks.  It definitely improved, but as we have a family history of osteoporosis I decided just to moderate my consumption of dairy.  I realise there are other ways to get calcium but I do love dairy!
 

The iron bloating affected my stomach, and back.  When I say stomach, I mean just the area under the sternum, and the pain would go round to the back.  At times it was quite bad, I felt I could hardly breathe!

It sounds as if you need to take iron but might be worth trying something a bit gentler - my doctor changed me over from fumerate to glyconate and that really helped with some other issues I was also experiencing.   Or taking the iron at a different time of the day might help.

Cristiana

 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Elisec4!

Are you still consuming oats? About 10% of celaics react to the oat protein avenin as they do gluten. And there are many other food intolerances that are possible. Corn, soy, eggs. It could be almost any food but it is common for celiacs to develop food intolerances in addition to gluten. I would suggest keeping a food diary to help you discern if this is happening with some other non-gluten food or foods.

Also, unless you have pernicious anemia (lacking "intrinisic factor" necessary for the absorption of B12 which is, in turn, necessary for the assimilation of iron) that you have only a B12 deficiency. The B vitamins act in concert. Typically, we recommend a high potency B-complex, 5k to 10k of D3, magnesium glycinate and zinc to new celiacs to correct the inevitable nutrient deficiencies that accompany long term, undiagnosed celiac disease. Make sure all vitamins and supplements are gluten free.

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum. This article may be helpful:

 

[knitty kitty]

@Elisec4,

Welcome to the forum!

Did your doctor bother to check your magnesium level?

Low magnesium levels can cause constipation.

Low magnesium levels can cause bloating.

Low magnesium levels can cause bone loss.

Low magnesium levels affect the parathyroid which in turn regulates insulin production in the pancreas resulting in pancreatic insufficiency.

Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Boron, and magnesium are needed to build strong bones in addition to calcium.

Sources to share with your doctor...

Magnesium deficiency: possible role in osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9116391/

And...

Parathyroid Hormone Suppresses Insulin Signaling in Adipocytes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2714196/

And...

Magnesium and the parathyroid

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12105390/

And...

Magnesium deficiency and increased inflammation: current perspectives

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5783146/

And...

Association of dietary magnesium intake with chronic constipation among US adults: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8645769/

And...

Evaluating the effect of magnesium and magnesium plus vitamin B6 supplement on the severity of premenstrual syndrome

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208934/

And...

Short-term oral magnesium supplementation suppresses bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporotic women

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19488681/

And...

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

Hope this helps!

[bklynjoe]

On 6/14/2023 at 7:15 AM, Elisec4 said:

Hello! I was diagnosed with Celiac about 8 months ago and have been very strict gluten-free and DF since and still having bloating/distention that gets worse throughout the day until I look 6 months pregnant and very smelly gas and diarrhea/constipation. I have tried the following:

- SIBO test - negative

- Constipation med that made for even worse diarrhea

- low Fodmap diet - no change/made things worse

- pancreatic insufficiency test that said I had it - was on 2 different enzymes - neither did anything  - now the pancreatic doctor doesn’t think I have it

- 2nd endoscopy - small intestine looks healed up now

- colonoscopy - looked good

- CT scan - nothing notable except lots of stool built up in colon

—- side note: I also have osteoporosis at 27 years old - on bone building medications. I was also very low in many vitamins like b12 and low in calcium and iron - take supplements/b12 shots for this. 
 

Any thoughts on what else I could try or what else might be going on? Thank you in advance!!

Double check all your soaps and shampoo are safe. Also stay at a restaurant's bakeries Walmart anywhere with food is cooked see if your getting contaminated

[bklynjoe]

Oh I forgot check the rice u eat. They are not all gluten free and some are in wheat contaminated  factories. 

[Wheatwacked]

What is your vitamin D blood plasma level?  Without enough vitamin D or calcium, your parathyroid glands compensate by producing too much of their hormone, a condition called hyperparathyroidism. That can lead to bone weakening (osteoporosis) and increased fracture risk.

How much choline are you eating? Eggs, liver, beef.  Low choline intake can cause pancreatic insufficiency and gall bladder disease symptoms.

Soluable fiber like inulin is good for your benificial gut bacteria and can reduce bloating.

To start with, lots of vitamin D (sunbath or supplement), choline (eggs, liver, beef or supplement), and B vitamins.

• Salmon
• This all-around nutritious fish is high in several B vitamins. In fact, a 3.5-ounce (oz), or 100-gram (g), cooked serving of salmon contains (3Trusted Source):
• Thiamine (B1): 23% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Riboflavin (B2): 37% of the DV
• Niacin (B3): 63% of the DV
• Pantothenic acid (B5): 38% of the DV
• Pyridoxine (B6): 56% of the DV
• Cobalamin (B12): 127% of the DV
• Additionally, salmon is a low mercury fish that is high in beneficial omega-3 fats, as well as protein and selenium

On 6/14/2023 at 7:15 AM, Elisec4 said:

pancreatic insufficiency

Choline reduces the carbohydrates transformed into fat.  Choline plays a significant role in boosting the health and function of the bladder, kidneys, liver and pancreas. 

Your poor results on low Fodmap makes sense because you already have low B vitamins driving you even further into deficiencies.

Good that SIBO is not an issue for you.  

Occurrence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in low Fodmap IBS