Have Major Trouble With Legumes...

[Shannon27]

Hi all. I am new to the forum! This is such a great place. I'm so happy I found it.

I have not been diagnosed as celiac, however, grains containing gluten give me severe digestive pain, indigestion, and acid reflux (among other digestive troubles) and headaches. I also get recurrent ear and sinus infections, and have been doing a lot of research regarding gluten sensitivity and these types of infections. I am also autoimmune hypothyroid since age 16. These symptoms, along with ever-increasing anxiety, depression, fatigue, inability to lose weight, hypoglycemia, and so on, led me to find what was causing my ailments. I kept thinking, "I am only 27; I shouldn't be this sick."

I did a stool test and it was positive (including the gluten sensitivity genetic markers), but blood work was negative. I haven't had a biopsy because I just "know" that many grains are not good for my body. I don't need a biopsy to tell me that.

In any event, my doctor recommended additional fiber in the form of lentils, beans, etc. (even though I'm never constipated; I have diarrhea more often than constipation). I love legumes. However, these too give me terrible indigestion and heartburn. They also give me diarrhea. I wasn't under the impression that people had this much of an issue with legumes. I also cannot tolerate peanuts or soy (again, legumes). I get what I call "fire in my belly" when I eat wheat, oats (oh my gosh, I think oatmeal is the worst offender), and legumes.

Do you all think this will go away after I have been gluten-free for awhile? Has anyone else had this experience? I have only been gluten-free for a few days (since I got the results of the stool test). In these few days, I have had NO heartburn except the one time I had lentil soup. I used to take Pepcid every night before bed and sometimes during the day. Now I don't have to...even in a few days. (I hope my other symptoms respond as well to being gluten-free as my digestion system).

Sorry to be verbose; I am just a little confused about this. I don't know if I really am intolerant to legumes or if it's a side-effect of the gluten intolerance.

Thanks for any advice.

Shannon

[AndreaB]

I'm allergic to soy, kidney and navy beans. Husband to pinto beans.

Don't know about the others.

[lindalee]

I' m on a healing diet--no beans. I used to eat kidney beans on my salad almost daily. LL

[Shannon27]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

I went to the doctor today. She is the "typical" doctor who trusts blood work. My celiac panel was negative, so she says I don't have a gluten intolerance. My stool test was positive, but she doesn't recognize that. In any event, I have been having a lot of indigestion and stomach pain...but usually only when I eat gluten or legumes (and some fruits). If I eat potatoes, I'm fine. Same with rice. And even corn. I am supposed to have a nuclear scan next week to check the ducts of my gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. She thinks my pain and "issues" are coming from there. After that, I have to have an endoscope to see if I have any ulcers. I know my body and my body doesn't do well at all with certain things. But she's under the impression that it's because of something other than food intolerances. I will do the tests because I have had a few 5-6 hours long bouts of severe upper abdominal pain and I am concerned about my gallbladder. But I just wish she would listen to me. After all these tests are done, I think I'm going to find a new doctor.

Shannon

[Ursa Major]

Hi Shannon, and welcome to this board. You're right to trust the stool tests more than the bloodwork, as the stool tests are much more sensitive than the blood work. If your stool tests say you're gluten intolerant, then you are. You have an ignorant doctor, and I'm glad you're going to find another one.

People with celiac disease have a high rate of gallbladder problems. If you do a search on 'gallbladder' here, you'll likely find a post from a few months ago. We found that an awful lot of people here had their gallbladder removed before they were even 40!

As to the legume problem, I have that as well. It may or may not go away within a couple of years off gluten. Grains and legumes (as well as eggs, dairy and nightshades) contain high levels of lectin, which can be a problem. I am intolerant to them all. Most people who have a problem with lectins would only be intolerant to one of two over the long run.

To find out more, follow my lectin link in my signature.

If some of your issues are connected to gallbladder, liver and pancreas, you need to understand, that gluten can be the underlying cause of all of those, not the other way around. Gluten intolerance can wreak havoc with your body, and can cause many other autoimmune illnesses, including allergies and other intolerances.

Don't let her confuse you, you know what you know, and I am sure you're right. You know for a fact that you feel so much better off gluten. Stay off it! You've found the cause of your troubles, congratulations, I hope you'll keep improving.

[Shannon27]

Hi Shannon, and welcome to this board. You're right to trust the stool tests more than the bloodwork, as the stool tests are much more sensitive than the blood work. If your stool tests say you're gluten intolerant, then you are. You have an ignorant doctor, and I'm glad you're going to find another one.

People with celiac disease have a high rate of gallbladder problems. If you do a search on 'gallbladder' here, you'll likely find a post from a few months ago. We found that an awful lot of people here had their gallbladder removed before they were even 40!

As to the legume problem, I have that as well. It may or may not go away within a couple of years off gluten. Grains and legumes (as well as eggs, dairy and nightshades) contain high levels of lectin, which can be a problem. I am intolerant to them all. Most people who have a problem with lectins would only be intolerant to one of two over the long run.

To find out more, follow my lectin link in my signature.

If some of your issues are connected to gallbladder, liver and pancreas, you need to understand, that gluten can be the underlying cause of all of those, not the other way around. Gluten intolerance can wreak havoc with your body, and can cause many other autoimmune illnesses, including allergies and other intolerances.

Don't let her confuse you, you know what you know, and I am sure you're right. You know for a fact that you feel so much better off gluten. Stay off it! You've found the cause of your troubles, congratulations, I hope you'll keep improving.

Ursula,

Thank you so much for your response. I believe what you say, completely. I do believe it is the gluten that is causing everything from my Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism to fatigue to inability to lose weight to abdominal pain and indigestion to hypoglycemia. I have been looking for my answer for years. I was eating raisin bran, wondering all the while why something so "healthy" was giving me terrible heartburn, diarrhea, and keeping me fat. Then, of course, doctors want to give you acid reducers so you can eat such healthy foods. I am amazed that doctors are still considered so knowledgeable. I respect them, but wonder what their profession is coming to. I guess I am just a little emotional and irritated today. I KNOW how I feel when I do and don't eat gluten. I know my body.

I have read a few of your posts on here and you seem like such a caring person. I am so glad that you, as well as others, are so knowledgeable and caring.

With regard to lectins, I have a major problem with gluten and legumes, but not the eggs, dairy, or nightshades. So this is normal? (Then again, in thinking about it, I have severe stomach problems with gluten and legumes; who knows if the other foods are contributing to anything else...I plan to do an elimination diet soon).

I have searched and searched for an answer. At 27 years of age, I have way too many health issues. I'm sick all the time. Each day I drag myself out of bed because I have to go out and make money so that I can pay bills. Each day is harder and harder because I am so tired that I can hardly make myself get up. Yet I do. I have been taking medication for anxiety and depression for eight or nine months now. I have been anxious and depressed far longer than that. I notice no difference. Really, none. I am really praying a big weight will be lifted off of my shoulders. Because, right now, I could really use that. I am 27. I keep thinking about my mom. She was just four years older than me when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. And she was just 36 when she died. It's one thing to miss her because she's gone; it's another thing to fear that your fate might be similar with how ill you always feel.

Anyway, I have written enough for now. Thank you for listening.

Shannon

[jerseyangel]

Hi Shannon and welcome to the board You're right to listen to your body! If those foods bother you, and you feel better off them--do so! Ursula is very knowledgeable about food intolerance--she's lived it and lucky for us has shared all she's learned. I also am intolerant to legumes. It is not uncommon in people with autoimmune disease. Most people are not sensitive to all lectins--the best way to find out which cause you problems is to keep a food journal. I did this while doing an elimination diet--that's how I finally arrived at my intolerances (listed in my signature). Good luck!

[AndreaB]

I'm so sorry Shannon. That must have been very difficult for you.

I'm glad you have found out about the importance of going gluten free. Continue to find your trigger foods, you know what is going on with your body and it's reactions than your doctor.

[Shannon27]

Hi Shannon and welcome to the board You're right to listen to your body! If those foods bother you, and you feel better off them--do so! Ursula is very knowledgeable about food intolerance--she's lived it and lucky for us has shared all she's learned. I also am intolerant to legumes. It is not uncommon in people with autoimmune disease. Most people are not sensitive to all lectins--the best way to find out which cause you problems is to keep a food journal. I did this while doing an elimination diet--that's how I finally arrived at my intolerances (listed in my signature). Good luck!

Patti,

I am so glad it's not just me that can't tolerate some of these things. I think I have been so sick for so long that I can't even fathom what it feels like to be well. I will continue on my way with a gluten-free diet. I am also an emotional eater, so I have to try to keep myself very logical about eating properly. I get down on myself for my weight, but truth be told, even when following weight loss plans faithfully, I never lost much weight. I pray I've found my answer now.

Thanks for the advice to keep a food journal. I will do that. I plan on doing an elimination diet because I suspect other intolerances.

Shannon

I'm so sorry Shannon. That must have been very difficult for you.

I'm glad you have found out about the importance of going gluten free. Continue to find your trigger foods, you know what is going on with your body and it's reactions than your doctor.

Thank you for your kind words, Andrea. By the way, that is a beautiful picture!

[Guest BERNESES]

Welcome Shannon!!! I am intolerant of legumes too (miss my peanut butter!) and am in the process of trying to figure out if eggs or dairy are a problem. I'm pretty sure I'm OK with night shades.

Viola, another board member, mentioned that sometimes after you heal, you may be able to tolerate these foods, but it takes a VERY long time. I dream of eating Reese's pb cups again some day!!!!!

[AndreaB]

I am also an emotional eater, so I have to try to keep myself very logical about eating properly.

I know what you mean. I was informed by friends when I was in high school that I would always buy candy when I was upset.

[bluejeangirl]

Shannon, I sorry to hear what happened to your mom and your health problems also. I just read this today in the book Breaking The Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall.

She was just talking about the "Gold Standard" of testing for celiac and so many people are told they don't have celiac because not all the critteria was met.

"However this method of diagnosis has been seriously questioned by a number of specialists. The flattened or blunted intestinal surface has been reported in innumerable disease states: infectious hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, parasitic infections of the intestine including various types of worms and one-celled parasites, kwashiorkor, soy protein intolerance, intolerance to cow's milk protein intractable diarrhea of infancy, Crohn's disease, and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine has also resulted in patchy broadening and flattening of the small intestinal surface,"

Just about all conditions associated with diarrhea seem to result in the same apperance of the small intestine as is seen in the so called "true celiac.

Your probably going to find you'll do better gluten free but also has to stay away from other foods that just hard to digest like beans. Flattened intestinal villi or absorptive cells have lost their ability to perform the last step in digestion which is to split disaccharides. Disaccharides are most starches.

This book might be something you'll find interesting. There is hope. She claims we can heal those intestines and start to incorporate foods back in our diet.

Good luck and may God give those doctors wisdom. Alot of us do our own research as you'll find out by reading this board.

gail

[Ursa Major]

"However this method of diagnosis has been seriously questioned by a number of specialists. The flattened or blunted intestinal surface has been reported in innumerable disease states: infectious hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, parasitic infections of the intestine including various types of worms and one-celled parasites, kwashiorkor, soy protein intolerance, intolerance to cow's milk protein intractable diarrhea of infancy, Crohn's disease, and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine has also resulted in patchy broadening and flattening of the small intestinal surface,"

Just about all conditions associated with diarrhea seem to result in the same apperance of the small intestine as is seen in the so called "true celiac.

Wow, Gail, I've never heard that. I heard that soy intolerance will cause blunting of the villi as well, but not all those other things. If it's true, then the biopsy is a sham for diagnosing celiac disease! Good thing I didn't have one.

I should buy that book, it sounds very interesting. Amazing, how I learn something new every day.

[Guest BERNESES]

Wow- thanks for telling us!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER knew that- I've heard great things about her and the book.

[Shannon27]

Welcome Shannon!!! I am intolerant of legumes too (miss my peanut butter!) and am in the process of trying to figure out if eggs or dairy are a problem. I'm pretty sure I'm OK with night shades.

Viola, another board member, mentioned that sometimes after you heal, you may be able to tolerate these foods, but it takes a VERY long time. I dream of eating Reese's pb cups again some day!!!!!

BERNESES -- I am glad to know that many of us share similar intolerances. Sometimes I just get a craving for black beans and rice. But they cause so much distress that I am never going to eat them until I'm sure that I've healed. Right now it seems like the only safe foods for me are brown rice, vegetables, potatoes, fish, and chicken. So that's what I'll eat. Even fruits cause me some indigestion and heartburn.

What are you doing to figure out if eggs or dairy are the problem? Do you stop eating them for awhile and reintroduce them? If so, how long do you stop eating them? The reason I'm asking is that when I had my Enterolab tests, I had a score of 9 for eggs and positive is 10. So, I am apparently negative, but who knows? Once I get used to the gluten-free life, I will likely do other eliminations.

Shannon, I sorry to hear what happened to your mom and your health problems also. I just read this today in the book Breaking The Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall.

She was just talking about the "Gold Standard" of testing for celiac and so many people are told they don't have celiac because not all the critteria was met.

"However this method of diagnosis has been seriously questioned by a number of specialists. The flattened or blunted intestinal surface has been reported in innumerable disease states: infectious hepatitis, ulcerative colitis, parasitic infections of the intestine including various types of worms and one-celled parasites, kwashiorkor, soy protein intolerance, intolerance to cow's milk protein intractable diarrhea of infancy, Crohn's disease, and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine has also resulted in patchy broadening and flattening of the small intestinal surface,"

Just about all conditions associated with diarrhea seem to result in the same apperance of the small intestine as is seen in the so called "true celiac.

Your probably going to find you'll do better gluten free but also has to stay away from other foods that just hard to digest like beans. Flattened intestinal villi or absorptive cells have lost their ability to perform the last step in digestion which is to split disaccharides. Disaccharides are most starches.

This book might be something you'll find interesting. There is hope. She claims we can heal those intestines and start to incorporate foods back in our diet.

Good luck and may God give those doctors wisdom. Alot of us do our own research as you'll find out by reading this board.

gail

Wow, Gail, thanks for the information. I didn't know this. I am going to get that book. It sounds very interesting. I have heard of the author; I am not sure from where, but I have definitely heard of her.

[rinne]

Welcome Shannon, yes this is a wonderful place and I am glad you found it. It sounds to me like you have a very clear sense of your body and what it needs, I think that is a major step forward in healing.

I was always round and considered myself an emotional eater but since I have gone gluten, dairy and egg free I no longer find that that is the case. It almost seems now that I was eating to distract myself from the discomfort I was in, I know that doesn't make any sense but that is the way it feels.

[Guest BERNESES]

BERNESES --

What are you doing to figure out if eggs or dairy are the problem? Do you stop eating them for awhile and reintroduce them? If so, how long do you stop eating them? The reason I'm asking is that when I had my Enterolab tests, I had a score of 9 for eggs and positive is 10. So, I am apparently negative, but who knows? Once I get used to the gluten-free life, I will likely do other eliminations.

Wow, Gail, thanks for the information. I didn't know this. I am going to get that book. It sounds very interesting. I have heard of the author; I am not sure from where, but I have definitely heard of her.

Uhmm... well, currently in dairy denial. I mean, about it being a potential problem. BECAUSE I LOVE CHEESE! I could give up any other dairy, but gosh, would I miss cheese.

As far as eggs for, I don't eat them very much (like once a week) but when I do I get smelly gas. I actually just had a thought today that tomatoes might be a problem for me too.

Once I recover from my recent glutening, I'll cut them out for 2 weeks and then try them once. Wait three days and see if I have any symptoms. If I do, then no eggs for two weeks and do the tomato attempt. I think that's how it goes, but if anyone knows better, let me know.

[Shannon27]

Welcome Shannon, yes this is a wonderful place and I am glad you found it. It sounds to me like you have a very clear sense of your body and what it needs, I think that is a major step forward in healing.

I was always round and considered myself an emotional eater but since I have gone gluten, dairy and egg free I no longer find that that is the case. It almost seems now that I was eating to distract myself from the discomfort I was in, I know that doesn't make any sense but that is the way it feels.

Rinne,

I can definitely see what you mean. I DO think I eat emotionally to distract myself from how I feel. I mean, when you've got this bloated, distended stomach, why not eat more? At least that's how I often feel. I am quite overweight and need to lose lots of weight. I believe going gluten free WILL help because it's harder to get the refined and processed foods. And, truth be told, I haven't really found many gluten-free processed foods that I like yet. I was just a huge bread-eater. I ate so much bread. And I haven't really started experimenting with gluten-free breads yet. I don't like that they're so dense. So I have to work on baking my own to see if I like them. Overall, though, I'm eating much healthier, which I'm sure will translate to weight loss.

Uhmm... well, currently in dairy denial. I mean, about it being a potential problem. BECAUSE I LOVE CHEESE! I could give up any other dairy, but gosh, would I miss cheese.

As far as eggs for, I don't eat them very much (like once a week) but when I do I get smelly gas. I actually just had a thought today that tomatoes might be a problem for me too.

Once I recover from my recent glutening, I'll cut them out for 2 weeks and then try them once. Wait three days and see if I have any symptoms. If I do, then no eggs for two weeks and do the tomato attempt. I think that's how it goes, but if anyone knows better, let me know.

Oh my gosh. YES. Cheese is the only thing that I would have a heard time giving up. Other than that, no big deal, but I LOVE cheese!! Any kind of cheese is fine with me. I really love raw milk sharp cheddar. But any kind is wonderful, so I understand!

[oceangirl]

Rinne,

I can definitely see what you mean. I DO think I eat emotionally to distract myself from how I feel. I mean, when you've got this bloated, distended stomach, why not eat more? At least that's how I often feel. I am quite overweight and need to lose lots of weight. I believe going gluten free WILL help because it's harder to get the refined and processed foods. And, truth be told, I haven't really found many gluten-free processed foods that I like yet. I was just a huge bread-eater. I ate so much bread. And I haven't really started experimenting with gluten-free breads yet. I don't like that they're so dense. So I have to work on baking my own to see if I like them. Overall, though, I'm eating much healthier, which I'm sure will translate to weight loss.

Oh my gosh. YES. Cheese is the only thing that I would have a heard time giving up. Other than that, no big deal, but I LOVE cheese!! Any kind of cheese is fine with me. I really love raw milk sharp cheddar. But any kind is wonderful, so I understand!

Hi, Shannon.

I am sorry for your loss and that you've been having such a hard time. I, too, cannot tolerate any legumes and have NEVER been able to- they just don't digest! So I just never eat them. It's interesting that Ursula mentions maybe people can tolerate one or two- I've never considered that. All beans just seem to bother me, but I do love them! I am planning to send my gastroenterologist a copy of my Enterolab results with a letter urging he and his colleagues to push for more research in the field of gluten intolerance because, clearly, there is MUCH they don't know! Also, Elaine Gottschall's book "Breaking the Viscious Cycle" is a good, quick read- and it's available in paperback. "Dangerous Grains" is another I urge people to read. I hope you begin to get some relief very soon. Take care.

lisa