How Many Of You Had Chronic Constipation As A Celiac Symptom?

[Lymetoo]

I'm still trying to get this all figured out. I will probably order the Entero-lab test kits next week. Not willing to do a challenge.

But I've had several people tell me I couldn't have celiac unless I have chronic diarrhea. From what I've read here, that's not true.

It would help me to know how many of you had C as a theme ? Is it really prevalent??

Thanks!!!!

[celiacgirls]

You can definitely have at least a gluten intolerance and C. I had that for years but never connected it to celiac disease. Neither of my daughters had D.

[rinne]

Me too, C has always been my issue. The only time I ever had D was when I had a migraine headache.

I have read that typically, it is true, D is the issue but that all Celiacs end up with constant D even if they start out with C, that would be if it was not diagnosed before the D started.

[marciab]

Me too. I was diagnosed with IBS with Constipation dominant. I would have "D" on a regular basis too, but since it was a relief from the "C", it didn't bother me as much. It was always a good thing.

[Lymetoo]

I would have "D" on a regular basis too, but since it was a relief from the "C", it didn't bother me as much. It was always a good thing.

I hear ya!!!!

Thanks to all....hope to hear from others as well.

[BRUMI1968]

My understanding is about 30% of those with ceiac suffer constipation. I know I did. I only ever got D when I had food poisoning or something. 34 years of virtually constant constipation. Yahoo.

Also, I think those with C are less likely to be underweight than those with D, though I do realize that not all with D are underweight either.

Anyway, good luck.

[jenvan]

I'm still trying to get this all figured out. I will probably order the Entero-lab test kits next week. Not willing to do a challenge.

But I've had several people tell me I couldn't have celiac unless I have chronic diarrhea. From what I've read here, that's not true.

It would help me to know how many of you had C as a theme ? Is it really prevalent??

Thanks!!!!

You are right, that isn't true. Unfortunately many doctors etc. still operate out of this old Celiac paradigm based only on D. I had constipation almost entirely...accompained by occasional D. You can have either or a combination. There is no "right or wrong" when it comes to celiac disease. There are many of us here who had C.

[jabberwife]

I have not yet received my "official" diagnosis from Enterolab yet, but I too am a chronic C girl. That and gas, bloating, then alternating D. It was a vicious cycle that my body is still going through (I'm about 3 weeks into the gluten-free diet and did a challenge last week--there went the D!!! so I feel I'm definitely intolerant). The only time prior to going gluten-free I would get stressed. That started happening about 1 1/2 years ago--when I took a stressful job--and would be almost immediately after a meal at times...then there would be a week where I wouldn't go at all. Talk about irritating!

[Paigie]

I haven't been dx'd yet, I go for the biopsy next week. If it comes back positive for celiac I will be one of those who have chronic constipation and weight gain.

[munchkinette]

I've had problems with C my whole life. It is definitely better now. I have to take colace because I'm taking iron pills, but I noticed improvement anyway. I was definitely having problems with C last week when I got glutened.

[eeyor-fan]

I'm still trying to get this all figured out. I will probably order the Entero-lab test kits next week. Not willing to do a challenge.

But I've had several people tell me I couldn't have celiac unless I have chronic diarrhea. From what I've read here, that's not true.

It would help me to know how many of you had C as a theme ? Is it really prevalent??

Thanks!!!!

I've been constipated for years and even had a prolapse beginning of this year and I'm celiac. One thing I've learned--- Celiacs all have different symptoms and we all come in different shaqpes and sizes. You don't have to have the runs (sorry) and weigh 90lbs to have Celiac. I've met a few other Celiacs and no 2 were the same.

Hugs

Bridget

[wolfie]

Me! I had mostly C with some D if I ate certain foods. Drs said it was IBS and to eat more WHOLE GRAINS and fiber. That made it worse, go figure?!? Finally this year my nutritionist asked if I had been tested for Celiac....thank God for her!

Our Ped tried to tell us that unless DS had D then it was unlikely he had Celiac b/c he was in the 75th percentile and thriving. He was wrong, he has been diagnosed by biopsy. He also had C as a symptom on occasion.

[Lymetoo]

Thanks for the replies. I should have also asked how many of you with C problems were also celiac, not gluten intolerant........or is there a difference??

Some of you I could tell by your signature.

Thanks again.

[munchkinette]

This thread reminds me- my gran had "wheat problems" at my age, but they told her she grew out of it. Her mother died of colon cancer and I think many of my gran's problems were related to her "wheat problems".

Anyway, my gran was constantly asking us if we'd had a BM that day. I can remember her asking that since I was a kid. My mother and uncle remember it from a young age, too. It has become the running joke in our family. Anytime someone stubs a toe or has a headache, one of us will ask, "Well did you have a BM today?" just like my gran used to. It was obviously an important health issue for her.

[jenvan]

Thanks for the replies. I should have also asked how many of you with C problems were also celiac, not gluten intolerant........or is there a difference??

Some of you I could tell by your signature.

Thanks again.

Most of us here have Celiac. This article on the Widening Spectrum of Celiac, talks about one doctor with 20% of patients having constipation, not D. Open Original Shared Link

Also read this quote from the Gluten Intolerance Group site: "Physicians may not be aware that celiac disease frequently presents with other symptoms, some that do not involve the small intestine. More often, symptoms can include constipation, constipation alternating with diarrhea, or premature osteoporosis."

Open Original Shared Link

[Paigie]

Most of us here have Celiac. This article on the Widening Spectrum of Celiac, talks about one doctor with 20% of patients having constipation, not D. Open Original Shared Link

Also read this quote from the Gluten Intolerance Group site: "Physicians may not be aware that celiac disease frequently presents with other symptoms, some that do not involve the small intestine. More often, symptoms can include constipation, constipation alternating with diarrhea, or premature osteoporosis."

Open Original Shared Link

Jen,

Thank you for posting the links. I found this from the first link and it really helped in my understanding:

"The degree or type of symptoms that a person with celiac disease presents with

does NOT depend on the severity of the disease where you take the

biopsy. In celiac disease the damage starts in the intestine just after the

stomach and works its way down. The small intestine is about 26 feet

long and has a tremendous ability to compensate. So if the damage is

mostly near the stomach (which is where biopsies are done) then you

may never have diarrhea; the rest of the small intestine can

compensate and absorb all the liquid and food that passes by the first

few damaged feet.

When somebody presents with severe diarrhea and wasting, that means

most of the small intestine is damaged and it is not able to

compensate for the damage closer to the stomach. So it is the amount

of the small intestine that is damaged which determines the symptoms.

If you have all of the small intestine damaged you'll have diarrhea and

weight loss. If only a small portion of the small intestine is

damaged, you may have pain, bloating, and discomfort after eating but

not diarrhea."

[Ursa Major]

I've had alternating C and D all my life. Only last summer, when I tried a colon cleanse, did I end up with chronic D that lasted for six months. But even though everything I ate those entire six months went right through me, undigested, I STILL gained weight! I couldn't believe it.

The day after eliminating gluten the D stopped.

Now, if I get glutened, I will have C for a week, and then one or two days of D and feeling really lousy.

[Nic]

My 5 year old son's only symptom was constipation. And it was severe. But he has always been in the 95th to 97th percentile for height and weight. He was diagnosed with Celiac a year ago. It took him about 3 months to see any improvement after going gluten-free. My father is Celiac but D was his symptom. He was extremely underweight and saw improvement withing weeks of going gluten-free.

[Lymetoo]

Paigie....Thanks so much for that information. That explains ALOT!!!!

Ursula.....I started doing colon cleanses in late January, then had some colonics beginning in April. [Trying to clear yeast problems once and for all. The diarrhea started in early May.

Also....went out to eat a business function and tried my best to avoid the obvious bad foods, but I think I DID get glutened. I've been rather miserable since then and after one week of C, have been having D again.

Looking forward to my colonoscopy Tuesday...NOT

[Vladimir Gluten]

That would describe me. Whenever I had regular pasta you could just about guarantee it.

Gluten-Free, no problems.

[Nic]

If you have been glutened, how long does the syptoms last afterwards? I have been challenging my son for lactose intolerance and have seen great improvement for the past 2 weeks. Last night I ordered pizza and a salad (he was eating gluten-free pizza I made) and it was from a new place that uses croutons on their salads (which I did not know). Before I could tell him not to eat the salad, he grabbed a piece of salami right off the top which is where the croutons had been. He usually doesn't even eat the salad let alone the salami off the top. Anyway, he is struggling again today (a bit constipated) for the first time in 2 weeks. How long does this last after being glutened? I don't think this has happened to us before.

Nicole

[Vladimir Gluten]

Vladimir Gluten,

In the backround of your picture it looks like you're here with me in Florida.... just curious where the pic was taken.

(sorry to go off topic)

That picture was taken in Virginia Beach. When I was younger, I lived in Florida. Right across the bay from Destin. But that was before Destin became the place it is now.

[Lymetoo]

Nic....I've been having symptoms after that meal since about an hour after eating....lasting still through today, Sunday.

Hope your son feels better soon!