Jump to content

  • 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

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

Lymetoo

Recommended Posts

Lymetoo Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted

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!!!! :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


celiacgirls Apprentice
celiacgirls
Posted

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 Apprentice
rinne
Posted

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 Enthusiast
marciab
Posted

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 Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted
  • Author
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 Collaborator
BRUMI1968
Posted

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 Collaborator
jenvan
Posted
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.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jabberwife Explorer
jabberwife
Posted

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 Newbie
Paigie
Posted

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 Collaborator
munchkinette
Posted

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 Contributor
eeyor-fan
Posted
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 Enthusiast
wolfie
Posted

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 Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted
  • Author

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 Collaborator
munchkinette
Posted

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 Collaborator
jenvan
Posted
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 Newbie
Paigie
Posted
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 Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

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 Collaborator
Nic
Posted

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 Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted
  • Author

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 :P

Vladimir Gluten Newbie
Vladimir Gluten
Posted

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

Gluten-Free, no problems.

Nic Collaborator
Nic
Posted

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 Newbie
Vladimir Gluten
Posted
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 Contributor
Lymetoo
Posted
  • Author

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!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,902
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Patty6133
    Newest Member
    Patty6133
    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

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.