Can Anyone Shed Any Light On These Symptoms?

[henrietta]

Hi everyone, I found this site through a search and hope you can help me.

I've been ill on and off getting steadily worse for eight weeks.

It started when we bought a home bread maker, the bread was fabulous and immediately I noticed I had much less trouble going to the loo, as before I was often constipated.

i didn't eat any commercial bread again until one day I ate a sandwich and within half an hour was crippled with excruiating low down stomach pains and diahorrea, this pattern then happened time and time again over the following week. Thinking I had eaten something bad I fasted on water and acidophilus tablets for a few days, my tummy settled down and I carried on as normal.

Over the following weeks I became more and more restricted by frequent visits to the bathroom, sorry about this next bit but what I was producing looked fluffy, or floated and paler coloured. I ended up visitng there up to ten times a day..

Each time I managed to sort myself out and get rid of the problem by immodium but the last week or two I have become really tired and weak, and stopped eating anything much except lucozade and dry biscuits.

It's a great diet as I am overweight but obviously I can't live like this!

I gave in and went to the Dr, who did blood tests which show somewhere my body is fighting inflammation.

They then did an MRI of my liver and gallbladder which showed my one stone still the same size as it was 25 years ago and no abnormalities in the gall bladder, it filled ok etc.

I am still struggling with my day to day life.

If I eat anything much I get those awful pains plus the runs unless I take immodium..

The Dr has prescribed something called omeprazole whic seems to soothe my stomachenough to eat, but I feel uncomfortable most of the time and not hungry at all.

The troble seems to be quite a while after I eat as if the food passing through me is what hurts, once I have been to the loo I feel much better afterwards.

The last two weeks the diahorea has been bright yellow and nasty, but now has returned to normal again (for me that is!)

I am not keen on having that camera down my throat so the Dr has said try gluten free for a couple of weeks to see if that helps.

I feel as if they are stabbing at anything it might be with little success.

Do theses symptoms sound like celiac?

If so will I ever get back to normal eating or am I stuck with this for life.....

many thanks, sorry for the gruesome bits, but they are part of my illness!

[BRUMI1968]

It certainly sounds possible. I've had problems since I was 3 or 4 years old - always constipation. Originally, folks thought Celiac always presented as diarrhea, but they've found maybe 30% or more folks present with constipation. Anyway, I quit wheat two years ago and felt much better, so got tested for Celiac just to be sure. Turns out I tested positive. So I've quit gluten now as well. At first, it didn't go so well. I got constipated again. But now it's evened out.

Everyone has different symptoms, and of course not everyone goes through a big crisis like the one you're experiencing. I was lucky. I'm sure someone will respond who has gone through similar circumstances to yours.

If you are going gluten free for a spell to see if it helps, remember that it works in molecules of gluten - so even contamination by gluten will give you troubles. If you don't live alone, you need your own cutting board, your own toaster (if you choose to eat gluten-free breads - I don't), and will probably need your own dishtowels. I actually have my own side of the kitchen to avoid any gluten getting on the counters etc.

You should also get the extended list of things to look for, like "natural flavors" and the like. Gluten is hiding every-which-where: vinegar, mayonaise, ketchup, spices, chips.

Good luck to you. I think you'll most likely notice a change pretty quickly if you're able to avoid gluten altogether for a spell. If you don't, it may be something else, certainly.

Take care.

-Sherri

[rinne]

Hi and welcome.

Sherri gave you some good advice.

I have had a lifetime of constipation and digestive issues and for the past fifteen years have been 30 - 40 pounds overweight. I've lost a lot of weight since January, about 30 pounds. It started with major gastric issues in the late fall and by January when I saw the doctor I felt horrible. She prescribed the Omeprazole for me also but after doing some research on it I decided not to take it as apparently it stops all acid production which in turn stops the absorption of Vitamin B not to mention everything you are eating.

I started seeing an acupuncterist and in May went on a gluten free diet although I have been glutened a few times. I am feeling better but have also had to give up dairy, I get very bloated and constipated, and I suspect there are other problems.

I have a great deal of back pain, inflammation - Ankylosing Spondylitis symptoms, it is genetic and my mother has it.

I wonder if the breadmaker, as in eating more bread because it was so good and so fresh, just tipped the scales towards intolerance.

[BRUMI1968]

I know when I was in Hawaii b4 diagnosis but after going wheat-free - and my father in law made fresh bread every day - I ate it like it was going out of style. YUM! That sounds likely to me, too.

I'm making danish squash soup right now and I'm so excited for it to get done. Better go check.

[henrietta]

Quick update, well after a few months on a gluten free diet and weekly acupuncture I would like to report all my symptoms have vanished.

I have normal toilet habits (yay) and only get stomach cramps when I cheat and eat things I shouldn't.

It has got easier to eat the diet, I eat more cheese than previously and actually enjoy the true free crackers instead of bread, I only eat gluten free bread once a week when I have toasted slices of a half baguette on Sunday's with real coffee and the papers..

I think my insides must be healing but I am reluctant to stray for a few months at least, I also swear by taking a big aloe vera tablet twice a day and have found if I get twinges a tablet removes the pain.

My Dr has given me buscopan and I am only rarely using them, I have also discovered various tea shops and cafes that make gluten free or coconut cake or biscuits and that too has made me feel less "different" if I go shopping with friends. I have also had a go at making pancakes and apple crumble with wheat free flour from tesco, and they taste fine!

To anyone searching for advice as I did, I now know I may not ever be able to eat bread again, but the craving has lessened as the weeks have gone on. Feeling so much healthier is worth abandoning bread...

Do try it, if you got to the desperate stage like me you will try anything in the end.

[ravenwoodglass]

I am so glad you are recovering. I am still amazed at what a difference a change in dietary habits can make. I am glad it helped you.