Tmi Question - But I've Gotta Ask !

[Mamato2boys]

I'm pretty new to this still - I've been going gluten-free for about two weeks now. My gluten sensitive GI symptoms are weight gain, bloating, chronic constipation, and water retention. I'm feeling quite a bit better - hypoglycemia seems to be resolving, and I don't feel nearly as bloated and feel like my overall fluid retention is diminishing. I've noticed that my intestines seem to occasionally....clean themselves out....to put it delicately, lol. This has happened twice now. I feel a huge sense of relief afterwards - almost like my body's purging itself of toxins and probably backed-up stool. Is this a common reaction to switching to the gluten-free diet ?

[CarlaB]

Your body probably is taking the opportunity to clean out toxins. I can see nothing but good coming from that, especially if you've been constipated for quite some time.

I don't know if it's common, my d was so bad from the gluten, it's hard for me to say.

[Ursa Major]

Yes, I found that the same thing happened to me. For the first two weeks or so (don't remember exactly) I'd have bms every few days that looked like sewage sludge, pretty gross. I figured that my bowels were getting rid of garbage, too.

It stopped within three weeks, if I remember correctly. I don't believe it's anything to worry about.

[spunky]

I gave up gluten in February, and these "cleansing sessions," different than regular diarrhea, happened to me about 3 times during the spring. I always noticed a feeling of relief, and big general improvement after each time. Weird, but it did feel like some cleansing thing or something. I've been doing really well in the past month and a half, and haven't had any more of these weird things happen since the last time, about 3 months ago.

[Mamato2boys]

I gave up gluten in February, and these "cleansing sessions," different than regular diarrhea, happened to me about 3 times during the spring. I always noticed a feeling of relief, and big general improvement after each time. Weird, but it did feel like some cleansing thing or something. I've been doing really well in the past month and a half, and haven't had any more of these weird things happen since the last time, about 3 months ago.

Yes, it definitely feels different than being glutened, as I discovered this weekend. Looks like I've most likely set myself up for another one of these sessions in the future.