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

We Can't Seem To Get Color/consistency Together !

2boysmama

Recommended Posts

2boysmama Apprentice
2boysmama
Posted

:huh::blink:

I'm feeling pretty frustrated here. Maybe I'm just being too impatient. What do you guys think ?

Ryan (3 yo) has been gluten-free/CF/egg-free/soy-free for about 2.5 months now. Actually, he's been egg/casein free since he was about a year, but I digress...

We get solid poops, loose poops (about the consistency of chunky applesauce), brown poops that smell more normal, and yellow poops that stink pretty bad. So far I've YET to get a solid, brown, normal-smelling poop out of the kid. He gets every other combination though ! Our entire house is gluten-free, I brought his own art supplies to the daycare with strict, written instructions on how to handle his art supplies and avoid cross-contamination, and to have him wash his hands before he eats. I did discover yesterday that the rice bars by EnviroKids have a trace amount of soy in them, so it's possible that's part of the problem, but I would think that would consistently cause a problem if that's what it was.

Am I just being impatient and I need to give his intestines more time to heal ? He has commented several times (on his own) that his "tummy feels better." or that his "tummy doesn't hurt anymore." So I think I'm at least on the right track. Maybe I'm missing hidden glutens ? :blink:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Sophiekins Rookie
Sophiekins
Posted

Relax. Ryan's poop sounds perfectly normal.

Poop is what gets left over after your body has taken everything it can out of your food. His poop should be relatively consistent based on his diet (ie, meatloaf, carrots, potatoes and applesauce should produce similar kinds of poop every time he eats them), but it probably won't ever be "normal" consistency. This is okay. Ryan's body will always work slightly differently from everyone else - and his poop will change colour, smell, and consistency depending on lots of things (his diet, stress levels, his immune system, exercise, hormones, etc). It will probably take about 6 months from the last glutening for Ryan's intestines to completely heal, but this may not result in completely identical poops - if you think about it, you'll probably realise that your poops aren't completely consistent. . .you just never look at yours. Monitoring Ryan's poop is just a rule of thumb to make sure he's relatively healthy - generally there should be less coming out than there was going in. If you're worried, talk to his pediatrician the next time you're in, but so long as Ryan continues to gain weight in his age/height bracket and stays fairly healthy, there's no need to worry about the kinds of poops you are describing.

(If it makes you feel better, I am completely gluten-free for six years, and my poops range approximately along the lines of what you describe for Ryan, and my team of docs has given me a completely clean bill of health.)

Mamato2boys Contributor
Mamato2boys
Posted
Relax. Ryan's poop sounds perfectly normal.

Poop is what gets left over after your body has taken everything it can out of your food. His poop should be relatively consistent based on his diet (ie, meatloaf, carrots, potatoes and applesauce should produce similar kinds of poop every time he eats them), but it probably won't ever be "normal" consistency. This is okay. Ryan's body will always work slightly differently from everyone else - and his poop will change colour, smell, and consistency depending on lots of things (his diet, stress levels, his immune system, exercise, hormones, etc). It will probably take about 6 months from the last glutening for Ryan's intestines to completely heal, but this may not result in completely identical poops - if you think about it, you'll probably realise that your poops aren't completely consistent. . .you just never look at yours. Monitoring Ryan's poop is just a rule of thumb to make sure he's relatively healthy - generally there should be less coming out than there was going in. If you're worried, talk to his pediatrician the next time you're in, but so long as Ryan continues to gain weight in his age/height bracket and stays fairly healthy, there's no need to worry about the kinds of poops you are describing.

(If it makes you feel better, I am completely gluten-free for six years, and my poops range approximately along the lines of what you describe for Ryan, and my team of docs has given me a completely clean bill of health.)

I'm so used to closely scrutinizing what comes out of the kid that I've nominated myself "official poop patrol" lol. :lol:

I always thought the yellow poops were a bad sign ?

Sophiekins Rookie
Sophiekins
Posted

Yellow poops can be a bad sign, but they don't have to be - human poop is a variety of colours, and everyone's poop is individual. Neon yellow poops are more troubling than yellowy brown ones, but I still wouldn't worry unless his poops are consistently neon for a few days. My general rule of thumb is that as long as I am feeling healthy and I'm having less than six poops a day, it's just my intestines playing up and nothing to worry about. With a toddler, I might be a little more picky - maybe less than four or five a day, and I might be mildly concerned if you were getting large quantities on a daily basis - but it sounds like Ryan is doing just fine (particularly since he says he feels good). While his intestines heal, he will have stranger poop than normal. If you are worried, try keeping a food/poop diary - keep track of what Ryan is eating and what kinds of poops are coming out, and see if there may be a connection somewhere. You should be concerned if he starts being unable to predict (or control) his poops in time to reach a toilet, or if they start to hurt him - and as always, if there's blood, your next stop is a doctor. The other thing you might want to check is his toothpaste - Oral B toddler toothpaste is not gluten-free, but I think Colgate toddler is. And while they say you don't need to worry about toothpaste because you don't swallow it. . .well, we've all helped toddlers brush their teeth. . . :rolleyes:

2boysmama Apprentice
2boysmama
Posted
  • Author

Oy. What a thing to be fixated on, lol. I've been dealing with mysterious GI issues from him for over 2 of his 3 years on this planet - with no help from allergists or GI docs. :angry: I've had to totally sort this out on my own.

At any rate, lol, IKWYM about the toothpaste. Mainstream items such as toothpaste and mouthwash grosses me out because of the garbage that's put in them, so we all use Tom's brand (from Wild Oats). He does swallow it. I'm pretty sure it's gluten-free, but I'll have to double-check just to be sure - thanks for pointing that out. Funny how the obvious can pass you by.

Yellow poops can be a bad sign, but they don't have to be - human poop is a variety of colours, and everyone's poop is individual. Neon yellow poops are more troubling than yellowy brown ones, but I still wouldn't worry unless his poops are consistently neon for a few days. My general rule of thumb is that as long as I am feeling healthy and I'm having less than six poops a day, it's just my intestines playing up and nothing to worry about. With a toddler, I might be a little more picky - maybe less than four or five a day, and I might be mildly concerned if you were getting large quantities on a daily basis - but it sounds like Ryan is doing just fine (particularly since he says he feels good). While his intestines heal, he will have stranger poop than normal. If you are worried, try keeping a food/poop diary - keep track of what Ryan is eating and what kinds of poops are coming out, and see if there may be a connection somewhere. You should be concerned if he starts being unable to predict (or control) his poops in time to reach a toilet, or if they start to hurt him - and as always, if there's blood, your next stop is a doctor. The other thing you might want to check is his toothpaste - Oral B toddler toothpaste is not gluten-free, but I think Colgate toddler is. And while they say you don't need to worry about toothpaste because you don't swallow it. . .well, we've all helped toddlers brush their teeth. . . :rolleyes:
Izak's Mom Apprentice
Izak's Mom
Posted

lol...I've been an active member of the poop patrol for quite awhile now! Sophiekins, thanks for the reassurance. My Izak's poops have quite a range to them & sound exactly like what 2boysmama is talking about. But I know he's eating well, and his growth & weight are on track, so I figured it was OK.

Guest cassidy
Guest cassidy
Posted

I don't know if babies can take probiotics or drink kefir, but that always helps me get better. Digestive enzymes help as well.

It sounds like most people think he sounds ok, and I really don't know, but adding these supplements that help make it easier for his body to digest his food may help.

Obviously, you would need to do the research and see if it is ok at his age, but I know they are beneficial when you are pregnant, so I don't think it is much of a stretch.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


2boysmama Apprentice
2boysmama
Posted
  • Author
I don't know if babies can take probiotics or drink kefir, but that always helps me get better. Digestive enzymes help as well.

It sounds like most people think he sounds ok, and I really don't know, but adding these supplements that help make it easier for his body to digest his food may help.

Obviously, you would need to do the research and see if it is ok at his age, but I know they are beneficial when you are pregnant, so I don't think it is much of a stretch.

He'd have to skip the kefir since he's allergic to dairy, but I ordered some probiotics for all of us to take that should arrive tomorrow.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    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

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • 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.