More Constipated On gluten-free Diet

[ElenaDragon]

I started the gluten-free diet nearly a week ago, and my gas has definitely been reduced. However, I'm still have abdominal pain, and I think it's because I'm still constipated, even more so than before I started the gluten-free diet. I'm getting the same amount of fiber per day (about 35g on average), but my daily morning stool is not loose like it used to be, so I don't go as much. The stool is probably much more normal now (formed instead of loose), but I feel like my whole system is backed up and giving me pain. The pain is mostly on the left side, but some on the right as well - I was having this pain before I started the gluten-free diet.

I've also been taking Miralax for a few weeks now at 1/2 dose per day. Last night I upped it to a whole dose, and I'm going to try that for a while to see if it helps.

Is the fiber from a non gluten diet different in some way from gluten fiber? Or could it be that my system normally moves slowly and the gluten was making it move more quickly?

[Teacher1958]

Hi,

I've been on the diet for almost four months. It does take awhile for your digestive tract to get accustomed to the changes. I noticed a little bit of what you're talking about at first. I would go a day or day-and-a-half without a BM, which I considered constipation, but for manypeople probably isn't constipation. (We're just used to going a lot.) I didn't take anything for it, though. I wanted to let my body normalize on its own.

The gas reduction for me was amazing! I was so glad to not have to think about it all the time, worrying that I would embarrass myself by passing gas in public. The only positive thing about gas is that it does help move things along, so I think that could be another reason you're not going as often.

I'm sure there are "veterans" on here who can speak to this better than I, but that's my take on it.

[Guest j_mommy]

I had the same problem when I first started the diet and it took me about a month and a half not to be "constipated". But as teacher said...our constipation is not real constipation. Not going EVERY day is ok...not ideal but ok. Your body will work it self out after it's had time to heal. If you're still "constipated" in a month or so then worry!!! Your belly could not be feeling right b/c it's only been a short time. Some people take months to feel a change, some it's weeks and some notice right away. Everyone is diffrent.

Long story short...give your body time to heal!!!!

[ElenaDragon]

Thank you both for your responses. Teacher, I think you're right that the gas was probably helping to move things along. But for me flatulence wasn't the problem, it was getting the gas to come out! The gas would stay trapped inside me for many hours, very uncomfortable and very noisy, and would prevent me from passing stool. Once the gas finally came out (usually while I was sleeping), I would have D in the morning. I guess I just got used to this routine since it did work to clear me out, but it often made my evenings very uncomfortable.

I wouldn't be that worried if I wasn't having all the abdominal pain. My GI thought my intestines are spasming and gave me Bentyl, which does not help (so I stopped taking it). I will give it some more time though, and give the diet a chance to work and my body a chance to adjust!