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

Symptoms Not Quite As Bad (but Still Annoying!)

bigbelly

Recommended Posts

bigbelly Newbie
bigbelly
Posted

Hello everyone -

I have been reading posts here for about a week now and have learned a ton! Now I wanted to get everyone's opinion/comments on my situation. About 3 years ago I had a 2 week bout with horrible cramps and bad diarrhea. I lost about 10 pounds in 2 weeks and basically didn't move from the couch. I am convinced that I haven't been the same since. For the past year or so, I have been majorly bloated. I ignored it for a long time, thinking it was just bad eating habits/period time/etc. A few weeks ago, I had terrible stomachache for over 24hrs after dinner. Since then I have been paying more attention to my stomach and I am starting to track my symptoms. They aren't as bad as many people on this forum have, but they are enough to cause me distress. The only time I don't feel very bloated is right when I wake up. As soon as I eat or drink anything, my stomach grows (we're talking inches here). I get bloated even when I don't eat a lot of gluten (eggs, salad...). I eat a salad most days for lunch and look pregnant within 20 minutes. Usually after a decent sized meal I have stomach discomfort (tolerable, but annoying) but I don't have any problems with diarrhea or constipation (although my normal bm are only every 3-5 days).

I went to my doctor and he told me to drink Metamucil and eat fiber cereal for 2 weeks and call him if that didn't help. It made no difference, except make me go to the bathroom more. Do you think this could be Celiac or wheat intolerance even though it isn't as extreme and my worst symptom is the bloating?

THANK YOU for your input - I have to wait until 10/30 for my GI appt and want some advice before then!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

You are just used to your symptoms, not that they are not there...

You have constipation. Anyone that does not "go" for 3 to 5 days is constipated - I know that used to be me. My doc boyfriend said I had a lazy colon...

just get the tests for celiac & you will probably have to also be dairy free at first. & you could have a couple of other food intolerances.

Denial is a lovely thing, I have been seeing a lot of it lately in my friends...

Better to get this taken care of before your body comes up with a symptom you cannot ignore - like cancer, MS, RA, damage to the brain - a whole bunch of stuff could be going on & you do not know it - it is not just a swollen belly - there are things causing the swollen belly that is not good - not good at all...

glad to hear you were reading the posts. Stick around & let us know what you decide to do

bigbelly Newbie
bigbelly
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so much for your advice - It is hard to know sometimes if you are overreacting and being a hypochondriac or if there really is a problem. I know I read many times on the boards not to try going glucose free before any testing....my 1st appt with the GI doctor is 10/30. Would it hurt to try going glucose free for a week to see if anything improves (mostly I am curious) or should I wait it out to see what he says?

Thanks again!!

gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

Well, if you are going to spend the money on the tests - I would be eating all the goodies that i could think of - for the last time !!!!!!!! & yes, you need to keep eating the gluten until after the blood draw. be sure to print out the names of that blood tests - that are listed on here somewhere. Do not assume that your doc will run the right ones - unless you specifically hand him the list & tell him what you want run.

Good luck - yea, isn't it amazing how the docs and society teach us to doubt ourselves!!!

Keep us posted...

wishing you the best -

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. trents
      - trents replied to Ello's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      You might consider asking for a referral to a RD (Registered Dietician) to help with food choices and planning a diet. Even apart from any gluten issues, you will likely find there are some foods you need to avoid because of the shorter bowel but you may also find that your system may make adjustments over time and that symptoms may improve.
    2. Ello
      - Ello replied to Ello's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      I wish Dr’s would have these discussions with their patients. So frustrating but will continue to do research. Absolutely love this website. I will post any updates on my testing and results. Thank you
    3. trents
      - trents replied to Ello's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      Losing 12" of your small bowel is going to present challenges for you in nutritional uptake because you are losing a significant amount of nutritional absorption surface area. You will need to focus on consuming foods that are nutritionally dense and also probably look at some good supplements. If indeed you are having issues with gluten you will need to...
    4. Ello
      - Ello replied to Ello's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      Yes this information helps. I will continue to be pro active with this issues I am having. More testing to be done. Thank you so much for your response.
    5. trents
      - trents replied to Ello's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      There are two gluten-related disorders that share many of the same symptoms but differ in nature from each other. One is known as celiac disease or "gluten intolerance". By nature, it is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the ingestion of gluten triggers the body to attack it's own tissues, specifically the lining of the small bowel. This attack causes...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,832
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Duhgirl
    Newest Member
    Duhgirl
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      You might consider asking for a referral to a RD (Registered Dietician) to help with food choices and planning a diet. Even apart from any gluten issues, you will likely find there are some foods you need to avoid because of the shorter bowel but you may also find that your system may make adjustments over time and that symptoms may improve.
    • Ello
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By Ello · Posted

      I wish Dr’s would have these discussions with their patients. So frustrating but will continue to do research. Absolutely love this website. I will post any updates on my testing and results.  Thank you
    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      Losing 12" of your small bowel is going to present challenges for you in nutritional uptake because you are losing a significant amount of nutritional absorption surface area. You will need to focus on consuming foods that are nutritionally dense and also probably look at some good supplements. If indeed you are having issues with gluten you will need to educate yourself as to how gluten is hidden in the food supply. There's more to it than just avoiding the major sources of gluten like bread and pasta. It is hidden in so many things you would never expect to find it in like canned tomato soup and soy sauce just to name a few. It can be in pills and medications.  Also, your "yellow diarrhea, constipation and bloating" though these are classic signs of a gluten disorder, could also be related to the post surgical shorter length of your small bowel causing incomplete processing/digestion of food.
    • Ello
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By Ello · Posted

      Yes this information helps. I will continue to be pro active with this issues I am having. More testing to be done. Thank you so much for your response. 
    • trents
      Small Bowel Resection 12 inches

      By trents · Posted

      There are two gluten-related disorders that share many of the same symptoms but differ in nature from each other. One is known as celiac disease or "gluten intolerance". By nature, it is an autoimmune disorder, meaning the ingestion of gluten triggers the body to attack it's own tissues, specifically the lining of the small bowel. This attack causes inflammation and produces antibodies that can be detected in the blood by specific tests like the TTG-IGA test you had. Over time, if gluten is not withheld, this inflammation can cause severe damage to the lining of the small bowel and even result in nutrient deficiency related health issues since the small bowel lining is organ where all the nutrition found in our food is absorbed.  The other is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just "gluten sensitivity") which we know less about and are unsure of the exact mechanism of action. It is not an autoimmune disorder and unlike celiac disease it does not damage the lining of the small bowel, though, like celiac disease, it can cause GI distress and it can also do other kinds of damage to the body. It is thought to be more common than celiac disease. Currently, we cannot test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out to arrive at a diagnosis of NCGS. Both disorders require elimination of gluten from the diet.  Either of these disorders can find their onset at any stage of life. We know that celiac disease has a genetic component but the genes are inactive until awakened by some stress event. About 40% of the general population has the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% develop active celiac disease. The incidence of NCGS is thought to be considerably higher. I hope this helps.
×
×
  • 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.