Is This Normal? Tummy Problems After Going Gluten Free.

[Peej]

Hi there. I've been searching this forum for this specific question and haven't found it. I've been *relatively* gluten-free for 5 days. Prior to going gluten-free, I didn't have a problem with diarrhea (for the most part). Things weren't exactly great in that area, but like I said, I only experienced that sort of unpleasantness occasionally.

Now, after being gluten-free, that has changed. I am running to the bathroom every 5 minutes. It started 3 days ago and lasts all day. The horrid stomach pains seem to have subsided (that was my biggest stympom...constant burning pain all over my stomach) but I'm confused by this new development. Is this my body trying to rid itself of the bad stuff? Has anyone else experienced this?

[Guest j_mommy]

Do you have any issues with dairy??? Keeping in mind that even if you didn't before some people do after going gluten-free. To get your body to heal you need to be totally gluten-free...that could also be the problem!

[Peej]

I've always been lactose intolerant so I don't eat dairy. I'm eating brown rice and broccoli for the most part. I don't think I'm getting glutened but even if I was, does it make sense that only now am I having problems with diarrhea when I didn't before (when I was definitely being glutened every day)? That's where I'm confused.

[Guest j_mommy]

Each person is different. I hardly ever had constipation but after I went gluten-free, I did.

Also as your body gets used to being gluten-free and you get cc'd or glutened it will more than likely act more strongly than before. Ie: Big D is worse or maybe in your case you will get the big D after you get some gluten!

[gfpaperdoll]

try to stop eating the brown rice, it is probably too much for your system right now. either no rice or try some well cooked white rice. But I would wait about two weeks before trying to intro white rice.

[Peej]

Interesting. Thanks, jmommy. This is all so much fun. Grrrr.

I will give the white rice suggestion a shot (eventually). Thanks.

[confused]

Brocoli give me the big D so i dont eat it anymore. That could be what is cleaning out your system.

paula

[emcmaster]

Broccoli is very hard to digest. It makes me really bloated and gives me stomach pains. It also showed up as a major allergy on the Lame Advertisement test for me.

I had a harder time at times after going gluten-free than before, although I felt better overall. I would suggest sticking to a very simple diet of whole foods and limiting the foods that give even normal people tummy problems (beans, broccoli, etc.).

It will get better, I promise!

[Peej]

Boo! Broccoli is my favorite food.

I guess I'll cut it for a few days and see what happens.

[mftnchn]

I think it may be normal for there to be shifts during the healing process. However, I think foods easy to digest may help, and if not, perhaps an elimination diet to see what might be a problem.

[woolwhippet]

I am in the healing process right now too. I have been on and off gluten for six months now and my dr tested for chrones and colitis because I still had d off gluten. For me, I had soft stools for a while a few times per day and then the d went from 3 times per day to 7 and the 14.

While searching the bookstore for answers I found a book called "Breaking The Vicious Cycle". 5 days on the diet I had my 1st normal stool in a very long time! I can't tolerate brown rice, potatoes--pretty much any starchy food, and lactose containing dairy. I cook my veggies very well and eat very plain food right now. Seems to be the magic formula. I have tried to rush introducing starches and raw food but it always takes me back to "d". I'm told that once the intestine heals I will be able to tolerate these foods once again. Try reading up on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I don't follow the diet exactly but the premise behind it makes sense to me.

Lenore

[jerseyangel]

I went through the same thing when I first went gluten-free. I initally felt much better, but I still had D at times. I attributed that to possible mistakes I was making on the diet.

At about 4 months gluten-free, my symptoms came back--and my D was worse than it ever was. I even had urgency for the first time--which kept me in the house for quite a while.

In my case, it turned out that I had several other food intolerances. As I figured out which foods were problems, little by little, I began to get better.

All in all, it's taken me a little over 2 years to heal from this. I was sick for a long time before I was diagnosed, so I'm sure that's why.

Look at your diet now, as compared to before you went gluten-free. I found that I could not tolerate soy or tapioca--those are in many gluten-free packaged mixes. You may well have additional food sensitivities.

I also take Caltrate 600 with D twice a day (breakfast and dinner). This helps greatly with the excess fluid that leads to D