Advice From Celiacs With Constipation

[Wonka]

I do not get diarrhea (or not very often) but I suffer from chronic constipation (it can be really awful when I travel by air). I do not have hard dry stools. I have normal to soft stools that I can't eliminate (my bowel seems to be sluggish and I don't get enough peristalsis to effectively eliminate). Does this describe the constipation caused by celiac? Will this get better once I can get completely gluten free (I'm working on my kitchen)? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Pyro]

I found that it really helped when I incorporated higher amounts of fat into my diet, even though I was on an already high fat diet.

The trick was to get more free standing oil and greases rather than just that found in meat. Ground beef is pretty damn good at it.

[YoloGx]

I found that it really helped when I incorporated higher amounts of fat into my diet, even though I was on an already high fat diet.

The trick was to get more free standing oil and greases rather than just that found in meat. Ground beef is pretty damn good at it.

I have found taking magnesium trwice a day (to bowel tolerance--when it causees D and back off) works like a champ against constipation while also helping gout he nerves etc.. Also fresh ground up flax seed with a little apple pectin added to the grind is excellent--with plently of water added.

Yolo

[JNBunnie1]

I do not get diarrhea (or not very often) but I suffer from chronic constipation (it can be really awful when I travel by air). I do not have hard dry stools. I have normal to soft stools that I can't eliminate (my bowel seems to be sluggish and I don't get enough peristalsis to effectively eliminate). Does this describe the constipation caused by celiac? Will this get better once I can get completely gluten free (I'm working on my kitchen)? Enquiring minds want to know.

That's actually been happening to me lately and I haven't been glutened, so I'd say maybe it is a Celiac thing and maybe it isn't. It's easy to blame everything on Celiac, that's what I usually do. For now, while traveling, try eating more bananas & apples. They're naturally gluten free anyway. And if you like prunes I'd add those too, and as much green food as you can stand. I also eliminate much more effectively and regularly when I am exercising EVERY day. My body is such a bastard, forcing me to exercise like this.......

[Lux]

I have suffered from the same problem. Interestingly, grease/fat etc absolutely DOES seem to work like a charm...also, I eat an amazing organic yoghurt which has an amazing effect on my system. The brand is called Cyclops; although it's a New Zealand product, so I don't know as to whether it would be available outside of the country. Anyway, I think it's the pectin it contains (which is so good, as apples don't agree with me AT all)...

[JNBunnie1]

I have suffered from the same problem. Interestingly, grease/fat etc absolutely DOES seem to work like a charm...also, I eat an amazing organic yoghurt which has an amazing effect on my system. The brand is called Cyclops; although it's a New Zealand product, so I don't know as to whether it would be available outside of the country. Anyway, I think it's the pectin it contains (which is so good, as apples don't agree with me AT all)...

Stonyfield Farm organic yogurt in the US contains pectin, if you'd like to try that, I get big tubs of the plain stuff and add applesauce or frozen fruit.

[cloesb]

i had a similar situation and after a couple months of being gluten free it seemed to resolve itself - thankfully. I'm actually pregnant & my constipation has severly acted up again. Milk of Magnesia (2 tbsp) at night seems to be the only thing that does the trick.

[Wonka]

It sure would be nice if mine corrected eventually. I am a bit reticent to eat high fat as that is a real trigger for my GERD.

[Prairie Girl]

Hemp hearts really help me. I put them in my smoothies for breakfast and into some of the other things I cook. You might want to give them a try

[JNBunnie1]

It sure would be nice if mine corrected eventually. I am a bit reticent to eat high fat as that is a real trigger for my GERD.

I'd stick with the veggie route in that case. Maybe some digestive enzymes?

[BRUMI1968]

This may sound silly, but what about lightly massing your whole abdomen every day. I once read a very interesting article about IBS (I know, I know) that talked about how the nervous system and its communications with the brain can be in part to blame for elimination problems. I know for a fact that unless I eat 90% raw, I have a FAST top digestion, and a SLOW bottom digestion. My stool is perfectly fine, I only elimate it every other day or so. I recently went on a trip and ate raw the whole time (had to eat in my hotel room and was in California - so had avocados and tomatoes all day long), and within two days I was eliminating every day, even twice a day, and it felt newer. Maybe you know what I mean - when you're pretty sure you're pooping out something you ate a week ago. If you massage the bowel and small intestines and tummy and all that, you can help get them moving. Along with a warm tea or water with lemon, to get paristalsis started.

Secondly, try sitting on the pot every day at the same time, regardless of if you have to go. It helps to put your feet up on a stool so that your body is in a position similar to squatting. I'm not kidding that this has helped me immensely.

Lastly, while you're there, do the massaging thing, including down your lower back.

Hope this helps. Glad to hear the stool itself isn't miserable -- I lived through years of that and am so happy to have nice soft management poop. Yahoo!

[RiceGuy]

I second the magnesium thing. Like some magnesium citrate in orange juice. Start with a teaspoon, maybe even less, and work your way up to the level that works best for you. Expect it to work in a few hours, though I'm sure we all have our own particulars. If you take too much, you'll know - oh boy will you know!! Just make sure you don't have to stray far from a bathroom, 'cause you're gonna need it.

As for other things, I find bananas to NOT work, in fact they are off my list for that reason. Certain types of carbs are off too. It seems each of us are different that way, so you'll probably have to experiment. You can think of it as a different type of "elimination" diet

[ravenwoodglass]

I get severe C when soy manages to sneak in. In addition to the great advice already given what helps me very quickly is a meal of sweet potatoes, I usually cut them up and boil them then when done I stick them in a saute pan and drizzle some honey or sugar over them to coat. Things usually move smoothly the next morning and I get some extra vitamin A.

[Sharon Marie]

OK This was my problem for years. It was nearly imposable to have a bowel movement even though it was not hard stool. It's like I lacked the lubricant to pass it. Every Am I would resort to a small enema of warm soapy water to enable me to have a bowel movement. Otherwise my entire day was spent feeling like I had to go, but couldn't. And of course the day would be spent feeling totally uncomfortable. I used to worry about the side effects of a daily enema but without one I was miserable. And I felt that laxatives were not a good solution either.

Last November I was diagnosed with celiac sprue and started on a gluten free diet. Now each morning I have a bowel movement normally!

Here it is the last day of January and I am still learning so much from everyone here! Not all of my problems have been taken care of yet but it's a good start! ( My legs and feet are still very painful. )

thanks to you all once again

SharonMarie

[RiceGuy]

I get severe C when soy manages to sneak in. In addition to the great advice already given what helps me very quickly is a meal of sweet potatoes, I usually cut them up and boil them then when done I stick them in a saute pan and drizzle some honey or sugar over them to coat. Things usually move smoothly the next morning and I get some extra vitamin A.

Sweet potatoes are a high carb food. I wonder what this indicates? One thing I already know, is that sweet potatoes don't have that effect on me, nor do other carbs. I guess this just proves how individual we all can be.

[lizard00]

I tend to go from one extreme to the other, but mostly linger with the big C. I tried the magnesium, and while it made me generally feel much better, didn't help with the C. So last night I drank a 1/4 cup of aloe vera juice. Doesn't taste so great, so I mixed it in with some other juice. But in my book of natural cures, it highly advocates aloe vera juice (as do other people that I know.) Seems to be working I've gone twice this AM (TMI, I know...) and I don't have the still full feeling. HOORAY!!!