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

Gross Question..sort Of

givenupgluten

Recommended Posts

givenupgluten Explorer
givenupgluten
Posted

Hi all...I have an icky question for ya..

I have been on the gluten free diet since late June...so for about 3 months or so. The past week/week and a half, I've been noticing that at least once a day when i go to the restroom for #2...it floats. I thought I'd heard that this was a sign of celiac and the malabsorbtion of fat. I have been careful about not ingesting any gluten that I'm aware of.....but I find it odd that all of a sudden this seems to be happening. I don't actually recall it happening BEFORE I was on a gluten free diet. So my question is: Is this a normal thing that happens every once in awhile regardless of whether you have celiac or not? Does it mean that I've ingested gluten and my body isn't absorbing it? Or.....?? I'm just not sure if I'm reading too far into it or not. Any advice is appreciated

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Check this link out to see if your "floaters" require further investigation:

Open Original Shared Link

Guest goldie
Guest goldie
Posted

Sorry but I'm going to seem rally stupid- does floating stools mean that they float before the toilet is flushed or does it mean that there is difficulty flushing them away and they float?

Ginsou Explorer
Ginsou
Posted

It means they float before the toilet is flushed.

Several times in the past few years I have had a few "floaters" and once passed some foamy looking stuff. Since it doesn't happen all the time, I wouldn't worry about it. If it happens on a regular basis, then I'd mention it to your doctor.

Guest goldie
Guest goldie
Posted

Oh dear. I thought that was normal !! I was diagnosed about a year ago but this is still how things are in that department and have been for as long as I've been aware ( lovely subject).

  • 2 months later...
kosherkid Newbie
kosherkid
Posted

I have the same problem much of the time, and I didn't before being gluten free :( .

They are now also almost always soft - much harder to wipe my bottom ;):angry:

David

Amber M Explorer
Amber M
Posted
I have the same problem much of the time, and I didn't before being gluten free :( .

They are now also almost always soft - much harder to wipe my bottom ;):angry:

David

I say check out the site Shay listed, but I always heard that floaters were a sign of good health. Let us know what you find out. Think I'll check the site too.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Amber M Explorer
Amber M
Posted
I say check out the site Shay listed, but I always heard that floaters were a sign of good health. Let us know what you find out. Think I'll check the site too.

I'm back, just checked out the site, you must read it. It is not a sign of good health. I was mis-informed. There are several causes including celiac and bacteria. I would speak with your doctor, you might have malabsorption.

Eric-C Enthusiast
Eric-C
Posted

LOL...not at your problem but at my interpretation of it.

I too always thought floaters meant you had adequate fiber in your diet. I used to wonder....hmmm, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Forgotten all about it but since I've gone gluten free, no floaters.

I found this article:

Open Original Shared Link

That was always my interpretation of it, floating was good, meant you had enough fiber.

Looks like its time to ask you doctor....and maybe I should increase my fiber intake.

There may be two reasons for floaters...a good and bad one.

Paul1 Newbie
Paul1
Posted
Check this link out to see if your "floaters" require further investigation:

Open Original Shared Link

I haven't had constipation in years, but in my youth I was five for five for the celiac symptoms. No wonder I was never diagnosed!

What's funny about this, is in high school Health class, I remember the teacher telling us that's what you wanted to aim for. It was a sign of health (the things you remember) if your stool floated. It means healthy amounts of fiber.

The "airy-est" I've ever been was this spring was when I tried Seitan (PURE GLUTEN). Ironically, it was the comments section of the recipe (a european talking about gluten and Celiac) that finally turned the light bulb on for me. I've been gluten free since around May and get very alarmed on the rare occasions this has returned.

Amber M Explorer
Amber M
Posted
I haven't had constipation in years, but in my youth I was five for five for the celiac symptoms. No wonder I was never diagnosed!

What's funny about this, is in high school Health class, I remember the teacher telling us that's what you wanted to aim for. It was a sign of health (the things you remember) if your stool floated. It means healthy amounts of fiber.

The "airy-est" I've ever been was this spring was when I tried Seitan (PURE GLUTEN). Ironically, it was the comments section of the recipe (a european talking about gluten and Celiac) that finally turned the light bulb on for me. I've been gluten free since around May and get very alarmed on the rare occasions this has returned.

I had very loose stools for years and then, the last five or so, the more gluten I ate, the more compacted I got. I can't remember if the "softballs" I would finally give birth to floated or not! LOL!!

sbj Rookie
sbj
Posted

Don't floaters mean you have a lot of fat in your stool? And one reason you might have a lot of fat is because you are not absorbing it properly (celiac).

If you have celiac but are gluten free and still experiencing floaters, it might be because your diet is too high in fat. Even when you are absorbing fat properly if you eat too much you're gonna end up with floaters.

'Toothpaste' consistency is the right target!

As Mr. Hanky would say, "Howdy ho!"

NewNicole Apprentice
NewNicole
Posted

I have had an issue for years with the stool floating. I have been told by a few doctors that it is normal. At the same time when Randy Pausch was on Dateline he mentioned a telltale sign of pancreas issues is floating stools. i also have read that it is a sign of malabsorption. But the doctor did say they biggest issue is a change in consistency and a change in color such as chalky, pale white, black, or red. So that is what I would be looking for and then discuss with your doctor. Good luck and tell us what you find out.

Nicole

Amber M Explorer
Amber M
Posted
I have had an issue for years with the stool floating. I have been told by a few doctors that it is normal. At the same time when Randy Pausch was on Dateline he mentioned a telltale sign of pancreas issues is floating stools. i also have read that it is a sign of malabsorption. But the doctor did say they biggest issue is a change in consistency and a change in color such as chalky, pale white, black, or red. So that is what I would be looking for and then discuss with your doctor. Good luck and tell us what you find out.

Nicole

It seems from all I have read lately on this topic, it can be a good sign (if you are getting enough fiber) and it could be a bad sign because it can be malabsorption. I think we have to go over our diets and individual condition at the time to help figure it out. A doctor could think you were fine (thinking the fiber issue) and skip over the possibility of it being malabsorption. If you have celiac, I would lean towards malabsorption. This is a tough one.

LuvMoosic4life Collaborator
LuvMoosic4life
Posted

I always though t floating stools meant a lot of gas in the stool. I used to have them all the time b4 going gluten-free. The only time I have had them while gluten-free is if I eat too many processed foods. I eat tons of fruits and veggies now and nearly NO processed foods at all and never have floating stools.

  • 1 month later...
thleensd Enthusiast
thleensd
Posted

I'm not a poop expert...hehe, but in trying to figure out what the heck was wrong pre-diagnosis I learned some stuff.

The best description I read that was stool should be the consistency of toothpaste, float for a moment, then sink slowly. THERE's something to strive for!

Fatty stools float, but they often are hard to flush away - crud sticks to the sides of the bowl. Also, there will frequently be a greasy film.

That being said, any time you change your diet drastically your stools will change as well. So, give your body a couple of weeks to normalize, and try for a balanced diet.

Hi all...I have an icky question for ya..

I have been on the gluten free diet since late June...so for about 3 months or so. The past week/week and a half, I've been noticing that at least once a day when i go to the restroom for #2...it floats. I thought I'd heard that this was a sign of celiac and the malabsorbtion of fat. I have been careful about not ingesting any gluten that I'm aware of.....but I find it odd that all of a sudden this seems to be happening. I don't actually recall it happening BEFORE I was on a gluten free diet. So my question is: Is this a normal thing that happens every once in awhile regardless of whether you have celiac or not? Does it mean that I've ingested gluten and my body isn't absorbing it? Or.....?? I'm just not sure if I'm reading too far into it or not. Any advice is appreciated

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,547
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    gizmo1jazz2
    Newest Member
    gizmo1jazz2
    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.