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

Constipation Still An Issue

Maddie's mom

Recommended Posts

Maddie's mom Newbie
Maddie's mom
Posted

This is my first post and since I enjoy reading all of the great info you have to share, I thought I would see if anyone could help. My DD is 4 yrs old and was confirmed Celiac through blood work and biopsy in June. We have tried to be strict on the gluten-free diet; however, she has been accidently glutened a few times (she is sick for about 48 hours). She has suffered from severe constipation for a couple of years which is why we eventually had her tested for Celiac. Although we have been gluten-free for 4 months, she still takes a dose of Myralax every day and Ex-lax every other day so that she can have a BM (still not even daily). The BM's are easier for her, but I thought the gluten-free diet would resolve the need for the laxatives. Her GI doc feels that she can stay on the laxatives for a long time, but I keep wondering if there is another problem that we haven't tested for, or is she still ingesting gluten somehow or could it be another allergy? She just had another stomach x-ray 2 weeks ago and even with all that medicine and diet, it still showed that she is full of poo!

So my question is... Can you still have troubles with constipation on the gluten free diet knowing that constipation was the major symptom that led to the diagnosis? I would appreciate any response and thank you in advance for your help. :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted

Hi Maddie's mom,

Hypothyroidism can also cause constipation, but since your daughter is so young I doubt that's her problem. What if she has another intolerance? Dairy is a common culprit.

I don't think long-term laxative use is a good idea :( From what I've read, your body can become dependent. Also, what if your daughter has another disorder in addition to celiac? Autoimmune disorders tend to cluster. I think the best thing you could do is figure out the root cause of the constipation instead of treating the symptom. Easier said than done.

Sorry I don't have more advice. It must be frustrating for your whole family.

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted

When I saw this post, my first thought was thyroid, but she seems too young. Dairy can constipate me. It takes awhile to heal as well. I take magnesium oxide (2 daily) from GNC and it does the trick and is good for you!

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Hypothyroid can be from birth. It would be worth checking out. At least you can eliminate it and look elsewhere if it is NEG.

Maddie's mom Newbie
Maddie's mom
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the information! I have never even thought of a thyroid problem. I guess the question is where do you even begin to find out if that is the issue? Unfortunately even though I live in a city that has a wonderful Children's Hospital, we have only been able to see a GI Nurse Practitioner for the last 2 years. She feels that the laxatives are the answer and since we now have the Celiac diagnosis, the GI NP feels there is really no reason to look any further. So I feel stuck b/c it has to go through her recommendation to see anyone else in the department. So I don't know what to do... On a side note, I was pulling up info on the thryoid and I thought it was interesting that one of the articles mentioned "double vision". At the same time as her biopsy, she also had eye surgury to correct "double vision and cross-eye". I don't know if that is even related, but I jus thought it was interesting. <_<

Thanks again for the info and I will definately do some more research. I just want her to feel better!

Mother of Jibril Enthusiast
Mother of Jibril
Posted

If you do want to have your daughter tested for a thyroid disorder it's not expensive... just a blood test. Maybe Shay can say more about this, but kids have a lower "normal" range than adults. I think you want to have a TSH level under 1.0. If it's just a little high (let's say 4.0, which a lot of doctors are reluctant to treat even though it can cause all kinds of horrible symptoms), make sure she still gets treated! Thyroid disorders are dangerous in kids (even more than adults) because it affects their neurological development. That's why newborns are tested for congenital hypothyroidism.

celiac-mommy Collaborator
celiac-mommy
Posted
Thanks for the information! I have never even thought of a thyroid problem. I guess the question is where do you even begin to find out if that is the issue? Unfortunately even though I live in a city that has a wonderful Children's Hospital, we have only been able to see a GI Nurse Practitioner for the last 2 years. She feels that the laxatives are the answer and since we now have the Celiac diagnosis, the GI NP feels there is really no reason to look any further. So I feel stuck b/c it has to go through her recommendation to see anyone else in the department. So I don't know what to do... On a side note, I was pulling up info on the thryoid and I thought it was interesting that one of the articles mentioned "double vision". At the same time as her biopsy, she also had eye surgury to correct "double vision and cross-eye". I don't know if that is even related, but I jus thought it was interesting. <_<

Thanks again for the info and I will definately do some more research. I just want her to feel better!

Do you have a pediatrician? They should be able to order the test. IMO, when I want a test run on myself or my child, I don't beat around the bush and just suggest it, I usually don't give them much of a choice. I know my body and my kids' bodies better than the dr.s and if I think there's something wong, I don't take no for an answer-the women's intuition is pretty powerful-I went thru this with my dd last month, and instead of saying "what do you think about the thyroid as a possible issue?" I said, "Thyroid disease runs rampant (sp?) in my family, and I had mine removed at age 8, what thyroid tests are appropriate for a 7 y/o and lets go ahead and do them"--he didn't even bat an eye, he just ordered them. Also, what is her diet like? Is she eating a lot of fruits and veggies, nuts, dried fruit, high fiber additives like ground flax seed?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Maddie's mom Newbie
Maddie's mom
Posted
  • Author

Again, thanks for all of the insight, it definately gives me lots to research and look into. My dd has a GI appt. in 2 weeks so I will talk to her Nurse practitioner about getting some other testing done. We were already going to retest her blood levels so she should be able to add on a few other tests.

As for diet, there is always room for improvement, but she has been eating much better since going gluten-free. My dd has a very strong gag reflux and does not eat much food with texture. This has always proved to be a bit challenging! Dairy (yogurt, cheese, milk) have always been a favorite, but since going gluten-free we have tried to limit how much she eats of it. She does love fruits and veggies, and nuts, but we have never tried flax seed. Usually I see it in recipies for breads and as of yet, she will still not eat a gluten-free bread. I have tried everything from store bought to mixes to made from scratch and she won't get past the first bite.

Thanks again everyone! I really appreciate your responses!

swalker Newbie
swalker
Posted
Again, thanks for all of the insight, it definately gives me lots to research and look into. My dd has a GI appt. in 2 weeks so I will talk to her Nurse practitioner about getting some other testing done. We were already going to retest her blood levels so she should be able to add on a few other tests.

As for diet, there is always room for improvement, but she has been eating much better since going gluten-free. My dd has a very strong gag reflux and does not eat much food with texture. This has always proved to be a bit challenging! Dairy (yogurt, cheese, milk) have always been a favorite, but since going gluten-free we have tried to limit how much she eats of it. She does love fruits and veggies, and nuts, but we have never tried flax seed. Usually I see it in recipies for breads and as of yet, she will still not eat a gluten-free bread. I have tried everything from store bought to mixes to made from scratch and she won't get past the first bite.

Thanks again everyone! I really appreciate your responses!

swalker Newbie
swalker
Posted
This is my first post and since I enjoy reading all of the great info you have to share, I thought I would see if anyone could help. My DD is 4 yrs old and was confirmed Celiac through blood work and biopsy in June. We have tried to be strict on the gluten-free diet; however, she has been accidently glutened a few times (she is sick for about 48 hours). She has suffered from severe constipation for a couple of years which is why we eventually had her tested for Celiac. Although we have been gluten-free for 4 months, she still takes a dose of Myralax every day and Ex-lax every other day so that she can have a BM (still not even daily). The BM's are easier for her, but I thought the gluten-free diet would resolve the need for the laxatives. Her GI doc feels that she can stay on the laxatives for a long time, but I keep wondering if there is another problem that we haven't tested for, or is she still ingesting gluten somehow or could it be another allergy? She just had another stomach x-ray 2 weeks ago and even with all that medicine and diet, it still showed that she is full of poo!

So my question is... Can you still have troubles with constipation on the gluten free diet knowing that constipation was the major symptom that led to the diagnosis? I would appreciate any response and thank you in advance for your help. :)

Often wheat intolerant people are also intolerant of milk (casein) which can cause constipation as well. Switching to almond or rice milk as a test for a couple of weeks would be a good idea. Chia is an excellent addition to everyone's diet. It's the best source of vegetable omega 3's and also has tons of fiber, calcuim etc. A tablespoon ground in a smoothie with fruit and almond milk goes down our four year old every day. I also grind and add it to all of my baking. If she won't eat bread, will she eat mini muffins? I make banana, sweet potato, zucchini and carrot muffins and add ground chia and flax to them all the time. I also throw ground flax in my pancake and waffle batter. If she won't do muffins, zucchini brownies are generally extremely popular.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

The big C is my main symptom. Be sure she is getting some magnesium, the intestine cannot contract without it. Vitamin C and magnesium have helped me.

You might read the posts on www.pecanbread.com. The SCD has a constipation protocol. I wonder if it might be worth a trial on the SCD and follow the constipation protocol to see if this helps. It could be the inability to digest carbs that are keeping her from healing enough. This diet has helped me with C more than just going gluten-free did.

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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy. Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all. There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes. The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy...
    2. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped. It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition. Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here. Malnutrition...
    3. NanceK
      - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well. I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given...
    4. Wheatwacked
      - Wheatwacked replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      4

      Feel like I’m starting over

      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals. Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D. By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease. You got it from your mom or dad. Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Recovery from gluten challenge

      Hopefully the food she eats away from home, especially at school, is 100% gluten-free. If you haven't checked in with the school directly about this, it might be worth a planned visit with their staff to make sure her food is safe.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,291
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    DottieLyn
    Newest Member
    DottieLyn
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      My only proof

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Related issues

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      My only proof

      By NanceK · Posted

      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Feel like I’m starting over

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
    • Scott Adams
      Recovery from gluten challenge

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Hopefully the food she eats away from home, especially at school, is 100% gluten-free. If you haven't checked in with the school directly about this, it might be worth a planned visit with their staff to make sure her food is safe.
×
×
  • 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.