Malabsorption - Celiac Disease = Catastrophe Living

[JNBunnie1]

Hello. I completely understand how you feel. I have been gluten free for 6 months and can't seem to gain weight. Initially, I gained 4 pounds but seemed to have lost it. I definitely have less stomach issues but still have some. I can't seem to even hit 90 lbs. I won't lie that sometimes I get scared that my body is wasting away into nothing. It's a helpless feeling. It's frustrating to not like your body and even more so to know that it's unhealthy. I hate being young and having a skeletal body, I want curves. I hate the questions from strangers asking if I am anorexic. I would just say hang in there because at some point it has to turn around and we will start gaining weight. Definitely talk to your doctor though. I am lucky and have a great doctor who listens to my concerns. I also meet with a dietician but it really doesn't do too much good since I can't gain weight and he gets frustrated with me. Anyways, Hang in there

HI! Sounds like you're having a tough time. Can I ask if you've considered other food intolerances? This sounds like a common problem with people who find they also can't have dairy, that may be what's keeping you from gaining weight.

And I know just how you feel, I was extremely underweight before gluten-free as well and people would always bug me about. I've gained 40 lbs and love having a soft self. I hope we can help you get there!

[debmidge]

Hi Everyone,

Do any of you suffer from malabsorption???? I am suffering from malabsorption currently and it isn't a nice to have at all. My body has started to heal itself slowly( a little too slow)..

The gluten diet did help with absorbing vitamins again.. Which is wonderful..

At any stage in your life .. Did your body resemble this photo?

http://www.pigur.co.il/imgceliac/celiac.webp

Do any of your have issues with parietal cells??? I have these cells and my body seems to be getting thinner.

Why does everyone here with celiac disease seem to be normal weight??? If you were extremely thin... How long did it take you to recover?

:( :( :(

My husband had been misdiagnosed Celiac for 27 years and became malnourished due to malabsorption.

The gastro who finally diagnosed him said that there's nothing else wrong other than celiac and soy allergy (and hiatial hernia and two or three duodunem uclers which are healed) and he has no idea why my husband cannot gain his weight back. My husband loses weight very quickly as well. He's very very lean and has lost muscle tissue over the years. He is soy sensistive and he avoids soy.

I think he should be gaining weight now but he has not in the last 5 years since going gluten free.

He never eats gluten and isn't getting it from an unknown source as he eats basic foods (no processed foods, no eating out and I have a gluten-free kitchen). He has no gut/bowel symptoms, like he used to before going gluten free so that's good and he does not have diarrhea like he used to have before going gluten free. It certainly is a puzzle.

[stellar]

I was overweight when I first started having symptoms and lost 20 pounds in about 6 weeks (the doctors said I was at my ideal weight which made me feel so much better-not!). Since then I've gradually lost another 15 and am very skinny. People that haven't seen me in awhile are shocked and hardly recognize me. I look sickly and my skin is hanging from my bones. Even though my appetite has increased since going gluten free 2 months ago, I can't seem to put any weight back on. I never thought I would be back into my high school size, but I don't like it. I felt much better when I was overweight!

[rumbles]

For some of us, celiac is only part of the malabsorption problem. The gluten

free diet only addresses malabsorption caused by ingesting gluten. There are

other conditions that often accompany celiac that also create absorption

problems. Two that I've become way too familiar with are low stomach

acid (hypochlorhydria), and pancreatic enzyme deficiency.

If there isn't enough HCL in the stomach, the first stage of protein digestion

doesn't take place, so the remaining stages of protein digestion are ineffective.

(See previous post: low stomach acid often creates acid reflux/GERD.) If

pancreatic enzymes are deficient, the second stage of protein digestion,

and the primary stages of fat metabolism (break down of triglycerides) and

carbohydrate metabolism don't take place. Protein, fats and carbohydrates

then enter the other areas of the intestines in a state (structure) that is

unnatural to the body (similar to a foreign body). Long term deficiency of

pancreatic enzymes effect every cell in the body, eventually causing those

cells to lose their permeability (until the deficiency is corrected and

controlled), - causing problems with insulin regulation, and fatigue, among

other things, and also creating additional problems with vitamin and mineral

absorption "farther down the line."

Pancreatic enzyme deficiency can cause weight loss. Long term pancreatic

deficiency can cause people to not be able to lose weight. If pancreatic

deficiency exists, taking supplemental enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease)

will usually cause weight gain; for those that can't lose weight because of

the deficiency, after the body is readjusted (as in no longer working in

starvation mode) to the enzymes, supposedly, the extra weight will come

off on it's own when the metabolism resets within a few months of taking

the supplements (being in this category, I'm testing this part!).

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a broken record (or a text book!), but I

think it's really important for us to continue looking for answers if we still

have issues after going gluten free. We've already learned how much of

a stake most doctors seem to have in making us well and well educated,

so it's up to us, ~ please don't stop searching for answers until you are

completely healthy!

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

For some of us, celiac is only part of the malabsorption problem. The gluten

free diet only addresses malabsorption caused by ingesting gluten. There are

other conditions that often accompany celiac that also create absorption

problems. Two that I've become way too familiar with are low stomach

acid (hypochlorhydria), and pancreatic enzyme deficiency.

If there isn't enough HCL in the stomach, the first stage of protein digestion

doesn't take place, so the remaining stages of protein digestion are ineffective.

(See previous post: low stomach acid often creates acid reflux/GERD.) If

pancreatic enzymes are deficient, the second stage of protein digestion,

and the primary stages of fat metabolism (break down of triglycerides) and

carbohydrate metabolism don't take place. Protein, fats and carbohydrates

then enter the other areas of the intestines in a state (structure) that is

unnatural to the body (similar to a foreign body). Long term deficiency of

pancreatic enzymes effect every cell in the body, eventually causing those

cells to lose their permeability (until the deficiency is corrected and

controlled), - causing problems with insulin regulation, and fatigue, among

other things, and also creating additional problems with vitamin and mineral

absorption "farther down the line."

Pancreatic enzyme deficiency can cause weight loss. Long term pancreatic

deficiency can cause people to not be able to lose weight. If pancreatic

deficiency exists, taking supplemental enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease)

will usually cause weight gain; for those that can't lose weight because of

the deficiency, after the body is readjusted (as in no longer working in

starvation mode) to the enzymes, supposedly, the extra weight will come

off on it's own when the metabolism resets within a few months of taking

the supplements (being in this category, I'm testing this part!).

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a broken record (or a text book!), but I

think it's really important for us to continue looking for answers if we still

have issues after going gluten free. We've already learned how much of

a stake most doctors seem to have in making us well and well educated,

so it's up to us, ~ please don't stop searching for answers until you are

completely healthy!

Could the problem be pancreatic insufficiency?????

I have been doing some research on medical illnesses,which affect people with celiac disease/allergies/malabsorption.

Pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough chemicals and digestive enzymes for normal digestion to occur.

When pancreatic insufficiency is severe, malabsorption (impaired absorption of nutrients by the intestines) may result, leading to deficiencies of essential nutrients and the occurrence of loose stools containing unabsorbed fat (steatorrhea).

Severe pancreatic insufficiency occurs in cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, and surgeries of the gastrointestinal system in which portions of the stomach or pancreas are removed. Certain gastrointestinal diseases, such as stomach ulcers,1 celiac disease,2 and Crohn

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

For some of us, celiac is only part of the malabsorption problem. The gluten

free diet only addresses malabsorption caused by ingesting gluten. There are

other conditions that often accompany celiac that also create absorption

problems. Two that I've become way too familiar with are low stomach

acid (hypochlorhydria), and pancreatic enzyme deficiency.

If there isn't enough HCL in the stomach, the first stage of protein digestion

doesn't take place, so the remaining stages of protein digestion are ineffective.

(See previous post: low stomach acid often creates acid reflux/GERD.) If

pancreatic enzymes are deficient, the second stage of protein digestion,

and the primary stages of fat metabolism (break down of triglycerides) and

carbohydrate metabolism don't take place. Protein, fats and carbohydrates

then enter the other areas of the intestines in a state (structure) that is

unnatural to the body (similar to a foreign body). Long term deficiency of

pancreatic enzymes effect every cell in the body, eventually causing those

cells to lose their permeability (until the deficiency is corrected and

controlled), - causing problems with insulin regulation, and fatigue, among

other things, and also creating additional problems with vitamin and mineral

absorption "farther down the line."

Pancreatic enzyme deficiency can cause weight loss. Long term pancreatic

deficiency can cause people to not be able to lose weight. If pancreatic

deficiency exists, taking supplemental enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease)

will usually cause weight gain; for those that can't lose weight because of

the deficiency, after the body is readjusted (as in no longer working in

starvation mode) to the enzymes, supposedly, the extra weight will come

off on it's own when the metabolism resets within a few months of taking

the supplements (being in this category, I'm testing this part!).

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a broken record (or a text book!), but I

think it's really important for us to continue looking for answers if we still

have issues after going gluten free. We've already learned how much of

a stake most doctors seem to have in making us well and well educated,

so it's up to us, ~ please don't stop searching for answers until you are

completely healthy!

Rumbles,

Thank you... you are 100% correct

Everyone's best health advocate is themselves...

Doctors don't worry about our problems or stay awake worrying about our health issues..

[rumbles]

Ms. Skinny Chick,

You got it, - pancreatic insufficiency is exactly what I was talking about.

It doesn't always present like the text books say though, - instead of

bulky stools or diarrhea, I won the lottery with constipation and weight

gain. I started researching after I started getting a rock in my stomach

after eating, which turned on the light bulb that made me realize I still

wasn't digesting food like I should. While the classic text book symptoms

didn't match, some of the other symptoms (fatigue, anemia, iron

deficiency/bruising, vitamin deficiencies, varicose veins, allergic reactions

to bug & bee stings, etc.) of deficiencies of the three primary pancreatic

enzymes fit so well, that I started taking the enzymes. Worried about

weight gain, I started by only taking them once a day, which showed

some improvement, then eventually decided that the weight gain wasn't

as important as getting rid of the anemia and fatigue, and started taking

them with every meal. (Thankfully, ~ now remember I'm backwards from

the text book picture of weight loss ~ the weight gain stopped for me

after three days. From what I read, those that are on the text book side

of the picture will continue to gain weight until the imbalance is corrected

and will continue to gain until the body reaches what would be it's normal

weight, and then will stabilize, and those of us that are on the other end

will eventually lose the weight naturally after the imbalance is corrected

and stabilized.) I checked with a couple manufacturers before I started

taking it, as I wanted to know what would happen if I was wrong, and

didn't need it, - they advised me that the worst that would happen if I

didn't need it or took too much would be that I'd get an upset stomach

and intestinal upset for a short time after taking it.

I also had the bruising problem, and taking iron, sublingual B-12 and C

didn't make much of a difference. K2 helped, but didn't stop it. HCL with

pepsin, and pancreatin is working, - and as a side benefit, my ugly spider

and varicose veins are going away.

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

Ms. Skinny Chick,

You got it, - pancreatic insufficiency is exactly what I was talking about.

It doesn't always present like the text books say though, - instead of

bulky stools or diarrhea, I won the lottery with constipation and weight

gain. I started researching after I started getting a rock in my stomach

after eating, which turned on the light bulb that made me realize I still

wasn't digesting food like I should. While the classic text book symptoms

didn't match, some of the other symptoms (fatigue, anemia, iron

deficiency/bruising, vitamin deficiencies, varicose veins, allergic reactions

to bug & bee stings, etc.) of deficiencies of the three primary pancreatic

enzymes fit so well, that I started taking the enzymes. Worried about

weight gain, I started by only taking them once a day, which showed

some improvement, then eventually decided that the weight gain wasn't

as important as getting rid of the anemia and fatigue, and started taking

them with every meal. (Thankfully, ~ now remember I'm backwards from

the text book picture of weight loss ~ the weight gain stopped for me

after three days. From what I read, those that are on the text book side

of the picture will continue to gain weight until the imbalance is corrected

and will continue to gain until the body reaches what would be it's normal

weight, and then will stabilize, and those of us that are on the other end

will eventually lose the weight naturally after the imbalance is corrected

and stabilized.) I checked with a couple manufacturers before I started

taking it, as I wanted to know what would happen if I was wrong, and

didn't need it, - they advised me that the worst that would happen if I

didn't need it or took too much would be that I'd get an upset stomach

and intestinal upset for a short time after taking it.

I also had the bruising problem, and taking iron, sublingual B-12 and C

didn't make much of a difference. K2 helped, but didn't stop it. HCL with

pepsin, and pancreatin is working, - and as a side benefit, my ugly spider

and varicose veins are going away.

What are you taking for your issues?? pancreatin 800 ? or something else????

[rumbles]

Pancreatin 500 mg.

[Leiana]

Hi Everyone,

Do any of you suffer from malabsorption???? I am suffering from malabsorption currently and it isn't a nice to have at all. My body has started to heal itself slowly( a little too slow)..

The gluten diet did help with absorbing vitamins again.. Which is wonderful..

At any stage in your life .. Did your body resemble this photo?

http://www.pigur.co.il/imgceliac/celiac.webp

Do any of your have issues with parietal cells??? I have these cells and my body seems to be getting thinner.

Why does everyone here with celiac disease seem to be normal weight??? If you were extremely thin... How long did it take you to recover?

:( :( :(

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

That picture is me, except for the big belly. upper body, arms, chest are just bones. blood test showed that the LIPASE WAS OUT OF RANGE at 79. dont know what that means. dr. said i am gluten senstive and also had the endocope two days ago and waiting for biopsy report. he did say i had a ulcer and put me on prevacid and gave me CREON. does creon put on weight? i read all the post and still having an hard time understanding this. dont want to go on feeding tubes to gain a pound!!! please help