Celiacs With Chronic C

[wschmucks]

Hi Guys,

I have suffered from chronic constipation for the past 2 years now and is what lead to my diagnosis. I have been gluten free for 2 months now and have seen very mild improvements in my constipation but some good improvements in other areas. I still have to take amitizaand use other laxatives (Dr approved etc-- not addicted to laxatives or anything) every single day other wise i will not go AT ALL. The medication used to have no effect what so ever and now it helps me to go, but every 10 days or so i'll get constipated again. I know that it will take a long time to heal etc. But I was just wondering if anyone could tell me their story and maybe help me understand what to expect and if you have any other tips that might help me out. D seems to be a more popular symptom so I'm not really sure what happens to us C Celiacs.

PS- I am a vegetarian (not a fiber issue), drinks TONS of water, and used to be a professional runner-- so exercise is not the problem-- the C is a def related to the Celiac

[YoloGx]

Hi,

I know exactly what you are talking about. Here's what I do:

To counteract intransigent constipation, I highly suggest you take magnesium citrate to bowel tolerance. Back off a bit when you get D. I take approximately 1 teaspoon a day, split into 2 doses (i.e., 1/2 tsp. at a time) along with calcium citrate (2 tsp. total also split into 2 doses of 1 tsp. each) with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. The vinegar will help with general digestion plus help you digest the minerals. I use boiling hot water to help break down the minerals. And then add the vinegar when it starts to cool a little. I like to use Bragg's. I drink it warmish hot, especially this time of year. I still need to do this after a year of being off all trace glutens--after several years thinking I was mostly gluten-free (last year my sister pointed out the need to go off all trace glutens). This vinegar and hot water will help with mineral absorption by the way...

Meanwhile to heal your intestines try taking marshmallow root and slippery elm. These two taken as either capsules or as powder you mix in water will really soothe and help heal the lining of your villi.

Digestive enzymes may also be needed by the way. Both with meals and in between to help heal the villi--such as bromelain/papain etc.

I actually use nattokinase --a fibronylitic enzyme-- (or serrapeptidase etc.) in order to counteract severe scarring since I have had untreated celiac practically all my life up until last year. It helps against other scar tissue as well plus cleans your blood vessels and heart. Don't take nattokinase if you are a bleeder however...Look it up on the Internet sometime.

You might also need fresh ground flax seed (1 tablsp. ground in your clean coffee grinder with 1/4 tsp. of apple pectin powder--helps if pectin is put in the grinder with the flax seed too since then it mixes better) all mixed in water then chased by more water. Also its a good idea to take an enterically coated probiotics. I like Now's GR-8.

This really should work... If not also try taking yellow dock and dandelion root capsules fairly regularly. Go off of these last every ten days or so. Can alternate with milk thistle and oregon grape root. Don't use tinctures since they are made usually with grain alcohol and even with glycerin may not be completely gluten-free (from CC) unless they say so. I take these blood cleansers now and then, as needed. Most especially if I happen to get exposed to CC!!

Good luck! Let me know if it works for you or not. Good work with the diet and exercise by the way! I do that too and it really does help for that and everything else. As a result I don't seem to get the usual flue and colds etc. that I used to get ad nauseum for much longer and harder than anyone else.

Bea

[mftnchn]

This is good advice. Magnesium is needed for the intestinal muscles to contract.

Part of the problem for me has been that gluten-free was not enough to heal. I've been strictly gluten-free since 04/07. I am finally starting to see some signs of healing after 5 months on the specific carbohydrate diet. Apparently due to villi damage I was not digesting carbs. This was causing major problems in the lower digestive system. Fecal residue testing (that tests for sugars) showed this problem.

Currently things are still wildly fluctuating but after starting the SCD I started going a little bit most every day as soon as I get up. That had never before happened in my whole life.

Another thing I have learned since reading up, is that for those of us with enough damage, fiber may contribute to constipation. The fiber thing is for people with more healthy intestinal tracts.

[YoloGx]

This is good advice.

Part of the problem for me has been that gluten-free was not enough to heal. I am finally starting to see some signs of healing after 5 months on the specific carbohydrate diet. Apparently due to villi damage I was not digesting carbs. This was causing major problems in the lower digestive system.

Currently things are still wildly fluctuating but after starting the SCD I started going a little bit most every day as soon as I get up. That had never before happened in my whole life.

Another thing I have learned since reading up, is that for those of us with enough damage, fiber may contribute to constipation. The fiber thing is for people with more healthy intestinal tracts.

I just amended my suggestion by the way. Quick response mftnchn!!

I didn't mention that the co-enzyme B vitamins help me too quite a lot. I have trouble making use of B-1 otherwise, needed in order to digest carbohydrates and proteins. My myelin sheath was down to 50% as a result. This all turned around by taking co-enzyme B complex by Country Life as well as going off all trace glutens. I don't seem to do well with sublinguals... though they did help at first. The sorbitol got to me.

I also have found I am allergic to a lot more things than I already thought including potatoes, tomatoes and green peppers.... Plus I keep ground up flour of any kind at a balance. My friend who has this worse than me often has to only eat cooked veggies until his gut heals if he has been exposed to CC etc... Apple pectin seems to be tolerated even when he is really sensitive -- though the ground flax might irritate an inflammed gut... think soothing. No spices etc. Definitely no sugar...

Bea

[CaraLouise]

Those are wonderful suggestions. I too have this problem most of the time. My doctor recommended taking Miralax and that seemed to help. I eat a ton of fiber and so I know that is not the issue, however I can tell I am not absorbing all my food (if you know what I mean). One thing I notice is that when I am stressed it is the worst. Thanks again! I love this forum!

[greeneyes33]

I have chronic constipation as well. I've had it for years. My dr suggests miralax. I know that my eating habits are not helping either. I was diagnosed 6 months ago and I've been eating everything in sight that is safe.

I think if I stuck to fruit veggies and protein like I should and drank more water and still took the miralax I would be ok. Excessive amounts of gluten free baked goods cannot be good for anyones insides!! LOL

Good luck

[emcmaster]

It's not going to go away, for me at least. I think it is a side effect of being sick for so long.

I also use Magnesium and have for years.

Open Original Shared Link is the one I take. I take mine at night and base my dosage on how well I "went" that day.

I also take Amitiza twice a day and most importantly, drink strong coffee in the morning.

[YoloGx]

I wonder if coffee is OK for celiacs in general though I know many do use it--and it is a laxative. However it is also a strong stimulant, the last thing I am told that we need since celiac creates or is a byproduct of an overactive autoimmune system. Does anyone know what is first, chicken or egg?

For me coffee a non issue since my kidneys are too sensitive to handle the caffeine. I used to use it a lot in my younger days as an antidote to migraines -- which now I no longer get unless I get glutened or have something I am really allergic to (like eggs, nuts, agave or chocolate).

A really good alternative is to make a kind of "coffee" out of dandelion root and yellow dock root or Oregon grape root. You can roast them if you want. These herbs are mildly laxative without being addictive and help the liver to detox and the intestines to do their peristalsis plus help systemically.

Another good herb to take occasionally is cleavers--one of the best lymphatic cleansers around. Can alternate cleavers with echinacea as needed. I find the lymphs need help too since the sludge left over from undigested proteins going into the blood stream eventually ends up there...

It all adds up and makes constipation and ill health more possible. Using the herbs has made it so I no longer get ill even in cold weather and around others who are still getting sick, whereas in the past I used to get every little thing... Plus with the magnesium and the herbs, I just don't get C anymore.

Bea

[greeneyes33]

I drink at least 2 cups of coffee every morning. I don't have any issue with it. It also doesn't seem to help the constipation problem either!!