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

Digestive Enzymes

vbecton

By vbecton
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

vbecton Explorer
vbecton
Posted

My symptoms since going gluten-free are mounting. I'll spare you all the details, especially if you've seen my other posts! So...

I started on digestive enzymes yesterday. I'm taking Protease, Lipase, Amylase, Cellulase and some others are sprinkled in the pill for good measure. But those are the bulk that will help me break down carbs, fats, & proteins. Right?

My stomach seems to be upset, crampy, gassy after every meal. So, if I take the enzymes with my meal, are they designed to work instantly? I assume so :blink: Or are they something that needs to build up in my intestines over time before I see the full benefit?

Look folks, I don't want to get excited, but just after 24 hrs on these puppies my intestines aren't FREAKING out! Could be coincidence, but I'm a' hopin' it isn't :D

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

I've been taking them for awhile since I am not digesting fats. I got the ones with just the pancreatic enzymes not the stomach acid because I have an ulcer. I do believe they have helped. I ran out of them for a few days (was waiting on some in the mail) and I was miserable again. I was taking them according to the bottle and they helped my sypmtoms but didn't get rid of it. When I got my new bottle in I was taking as stated on the bottle, but I then decided along with the two with each meal I would take another one if I had a snack or something. It helped a bunch more that I actually had a solid movement. I still was watching the fat intake, but not eliminiting it completely. However, I am needing to do a fecal stool test so quit taking them yesterday and am eating fats. Let me tell you within 24 hours I have been running to the bathroom and can see visiable fat floating already. When taking them I did feel some relief within 24-48 hrs. but felt the best after about 5 days and taking extra with snacks. I would expect that this would depend on how strong your enzymes are though. I am going through with the testing because if it shows abnormal they said I may need to take stronger RX enzymes. I don't believe this is due to refractory sprue since my last blood work was normal with only a slightly positive AGA IgG. I had a repeat EGD with biopsy in April and was told my biopsy was normal. I have been suspecting my gallbladder and/or a pancreatic insufficiency. I do have a suboptimal functioning gallbaldder, but my gi said I would be hard pressed to find a surgeon to take it out since it is not at the surgical threshold. GI doc said he liked the function at least 50% or higher and mine was at 48%. I may even see about repeating the HIDA scan to see if it has gotten worse. I have a feeling by the end of the year it may get taken out.

vbecton Explorer
vbecton
Posted
  • Author

Yikes about the gallbladder! Sometimes doctors don't sense the urgency in matters. That's frustrating! I hope you get some relief with that.

I'm going into my GI next week for a boatload of test results, one of which is refractory. Not sure that is my issue, but maybe just an issue with digestion. I will talk to him about RX enzymes because I may need some heavy duty help. My intestines are a nightmare!

Maybe my issue is with fats also because my fecal fat count is always pretty high. Does this mean I've got a problem with my gallbladder or pancreas? I think he checked the levels of both on my last round of blood work and they came back normal. Not sure if that means anything.

Roda Rising Star
Roda
Posted

It could be caused from a problem from the gallbladder/pancreas. You don't always have to have a gall stones, pain and a "classical gallbladder attack" to have problems with it. It can simply not function properly by not contracting and releasing enough bile. I don't have bad pain, just a pulling/pinching sensation in my right upper abdomen. I notice it after I eat especially if it had any fat in it and I had the same sensation during my HIDA scan when they were injecting the kinevac. Good fats or bad fats it doesn't matter. You may be onto something if the enzymes seem to be helping. It also couln't hurt to have them do an ultrasound scan and HIDA scan on your gallbladder. All are worth discussing with the doctor. I told mine I wanted to try a conservitive approach before subjecting myself to surgery. I'm still trying things so I'm not ready for surgery yet.

EvieLS Rookie
EvieLS
Posted

It could be caused from a problem from the gallbladder/pancreas. You don't always have to have a gall stones, pain and a "classical gallbladder attack" to have problems with it. It can simply not function properly by not contracting and releasing enough bile. I don't have bad pain, just a pulling/pinching sensation in my right upper abdomen. I notice it after I eat especially if it had any fat in it and I had the same sensation during my HIDA scan when they were injecting the kinevac. Good fats or bad fats it doesn't matter. You may be onto something if the enzymes seem to be helping. It also couln't hurt to have them do an ultrasound scan and HIDA scan on your gallbladder. All are worth discussing with the doctor. I told mine I wanted to try a conservitive approach before subjecting myself to surgery. I'm still trying things so I'm not ready for surgery yet.

I had several Hida scans that showed no problems but a year ago no one told me not to eat and during Hida no digestive action was shown so it came out. felt better fo 3/4 of year. Now am doing 2 weeks dairy free and much less 'D', so may have gotten back dairy problem. Had been off for over a year and then back on so now to have e problem again is a bummer! Next trial will be fructose but can't find if beet and cane sugar are included with fruit sugar..anyone have the answer??

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. Florence Lillian
      - Florence Lillian replied to Jay Heying's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      5

      Celiac friendly probiotics

      In response to your questions regarding probiotics. I have had Celiac for 40 years. Stomach issues: digestion, IBS to chronic constipation, bloat after eating anything. I was unable to eat a healthy variety of foods, tried probiotics supplements - some made me worse, others made no difference. After reading about people with Crones, IBS, etc, who made...
    2. slkrav
      - slkrav posted a topic in Introduce Yourself / Share Stuff
      0

      Gluten free beer ?

      Help me out here. Lauren Dam gluten-free beer from Spain is listed as gluten free. Yet its made from Barley Malt. I thought barley and any form had gluten. Anybody have any more information about it?
    3. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Ferritin levels. And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic? You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests. I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial...
    4. Mari
      - Mari replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      New here

      Hi Katht - I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was...
    5. Colleen H
      - Colleen H replied to Colleen H's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      16

      Ibuprofen

      Yes thyroid was tested.. negative Iron ...I'm. Not sure ... Would that fall under red blood count? If so I was ok Thank you for the detailed response..☺️
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,879
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Peta Dunn
    Newest Member
    Peta Dunn
    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

    • Florence Lillian
      Celiac friendly probiotics

      By Florence Lillian · Posted

      In response to your questions regarding probiotics.  I have had Celiac for 40 years.  Stomach issues: digestion, IBS to chronic constipation, bloat after eating anything.  I was unable to eat a healthy variety of foods, tried probiotics supplements - some made me worse, others made no difference.  After reading about people with Crones, IBS, etc, who made their own probiotics I started making Milk Kefir: not water Kefir. There are 10 probiotics in milk KEFIR. After 3 weeks I was able to eat more, no gas, no IBS.  If you have a computer just ask for videos on making milk Kefir. I branched out and make my own Kombucha for even more probiotics. I do not make my yogurt because there are only about four probiotics in that. I started this when I was 82 and I still make my own Kefir and Kombucha. My stomach issues were fixed with the Milk Kefir alone. If you decide to try making it, make certain you order MILK GRAINS. The finished product tastes a bit like Buttermilk. I hope this helps in your journey to good health.
    • slkrav
      Gluten free beer ?

      By slkrav · Posted

      Help me out here. Lauren Dam gluten-free beer from Spain is listed as gluten free. Yet its made from Barley Malt. I thought barley and any form had gluten. Anybody have any more information about it?
    • cristiana
      Ibuprofen

      By cristiana · Posted

      Ferritin levels.  And see what your hemoglobin looks like too, that will tell you if you are anemic?  You can have 'low normal' levels that will not be flagged by blood tests.  I had 'low normal' levels, my lab reading was. c12, just over what was considered normal, but I had small benign lesion on my tongue, and sometimes a sore mouth, and a consultant maxillofacial ordered an iron infusion for me as he felt my levels were too low and if he  raised them to 40, it would help.   Because you are not feeling 100% it might be worth looking at your levels, then discussing with your doctor if they are low normal.  But I stress, don't supplement iron without your levels being monitored, too much is dangerous.
    • Mari
      New here

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Katht -  I sympathize with your struggles in following a gluten-free diet and lifestyle. I found out that I had Celiac Disease a few months before I turned 70. I just turned 89 and it has taken me almost 20 years to attain a fairly normal intestinal  function. I also lost a lot of weight, down to 100 lb. down from about 140 lb. What Trents wrote you was very true for me. I am still elimination foods from my diet. One person suggested you keep a food diary and that is a good idea but it is probably best just to do an elimination diet. There are several ne and maybe one for celiacs. I used one for a while and started with plain rice and zucchini and then added back other foods to see if I reacted or not. That helped a great deal but what I did not realise that it would only very small amounts of some foods to cause inflammation in my intestine. Within the last few years I have stopped eating any trace amounts of hot peppers, corn and soy(mostly in supplements) and nuts, (the corn in Tylenol was giving me stomach aches and the nuts were causing foot pains). Starting an elimination diet with white rice is better than brown rice that has some natural toxins. In addition it is very important to drink sufficient plain water. You can find out how much to drink for your height and weight online. I do have difficulty drinking 48 ounces of water but just recently have found an electrolyte supplement that helps me stay well hydrated, Adding the water and electrolytes may reduce muscle cramps and gag spams you wrote about. . Also buy some anti-gluten enzyme capsules to take with meals. I use GliadinX advertised here. These are a lot of things to do at one time as they reflect my 20 years of experience. I hope you do what you can manage to do over time. Good luck and take care.
    • Colleen H
      Ibuprofen

      By Colleen H · Posted

      Yes thyroid was tested.. negative  Iron ...I'm. Not sure ... Would that fall under red blood count?  If so I was ok  Thank you for the detailed response..☺️
×
×
  • 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.