Fecal Impaction-Does This Indicate Strongly Towards Celiac?

[asickdaddy]

I have been in testing for celiac. Blood indicates mostly normal levels although the TTG seemed borderline, the doctor does not really believe in the blood test so that is the good news. My next step is gene testing. I did the endoscopy but was already gluten free and they did not take biopsies. My doctor thinks that another endoscopy is pointless he thinks that starting this week I just need to become gluten and dairy free. That is the plan.

Anyway, today I realized as a kid I had multiple times where I was so constipated that it became stuck. Sorry to be graphic. This happened to me about 10-15 times and it was extremely painful and a few times I thought I needed to head to the emergency room. I figured out a trick to get it out and so far it has worked. But it sucks. Sorry to be graphic.

Anyway, it happened this past weekend and it was extreme. I have been eating a ton of gluten per the testing. This week I start gluten free.

My son, who is 3 has had similar episodes already. He has probably had this happen to him a good 3-4 times, fortunately I have experience.

Is fecal impaction and chronic constipation a strong indicator of celiac?

When I did the gluten free diet in the past my bowels within a week seemed regular.

I am just counting down the hours to resume the diet. I may go out with a bang, but probably not as I feel ill as it is.

[IrishHeart]

It's okay--we talk about poo issues on here all the time. Goes with the territory of dealing with gluten intolerance.

Yes...Chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea or alternating bowels are all associated with celiac and gluten intolerance.

Try probiotics--they help balance gut flora. And lots of water. They work miracles. For the first time in MANY years of "irritable bowel" , (so they called it) -- including severe bouts of D that had me in the ER hooked up to IV bags or half hour wrestling matches with the big C that rendered me sweating and nearly unconscious on the floor--and now, I am right as rain every single day. Whoohoo!

And to give you some more TMI I have a relative who could not force out more than a few "marbles" for her whole life. It is a mystery how she did not self-implode. I strongly suggested the gluten-free diet and probiotics to her--once I was DXed and genetic testing was positive, I shared my info with my extended family--and for the first time in her entire life, she has normal painless BMs. She actually called me in tears of joy to tell me the good news.

What are you waiting for, "daddy"? Get back to being gluten-free&DF as soon as you can! Hope you feel better soon!

[txplowgirl]

I can remember at the age of 7 me fighting my mother and grandmother because they were trying to give me an enema because I hadn't pooed in like 2 weeks, That was not fun. All my life I had more c than d. It wasn't unusual for me to have a bm maybe once every 3 to 4 weeks sometimes as long as 6. I would normally get an impaction at least once a year but to me it was normal. I would eat something I knew would give me the big D and I would be my "normal" self again. We are talking 40 years like this. 2 Weeks after going gluten free I started having regular bms, I was absolutely shocked that I was going at least once every couple of days. That was just amazing to me. It really shocked me when I went every day for 3 weeks straight.

Go back to gluten free and in time you will be regular to. Hang in there and feel better and sounds like your little one needs to be to.

[asickdaddy]

Thanks for the responses. I am a little excited, going back on the diet starting tomorrow. The doctor saw me on friday and strongly agreed finally to the diet. So back I go.

As for genetic testing, does it matter if you are eating gluten free when you do the test? I can't imagine why it should I just want to know.

[organicmama]

No, you don't need to eat gluten for the genetic test.

[IrishHeart]

No gluten challenge necessary for genetic testing. And if your little one is also having severe constipation---I agree with TXPLOWGIRL--he may need to be gluten-free too.

Recently, I read a few articles that state researchers are finding that more genes than just the so-called "celiac Genes" of HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 are also linked to gluten insensitivity, so unfortunately, EVEN THOSE tests are not as reliable as once was thought. This thing is much bigger than anyone realizes.

There are more gluten intolerant/sensitive people and full-blown celiacs out there than the medical community is willing to acknowledge. I do not know why they drag their collective feet learning about this disease process. No money in people being healthy, I suspect.

In the end, it comes to down to this---knowing your own body and what works best to keep you healthy--physically and emotionally.

If I had continued listening to the nay-sayers about gluten, I would still be violently ill and in crippling pain--sitting in a wheelchair in a mental health ward no doubt. That's how bad gluten and celiac disease affected me.

Go with your gut on this one! (pun intended )

Best wishes!