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

imisskitkats

By imisskitkats
in Doctors

Recommended Posts

imisskitkats Rookie
imisskitkats
Posted

My naturalpath suggest thorne bpp and vitalzyme enzymes to help me digest food. I am gluten and dairy intolerant and get excessive burping after eating ANYTHING. SHe says they are 100% safe and not addictive. My gastroenterologist says that the digestive enzymes are harmful and cause fiberous tissue like scar tissue to clog up in the colon that will eventually cause surgery. Who is right? I need them to eat but I also don't need more colon/digestive problems. I am only 32!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

My naturalpath suggest thorne bpp and vitalzyme enzymes to help me digest food. I am gluten and dairy intolerant and get excessive burping after eating ANYTHING. SHe says they are 100% safe and not addictive. My gastroenterologist says that the digestive enzymes are harmful and cause fiberous tissue like scar tissue to clog up in the colon that will eventually cause surgery. Who is right? I need them to eat but I also don't need more colon/digestive problems. I am only 32!

I googled the Thorne BPP product and was very impressed. That addresses hypochloridia (insufficient stomach acid which is much more common than excess stomach acid) and pancreatic insufficiency (which is rarer than hypochloridia, but still occasionally found). Both of those conditions can cause gas and burping after eating. So your ND had a good idea. I was diagnosed with hypochloridia by Heidelberg capsule test and now take betaine hydrochloride with every meal.

HOWEVER, my doc warns people not to use betaine hydrochloride unless they have been tested for stomach acid production (not just how much acid is in the esophagus). If people have H. Pylori which causes ulcers or any other stomach damage, HCl capsules can cause serious problems. The Thorne BP capsules contain about 500mg of HCl each. IF your doctor thinks you have hypochloridia or wants to test you for that, I suggest taking one capsule per meal and really pay attention to how you feel afterward. Even though I was diagnosed with Hypochloridia, I started with 1 capsule per meal and slowly worked up to my current level.

As for the gastro's comments, I don't know where he/she got those ideas. However mainstream docs are greatly influenced by Big Pharma, which opposes anything that can't be patented and sold as a 'drug'. I can only imagine what things pharmaceutical reps say about naturopathic recommended products.

imisskitkats Rookie
imisskitkats
Posted
  • Author

thank you for your reply. I was tested for low stomach acid by a stool sample. I was very low. I feel better when taking the digestive enzymes. No burping what so ever. If I don't take the the burping returns no matter what I eat. So it makes me feel like the naturalpath is correct but I am also a little nervous not to listen to the recommendation of my md..

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

thank you for your reply. I was tested for low stomach acid by a stool sample. I was very low. I feel better when taking the digestive enzymes. No burping what so ever. If I don't take the the burping returns no matter what I eat. So it makes me feel like the naturalpath is correct but I am also a little nervous not to listen to the recommendation of my md..

Your MD is completely wrong on this and you should not listen to such crazy advice. People who have compromised digestive abilities due to pancreatic insufficiency have to take digestive enzymes or they cannot completely digest their food. I am one of them. It replaces what your body does not make enough of. To say it can cause scarring or other such nonsense sounds like your doctor is either not educated enough on the matter or they are against taking any supplements that may help you feel better. Some doctors are like that...they want you to take RX meds and nothing else. To be honest, if I did everything doctors told me over the years, I would be dead or disabled by now. I take digestive enzymes myself because I have to. If they make your food digest better and get rid of symptoms you have, continue to take them, unless there is a genuine medical reason why you shouldn't.

burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

thank you for your reply. I was tested for low stomach acid by a stool sample. I was very low. I feel better when taking the digestive enzymes. No burping what so ever. If I don't take the the burping returns no matter what I eat. So it makes me feel like the naturalpath is correct but I am also a little nervous not to listen to the recommendation of my md..

I don't think you can diagnose hypochloridia from a stool sample, because the intestinal pH is alkaline. However you can diagnose malabsorption from stool samples (Enterolab includes those in their tests). So maybe your ND prescribed the enzymes after your stool sample indicated malabsorption.

domesticactivist Collaborator
domesticactivist
Posted

I noticed I am much more comfortable and have much more normal stool and less gas with digestive enzymes. But it says right on the bottle not to take them regularly. I hadn't heard about the scarring your MD talked about and would be interested in knowing why it's something the bottle would say to use sparingly.

imisskitkats Rookie
imisskitkats
Posted
  • Author

interesting. Neither of my enzymes say that. They say to use with each meal. What brand do you take and what type?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I miss kitkats too...just saying.... :ph34r:

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 rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      @rei.b, I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be. I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse. My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet. It makes a big difference. Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies. So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms...
    2. captaincrab55
      - captaincrab55 replied to lmemsm's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Finding gluten free ingredients

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal. My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet. I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free...
    3. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long? DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule. This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are produced in response to. TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to...
    5. rei.b
      - rei.b replied to rei.b's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      14

      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,130
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tony White
    Newest Member
    Tony White
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

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



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
×
×
  • 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.