30 Plus Polyps Found On Colonoscopy (In Early 30's)

[naturegirl]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone else has had polyps found. The gastroenterologist found more than 30 polyps when I had a colonoscopy done (a year and a half ago when I was 31 years old).

Fortunately, they were all hyperplastic and not of the type that tend to be pre-cancerous, after the biopsy. He removed most of them. I have not had a formal celiac diagnosis but was simply wondering if others who are celiac or gluten intolerant also have multiple polyps.

The gastroenterologist did not report anything else unusual (he did not even observe villi damage) except for the fact that my insides were not 'clean' despite having followed all pre-procedure instructions to the letter. This made me wonder if my digestive system was sort of 'slowed down'. Does anyone else feel that they might be processing food slowly? It's an impression that I have about my own digestive system.

Thanks a lot,

Josie

[Newbee]

I have not had a colonoscopy yet (just the endoscopy and biopsy that confirmed the celiac). My doc could see the damage in my intestines even before the biopsy results came back. I worry about my colon as my grandmother had colon cancer. I feel like I digest food very quickly instead of slowly. With the D that accompanies many celiacs I think a lot of us have that problem. If I'm lucky it will take at least 12 hours to digest my food but it should really take longer. Did you have symptoms of D or C?

[Blue-eyed bandit]

I am wondering if your like me with constipation before celiac diagnosis rather than text book diarrhea? After I got off all gluten AND milk I became regular. Maybe if you think your digesting too slowly try to eat a lot more vegetables and fruits to speed up the process. Extra water can't hurt either. .

[GladGirl]

I am wondering if your like me with constipation before celiac diagnosis rather than text book diarrhea? After I got off all gluten AND milk I became regular. Maybe if you think your digesting too slowly try to eat a lot more vegetables and fruits to speed up the process. Extra water can't hurt either. .

Wow, the number of polyps are quite a few, especially at your age! Guess they will want to check you every 3 - 5 years on that. So, when I was 50, I had my first colonoscopy and I ws not yet diagnosed with celiac disease, but, ummmmm you might have thought that the Dr. should have gotten the big "clue" on this at the time. Like you, she told me I was not "cleaned" out after following all the specific prep required. Hmmmm...yes, we have digestive problems don't we???? Then, I had a couple of hyperplastic polyps as well, and signs of divertiulitis caused by constipation issues over the years. I am now 59 and just diagnosed about 4 months ago and went gluten free. My system is still regulating slowly, but much better, dropped 20lbs so far, edema is lessening as well as muscle inflammation. I never had the "normal" IBS issues with loose bowels and weight loss that they talk about, but was anemic for many years. (iron shots hurt!!) Anyway, thank goodness you have found out these issues earlier in your life. I say that because almost all the organs I can live without are gone in my body...lol! No tonsils or adenoids, no appendix, and no gallbladder....I guess I still have a few I could get rid of!! LOL! But seriously, take care of yourself and hope your journey in this status becomes easier for you.

[GladGirl]

Also, Naturegirl, I wanted to post a link for you concerning Celiac Constipation information, it has been helping me:

Open Original Shared Link

[naturegirl]

Thanks so much for the responses... it is really helpful to just talk these things through with others that have had / are having similar challenges.

I would not say that constipation is a major issue for me. It happens once in a while but is pretty low on the list of 'concerning symptoms'. I posted here (my previous post) about my other symptoms...

I did have D for around 8 months (10x/day) when I first moved to America from Europe, 5 years ago. That is when I went gluten-low again (took me a year to go to strict gluten-free). Then, as I was not experiencing the D when in Europe (and diet was so similar), I suspected something in Colorado water and switched to mineral water. I also did acupuncture and Chinese herbs. The D went away. So, I'm still not clear what made it resolve but I feel very lucky that it did!

As far as this sense of my digestion being 'slowed down'... it is more as though my food just seems to kind of 'sit there' before I digest it... I feel as though my belly area is often swollen and I get nausea very frequently, particularly at night-time. I usually feel better once I go to the toilet.

Good idea to keep eating lots of fresh fruit and veggies... they always make me feel good and I'm a pescetarian so both are 'staples' already. And I do drink lots of water too (have to in Colorado - as so very dry).

Apart from the colonoscopy, the other reason I thought that maybe my system was 'slower' than most... is that I did a 3-day Wilderness Solo a few years back, during which I fasted (apart from the weakness from not eating - I've never felt better!). When I talked to all my other classmates, none of them had needed to go to the toilet during the 3 days, and I had been each day! Just thought that it was kind of weird (having said that, we were supposed to go in strange little bags to lessen the environmental impact, and maybe they didn't want to admit that they hadn't!!!).

Yes, due to get another colonoscopy 5 years after first (when gastroenterologist first saw I had 30 polyps, he said I'd need one every 6 months - but after good results from biopsy he changed it to 5 years).

Anyway, if anyone else has had multiple polyps, that was the main reason I was posting here... to see if there is a connection...

Thanks again.