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Can Constipation Be A Symptom Of Celiac?

jwblue

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jwblue Apprentice
jwblue
Posted

I read everywhere about diarrhea. What about constipation?

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GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Absolutely. While diarrhea is a "classic" symptom of Celiac Disease many of us only experience constipation while others experience a bit of both.

Most of my symptoms were not on the "classic" list of symptoms. Here is a link for a more up to date list of the over 300 symptoms that can indicate Celiac Disease.

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Megan1980 Newbie
Megan1980
Posted

My older sister says when she went gluten-free she actually went at least once a day instead of every couple of days or more. She has the gene or genes for celiac but has never had a positive test.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I had constipation issues with celiac my entire life. I had D only a couple of times a year and it was usually related to illness or bad food.

C is also caused by hypothyroidism which has almost all of the same symptoms as celiac. I didn't have relief until my hypothyroidism was treated.

Best wishes.

jwblue Apprentice
jwblue
Posted
  • Author

I had constipation issues with celiac my entire life. I had D only a couple of times a year and it was usually related to illness or bad food.

C is also caused by hypothyroidism which has almost all of the same symptoms as celiac. I didn't have relief until my hypothyroidism was treated.

Best wishes.

Did you have weight gain with the hypothyroidism?

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Did you have weight gain with the hypothyroidism?

Nicole will answer...she is great about that...just wanted to add that I had unexplained weight gain for decades - most pronounced after my kids were born. Docs always dismissed this as they hear people claim to eat well and exercise all the time and it is not always true - in my case it was very true -- my friends and family often wondered how I could be on the fluffy side given how much they knew I exercised and the food I ate - more than once I was asked what am I snacking on in private - I never ate poorly - I did crave salty/crunchy snacks at bedtime, but never ate more than a handful of potato chips. Once I removed gluten I lost 30-40 pounds the first year while eating more than I ever had in my entire life.

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

Do people have diarrhea and tummy bloat? Do people have tummy bloat and constipation? Just wondering.

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GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Do people have diarrhea and tummy bloat? Do people have tummy bloat and constipation? Just wondering.

Yes and Yes.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Did you have weight gain with the hypothyroidism?

I didn't have a lot of weight gain but I have had some. I think some of that is due to limited physical activity and too many sugars, some was due to celiac and some could be from hypothyroidism. When I went gluten-free I went from close to 180lbs to 165lbs without cutting calories. I'm 5'8" and have a broad build for... a broad. ;) I look good in the low 150's and 140's so I could lose another 15lbs so my size 12 clothes fit better, or I'm back in a 10.

I did get down to 145 lbs a few years ago by working out (hard) for an hour a day and following the Eat Clea Diet and cutting out processed foods; that meant I was eating almost no gluten and I felt really good. I was eating a LOT of protein and I was losing 1 to 3 lbs a week... then I ate "the muffin" and my will power and feeling of good health left and I slowly regained my weight.

If I eat high protein and low carb I lose weight but if I just cut calories I don't lose much and I am very hungry. I don't know if that's related to the slower metabolism of hypothyroidism or not. I do have some signs of the slower metabolism like cold hands and feet, low body temp (I rarely break 97F) and slow nail and hair growth. Hypothyroidism also did a number on my energy levels, which in turn makes it more difficult to eat well (requires more effort) or to get up and exercise. I know that I tend to gain if I don't watch what i eat or exercise and it's been that way for a good 15 years.

Do people have diarrhea and tummy bloat? Do people have tummy bloat and constipation? Just wondering.

I had the tummy bloat and constipation. I was mistaken for being pregnant a few times a year. It was uncomfortable and I was getting quite self conscious about it. I was also worried that it was belly fat from eating too many sugars, and it would lead to prediabetes... you know that beer gut that men get with the thinner legs? That was me. Blah!

TMI...

When things would get backed up and uncomfortable, I can actually feel (with my hands) the last third of my intestine being distended through the front of my belly. I had a splenectomy years ago (due to another AI problem) and with the lack of muscle there, I can feel it clearly... very yuck. And not a comfortable or attractive contributor to my bloat.

A couple of weeks after starting thyroid treatment, my C basically resolved. I'm not sure if it was thyroid related (since I am undertreated and have hypo symptoms still) or if it just took 3 months gluten-free for that to finally improve. Who knows...

Best wishes to you. :)

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