1. < Digestive Health

Leaky Gut, Constipation and Gluten Free?

Posted by clemlaa @clemlaa, Aug 20, 2016

Chronic constipation since childhood.

Age 37: Started feeling toxic & inflamed like blood wasn't clean, sluggish digestive system.

Started seeing DO and Chinese Doctor at Fort Worth Wellness Center: weak guts and inflammation on kidneys, liver and lungs, bad circulation and imbalanced hormones.

CDSA result: SIBO, proteins not being digested, very low pancreatic enzymes, very low probiotics, some yeast overgrowth.

Doctors helped me tremendously:
Powerful herbs cleared up inflamed and toxic feelings, kidneys improved keeping salt in my system, digestion/constipation improved with adominal pumping, deep breathing, yoga exercises, only eating 3x a day, adding foods like rhubarb and cactus, avoiding stress and taking time to be easy and digest slow and relax after eating (I can't eat around stressful people or places)

I improved and was having daily bowel movement then bam went down with abnormal severe weakness. I was not tired and was sleeping well at night but so weak I could do nothing, not even walk more than across the house. Scary. Worst I felt was hard to describe but like my organs were fighting for strength and blood flow. Bowel movements stopped.
Infection of the gut caused by stress and leaky gut?????

PCP ordered blood tests, CT scan, 24 hr urine test and chest X-ray. All good results.

Gastroenterolgist ordered abdomen sonogram: normal.
EGD upper scope: Gastroparesis

I am strictly avoiding dairy, gluten, spicy food, alcohol, coffee, fruit juices, tap water. (still trying to understand gluten so avoiding all grains including oats until I figure out the rules) any help here?

Eating balanced diet of veggies, meat, beef bone broth, fish, white rice, fruits and only drinking purified water or coconut water.

Only doing passive yoga stretches, slow walks and resting until I get better. I used to be so active and hope to be able to run and bike and exercise again.

Digestion has improved slowly and I don't feel as scary weak but my body needs a lot of rest. I can only walk a short while and bowel movements have not been easy. I get urge to go but then it feels like my guts are so tight and weak they won't push out waste.

Any advice to heal gut?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

lisa_sj99 | @lisa_sj99 | Sep 11, 2016

Hi there. I have rheumatoid arthritic thus had started a plant basis diet ~ 3 month ago. Organic poultry and wild caught fish become a special treat that I only eat one a week. I also stay with gluten free. This new diet and gluten free has help me tremendously as I have less pain, less fatigue and have more energy to head to the gym 3 times a week. I have done ton of research about gluten. Oat for instant is gluten free; however, if the oat is processed along with other grains through a same processing machine then It has cross contamination and is not gluten free. Brown rice and quinoa are also gluten free if they are not cross contaminated. I don't know where you live. I live in California so I leverage on Costco for all my organic foods and gluten free foods. Their prices are also cheaper than whole food or other specialty stores.

REPLY
clemlaa | @clemlaa | Sep 13, 2016
In reply to @colleenyoung "Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet to help manage symptoms. @johnbishop @meemer @mieke @michellecrcrn @ambrose @uneeq1 what advice might you have for Clemlaa?

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Wow sounds like your husband is one lucky man!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 13, 2016

One of the members in a neuropathy Facebook group I am in recommended hemp hearts. I've recently added them to my regular diet - add some to breakfast smoothies, sprinkle on salads or just grab some and eat by itself. A healthy add with no downside that I'm aware of. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/27/hemp-health-benefits.aspx

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1 reply
ambrose | @ambrose | Sep 14, 2016
In reply to @johnbishop "@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet -..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet - no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no processed food to see if it would help with my peripheral neuropathy. I don't follow it perfectly but have greatly reduced all of them and have pretty much given up fast food/processed foods. The author of the book Dr. Terry Wahls who has MS did her own research on diets impact on autoimmune diseases and she has an amazing story to tell. More info here - http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. I do struggle on and off with constipation and take a fiber supplement Metamucil to help with the daily movements...:-) The big benefit I have had from her diet is 20 lb weight drop and feeling a little better. It did take some getting used to having green smoothies for breakfast. I do think diet plays a big part in a lot of illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. Lots of toxins out there and unfortunately not all of them are known. Just ran across an interesting story "The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic (it's not the gluten)" - http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/. Hoping you are able to find an answer!

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We checked with some farmer friends here in Iowa, and they confirmed that in fact Roundup is "abused" in that way - sprayed to hurry the harvest. They use it on soy beans in the same way. It's True!

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Deena | @mrsdeecee | Sep 15, 2016
In reply to @johnbishop "One of the members in a neuropathy Facebook group I am in recommended hemp hearts. I've..." + (show)
@johnbishop

One of the members in a neuropathy Facebook group I am in recommended hemp hearts. I've recently added them to my regular diet - add some to breakfast smoothies, sprinkle on salads or just grab some and eat by itself. A healthy add with no downside that I'm aware of. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/27/hemp-health-benefits.aspx

Jump to this post

I use Chia seeds or pure gelatin aka Collagen protein to smooties

REPLY
churchl | @churchl | Jan 31, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet to help manage symptoms. @johnbishop @meemer @mieke @michellecrcrn @ambrose @uneeq1 what advice might you have for Clemlaa?

Jump to this post

Great glad you feel better:) Would you mind, if you have time, if you could you describe what you would eat for 3 days?
I know more what not to eat then to eat.

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Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Feb 1, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Clemlaa, I'm tagging fellow Connect members who have also turned to a gluten-free and dairy-free diet to help manage symptoms. @johnbishop @meemer @mieke @michellecrcrn @ambrose @uneeq1 what advice might you have for Clemlaa?

Jump to this post

Hello @churchl, and Welcome to Connect,

I would encourage you and members @clemlaa @meemer @mieke @michellecrcrn @ambrose @uneeq1 @lisa_sj99 to take a look at Mayo Clinic's Celiac Disease blog: http://celiacblog.mayoclinic.org
On this blog you will find Mayo Clinic experts discussing current research, news, tips and patient stories.
If you wish, you can read and listen to Dr. Joseph Murray, M.D., talk about 'leaky gut,' here: http://mayocl.in/2kqMEze

@churchl, do you have any other questions or advice for the Connect community?

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alamoana9 | @alamoana9 | May 3, 2017
In reply to @johnbishop "@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet -..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet - no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no processed food to see if it would help with my peripheral neuropathy. I don't follow it perfectly but have greatly reduced all of them and have pretty much given up fast food/processed foods. The author of the book Dr. Terry Wahls who has MS did her own research on diets impact on autoimmune diseases and she has an amazing story to tell. More info here - http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. I do struggle on and off with constipation and take a fiber supplement Metamucil to help with the daily movements...:-) The big benefit I have had from her diet is 20 lb weight drop and feeling a little better. It did take some getting used to having green smoothies for breakfast. I do think diet plays a big part in a lot of illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. Lots of toxins out there and unfortunately not all of them are known. Just ran across an interesting story "The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic (it's not the gluten)" - http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/. Hoping you are able to find an answer!

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I read something on Medscape that celiac disease and IBS may be caused by Chinese wheat that has been GMO'd to enhance it's soft and chewy consistency. Thereby introducing wheat proteins that are non digestible. Anyone hear of that?

REPLY
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | May 4, 2017
In reply to @johnbishop "@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet -..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet - no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no processed food to see if it would help with my peripheral neuropathy. I don't follow it perfectly but have greatly reduced all of them and have pretty much given up fast food/processed foods. The author of the book Dr. Terry Wahls who has MS did her own research on diets impact on autoimmune diseases and she has an amazing story to tell. More info here - http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. I do struggle on and off with constipation and take a fiber supplement Metamucil to help with the daily movements...:-) The big benefit I have had from her diet is 20 lb weight drop and feeling a little better. It did take some getting used to having green smoothies for breakfast. I do think diet plays a big part in a lot of illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. Lots of toxins out there and unfortunately not all of them are known. Just ran across an interesting story "The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic (it's not the gluten)" - http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/. Hoping you are able to find an answer!

Jump to this post

Hello @alamoana9,

Welcome to Connect; that's a good question you ask.
I couldn't find much about the link between genetically modified (GM) Chinese wheat and celiac/IBS in my research online, but nonetheless, the market of GM foods is huge.
While we wait for other members to share their thoughts, may I ask if you would share some more information? Do you have celiac disease, or a related condition?

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 4, 2017
In reply to @johnbishop "@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet -..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@clemlaa - My situation is a little different. I started the basic Wahls Protocol Diet - no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no processed food to see if it would help with my peripheral neuropathy. I don't follow it perfectly but have greatly reduced all of them and have pretty much given up fast food/processed foods. The author of the book Dr. Terry Wahls who has MS did her own research on diets impact on autoimmune diseases and she has an amazing story to tell. More info here - http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. I do struggle on and off with constipation and take a fiber supplement Metamucil to help with the daily movements...:-) The big benefit I have had from her diet is 20 lb weight drop and feeling a little better. It did take some getting used to having green smoothies for breakfast. I do think diet plays a big part in a lot of illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. Lots of toxins out there and unfortunately not all of them are known. Just ran across an interesting story "The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic (it's not the gluten)" - http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/. Hoping you are able to find an answer!

Jump to this post

Hello @alamoana9 - I ran across an article that may offer some additional insight into GMO wheat issues...
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/

I had some farmer friends that said this does happen on some farms.

John

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