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.

@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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Celiac disease has been around a lot longer then GMO products. We cannot eat not only wheat, but barley rye and sometimes oats. Gluten is pretty much impossible to break down for anyone, but can be poison to us with Celiac. If you are interested there are many good books and articles about the genetics of Celiac Sprue (HLA DQ2). It is Celiac awareness month so the hundreds of symptoms are front and center and ripe information at your fingertips. Keep asking questions, most of us go years before diagnosis, many are never diagnosed.

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I would suggest adding probiotics and prebiotics to your meals and throguhout the day. I have suffered with similar symptoms for the past 2 years and adding these have helped minimize some of the issues with digesting foods/liquids. Prebiotics are the "food" for probiotics. I can give you the ones that I specifically use that I purchase at the local grocery store should you want a place to start. Hope this helps.

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Hello @cdsassy,

Thank you so much for your suggestions and insights. You might be interested in viewing these talks on the Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Page (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/) on Connect:

– The 'Pros' of Probiotics: Dr. Joseph Murray on Mayo Clinic Radio https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/the-pros-of-probiotics-dr-joseph-murray-on-mayo-clinic-radio/
– Is Larazotide Acetate the Answer to Leaky Gut? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/is-larazotide-acetate-the-answer-to-leaky-gut-1/

@cdsassy, we look forward to getting to know you; may I ask what brings you to Connect?

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