Ceoliac now also suffering Diverticula disease

[Janiced]

I have been Ceoliac for 4 years but my recent bloods tests have shown my ttg levels being high but I follow a strict GF diet. Last week I was also diagnosed with diverticula. Does anyone else with ceoliac have diverticula and would this be why my ttg levels are raised? Thanks

[Penel]

There have been several discussions on here that mention diverticulitis, they might be helpful.

healthunlocked.com/search/d...

Diverticulosis or diverticulitis refers to the physical appearance of the walls of the large intestine, they develop "pouches" which can trap food. The condition is just physical damage and does not affect ttg levels, as far as I am aware. I was diagnosed with diverticulosis several years ago, thankfully it has never bothered me (not sure that I've really got it...)

If you are eating ready made gluten free foods you may be taking in very small amounts of gluten, under the amounts permitted in manufactured food. Perhaps try sticking to cooking from scratch if you don't already.

[Janiced in reply to Penel]

Hi Penel

Thanks for replying. I've only just started to experience symptoms of diverticula alongside raises ttg levels so was kind of hoping it could raise them as I am extremely careful with my diet. I cook all my meals from scratch apart from bread. I must be digesting it some but it's so frustrating as I try so hard. I am at the hospital Friday so they may shed some light on it for me. I really appreciate your comments on diverticula. Out of interest do you manage to eat plenty of fibre being a ceoliac?

[Penel in reply to Janiced]

Hi Janiced

Good luck with the hospital, hope it's useful and they can give you some answers. I wonder if there is something other than gluten which is affecting you?

I do manage to eat plenty of vegetable fibre and things like nuts (and always have) but I don't eat any bread unless I make it myself. I also use some buckwheat and quinoa in cooking.

I hope the diverticulitis doesn't cause you too much bother.

[Janiced in reply to Penel]

Thank you Panel

[corby39]

I have both and just try to get on with it.as doctors don't seem to be interested.find I have more bowel movement because of it.

[Ruthi]

I wonder if you are reacting to the gluten-like proteins in other grains? All the cereal (ie grass family) seeds contain proteins called gliadins. Gluten is just one of these, but the others are surprisingly similar. I react to all the cereals except rice.

I'm not coeliac, so don't have antibodies, but it might just be that the gliadins are similar enough to provoke an immune response in you.

You would have to give up corn (use potato flour for thickening), gluten free oats, sorghum, and at least to start with, rice. Quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth are all fine though, as they are not grasses.

[Janiced in reply to Ruthi]

I think I may be reacting to other proteins to as I incredibly careful. Thank you so much for your advice.

[Jacks]

It can take a while for levels to drop but perhaps not 4 years, so re-read labels every time you eat.

Diverticular disease risk increases with age - one in three? It is also linked with low fibre diets - fruit and veg can make up most of that and water to avoid constipation. Don't strain or put off going. What you need to do now is avoid inflammation.

[Janiced in reply to Jacks]

Yes age seems to be catching up with me! I've upped my fibre intake and have been eating avacado each morning with a slice of toast and some tomato then a salad for lunch, fruit etc and plenty of water. Are you sensitive to oats to? I can't seem to take oats. Thank you so much for your help and advice it's been really helpful. 🙂

[Jacks in reply to Janiced]

My coeliac consultant suggested I avoid oats at my original diagnosis - in those days it was avoiding the BROW foods (barley, rye, oats, wheat) and it's such a long time since I had any that I don't miss them. Interestingly many fruits and veg have twice as much fibre as oats.

Prunes are a good source of fibre - nearly 8g and supposed to be anti-cancer too. It's quite a challenge to get that 37g of fibre a day and keep it up, but a salad of everything, including some pulses is a good start.

[Ruthi]

Toast? GF toast? That GF bread is real junk food! Highly processed, low fibre, sugar...

I keep it in the freezer for the occasional cheese on toast. But even then it gives me heartburn every time.

[Ruthi]

Should have added, given the original topic that diverticulosis is very common - usually caused by constipation. It only becomes a problem under certain circumstances, and the trick is to maintain a high fibre diet to prevent things stagnating.

Pulses are a good source of both starches and fibre. Not exactly Paleo, but very useful.

[Janiced in reply to Ruthi]

It's strange as the only symptom of diverticula I have is a pain in lower left abdomen and frequent water works but mri picked it up.

[Adrianpb]

Can't comment on the diverticulitis but many think they are on a strict gf diet when they are not. Do you live with others who eat gluten? Share the same margarine or jam? Share a toaster? If anyone bakes with flour in your home, then everything including the air you breathe is contaminated. No such thing as gf pizza in a pizza joint, promise you that. The air in the kitchen gets foggy with flour. That flour is 14% gluten, so 25 parts per million isn't even a visible amount. Do you check everything, even candies? Do you eat out much? French fries get contaminated from battered onion rings or nuggets in the oil. Cheap cooking sprays contain flour, does the cook at your favorite restaurant know that? Not easy being coeliac, but we're with you.