Gluten free diet

[Simpson43]

I have been on a Gluten Free diet for more then 10 years. Recently I have had abdominal pain, flatulence, and reflux after food. I found out you can buy a Coeliac kit from the chemist, but not sure about it. I feel I should go to the GP but have been in hospital in the past and the DR there said I had to eat gluten for 6 weeks, that I know I couldn't do, I feel bad enough without eating gluten for 6 weeks.....I just want to feel well and healthy, being Gluten Free is not a problem as you can buy lots of really good Gluten Free food especially M&S made without. Need to find out though.

[Regalbirdy]

Hi,

Yes - definitely go to the doctor and get some advice. However, even if you were to have coeliac disease, if you have been following a strictly controlled gluten-free diet for the last 10 years (i.e. never going off piste for treats etc.), then the symptoms you are currently experiencing would be irrelevant to that condition.

It sounds like something in your diet might be upsetting your digestive system. Not all gluten-free foods are good for you!

It’s perhaps worth noting that acid reflux can be caused by having low stomach acid. It might sound counterintuitive, but this has been my own experience. I advise great caution if you decide to take supplements for this - because if you have an undiagnosed stomach ulcer, taking a Betaine HCL supplement could make things significantly worse.

Food poorly digested by the stomach can seriously affect the gut microbiome. Consequently, you might be accidentally growing the types of bacteria which cause excess flatulence; although eating too much of the wrong types of food will do this too!

Researching into Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) may be of interest to you.

Good luck figuring it all out.

R.B.

[Regalbirdy in reply to Regalbirdy]

P.s. if you have truly been gluten-free for the last 10 years, then buying a test from the chemist that is probably going to look for antigens to gluten is likely to be a complete waste of time and money. Not eating gluten equals no gluten antigens! That is why your doctor would need you to eat gluten for six weeks to get a formal diagnosis.

[Simpson43 in reply to Regalbirdy]

Thank you so much for all that information, I will monitor the symptoms, and hopefully go to the GP if it proves to be to difficult to manage. Thank you again....

[Jedboy1 in reply to Regalbirdy]

Hi.

It is possible that you may also have a reaction to H Pylori. ( helicobacter pylori)This is a bacterial infection of the stomach and can cause those symptoms.

Google it for more info, then you may decide ask the doc.

Treatment is with a mixture of antibiotics and acid reduction medication.

It could also be that some foods are a problem like spices, fodmap foods etc. good luck.

[Researchfan]

Hi. Can empathise with what you’ve described. It’s taken a long time for myself to figure out food sensitivities.

I was gluten free for over 10 years when I was having gastrointestinal issues and got to the point of being fed up and wanting to know if it was coeliac disease. Was not tested before. I got tested after a gluten challenge; was made ill while eating wheat, mostly horrendous diarrhoea IBS. Was more abdominal pain and constipation and bloating before that. Tested normal. Referral to hospital as classic coeliac disease symptoms, iron and folate deficiency, struggling to gain weight. Was tested for IBD. Gastroenterologist recommended another gluten challenge for 2 weeks then test again. Test normal. Wanted me to continue and do biopsy after continuing gluten challenge, but too ill by it. Was advised my choice to go back to gluten free and have the genetic test to rule it in or out. Was negative. So I finally had coeliac disease ruled out.

Advised strict wheat / gluten free diet as most likely allergic to wheat (previous igE test showed sensitised so possible).

So it’s most likely allergy personally. and after extensive research and reading the research literature there are many conditions that can affect the gastrointestinal system and cause inflammation. Coeliac is just one condition. Gluten related disorders are on a spectrum. From Coeliac disease which is autoimmune. Non-Coeliac Gluten and or wheat intolerance / sensitivity with similar symptoms. And Wheat allergy, similar symptoms.

You should consult your GP and it might be that you need referral to a gastroenterologist. An expert can test for different conditions. If you have been strict gluten free the symptoms may be something else. Get it checked.

It might also be worth noting (as many on gluten free guerillas can attest) that gluten free products can be problematic for people. The different grains and additives, can be sensitive to as well.

Hope that’s helpful reply.

[chas1464]

I'm in the same boat as you was diagnosed with a gluten and sugar intolerance in October haven't eaten anything with sugar or gluten since but this week I'm have diarrhoea after everything I eat except for corn/ rice cakes and non processed meat

[CATRYNA49]

I have been gluten free for almost 14 years and totally grain free for 6 years. If I have certain foods like lettuce/salads more often than once a week it will cause gas. Keep a journal of what you seem to become gassy from and eliminate that food from your diet. Also, get yourself on a good quality probiotic for a month or two.

[CATRYNA49]

Keep a food diary. I found that lettuce will give me gas, so no more salads with lettuce. Also, there are times I suffer from GERD, which is a very bad case of reflux or heart burn. I take a small amount of baking soda with water and it's gone within 30 seconds.

[bookish in reply to CATRYNA49]

Hi, lettuce is really hard to digest so I don't eat it but buy watercress instead which has more good nutrients anyway and doesn't do the same (for me at least). Cheers