I have Leaky Gut
tawanda6329
Posts: 139 Member
Brief background:
I figured out on my own that I had an issue with Gluten/Wheat in April 2013. Some of my symptoms experienced back then was itching all over my body, heartburn, stomach pains, intestinal pain and bumps breaking out all over my face. I went to several different doctors and all my test came back normal. My primary doctor did a blood test to test for Celiac and it came back negative. I was given medication to deal with my symptoms but no reason as to why any of it was happening. While searching online, I stumbled across an article that mentioned cutting out Gluten. I did and all of the symptoms I was experiencing went away.
Fast-forward 4 years later:
I was completely Gluten Free for the past 4 years. All of sudden, some of the symptoms I use to experience when eating gluten started to return. It was mainly heartburn, acid reflux and chest pain. It got so bad one night that I had to go to Urgent Care. They told me my iron level was extremely low (anemia) and that I had GERD. They gave me a subscription for a PPI & Iron pills and sent me home and told me to follow-up with my doctor. I went to my doctor and she did lots of blood work on me. I took the PPI for several days before the extremely bad heartburn and acid reflux returned. I went back online to try and search for a cause as I didn’t understand why my symptoms returned if I’m taking the medication for GERD. I stumbled across a forum and someone mentioned cutting out corn, rice and potatoes. The amount of pain I was in I was willing to try anything. I cut out those items and my symptoms went away. I returned to the doctor to get my test results. Everything came back normal except my iron level was still a little low. My doctor referred me to a blood specialist (Cancer doctor). More blood work was done. She also referred me to a GI doctor. I went to the GI doctor who ordered a colonoscopy (upper & lower) and endoscopy (also checked for Celiac). All of my test came back normal from both of these doctors. My iron went back to the low end of the normal range.
Now, I’m able to quickly figure out which foods are causing me issues. I mainly eat eggs, meat and veggies now. Everything else gives me a reaction. I still consume sugar and alcohol, as those are the only items that keep me from feeling like I’m starving to death. If I just get meat & veggies, I always feel hungry. No matter how much meat and veggies I eat, I never feel fulfilled. I miss rice, potatoes and corn so much. I long for the days I could eat a baked potato or corn on the cob. Consider yourselves blessed.
I take a digestive enzyme before every meal. I also take a daily multivitamin and iron supplement. I’m hoping I can eventually heal myself and begin to eat rice and potatoes again but if not, I will survive.
Listen to your body and don’t listen to the nay sayers. These same people use to say if we weren’t diagnosed with Celiac, we were Fad dieters. But I know the pain I go through when eating gluten and I know the pain I go through when eating some fruit, rice, potatoes, chips (gluten free), other packaged Gluten Free items, etc.
I figured out on my own that I had an issue with Gluten/Wheat in April 2013. Some of my symptoms experienced back then was itching all over my body, heartburn, stomach pains, intestinal pain and bumps breaking out all over my face. I went to several different doctors and all my test came back normal. My primary doctor did a blood test to test for Celiac and it came back negative. I was given medication to deal with my symptoms but no reason as to why any of it was happening. While searching online, I stumbled across an article that mentioned cutting out Gluten. I did and all of the symptoms I was experiencing went away.
Fast-forward 4 years later:
I was completely Gluten Free for the past 4 years. All of sudden, some of the symptoms I use to experience when eating gluten started to return. It was mainly heartburn, acid reflux and chest pain. It got so bad one night that I had to go to Urgent Care. They told me my iron level was extremely low (anemia) and that I had GERD. They gave me a subscription for a PPI & Iron pills and sent me home and told me to follow-up with my doctor. I went to my doctor and she did lots of blood work on me. I took the PPI for several days before the extremely bad heartburn and acid reflux returned. I went back online to try and search for a cause as I didn’t understand why my symptoms returned if I’m taking the medication for GERD. I stumbled across a forum and someone mentioned cutting out corn, rice and potatoes. The amount of pain I was in I was willing to try anything. I cut out those items and my symptoms went away. I returned to the doctor to get my test results. Everything came back normal except my iron level was still a little low. My doctor referred me to a blood specialist (Cancer doctor). More blood work was done. She also referred me to a GI doctor. I went to the GI doctor who ordered a colonoscopy (upper & lower) and endoscopy (also checked for Celiac). All of my test came back normal from both of these doctors. My iron went back to the low end of the normal range.
Now, I’m able to quickly figure out which foods are causing me issues. I mainly eat eggs, meat and veggies now. Everything else gives me a reaction. I still consume sugar and alcohol, as those are the only items that keep me from feeling like I’m starving to death. If I just get meat & veggies, I always feel hungry. No matter how much meat and veggies I eat, I never feel fulfilled. I miss rice, potatoes and corn so much. I long for the days I could eat a baked potato or corn on the cob. Consider yourselves blessed.
I take a digestive enzyme before every meal. I also take a daily multivitamin and iron supplement. I’m hoping I can eventually heal myself and begin to eat rice and potatoes again but if not, I will survive.
Listen to your body and don’t listen to the nay sayers. These same people use to say if we weren’t diagnosed with Celiac, we were Fad dieters. But I know the pain I go through when eating gluten and I know the pain I go through when eating some fruit, rice, potatoes, chips (gluten free), other packaged Gluten Free items, etc.
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Replies
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I'm glad you've found what foods you need to avoid...I'm sorry it's your favorites though! Isn't that the way it always turns out?
I stay mostly on a LCHF diet and I find upping your fat helps you feel more satisfied when you have to eliminate carbs. 3 -
I second the fats thing as I also am low carb. There is such a thing as 'Celiac lite' that may not show up from certain tests. Others will uncover it though. Check the latest two articles I posted on this from MedScape: community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10104290/medscape-medical-professionals-continuing-ed-site-celiac-disease-gluten-sensitivity-articles#latest
This is especially likely as you have anemia - VERY common with celiac disease.1 -
Hello
I wanted to give an update. I started seeing a Holistic doctor and I'm able to eat my favorites like rice & potatoes again. I have added Olive Leaf & Oregano supplements to my daily regimen and they help immensely.
I've recently started juicing celery and that has also made a huge difference.2 -
Glad to hear you are getting things figured out @tawanda6329 !0
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Sounds like you may not be a Celiac if all the tests were negative but I know from being a celiac myself that it has caused me to not tolerate dairy, soy and corn very well. Small amounts are OK but if I eat pop corn, have an ear of corn, drink milk or soy milk it will get me good.1
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glad you are feeling better. wish I could find a holistic doc near me to help me manage my celiac and leaky gut. it seems like alcohol makes me not tolerate dairy. How many more foods do I have to give up? ugh....lol could be worse right?0
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I juice celery 3 to 4 days per week and I'm able to eat pretty much anything I want now. I have noticed that pasta and pizza still gives me a little heartburn though so I try to stay away from those. I notice if I don't juice the celery at least 3 days per week, my symptoms return so I keep a fridge full of celery.
The supplements that I take now are multivitamin, iron, vitamin C and Magnesium (to help with RLS).0 -
Tests for celiac disease will often come back negative if you have been gluten free for a while, it doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have it. And knowing how much like crap we feel and how much damage we do if we eat gluten, the only reason I could see to gluten-up for a test was if you have some medical coverage if you are dx'd officially. Here in Canada you can get a tax deduction for purchasing gluten free foods (prepared, not naturally GF like fresh fruit, eggs, veggies, etc) but to me it would still not be worth it.
Be careful, @tawanda6329, celery is in the 'Environmental Working Group' Dirty Dozen list for pestecide/herbicide contamination. I hope you are juicing/eating only organic. https://goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a31916678/dirty-dozen-foods-2020-list/1 -
New meta-analysis (Aug 17/20) shows an increased risk of small bowel cancer in celiacs. Not really news, just a look at 40+ studies and the results are not a huge difference between 'normal' cohort and celiacs, but enough for health providers to be aware of so they can catch any problems early.
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