Not a nice topic but I've got to ask. I've been noticing some fairly odd reactions lately. Over the last week I've been feeling horrible and also been terribly constipated. Two days before this I had gotten some gluten in my diet by mistake. Each passing day I got more constipated and felt worse and worse. Finally after a week of this I took a bunch of laxitives...after the laxitives did their thing I felt like a totally new person mentally and physically. The back ache, head ache, bags under my eyes, and mental funkyness completely went away within 10 mins. Is this common? If I could only stay feeling this way all the time. I feel like a new person. Ideas??
Joe

Hope this helps. I am the complete opposite if I get gluten in my diet, you know what I mean. If the constipation happens often you may want to get checked for IBS. I had similar problems with constipation as a teen and the Dr's swore it was IBS. But now many years later after going gluten-free, I haven't had the problem. You need to make sure that you drink a lot of fluids, mainly water and also be sure to eat fiber in your diet. (you may be doing these things already).


The only thing that I can think that you may have eaten a constipating food or maybe some kind of medication?

Hope this helps a little

While it's not so much the typical reaction these days, when I had been eating gluten continuously (before going gluten-free), I didn't get D, I got C.

I used to get constipation constantly until I started eating one raw bell pepper plus a jalapeno pepper with both lunch and supper or any snack. Skip the laxatives since they will likely obstruct your small bowel as they did for me.

This is a curious couple of things to eat for constipation....where did you learn about this? And how on earth do you eat a raw jalapeno....doesn't it burn your mouth to eat that much????

And do you eat a red or green bell pepper?

Carole

Joe,
If it helps, I've noticed the same thing. I thought constipation was the way I was until going on a gluten-free diet seemed to help me. Now, when I accidentally ingest it, I get constipated for several days after. I can't give you any scientific proof for it, just experience. Jenn

Good topic here ---- > CONSTIPATION!

Since I went "gluten-free," I have had problems with constipation & also much stomach "bloating." Before going gluten-free I had normal bowel-movements and after reading so much on the Forums here, I detected that RICE FLOURS and such things don't have alot of fiber to them. Even tho I eat alot of fresh Fruits & veggies, I still have the "bloat" & constipation more than I ever have. I don't get alot of "gas," so am thankful for that! ( I love my Rice Breads & such, so may be getting too much of those in my system each day as well...)

I drink WATER all day long, and so I know I'm getting my correct intake of liquids. I got miserable for a couple of days there, being "plugged-up" and such, so had my husband stop at the Store & get me a big bottle of 100% pure PRUNE JUICE... (... I don't "do" Laxatives...)

Well guess what folks? The Prune Juice "did the trick" alright... (if you can stand the taste of it,) and between all the water I was drinking, I ingested way too much Prune Juice that day, and Lordy..... not a good scene for the Toilet bowl!!!!! Laugh! You guessed it, I got "cleaned-out" in a hurry!

Being new on the gluten-free diet, I am still experimenting with my body, & what to eat and what NOT to eat... I have NOT gotten my digestive tract "leveled-out" yet, that's for sure. I was wondering if anybody else did the "Prune Juice trip," like I'm doing??? I know that too much Prune Juice will most likely tear the "lining" right out of my intestines, if I over-do it too much....... duh.

Any good ideas on what to do for a good source of "gluten-free" FIBER? (besides beans?) I've yet to discover new Foods~

Hi...I'm still working on this too! Big problem sometimes! One think I think helps is this, and personally I think it tastes great. I buy a bottle of pure cranberry juice, nothing but cranberry (hard to find). It is too strong to drink straight, so I take a pictcher of water which I'll keep in the fridge, probably about a litre or so, then I mix in about 1/3 cup of the pure cranberry juice. It tastes great...everyone I've given it to liked it. Just a mild, nice flavor, no sugar needed. Then I buy golden whole flax seeds....I learned about them from Dr. Christiane Northrup and others...I get them mail order. I have a cheap little coffee grinder devoted just to the flax seeds, and then each day I take 2 full tablespoons of flax, grind it in the grinder, and stir it into about 3/4 c. or so of the cranberry water. You have to stir and drink, and use a spoon to get it all, but as weird as it sounds, the taste is really nice. The golden flax seeds are wonderful. So doing this once a day is good fiber, plus the flax provides omega 3's and lignans and other good things.

I'm also trying to eat at least one big salad a day with carrots and celery too. This helps. And an apple a day. Beyond this, it's really HARD to get a lot of fiber. I think rice stuff/breads/ etc. are kind of useless for fiber. Oh yeah....I think I read that sweet potates/yams are good fiber too. I'm trying to avoid dairy..I know for a fact that for me it's constipating.

Why is everything delicious so bad for the system?

One more thing I forgot about the flax seeds....they MUST be ground up to be useable by your body. Eating whole seeds would go right through. I used to add this flax to my oatmeal, but since I'm not eating oats right now, it just occurred to me that you could put the flax in with creamy hot rice cereal....it might even give the rice cereal more flavor (it's pretty bland.) I get an organic brown rice cereal from Lundberg...it's pretty good, but not much fiber (if any) on its own. I would cook the rice cereal until basically done...and add extra water because the 2 T of flax would really thicken it all up....add the ground flax right at the end, and add more water as necessary to make the consistency you want. I'm not sure, but I think I read that it's better to not really cook the flax, which is why you would add it at the end.

Prune juice: I haven't tried that for awhile, but I buy those prunes with orange in them (Sunsweet??) and they taste really nice. A few of those per day will help, and is probably better and less of a sugar jolt that the prune juice.

Carole

Hey Carole!

Gee... THANKS here for the neat "flax" advice!! I'd never heard of doing this, so this would really be something for me to experiment with! Ok now, what's the difference between the "golden" flax and regular flax seeds??? I saw a box of (brown I believe) Flax seeds at Wal-Mart awhile back, & almost bought some, but didn't quite know what to do with them! Laugh!!

I also take Flax Seed Oil in the capsule form each day.... and I have never had the hot Rice cereal before, because I rarely eat Cereals. I eat alot of Oranges & Apples, and both of these really help my digestive tract... so do the YAMS. Of course, the Prune Juice has always worked for me, as a natural "laxative," that's for darned sure!!!

The kind of Prune Juice I buy is: "Sunsweet" (Gold Label) ... and reading on the back of it, it states it's 100% prune juice, no preservatives, no added sugar, & nothing artificial.

I liked your idea about the pure Cranberry juice! That is really a good idea! I like Cranberry juice, but it is definitely high in "acidity," and it will upset my stomach if I don't have it "watered-down!" Sooo, I will have to look for some like you described. Let me know on the Flax seeds.... THANKS CAROLE!

two figs a day works for me Sharon fruit (also called persimmons) are in season at the mo and they are very high in fibre and delicious too. The added bonus is that they don't seem to irritate my stomach like lots of other fruit does.

I take cutrucel everynight, It seems to really help. A salad would kill me, I have IBS too and salad and raw fruits are really tough on the colon.

My sister always tells me I need more fiber in my diet--this is a recipe she put together to get more fiber for us--she is a dietician and celiac as well--try these, they are very good:

Muffins 20-25 mins @ 350

1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup shredded zucchini
2 apples, peeled and shredded
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts

Mix this all together and set aside

1 1/2 cups flour mix (I use all purpose gluten-free flour)
3/4 cup flax seed
1 cup white bean flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 teasspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon xanthum gum

Combine all these ingreds, then add 3/4 cup milk, 2 beaten eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix breifly and then add the shredded mixture, blens only long enough to blend. Do not over mix! Makes 20 muffins.

This is too much fiber for me, but they are very tasty--she is a greeeeeeeeeeat cook--most never even know they are eating gluten free. I do have a problem with processed corn and I just read this weekend that I shouldnt use xanthum gum because it is made from corn--that may be the problem for me. Corn and soy constipate me--gluten does the opposite. Deb

I've always had a problem with being constipated and bloated, but I think I've finally found a routine that works for me-going gluten-free has really helped, especially the bloating. I make sure to eat maybe 2 cups of watery veggies, cooked, every night at dinner (usually squash with some carrots), and drinking a couple of cups of coffee in the morning really gets things going. Also, I take Miralax, which helps soften everything up to make it easier to move.

Oh lordy, what a great topic!

I've been struggling with constipation for a couple of years now. So I know how you feel.

Lately, I've been using oils with Essential Fatty Acids, like extra virgin olive oil, flax seed oil, and grape seed oil and they are working great. I just stir a tablespoon into my bowl of grains and beans, etc right before I eat it.

You said you felt great after your laxatives "worked". I get that same feeling and thought it was just me. I wonder what causes that. If only we could tap into "healthy feeling" full time.

good luck

Prunes (if you can put up with all of the jokes!) and dried apricots are wonderful. Despite their reputation, I actually think prunes are pretty tasty.

I add raisins to all of my cereal, because corn and rice based cereals have pretty much zero fiber.

Also, Mary's Gone Crakers seem to go right through me! Anyone else experience this??

I had never tried flax seeds at all, but then I kept getting these things in the mail from all these doctors who have newsletters....Dr. Christiane Northrup was one, Dr. Weil was another....and they were all pushing the flax seeds. They claimed the golden ones tasted better and milder and had other good qualities which I've since forgotten. Anyhow, here's a link for some...check, out the 3rd info box for the SEEDS (not the meal) and you'll see that 2T has 8g fiber--pretty good! I haven't tried this brand...I got Pizzey's for awhile, and last time I bought I got a different one, but they're the same. I always make sure they're organic. They come in air sealed bags, and like I said,I grind them right when I'm going to eat them, never before because after they are ground they can go rancid. In their packaged seed form, they last a long time. When I decided I was going to eat them all the time, I ordered from Pizzey's and got a lot of bags...cheaper that way because they didn't charge shipping. Some of the companies offer a starter pack with the little coffee grinder....you never should grind anything but flax in a grinder so don't use it for coffee too. The grinder I was sent was just a tiny little blade grinder. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.netrition.com/now_flaxseeds_page.html



Oh yeah...I forgot....with the flax seeds after I open the bag I put them into one of those airtight clamp type containers....you don't really have to do that, but I figured it would be good. You don't refrigerate the seeds or anything.

Like I said, I think it tastes really GOOD, but you have to get beyond the fact that you've got this little glass of cranberry water mix with all this stuff in it which really doesn't blend in...you can kind of drink some of it, but you have to spoon out the rest. I don't mind...I just kind of "eat" it. Nice flavor overall, I enjoy it.

So, can I join this club? I too do not have the big D prob w/celiac but constipation. Have had this prob most of my life. I eat prunes but I either don't get enough or too many (and I too like the flavor). can't stand raisins. I take 4 flax seed oil capsules a day. Will this do as well as the seeds? I can't take much in fiber right now. my stomach is still trying to heal (dx 12/22/05). Cranberry juice is still pretty acidic and I've been scared to try that even though I have a long history of bladder probs that I've kept in check in the past w/craberry juice. I tried some laxatives but they seemed to bloat me even worse. What brand is good and not bloating? Didn't I read that silica or some form of that is the bloating cause but then all I've seen have that in it. What do we try next or am I doomed until I've fully healed?

I read that someone drank a glass of warm water first thing in the morning and 30 min before eating anything and it worked for her (hasn't for me). Try that.

Tinab ...not sure I want to be a member of this club, but here I am ... I found meats or anything with a hard skin, such as raisins, prunes, apples, etc., cause me to be constipated. So, I eat them in moderation or not at all. I used laxatives for a couple of years, but they stopped working. Or sometimes would work so well I couldn't leave my house for days. And fiber just made me bloat up. I'm using oils with essential fatty acids now and they are working great. Fresh fruits are helpful too, like papayas, mangos, watermelon, etc. I can't tolerate cranberry juice or anything acidic right now either. good luck marcia

...after the laxitives did their thing I felt like a totally new person mentally and physically. The back ache, head ache, bags under my eyes, and mental funkyness completely went away within 10 mins. Is this common? If I could only stay feeling this way all the time. I feel like a new person. Ideas??
Joe
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Joe
I get a similar feeling of relief from my symptoms when my colon is "completely empty". I think more clearly, I have energy and my body doesn't feel heavy anymore. I've heard talk about toxins building up in the colon and causing people to feel sick, but I haven't seen what we are talking about yet. It's good to know someone else is feeling this way and I wasn't just happy to finally go. : )

Last night and today, my first ever case of Constipation, been gluten-free for bout 2 months or so now, my GI tract is amazingly silent, until these days with the constipation. Friggin annoying as hell, and rather painful sometimes.

Luckily my 5 pounds of dried Turkish Gold Figs came in yesterday that should help clear me up right quick.

Great topic!
Yes, one of my reactions to being glutened is the big 'C'! When I've had something I shouldn't have, it's usually 2 days later that I realize it. Then among some other symptoms, constipation. Then approx 3 to 4 days later, I can't get out of the bathroom. The timing and symptoms are always the same.

Prior to becoming g/f I was chronically constipated. I would drink water; excercise; I'm a vegeatarian; I tried metamucil type products that only seemed to bulk me up further and never do their job. Finally, at age 33 I went to a nutritionist who told me to 'lay off wheat', and add a low dose supplement of magnisium citrate capsules (just for a while). Well, it worked, and here I am on the celiac board - avoiding eating gluten now for 9 years!

I don't take the magnisium anymore (you shouldn't make it a habit). But since I've been g/f, it really isn't a problem anymore.

One last note, there is a new product out now called Fiber Choice. Chewable, orange flavored or mixed fruit flavored, regular and sugarfree. I checked with the company and they are g/f.

.....it's been a pleasure discussing such a personal issue with all of you strangers!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

I too have the same problem it seems after getting gluttened. A few days afterwards. I had IBS symptoms before going gluten-free and would alternate back and forth between D and C. FUN! ANyway, now it seems to be more problems with C. So I do the flaxseed thing and prunes and apricots seem to work. Also I put my flaxseeds ground in applesauce and then drink water.
Also my doctor perscribed Citrucel and it works great without the bloating.
Also for me I have found that laying off caffeine helps me not have problems. I like it though, so that is a hard one.
Yes, I feel cruddy too when having C and great when not.
Monica