How long after going gluten free did your bloat go away?

michellesanborn74 · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

Hi to all... I am new to this board. I tested negative for celiac, but am having gastro issues (bloating and gurgling of the stomach) and have noticed that when I am gluten free the gas bubbles go away, but the bloat remains. So what I am wondering if you can tell me how long it was for you to be gluten free until the bloat went away? I am just trying to figure out if I am going in the right direction. To be rid of the gas is great, but I am still major bloated. All this came on after a mono infection.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10971 Location: WI, USA

Hi Michelle,

Welcome to the board! It may take a bit for your stomach to settle down. I too tested neg. for CD, but going GF was the answer to my gastro and neuro problems.

Everybody is different on how long it takes. Could be 1 week - could be 2-3 months. It's also possible that you may have other food issues - dairy & soy are 2 biggies that you may want to look into.

What's the longest you've been GF?

It's interesting you bring up your illness. Experts feel that you need 3 things for CD:

1) Genetic Make up (you might consider having genetic testing done)
2) Consuming Gluten
3) A Trigger: infection, surgery, illness, pregnancy, some say extreme stress

When was the mono infection?

If you are noticing positive results in your dietary trials already, it sounds like you are on the right road.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

michellesanborn74 · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

The mono infection was July of this year. I tried going gluten free for about 5 days (after having considerable gas gurgling at night for three weeks every night without fail)...then pretty immediately after the gluten free diet started it went away. So I did gluten free for five days and tried eating gluten again and after about 3-4 days the gurgling came back at night. Now since yesterday I have going soy-free, gluten free and dairy free. Last night by the way, the gas was gone again after not eating those three things all day yesterday.
With my latest elimination diet, there is nothing much to eat since I am vegetarian! Gastro person I visited was useless and basically sent me away without any offer of testing other than lactose intolerance (which I have taken the steps to figure out myself). My PCP is the one who tested me for celiac, but no answers there either.

Michelle

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10971 Location: WI, USA

Interesting...

Do you know what blood work was done for your celiac testing? Do you know if the AntiGliadin IgA or IgG was run? Many docs will only run the tTG and/or EMA tests. The tTG and EMA will look for evidence/results of tissue damage. It's known that those tests will return false negatives if the damage is light. So...[I'm thinking out loud here], if the docs only ran tTG or EMA and CD had been triggered recently, the damage may not be that extensive - thus not picked up by those tests.

Things happen on a continuum - gradually. One doesn't just wake up one day with total villous atrophy [damaged villi]. That kind of damage can take months/years to develop.

The AntiGliadin Antibody [AGA] tests have been removed from most celiac testing due to lack specificity. Many experts feel that the AGA tests are not specific enough to determine if it's celiac disease. One thing that the AGA test DO tell us is if you are reacting to the gluten. This can be help in those people that have Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. The concept of NCGS is now be acknowledge by some of the CD experts (Dr. Fasano, Dr. Peter Green) and a host of other docs "in the know".

It's very possible you don't have CD [by today's medical definition], but gluten is no friend of yours.

If it were me, I don't think I'd give up too quickly on the path that your are on.

Here's some more info for you:

Our Thread on Celiac Blood Tests & More Diagnostic Info
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

michellesanborn74 · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

I thinks she ran three different tests. I can't remember the names... one started with a C followed by two other initials and the other was the IDG? something EMA?
I start the day with a small bloat and then with each meal (even gluten free ones) I get bigger and bigger. Does that sound like gluten intolerance? Also, how long would I have to give up lactose do you think before I can rule that out? If I still have the bloat I mean and it doesn't go away.

I hope it is not IBS... but I don't have any eliminiation issues. My only symptoms are bloating, gurgling and this frequent urination that gets worse around my cycle which I attribute to this bloat on top of PMS bloat which makes it feel like I always have to pee. I have noticed more burping than normal for me with no heartburn.

teacherpat · Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 165

I hate to mention this, but I assume your PCP has done all the correct testing to rule out bloat from things you really don't want to have, such as ovarian cancer? And the more obvious less frightening ones, like gallstones or small bowel bacterial overgrowth? If you have not had a full work up and you're still having issues, please beat-I mean talk to Smile

- your physican until they get to the bottom of it. Are you menopausal?

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Specific_Symptoms_May_Signal_Ovarian_Cancer.asp

michellesanborn74 · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

I was petrified it was ovarian cancer and I feel (hopefully) it has been ruled out. I have had a CT scan, vaginal ultrasound and a ca-125 test, as well as a cbc and comp. metabolic panel that were all normal. Also had a pelvic exam too. Can you think of anything else she could have done to rule that out? Nobody has tested for gallbladder stuff or small bowel bact. overgrowth. What kinds of tests rule those out? My GI doctor didn't really want to deal with me so I'm basically left to going back to my PCP on Friday and feeling more helpless by the day. Last night the gurgling came back in my stomach and kept me up half the night. Its weird I have that happening at night, have a few BMs in the morning and then I am fine all day until I get to bed again (well fine with the exception of the bloat and feeling like I have to pee all the time!).
p.s. I am 32.

teacherpat · Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 165

Thank goodness, so many docs miss ovarian cancer. Crying or Very sad

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth testing is the hydrogen breath test, very simple test...
More than you probably want to know
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/digestive-health/nutritionarticles/zaidelarticle.pdf
Testing
http://www.metsol.com/small_intestinal_bacterial_overgrowth_SIBO.php
To check out the gallbladder
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/gallbladder-scan
Well, that gives your PCP a few more things to do Smile

Since you have had mono and are having frequent urination, I assume they have checked your kidney function? My little nephew had all sorts of kidney issues with his mono last year (we're such a healthy bunch-not!)
_________________
Pat

michellesanborn74 · Joined: 25 Oct 2009 Posts: 5

Thanks for the info. My doc did do a kidney and liver function test. Everything was fine. I doesn't sound like there is an easy answer. Today I bought some digestive enzymes and a new kind of probiotics. Hopefully they will work.