IBS Sufferers might want to try this...

[Nancy LC]

Well, I've been suffering from constipation (occasionally) but mostly just bordering on diarrhea, sometimes with nasty cramps. Anyway, I learned about gluten intolerance and that all IBS sufferers should be tested. But I also learned the ultimate test is a gluten free diet. So I figured I'd just try the diet and see what happens. Wow! My IBS is completely gone. I've never felt so good down there. I'm sure I don't have celiac disease because my symptoms were never that extreme and I might not even test positive with most of the tests they have, but I can't believe how well behaved my bowels are now.

To follow a gluten free diet is a little more involved than just not eating wheat because wheat gluten is also found in oats, rye, barley and a few other grains. Corn, potato, and rice is pretty safe. Also check your vitamins and foods like soy sauce (usually has wheat), bleu cheese (made with bread).

It didn't take me long, just a few days, before I noticed a huge difference.

Check this list and go through your foods: http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=185&p_catid=12&sid=91hH9H1FjEyhDAb-46105300985.22

Here's a list of other lists. http://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_catid=12&sid=91hH9H1FjEyhDAb-38105300985.67

[pmezak]

hi Nancy,
I follow the Blood type Diet, and being an O, wheat is out....as is most dairy. Anyway, spelt flour is allowed unless one is gluten
sensitive. Well this morning I made spelt/pumpkin scones. I am
having the worse symptoms this afternoon and evening. I suspect that gluten is out in all forms for me also, even spelt and oats. I get such gas from oats, and most other grains. I can say that rice seems to be soothing though. Anyway, when I follow a no-grain, or low rice/potato plan, I seem to be able to
lose the weight.....Thanks for starting this thread!

[Nancy LC]

Yes, check the Celiac diet. They do not allow oats and I believe spelt is out too. I think the issue with oats isn't that they contain gluten when they grow, but they're processed in factories on the same equipment as wheat, so there's gluten contamination when it is milled. There are some oat processors in Europe that do not process wheat in their mills and those would probably be ok.

You can, of course, buy gluten free bread and what not. But for now I'm just eating meat, veggies, dairy, some fruits. Once you start using things like bottled sauces, prepackage food, you're treading into territory that gluten-phobes have to be careful with. For instance... soy sauce! Yikes! That might mean my beloved Thai food is out for me.

I'm still debating whether or not I will stick to my GF diet for thanksgiving. I guess it would be a good experiment to see if my intestinal health is impaired!

One thing I wonder about is does this affect my health at other levels than just my intestines? I know it does for really hard-core celiac's, but it seems more subtle for me. In other words, how paranoid do I have to be about gluten? I think the medical establishment barely even recognizes the shades of gluten intolerance, you're either extremely sick with Celiac or you're fine and just have "IBS". So if my intestines are symptom free with small exposure to gluten... am I avoiding damage? Or is it happening more insidiously?

[Sunshne24]

Here is a good link about gluten sensitivity...

http://www.enterolab.com/Essay/

Nancy, have you read "Dangerous Grains"? I'm sure I mentioned it before...but its a really good book explaining all that gluten sensitivity can cause. I'll warn you though...its scary stuff. I think most healthy people who read the book never wanna touch gluten again.

-Rachel

[Nancy LC]

Heh! I bet you're right, Rachel! It'd probably scare me. I'll have to look for it. I noticed my poor kitty's food has gluten in it! Dang, if I can't handle it and my species has been eating it for a lot longer than cats have! I'm going to avoid that food.

[Zuleikaa]

Nancy
If you're thinking about having wheat for any period you might want to purchase these enzymes with peptidase to take with your gluten meals.

http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/enzymes/peptidase/Peptidase_C_100_Spec248.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020927070151.htm

[Nancy LC]

Hmmm... thanks! It sounds like they're not sure if it works on humans, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt more than a yuppie foodstamp or two to try it. :D

[Nancy LC]

Was looking for more info, I don't think a simple supplement is going to help if this article is correct: http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20030621/bob9.asp

One barrier facing the enzymatic approach, he says, is the difficulty of formulating a pill so that it releases a peptidase at just the right time. The enzyme could stay inside an acid-resistant coating as it passed through the stomach, but if taken with a meal, it would need to emerge rapidly as it and the food enter the small intestine. Otherwise, gluten would make mischief before the peptidase could kick into action. However, a pill taken before a meal wouldn't remain in the intestine long enough to work.

Once in the right place at the right time, the enzyme would still need to penetrate the chemically complex mass of food being digested and find its specific molecular targets, Mowat says.

But what the heck, my order is in and I'll give it a whirl.

[Zuleikaa]

I've been taking it for 3-4 weeks now and have found it very helpful!!! My stomach no longer burns and I don't swell or have pain as much.

[jende]

This thread makes me wonder if I should take another stab at going gluten-free again. I did an elimination diet awhile back and didn't feel better at all when I got rid of all the usual suspects. I didn't eliminate oats though. I wonder if that in itself would have messed up the diet? I can sure relate to the symptoms. I've been wondering for years why I get these numbness and tingling sensations.

One of my children is also having alot of problems with excessive fatigue, extreme moodiness, dark puffy circles under the eyes. Wonder if this sort of thing could run in families...

[Nancy LC]

Yes, gluten intolerance runs in families. Make sure you check your drugs and vitamins and everything you put into your mouth: toothpaste, cheese, soy sauce (usually has wheat), sauces. Oats are out, most grains except rice and corn.

I'd just try the celiac diet for a couple of weeks. I posted links to the good, the bad and the ugly up above. Just try not to eat out during your test run, its hard to control what you're getting when you go out.

[tigersue]

I found for me that my IBS is not necessarily a gluten problem but it was a very much a high carb problem. Enzymes work great for me, I found them before I did lc, and lc just made it better so I only take one or two a day unless I really over do it.
Lactose can also be a problem with IBS, so if you rule out glutens, try decreasing lactose.
Tanya

[Harvest]

I have a condition called Microscopic Colitis and have been gluten free for 18 months. I've also chose to eliminate dairy, soy, yeast, and grains for the last year since I appear to have multiple food intolerences.

Here's a link about MC, if your interested.
http://www.finerhealth.com/Educational_Info/Microscopic_Colitis/#symptoms

Rachel posted an excellent article about gluten sensitivity.

Nancy, how's "Gluten Free" going for you and how are you feeling? It's hard to eat our traditional "Thanksgiving Dinner" without ingesting it. Gluten is EVERYWHERE, but it's not that difficult to stay away from once we experience the health benefits of being without it.

You wondered about how it affects your health at other levels than just your intestines? In my case, chronic D, extreme muscle and joint pain, fatique and depression subsided with the removal of it from my diet. It did not happen overnight of coarse, but this diet has literally saved my life. I'm in remission and feel great. An added bonus has been weight loss!

It STILL amazes me.

Joanna