Gluten question

I tested intolerant to it, that is why I avoid it. I don't know that it has anything to do with UC. Food sensitivity testing was just one more approach to trying to make my gut feel better.

The symptom I experience with Gluten is bloat.

 I was told that gluten does not have any effect on U.C,i was first told that on Healingwell by a medical student.Then i asked my Gastro and he said the same thing.So is this true?  

Lynn, mucus can be an indication of inflammation of the intestines. According to alternative practitioners, the more common causes of mucus in stool includes bacterial overgrowth and food allergies and sensitivities. I understand it's a natural attempt of the body to protect itself. So yes, if you're sensitive to gluten - as many people are - it could certainly cause mucus for you.

You'll never really know whether or not gluten is a problem for you until you do a trial elimination. Here's a link to a site that's helpful for those wanting to learn how to do an elimination diet properly: http://www.foodintol.com/eliminationdiet.asp

mucus is normal in the intestines...or poo wouldn't move through them.
The colon produces the mucus...it's not converted from gluten. That's an absured comment from whomever.


A noticeably increased amount of mucus is indicative of increased activity of the colon, which could be caused by stress, illness, distress, inflammation, food, invaders.....etc.

Remember those with IBS can have copious amounts of mucus, but no inflammation.
It would depend on what connections you can make.

One can be sensitive or allergic to wheat and oats, but not because of the gluten...that happens in the small intestine. But, the non-partially digested or broken down particles can cause lots of gas and activity in the colon because it's not equipped with the enzymes to deal with those foods.

You could try totally eliminating those products from your diet or try using a digestive enzyme such as Beano to deal with those fibres to see if there's a change in your symptoms.

Regarding mucus in your rectum....you don't really know if it's in your rectum, do you...or has travelled from higher in your colon.

What meds are you on Lynn? If you create a signature, that would be helpful for us to know what you're taking, etc.

q

I just created a signature, so this is my maiden voyage to see how it works...

Anyway, I did follow a very strict elimination diet for 10 weeks last year --- for 6 of those weeks I was not on Mesalamine 4g enemas and I had no change in my symptoms. For the remaining 4 weeks of the diet I was on the 4g enemas and my symptoms cleared up.

I am taking that to mean that it wasn't anything related to diet.

I went off the diet and the enemas after my GI said my colon looked great --- he didn't tell me anything about tapering --- and my symptoms started up again within a few weeks.
During this time I had also had the allergy blood test done, so I was going back to a regular diet only minus the few things that showed up as possible allergens -- aside from oats -- which I already knew were a problem -- there wasn't too much to avoid.

I am also addicted to cashews and pistachios.

So there I am in a nut shell.

Thanks,
L

I don't avoid gluten because of mucus. When I stopped eating gluten and other grains my bleeding stopped. That's a direct observation, no other variables. Asacol, Balsalazide and 6mp never helped at all. Rowasa helped but only as long as I used it. Entocort stopped it but when that ended the bleeding returned. 10 years of blood loss.

I tested negative to gluten intolerance many years ago.

I guess I was lucky (this time) that my immediate results motivated me to adopt the Specific Carbohydrate Diet hoping for more improvement. Which I got but not as spectacular as gluten removal. More a slow steady improvement. Which is a lot better than the slow steady downward trend that I was on before.

It seems that every single UC'er is different. But enough of us are gluten-sensitive that it's worth a try. And many many people have had success on the SCDiet. YMMV.

I have found that being on a gluten free diet has definitely made a difference to my UC. When I am very strict with the diet I feel better, my bloating diminishes, gas is gone bm's feel better, no bleeding. When I slip a little like I did this weekend, I feel terrible. My belly is swollen, I have foggyness, gas, sleeplessness, lethargy, constipation. I was up about 6 times last night with pain and gas.

My slips are coming farther and farther apart and even the temptation to slip has become less. I write myself little notes in my journal about how bad I feel, even though what I ate this weekend was good...

Sometimes nothing is as delicious as feeling good feels.

Nor_TX said...

Sometimes nothing is as delicious as feeling good feels.

Well said!