Why am I starving???

[JenniferS]

First, sorry if I post too much. I have so many questions and am rather impatient on finding answers. ;)

So, this is new. I'm doing much, much better with the D since I've been loading up on the Pepto, but today, I've been ravenous. Like wanting to eat non-stop. Part of me hopes this is good as I've dropped 15 pounds in the last year--and I've always been on the smaller side. I'm not eating nuts, gluten, soy, or lactose, and caffeinated coffee. So sad! But I have been eating rice, mushy veggies, and meat. Tonight we had salmon and sweet potato. But part of me wonders if it's just going straight through me as although the pepto has reduced frequency, on the out-end, it still appears my food passes through undigested. Or at least, a large proportion.

Is this normal and is it a good sign?

I'd also love to know if anyone out there is able to have caffeinated coffee, and if there's a "safe" sugar substitute I can try?

Also, I've dropped almonds as 1) they weren't being digested anyway, or so it seemed and 2) someone on this forum mentioned they could be an irritant, but wondered if that also applies to almond butter and almond milk?

Thanks, all!

[gluten]

Hi, Sometimes the color of the BM is an indicator of poor absorption. I take a Q-Enyzme Ultra by Garden of Life with every large meal. I am always hungry and will eat every three to four hours plus a beef protein shake every day. Jon

[JenniferS]

Thanks, Jon,

Is that a prescription? And would you mind sharing what color might indicate poor absorption? (Although the Pepto does taint things a bit.)

[tex]

Hi Jennifer,

A healthy appetite could mean one of two things (among others) — you're taking Entocort EC, or you're beginning to heal. It takes an adequate supply of protein to heal the intestines, so a good appetite is helpful, especially when we still have a malabsorption problem.

Most of us here are able to drink caffeinated coffee without any problems, though that certainly doesn't apply to everyone. I've seen claims that the new stevia-based artificial sweeteners are safer then previous artificial sweeteners, but I have no idea if that's been verified by unbiased research.

It appears that most of us who cannot tolerate almonds are able to tolerate almond butter and almond milk. I'm probably one of only a few here who cannot tolerate almond butter. However, I use almond milk regularly, and it doesn't seem to cause any problems at all.

If you are taking 8 Pepto tablets per day, your stool color should be black, so you won't be able to detect it's actual color. In general, BMs associated with celiac disease and MC during periods when rapid transit and malabsorption are present, are some shade of green, or straw-green. This is because the color in stool is created by bile (which is green early on, but slowly turns brown during transit through the colon, over an interval of most of a day. As we heal, our motility returns to normal, and this restores the normal stool color, (and relieves the malabsorption problem, also).

Tex

[tlras]

Hi JenniferS,

Please don't feel sorry for posting a lot. That's what this forum is for and we all know we can't get many answers from our doctors. I've always had an appetite even with the D going on, but since I've been doing the Pepto regimen, I'm digging into everything I can get my hands on.....GF/DF, of course. And I'm thrilled that this means that maybe we are healing! The only time I get the bloating now is when I overindulge so trying to refrain from being a total pig right now.

I tolerate Almond milk it seems....eat it with my GF Chex everyday. I haven't tried the nut butters yet as every jar I pick up says there could be traces of peanuts and I've heard that peanuts are probably not so good for us. You kind of have to test the nut butters. Some have reacted to some kinds and others haven't. Unfortunately, our diets are not a one fits all. What works for one, may not work for the other. What you are eating now sounds great though. You may need to eat that way for some time, then add one food at a time for 3 to 4 days to see if you react.

I had to give up caffeine 3 years ago as I have a rapid heart beat. It has helped for sure but I noticed when I ate a lot of sugar this week (bad, bad), my fluttering came back. I have found out now that too much sugar will cause bloating for me even on Pepto, but luckily no D.

I have also heard the same in regards to Stevia. If I was gonna chance one, it would be that one!

Good luck....we are all becoming darn good detectives! And, yay, again that the bright pink pill is still working for you. I'm at 5 today and no problems. Going down to 4 in the next week or two.

Terri

[tex]

Please don't feel sorry for posting a lot. That's what this forum is for

Jennifer,

You can't post too much. The system is set so that it won't let anyone post more often than once every 15 seconds.

Actually, that's true, because it prevents the possibility of a spammer or other troublemaker flooding the server with thousands of computer-generated posts in the twinkling of an eye. Seriously though, please don't think that there is any reason why you shouldn't post as often as you wish. It's always better to ask, than to suffer in silence.

Tex

[Gloria]

I'm probably one of only a few here who cannot tolerate almond butter. However, I use almond milk regularly, and it doesn't seem to cause any problems at all.

I can't tolerate it either, but I also use almond milk regularly without any apparent problems. I did have problems making pudding with it, however. I might try to make pudding again and see what happens.


Gloria

[JenniferS]

Thanks, you guys! And Tex, you encouraged me more than you know. I do hope I'm healing. :) And I may, may, may just allow myself a bit of caffeinated coffee tomorrow. ;)

Have a wonderful Sunday, all!

[Leah]

There is no such thing as too many posts!

I'm one of those people who don't tolerate caffeine....not even tea :(

Almond butter and almond milk have always been fine for me. I recently happened upon a store that has a machine full of toasted almonds that grinds the nuts into butter right there and you pay by the once. Great way to try it.... and yummier than the ones I have found already ground.

Sounds like your diet is good. If you are eating rice, then you can spread your almond butter on rice cakes. I did that a lot when I was in the beginning stages of healing. very crunchy and satisfying :)

take care
Leah

[CathyMe.]

First, sorry if I post too much. I have so many questions and am rather impatient on finding answers. ;)

So, this is new. I'm doing much, much better with the D since I've been loading up on the Pepto, but today, I've been ravenous. Like wanting to eat non-stop. Part of me hopes this is good as I've dropped 15 pounds in the last year--and I've always been on the smaller side. I'm not eating nuts, gluten, soy, or lactose, and caffeinated coffee. So sad! But I have been eating rice, mushy veggies, and meat. Tonight we had salmon and sweet potato. But part of me wonders if it's just going straight through me as although the pepto has reduced frequency, on the out-end, it still appears my food passes through undigested. Or at least, a large proportion.

Is this normal and is it a good sign?

I'd also love to know if anyone out there is able to have caffeinated coffee, and if there's a "safe" sugar substitute I can try?

Also, I've dropped almonds as 1) they weren't being digested anyway, or so it seemed and 2) someone on this forum mentioned they could be an irritant, but wondered if that also applies to almond butter and almond milk?

Thanks, all!

Hi Jennifer,
I find that I tolerate stevia very well and use it quite often in both teas and my protein shakes. I've had no problems with almonds, almond milk and almond butter. I found that once I started healing and getting more formed normans, I stop seeing undigested food. I dont think it's a good sign to see undigested food as I think that means the food is going straight through you. My appetite has been out of control, since I started healing.
Cathy

[fatbuster205]

In general, BMs associated with celiac disease and MC during periods when rapid transit and malabsorption are present, are some shade of green, or straw-green. This is because the color in stool is created by bile (which is green early on, but slowly turns brown during transit through the colon, over an interval of most of a day. As we heal, our motility returns to normal, and this restores the normal stool color, (and relieves the malabsorption problem, also).

Tex

Very interesting - I have noticed that quite often mine is pale! Just as well I am getting checked for coeliac in two weeks!
Anne

[brandy]

Hi Jennifer,

I'm ok with almond butter. I've been using stevia all along but trying to use it in small amounts. i.e. I'll use a 1/3 - 1/2 pack in my tea. Truvia has a lot of fillers, suggest try to find a stevia that is just stevia or as few ingredients as possible.

Brandy

[mzh]

Just FYI about peanuts; not all of us have problems with it. I eat an apple with peanut butter every day. I added pistachios a month ago and my BMs became normal. Is there something in pistachios that could cause that? I'm now on Entocort every other day. I am also gaining unwanted weight.

I love almonds but my gut won't tolerate them when I eat a handful; sadly, I can't seem to eat only 5 of them. I suspect they're more problematic than peanuts for lots of people.

Moral of story: everyone is different.

[JenniferS]

Thanks, MZH,

Your comment on peanut butter encourages me. :) Might have to get me some.