Did anyone have weird poops after going gluten free?

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:34 am

Hi, I went completely gluten free on 4/15/13 and immediately began to have unformed, yellow poops, often several each morning. Could this be gluten die-off so-to-speak? My doc put me back on Asacol a couple of days ago. Thanks for any feedback.

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:00 am

What kind of bowel movements were you having before you changed your diet? Most of us had watery D, and baby poop is a huge improvement over watery D.

Tex

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 10:06 am

Brown, formed, but often several in a morning.

TXBrenda · Post by **TXBrenda** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:31 am

In the past cutting back on carbs, including sugar has caused my poop to be runny for a few days. I'm sure that was due to yeast die off. Also stress will make D return for me sometimes.

I try to balance my carbs and not let the yeastie beastie take over my body.

Could you have accidentally ingested gluten? That can happen even if we are being very careful with our diet.

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:16 pm

with Brenda about the effects of possible cross-contamination in the diet. Also, antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone class will do that. Were you by any chance taking Ciprofloxacin or one of the related antibiotics at the time?

Otherwise, I don't have the foggiest idea what might have caused that, other than the fact that it had to be something in your diet (or a med or supplement).

Tex

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:29 pm

No, no meds until two days ago when I began Asacol again. I was on Doxepin until end of April. Could it be that my diet is too bland, not enough fiber? I am eating GF rice/millet bread that I make, Fage yogurt x 3 a day, bananas, peeled zucchini and can of low sodium V8.

ladyathome · Post by **ladyathome** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:31 pm

Mine are often a yellow color. I feel like there is a lot of bile... I have had orange in the past as well. When mine is formed, there is less yellow than when unformed or soft. No particular reason that I can come up with.

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:12 pm

Bile is what gives stool it's normal brown color, but it starts out green, and then slowly segues into brown as it ages on it's trip through the colon. If we have rapid transit it can come out still green.

Reduced bile output (or other liver issues) can cause yellow stool, and sometimes a bacterial infection can cause a sudden change to yellow. Is it still yellow?

Tex

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:15 pm

yes, yellow for a month.

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:49 pm

Are your liver enzymes within the normal ranges? Do you have GERD? GERD can cause yellow stool in some cases.

If you haven't had a CBC lately (that included liver function markers), it might be a good idea to ask your doctor to check this out.

Tex

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:55 pm

Thanks for all the advice, I really really appreciate it. It's scary, I hope it's nothing too bad.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 10:00 pm

mcnomore wrote:Could it be that my diet is too bland, not enough fiber? I am eating GF rice/millet bread that I make, Fage yogurt x 3 a day, bananas, peeled zucchini and can of low sodium V8.

You must be vegan, since you don't mention any meat. Millet can turn the stool yellow. Beef and lamb help it to be a little browner. The only item in your diet that would add a darker color is the V8. I don't think brown rice would do it.

Gloria

ladyathome · Post by **ladyathome** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:14 am

mcnomore, I have had my liver enzymes checked many times over the past 3 years with this issue. Only once were they elevated, and when I was re=checked, they were normal. I have talked to my gastro doc and osteopath doc as well. They both tell me it's nothing to worry about, but never gives a real answer. My stool is often lighter brown colored when it's unformed (it varies in form and consistency for me) but the yellow is more on the tissue paper, as if it's absolutely liquid, not stool, if that's makes sense? I find when it's darker brown and a solid consistency, I have less to no yellow on the paper. I also believe there is fat floating on the top when there is more yellow. Maybe Tex has some thoughts about that.
I looked online, as I'm sure you have..and it can be scary (as I've been), so I would go have the tests done. I just wanted you to know there's someone else out there who relates.
The info I found:
Yellow, greasy, foul-smelling: Excess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease. Sometimes the protein gluten, such as in breads and cereals.

Post by **tex** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:31 am

Yes, fat malabsorption can add yellow coloration to stool, and that would explain why it shows up especially well on paper, because the fat that is not absorbed is usually only partially hydrolyzed, due to compromised pancreatic enzyme (lipase) production. IBDs (including MC) often cause compromised pancreatic enzyme production during periods of severe inflammation.

Tex

mcnomore · Post by **mcnomore** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:46 am

On Thursday I took 3 immodium and haven't had a bm since, but have felt dizzy off an on. The dizziness started on April 16 when I had some beef and shortly after had D with terrible dizziness and have been having problems ever since. That was also the day after I finally went completely gluten free,

I have an appt. with another G.I. doc tomorrow even though I went to another doc last week who put me back on Asacol. That doc mainly wanted me to have another colonoscopy to "see what is going on" and wasn't worried about the yellow poops. He also had me do stool tests, but haven't heard the results yet. I only went to him first because my regular G.I. doc was unavailable until July, but then her office called and said the doc wants to squeeze me in tomorrow.

As of Friday, I eliminated dairy and put chicken back in my diet.

I went to a nutritionist at our Over 60 clinic (waste of time) on Friday and because I was feeling dizzy I had the nurse check my blood sugar, bp etc. and everything was normal.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions.