Hi,
I have been feeling fairly 'well', with no fatigue or abdominal pain and decent to marginal stool, once per day.
After nearly two years, well maybe one and half really, of this journey I decided to try the Enterolab route.
I have been strictly GF and DF but seeming to tolerate rice and yellow potatoes with bone broth daily and only steamed veg (no soy, corn, oats, or other meat.)
I was a bit surprised to see no foods come back without a reaction, only cashews as mild and a whole list of 'moderate', including my rice and potatoes (which was really disappointing.)
The high reactors: corn, tuna and walnut, I rarely eat (though a lot of other seafood).
Reactions to meat: Tuna, chicken, Beef and Pork, in order of high to low reaction-- would bone broth be causing a problem since it is chicken-derived?
Should I call in for a discussion with someone on their staff?
My Quantitative Fecal Fat was high at 847 and Anti-gliadin was 340... also extremely surprising and disappointing.
I don't eat out and cook most everything myself, no processed anything at all.
(I have found help with digestive enzymes that I take daily so thought pancreas was probably an issue.)
Last night I realized my hair gel (use minimal amounts but everyday) has gluten in it, but otherwise relatively pure
All lotions and toothpaste, etc. are GF so I cannot believe I missed this one.
Any thoughts or guidance?
Thank you so much in advance!
Enterolab Interpretation
Enterolab Interpretation
Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline,
Yes, bone broth could be a problem if it's made from chicken parts. Turkey might be a much better choice. I agree, the high fecal fat and anti-gliadin scores are concerning, especially after a year and-a-half of restricted diet. Those levels suggest that gluten is probably somehow sneaking into your diet. I suppose the hair gel might possibly be responsible for those levels, but it seems unlikely that it would have such a powerful effect. I don't know that for a fact, though, so that's just a guess. Does anyone else in the house use wheat flour?
To be honest, I don't know whether anyone here has derived any benefits from a phone consultation, or not. As best I can recall, no one has posted a glowing report about how much a phone consultation helped them. Maybe someone who has tried that option will see your post and respond with their opinion.
At any rate, the high results indicate that you probably still have a great deal of inflammation. Chicken and sea food are often high histamine foods, so I wonder if you might be having a problem with histamine levels. If you don't have any rashes, hives, skin redness, itching, eyes or nose running or throat congestion after meals, though, I doubt that histamine levels are a problem.
These are just some random thoughts that might or might not be helpful. Situations such as this are almost always tough to resolve.
Tex
Yes, bone broth could be a problem if it's made from chicken parts. Turkey might be a much better choice. I agree, the high fecal fat and anti-gliadin scores are concerning, especially after a year and-a-half of restricted diet. Those levels suggest that gluten is probably somehow sneaking into your diet. I suppose the hair gel might possibly be responsible for those levels, but it seems unlikely that it would have such a powerful effect. I don't know that for a fact, though, so that's just a guess. Does anyone else in the house use wheat flour?
To be honest, I don't know whether anyone here has derived any benefits from a phone consultation, or not. As best I can recall, no one has posted a glowing report about how much a phone consultation helped them. Maybe someone who has tried that option will see your post and respond with their opinion.
At any rate, the high results indicate that you probably still have a great deal of inflammation. Chicken and sea food are often high histamine foods, so I wonder if you might be having a problem with histamine levels. If you don't have any rashes, hives, skin redness, itching, eyes or nose running or throat congestion after meals, though, I doubt that histamine levels are a problem.
These are just some random thoughts that might or might not be helpful. Situations such as this are almost always tough to resolve.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex,
Really appreciate your thoughts...
have been trying to determine my next best moves with this. For now, I'll cut out the bone broth and perhaps try to also eliminate most of the almonds and rice since those were almost daily staples.
I spoke with Enterolab yesterday about setting up an appointment but am on the fence about that so hope to hear from someone else. I may go with my familiar nutritionist here locally that knows my course and is well-versed in the celiac/ digestive health world.
I am also taking a look at everything else to determine where the hidden gluten may be and have already eliminated the hair product.
Thanks again for your insight!
I'm sure more questions will arise.
Hope all is well with you!
Take care!
Really appreciate your thoughts...
have been trying to determine my next best moves with this. For now, I'll cut out the bone broth and perhaps try to also eliminate most of the almonds and rice since those were almost daily staples.
I spoke with Enterolab yesterday about setting up an appointment but am on the fence about that so hope to hear from someone else. I may go with my familiar nutritionist here locally that knows my course and is well-versed in the celiac/ digestive health world.
I am also taking a look at everything else to determine where the hidden gluten may be and have already eliminated the hair product.
Thanks again for your insight!
I'm sure more questions will arise.
Hope all is well with you!
Take care!
Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline,
I think there can be a fair amount of contamination in nuts. I live in north Florida and have had no problem with nuts sold at my local Publix grocery store in the produce section. The pecans sold their are grown right up the road in Georgia and I'm pretty certain are bagged in the pole barns of the pecan growers.
I've been in Maryland for 2 months now. I bought some bagged walnuts. I started getting the knee pain. Read the bag. The nuts are bagged in a facility that processes wheat and soy.
I threw out the walnuts. No more knee pain. It is really problematic for me to find "safe" nuts here in Maryland. I'm in a remote area and there are only a couple of grocery stores here.
I've also picked up single serve bagged nuts from the Charlotte NC airport in the past and reacted to those too.
Best of luck.
Brandy
I think there can be a fair amount of contamination in nuts. I live in north Florida and have had no problem with nuts sold at my local Publix grocery store in the produce section. The pecans sold their are grown right up the road in Georgia and I'm pretty certain are bagged in the pole barns of the pecan growers.
I've been in Maryland for 2 months now. I bought some bagged walnuts. I started getting the knee pain. Read the bag. The nuts are bagged in a facility that processes wheat and soy.
I threw out the walnuts. No more knee pain. It is really problematic for me to find "safe" nuts here in Maryland. I'm in a remote area and there are only a couple of grocery stores here.
I've also picked up single serve bagged nuts from the Charlotte NC airport in the past and reacted to those too.
Best of luck.
Brandy
Hi,
Appreciating your thoughts.. I love that you are able to get such a fresh product!
The almonds I was using for my almond milk were gluten free but not organic, but I'm avoiding almonds right now after the Enterolab results, unfortunately.
I read all labels, only buy 'GF' and avoid anything processed in facilities with wheat/ soy / dairy/ eggs but realize that the one seemingly very clean grain-free 'GF' (but not certified GF ) bar that I was eating daily, had quite a few nuts and seeds for ingredients. There could be some serious possibility of contamination when you add all of that up, along with the 'vanilla'.
I have 'Gluten Free Watchdog' testing the bars for me for gluten levels (are you familiar? It is online if you are curious-- the woman who created it is amazing)
but for the time-being I am cutting them out.
Also, have been a fan of the Go Macro cashew bar for quite some time, but am now wondering about the brown rice syrup that is in them. I checked into it and they source from a gluten free line that is seemingly also very pure, but I wonder about the possibility of a reaction to it regardless, and will be contacting them directly to find out if there is corn or anything else unlisted in that product.
Oh, this could seem endless and overwhelming and sometimes it does, but one day at a time the work is worth it.
Again, appreciate your insights/ reminders so much and hope you are well!
Appreciating your thoughts.. I love that you are able to get such a fresh product!
The almonds I was using for my almond milk were gluten free but not organic, but I'm avoiding almonds right now after the Enterolab results, unfortunately.
I read all labels, only buy 'GF' and avoid anything processed in facilities with wheat/ soy / dairy/ eggs but realize that the one seemingly very clean grain-free 'GF' (but not certified GF ) bar that I was eating daily, had quite a few nuts and seeds for ingredients. There could be some serious possibility of contamination when you add all of that up, along with the 'vanilla'.
I have 'Gluten Free Watchdog' testing the bars for me for gluten levels (are you familiar? It is online if you are curious-- the woman who created it is amazing)
but for the time-being I am cutting them out.
Also, have been a fan of the Go Macro cashew bar for quite some time, but am now wondering about the brown rice syrup that is in them. I checked into it and they source from a gluten free line that is seemingly also very pure, but I wonder about the possibility of a reaction to it regardless, and will be contacting them directly to find out if there is corn or anything else unlisted in that product.
Oh, this could seem endless and overwhelming and sometimes it does, but one day at a time the work is worth it.
Again, appreciate your insights/ reminders so much and hope you are well!
Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline,
Interesting about the testing. I will have to check out GF Watchdog.
I don't do well with the bars although I can probably tolerate them now.
Generally if I need a to go snack I'll make my own trail mix:
pecans, macadamia nuts, raisins, nut thin crackers, a few craisins, some salt and pepper
If it is cold weather I'll add some enjoy life chips
Interesting about the testing. I will have to check out GF Watchdog.
I don't do well with the bars although I can probably tolerate them now.
Generally if I need a to go snack I'll make my own trail mix:
pecans, macadamia nuts, raisins, nut thin crackers, a few craisins, some salt and pepper
If it is cold weather I'll add some enjoy life chips