Gluten intolerance

[bookworm1982]

Hey,

I always thought I had a bit of IBS as I often get bloating, abdominal pain, smelly wind, and constipation which has been coming and going for years. Had colonoscopies which are always clear. It’s been hard to pinpoint the cause but now I think it might be gluten related as there’s a definite link to eating a big bowel of cereal, however I’ve ruled this out in the past as sometimes I can eat it and no issues at all. Need some answers if anyone with some knowledge can help…

1.	Can issues with gluten come and go, so for example one day I could have a pizza and be bloated after, with pain and gas, and a few days later have a pizza and be absolutely fine? Same goes with bread and cereal - can you some days tolerate it and other days can’t? 
2.	Does gluten intolerance make your farts smell bad?
3.	Can it make you tired? I’m so tired at the moment (bloods tests all came up normal).
4.	Can you recommend a good gluten free pasta and bread? 
5.	Cereal seems to cause the most issues, like shredded wheat - I have bad gas for the rest of the day. Sound like gluten intolerance?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide!!!

Xxx

Hi, following with interest as I've recently been to the GP with this problem and she is sending me for specific blood tests to check tolerance with both lactose and gluten. I don't get constipated often but breakfast of weetabix and milk goes right through me, am often bloated and have lots of wind.

I have gluten intolerance but it's consistent - it doesn't come and go.

I like the Promise Sourdough or Schar Vitality loaves. I prefer buckwheat pasta to the usual FF ones as it's more filling and nutritionally dense.

Symptoms can come and go, yes. I'm intolerant to wheat (not other types of gluten, so I can eat oats and barley), but I find some foods sometimes make me feel quite ill, whereas other times I can eat them no problem. I find stress is a big thing that makes me unwell - if I'm stressed my IBS goes haywire - whereas when I'm chilled out I tend to feel really well - sometimes for long periods of time. I have IBS (type C i.e. constipation), but I get the bloating, gas, discomfort, etc. Keep a food diary that also notes your overall mood, life stresses, etc and you'll probably find there are patterns and triggers to your symptoms that you may not be aware of yet. And yes, when I used to eat wheat, my gas could be really smelly. Since I cut it out of my diet 11 years ago it's made a huge difference.

We thought DH was gluten intolerant for a while - he'd react to certain things like bread but was fine with pasta. After a bit of research we discounted the gluten & thought it was vinegar, but again more research & trial & error & eventually worked out he has an intolerance to certain yeasts like bakers yeast - so he can't have normal bread, but can eat sourdough bread & sourdough pizza etc. He also reacts to brewers yeast.
Make a food diary - record everything, look at the ingredients & compare. The things you react to vs the things you don't, but are similar. Then try an elimination diet, removing just one thing for a few weeks & see if there is any difference.

Pasta: I like Freee brown rice pasta and they do a multigrain one which is quite nice too. I don't like pasta made with maize as it's high GI and spikes up my blood glucose, which makes me feel faint and dizzy after an hour. https://www.freee-foods.co.uk/category/products/pasta

Bread: my favourites at the moment are Genius multi-seeded farmhouse loaf and stonebaked soft pitas. Schär also does really nice bread and rolls.

Nairns do some delicious Rosemary and Seasalt gluten-free flatbreads too. https://nairns.com/our-range/gluten-free-flatbreads

Have you been tested for coeliac disease? If not, you should continue eating gluten until you have been tested.