Help Please....Anyone have problems with Glutan Intolerance after RNY???

I will try and make this long story short!!!

Had Lapband  placed May 2005...good results...lost 100 lbs...

Moved... started with different surgeon..(major mistake)...Feb. 2011 had port leak ... port replaced, thought we were back in running...NOPE port infected...one year of replacement..infected...removed...wound care...replaced...infected...more time in wound care...getting ready to replace again...changed surgeons again...(finally) she did an EDG found major erosion... after 4 weeks with pic line and antibiotics (mild MRSA...is there such a thing???)....AND LOTS OF MONEY...we finally got it cleared enough to remove band..

Jan 2012.... revised to RNY...they ended up having to convert to Open and removed gull bladder...they then also removed my spleen (it had been enlarged since having Rheumatic Fever as child...) so recovery a little slow just from the get go...also having problems with low blood sugars...

later it seemed that I was having lactose problems so started drinking Almond Milk...still having some digestive issues...16 months later...I have Good days and really bad days...started taking probiotics..(helped some)...but daughter and I have been doing some research and wonder if this is from gluten intolerance...

So that is most of the facts...i started my Journey at nearly 315...(2005) and now weigh 155-160 and wearing size 12...so I am happy with this part...just really NEED to get this digestion stuff under control...

Thanks in advance for ANY advise...I just feel like I am just taking shots in the dark as to what to do next...final part of story ...I now live in Knoxville TN and at a NEW Doctor (internal Medicine doc) again...I really feel that he is doing everything he knows to do ...have had lots of different test this past year... I need to find a new Bariatric Dr...

Sugar can cause issues with RNY.  Lots of food contain sugar, milk which you might think was lactose problems and many food like bread which you might think is gluten.  Just throwing it out for you to kick around.  Have you talked to your surgeon about it?

We have to be our own science projects.  Funny but true.  Try a simple diet and use the concept of elimination.  Like you did with the milk. 

All Best,

Layla

My issues with gluten have nothing to do with my surgery although before my revision eating anything with refined carbs did cause a lot of intestinal distress.  I'm not sure now because I haven't had anything with gluten since my revision and I really don't want to know.  There is a good book called "Wheat Belly" that really explains it for me.  Whether or not I officially have gluten intolerance is immaterial as much as how I feel when I avoid them.  I lose my craving for them after I don't eat them for a while and my weight has been very stable since I gave up sugar and gluten.  Like others have said, give it a try and see if you feel better without gluten.  If you don't feel a difference then you can always eat them again.

I can't really help much with your question about gluten intolerance, but you should consider seeing Dr. Boyce in Knoxville if you are looking for a good bariatric surgeon. He is wonderful.

I suggest you read THE VIRGIN DIET by J.J. Virgin.    It has helped me alot.   Also a good nutritionist took me off  corn, eggs, soy frutose.     The book and the foods they discuss made me feel a lot better and also I am slowly losing weight without suffering with stomach issues, etc.

Good luck to you

Generally, if you have Celiac it's picked up on during your scope and you most likely are consuming/using products with gluten or wheat in them without being aware of it. My daughter has celiac and many items such as lotions, shampoos, soy sauce, soups, etc are items that you wouldn't think of that contain gluten but are completely off limits to her. As soon as the doctor has a visual it's really evident if a person has Celiac as all the villi are blunted and the intestine ulcerates. They confirm with the biopsies. I hope you figure it out as I see how extremely painful it is if anything with gluten is eaten/absorbed and the long term damage is very serious. Good luck!