Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Celiac With Pacreatic Cancer

Nancyalice

Recommended Posts

Nancyalice Newbie
Nancyalice
Posted

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease two years ago.  I was told to start a gluten free diet and come back for blood tests in three months.  When I went back for blood tests, my liver functions were abnormal.  Further testing confirmed I had pancreatic cancer.  I went through chemotherapy and the Whipple procedure.  Today I am cancer free, but a lot of my pancreas was removed, along with my gall bladder and some of my stomach.  I was told not to eat fatty foods.   I was told the symptoms I had for Celiac were similar to those of pancreatic cancer.  I would like to hear from those suffering from Celiac. What happens when they eat gluten?  Do they know it immediately or does it take a day or two to cause symptoms?  Once symptoms begin how long before the bout is over?  Since I had the two problems at the same time I don't know which is causing my issues.  I try to follow the gluten free diet, but I know it's easy to conume gluten unknowingly (especially in restaurants).  Please help.  Thank you.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Congratulations on beating the pancreatic cancer! Unfortunately, that is one of the cancers that tends to show up more often in celiacs than in the regular population. I'm glad you got a diagnosis and are eating gluten-free now.  :)

 

Celiac disease has a lot of symptoms and it varies from person to person: some people get neurological presentaions, it affects skin and hair, some poeple become anemic... it's pretty broad.  Here is a pretty good list of symptoms: https://www.celiac.com/articles/1106/1/Celiac-Disease-Symptoms/Page1.html

 

When I eat gluten, I get a general feeling of "unwellness", a bloated stomach, a stomach ache, headache, and fatigued. If I eat it often and for a long time I lose hair, get constipated, gain weight, develop joint pain, get pimples, and my back gets sore more often (I have a back injury).  The first few symptoms I listed hit within hours and last a few days, the other symptoms last weeks or months (but need more than a tiny bit of gluten to set them off).

 

I don't eat in restaurants very often - I don't consider them to be very safe places for me. When I do eat out, I tend to go with salads or eggs. I have had some bad luck ordering off of supposed gluten-free menus so I'm a bit gun-shy now. I tend to bring in my own food - I have young kids so no one questions us when we order a milkshake and bring out our own lunch.  LOL

 

Best wishes.  I hope you continue to be well.  :)

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi and welcome to the forum! :)

 

Symptoms and reaction times do vary an awful lot with celiac disease.  Some people get no GI symptoms at all.  Some react in an hour or less and some after a day to two.  It is not a set thing.  I used to react within an  hour myself.  I am not sure I still would but don't want to try to find out!  And symptoms for me could last a month or more.

 

Congrats on surviving pancreatic cancer too.  That's great!

 

Some starting the gluten-free diet tips for the first 6 months:

Get tested before starting the gluten-free diet.
Get your vitamin/mineral levels tested also.
Don't eat in restaurants
Eat only whole foods not processed foods.
Eat only food you cook yourself, think simple foods, not gourmet meals.
Take probiotics.
Take gluten-free vitamins.
Take digestive enzymes.
Avoid dairy.
Avoid sugars and starchy foods.
Avoid alcohol.

Helpful threads:

FAQ Celiac com
https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/forum-7/announcement-3-frequently-asked-questions-about-celiac-disease/

Newbie Info 101
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/

What's For Breakfast Today?
https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/81858-whats-for-breakfast-today/

 

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      16

      My only proof

      Doterra is a life saver and yes I feel like im waiting because Im getting yes you are celiac, no your not celiac. Im so FRUSTRATED, exhausted and tired of explaining to medical why I feel this way.Im stressed because my body isn't feeling well.Yes I am and no it's not just a food allergy as downplayed with doctors Ive seen.I even went to the " celiac specialist...
    2. Dakota01
      - Dakota01 commented on Scott Adams's article in Winter 2026 Issue
      1

      Are Gluten-Free Processed Foods Making You Sick? (+Video)

      This video is extremely informative and explains why I still get sick when I eat these so called gluten-free processed foods. I make every effort to stay away from all processed foods.
    3. Scott Adams
      0

      Why Celiac Diagnosis Still Takes Years—and How to Change That

    4. JoJo0611
      - JoJo0611 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Awaiting Biopsy results

      I have had my endoscopy this morning with biopsies. My consultant said that it looked like I did have coeliac disease from what he could see. I now have to wait 3 weeks for the biopsy results. Do I continue eating gluten till my follow appointment in three weeks.
    5. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to emzie's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Stomach hurts with movement

      Hi @emzie and welcome to the forum. Perhaps could be residual inflammation and bloating that is causing sensitivity in that area. I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2013 and I remember some years ago my sister telling me around that time that she had a lady in her church, also a coeliac, who had real pain when she turned her torso in a certain...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,455
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Suelle
    Newest Member
    Suelle
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jmartes71
      My only proof

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Doterra is a life saver and yes I feel like im waiting because Im getting yes you are celiac, no your not celiac. Im so FRUSTRATED, exhausted and tired of explaining to medical why I feel this way.Im stressed because my body isn't feeling well.Yes I am and no it's not just a food allergy as downplayed with doctors Ive seen.I even went to the " celiac  specialist " Dr Fernandez-Becker who down played my ailments and stated im not and then yes I am I even had one her " care team" ask my why do you want that diagnosis. UNMMMMM. I don't want it, its been my life confirmed in 1994.Menopause intensified extra sensitivity and medical has down played my sibo, ibs, CELIAC, now im having skin and eye issues. I thought help was available but its been a complete medical disaster. 
    • JoJo0611
      Awaiting Biopsy results

      By JoJo0611 · Posted

      I have had my endoscopy this morning with biopsies. My consultant said that it looked like I did have coeliac disease from what he could see. I now have to wait 3 weeks for the biopsy results. Do I continue eating gluten till my follow appointment in three weeks.  
    • cristiana
      Stomach hurts with movement

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @emzie and welcome to the forum. Perhaps could be residual inflammation and bloating that is causing sensitivity in that area.  I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2013 and I remember some years ago my sister telling me around that time that she had a lady in her church, also a coeliac, who  had real pain when she turned her torso in a certain direction whilst doing exercises, but otherwise was responding well to the gluten-free diet. As far as I know is still the picture of health. I often end up with pain in various parts of my gut if I eat too much rich food or certain types of fibre (for some reasons walnuts make my gut hurt, and rice cakes!) and and as a rule, the pain usually hangs around for a number of days, maybe up to a week.   When I bend over or turn, I can feel it.  I think this is actually due to my other diagnosis of IBS, for years I thought I had a rumbling appendix but I think it must have just been IBS.  Reading the experiences of other sufferers, it seems quite typical.  Sensitized gut, build up of gas - it stands to reason that the extra pressure of turning can increase the pain. When I am glutened I get a burning, gnawing pain in my stomach on and off for some days - it isn't constant, but it can take up a few hours of the day.  I believe this to be gastritis, but it seems to hurt irrespective of movement.   Anyway, you are doing the right thing to seek a professional opinion, though, so do let us know how you get on.   Meanwhile, might I suggest you drink peppermint tea, or try slices of fresh ginger in hot water? A lot of IBS sufferers say the former is very helpful in relieving cramps, etc, and the latter is very soothing on the stomach. Cristiana
    • emzie
      Stomach hurts with movement

      By emzie · Posted

      Hi! One of the usual symptoms I have with a gluten flare up has deviated a bit and I thought I'd search for advice/opinions here. Also to see if anyone goes through similar stuff. Monday all of a sudden I got really bad pain in my stomach (centre, right under the chest, where the duodenum would be located). I ended up having to throw up for 2 hours, my body was trying to get rid of something from all sides and it was just horrible. Since then I havent been nauseous anymore at all, but the pain has stayed and it always worsens the moment i start moving. The more I move the more it hurts, and when i rest longer it seems to dissapear (no movement). I've had this before, but years ago I think around when I first got diagnosed with coeliac, where each time I moved, my stomach would hurt, to the point where I went to the ER because doctors got freaked out. That only lasted 1 night though, and Now it's already wednesday, so 3 days since then, but the pain persists and remains leveled. it doesn't get crazy intense, but it's still uncomfortable to the point I cant really go out because Im afraid itll turn into a giant flare up again. I couldn't think of where I could possibly have been glutened at this bad of a level and why it hasn't passed yet. I went to the GP, and as long as I have no fever and the pain isnt insane then its fine which I havent had yet. Tomorrow im also seeing a gastroenterologist specialized in IBS and coeliac for the first time finally in years, but I thought I'd ask on here anyway because it still hasnt dissapeared. It also hurts when someone presses on it. Maybe it's just really inflamed/irritated. I'm just frustrated because I'm missing out on my uni lectures and I do a sports bachelor, so I can't get behind on stuff & next to that i'm also going to go to the beach with my boyfriend's family this weekend: ( 
    • Flash1970
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Flash1970 · Posted

      Hi. So sorry to hear about your shingles. There is a lidocaine cream that you can get at Walmart that will help numb the pain.  That's what I used for mine. It can't be put near your eyes or in your ears. I hope your doctor gave you valacyclovir which is an antiviral.  It does lessen the symptoms. If it is in your eyes,  see an ophthalmologist.  They have an antiviral eye drop that can be prescribed.  Shingles in the eye could cause blindness.  I was unsure whether you have celiac or not.  If you do,  follow the diet.  I believe that extra stress on your body does affect everything. Shingles can recur. If you start getting the warning signs of nerves tingling,  see the dr and start taking the valacyclovir to prevent a breakout. If I sound technical,  I am a retired pharmacist. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.