Celiac And Pancreas Issues

[Lisa79]

Hi

I was diagnosed 4 years ago with Celiac, I have had ongoing digestive issues, food sensitivities, constipation, bloating and anxiety.

 

I saw an irridologist a while ago who said it was my pancreas, since then I have seen two different Naturopaths/homeopaths who also said the same, I went to my doc concerned, they shrugged it off a little but ran some blood tests, I had follow up endo and colonoscopy all was find doc said its just IBS.

 

Now I have very tender reflex and lumps on my pancreas (reflexology) the lumps wont go no matter how much I work them.

 

I have been taking digestive enzymes but obviously they are not doing their job.

 

I am very worried, I am going to go to a new GP with my concerns and see if she can do some test.

 

Anyone have pancreas issues and how can you test ?

 

Thanks

 

[Dugudugu]

Are you diabetic? When I read your story about pancreas issues I can't help to wonder what these issues are besides the one you already mentioned related to celiac 4 yrs ago. I am not a dokter but I do know that the main purpose of the pancreas is to produce insuline.

Already did a MRI of CT scan?

[Lisa79]

Hi

 

No not diabetic, i was told once it was more on the pancreas enzymes secretion side of things.  But these lumps under my feet are very sore and the reflexologist said its the pancreas.  So I am quite worried, I am going to my gp to ask for them to run some test.

 

I am also seeing  a naturopath next week.

 

I have googled quite a bit and found that pancreas insufficiency and pancreatis are quite common with Celiacs. 

 

I had a small bowel Barrum CT which said all organs looked normal about a year ago but I am not sure how closely the looked at my pancreas, I also had colonoscopy and endo for celiac check all was good and I have had a ultrasound all was ok what could be seen but I understand its not the best at diagnosing.  havent had an MRI.

 

Thanks

[frieze]

are you on acid reducing meds?

[kareng]

Lumps on your pancreas?  And you think you can make them go away?  If a doctor saw "lumps" on your pancreas in an MRI or Ct, they should be referring you to an oncologist &  not telling you to "work them".  I have never heard of a doctor that would say you have tumors in your pancreas and tell you to take care of it yourself!

 

Are you sure you heard correctly?  I'm confused.

 

 

Just read your second comment - your pancreas isn't on the bottom of your feet.Maybe see a doctor and see if your pancreas is funtioning?

[IrishHeart]

Reflexologists cannot "diagnose" pancreatic issues from bumps on your feet. 

and " an irIdologist" is not a diagnostician or a medical professional  in any sense of the word. 

Quackery.

 

I fear you are placing your trust in charlatans, sorry. IMHO

 

Ask your medical doctor --a GI, preferably---to run an appropriate test for pancreatic insufficiency because, yes, it is often associated with undiagnosed celiac. I am not sure why you are continuing to have so many symptoms after 4 years, but I would not attempt to guess or diagnose you.

 

I would see a gastroenterologist and have a repeat BIOPSY to make sure your villi have regrown and your gut is healing as it should on a gluten-free diet.

 

Has anyone done a repeat celiac panel, for example?

 

Test for pancreatic insufficiency are here:

 

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[1desperateladysaved]

IF I understand correctly from my Functional Medicine Practitioner:

 

The villi of the small intestine tell the pancreas to fire.  If they are damaged; they can become unable to function.  (Mine were)  The body has trouble breaking down food.  Therefore, I am taking Enzymes that help me break down the food.  I was told that the villi damage is reversible.

 

My pancreas problem was realized through a nutrition evaluation.  It measured many nutrient levels.  It checked various chemical levels.  I had markers for mal-absorption.  Nutra-VAl by Genova was the nutrition evaluation I had. The insurance said they would cover this test because of the Celiac.   I am planning to use Spectra-Cell for my next test.  As I understand, the insurance does not take this test.  I found my nutrition evaluation to be helpful in planning and checking my supplement programs.

 

I don't know anything about bumps on the pancreas, though.

[kareng]

Ok! Now I'm getting it! I was afraid you had pancreatic cancer and weren't even trying to get treatment!

Those bumps in the hard parts of the bottom of your feet? Find a podiatrist ( foot MD) that specializes in sports medicine or get some insoles at the drug store and try them for a few weeks. I forget if I ever heard a name for them but I have had them and so has my hub and one of my boys. Don't walk around without some cushion on the bottom of your feet.

[Dugudugu]

For your information, I would like to share with you the following:

 

You had a bowel barium CT scan. 
On this scan you can see the pancreas, but those aren't the best pictures because of the barium (high density). Depending on the slices of each image (1 cm for a bowelscan?) a ct cannot go into much detail.

 

Colonscopy and endoscopy: pancreas cannot been seen.

 

Ultrasound: good study to look at big changes, not the most adequate study for a pancreas.

 

If a pancreas gets infected, microcalifications will appear and very small changes in the tissue. The calcifications are too small to be seen on an ultrasound, on a regular xray you have to look very well to see them. There is a study (ERCP) where they can inject some liquid contrast into the pancreas, but I do not recommend this. The pancreas is a very delicate organ and doesn't like this study. There is also a change you get an infection because of this procedure. I have been working for a few years on ERCPs as an xray tech.

 

If your problems aren't going away, I suggest a MRI.

Good luck.

[ravenwoodglass]

I also suggest you see a podiatrist. I had something called Morton's Neuroma in my feet. A podiatrist was able to treat them sucessfully.

They are very painful lumps. I tried to paste a link from the Mayo Clinic but wasn't able to so you might want to do a search for their site. They have nothing to do with the pancreas and mine were taken care of with special bars across the bottom of my favorite shoes.