Need Opinions

[Suffering]

So I need opinions. I'm a 28 year old female. I have suffered terrible stomach problems for about 6 years. I just recently started see a GI about my symptoms because the became so unbearable. My issue is that my symptoms come and go. They'll start and last 6 weeks or so and then get better (don't go completely away) for about a month but during that 6 weeks they're unbearable. I get such bad stomach pain between my belly button and rib cage. Most of the time I end up throwing up but I know if it's cuz of the pain or just another symptom. I have never really correlated it with particular food as it happen everytime I eat. I get really sweaty, heartburn, dizzy, my stomach bloats terrible and I get extremely fatigued. I have always thought it was an ulcer. But the pain feels like my intestines are eating themselves. I get diarrhea but only a couple times a day.

I've had a CT and an abdominal ultrasound which were negative. Then my friend mentioned celiac. I had never thought of that (I'm a nurse so that's crazy). She pointed out that I'm always complaining of my bones hurting like growing pains which is true I feel like my bones ache like when I have the flu. And I get these blisters on my fingers, I always thought the were cold sores on my fingers. I never related these issues to my stomach problems. Anyways my symptoms are at a good point right now. I get slight stomach aches, nothing like it is when it "flares" up. But I also get these sharp stabbing pains, mild, but they're right under my rib cage.

I also have terrible heartburn most of the time. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy and egd next week.

Are these symptoms related to what anyone else has experienced with celiac?

[moosemalibu]

I had stabbing abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue and diarrhea (just to name a few). Get tested for Celiac. It certainly cannot hurt. 

[WinterSong]

In short, definitely get tested. Many of your symptoms could be Celiac-related. 

[gary'sgirl]

Reading your symptoms first brought to mind "gallbladder attack", in particular the pain that you describe under the rib cage. Is it more to the left or right? I had pain under my mid to right rib cage when I was having gallbladder attacks.

But it might not be gallbladder, if it is though, that doesn't rule out Celiac or gluten sensitivity. My gallbladder problems where because of having celiac disease.

 

Hope you can figure it out soon. Hang in there!

[Suffering]

Reading your symptoms first brought to mind "gallbladder attack", in particular the pain that you describe under the rib cage. Is it more to the left or right? I had pain under my mid to right rib cage when I was having gallbladder attacks.

But it might not be gallbladder, if it is though, that doesn't rule out Celiac or gluten sensitivity. My gallbladder problems where because of having celiac disease.

 

Hope you can figure it out soon. Hang in there!

Yes that was my first thought to but it's been ruled out.

[GFinDC]

Hi S,

 

Yes, your symptoms do sound like celiac disease.   You should get blood drawn for a full celiac antibodies panel.  Be sure to keep eating gluten (wheat, rye, barley) until your celiac disease testing is complete.  Other tests you should consider are a bone density scan and vitamin and mineral levels.

[Suffering]

Hi S,

 

Yes, your symptoms do sound like celiac disease.   You should get blood drawn for a full celiac antibodies panel.  Be sure to keep eating gluten (wheat, rye, barley) until your celiac disease testing is complete.  Other tests you should consider are a bone density scan and vitamin and mineral levels.

So I'm have an upper and lower go next Wednesday. Do you think I should still do the blood work or wait for my result from the scopes? I'm kinda torn on it.

[pricklypear1971]

OMG yes. Me. My autoimmune stuff cycles. One reason I never correlated it with what I ate.

Yes, full antibody panels NOW. Make sure they do celiac biopsies, not just a look.

[NoGlutenCooties]

So I'm have an upper and lower go next Wednesday. Do you think I should still do the blood work or wait for my result from the scopes? I'm kinda torn on it.

 

If it were me I would have them run the full Celiac panel of bloodtests NOW.  Regardless of how the biopsy comes back you're going to want the bloodtest.  So why not get them both done now and then go gluten-free to see if you feel better?  Once the bloodtests and the biopsy are out of the way I can't think of any reason why not to go ahead and go gluten-free while you're waiting for the test results.

[Suffering]

Thanks soo much for all the replies! I called and got the blood test ordered today. So first thing tomorrow I'll get them done. Hopefully they don't take to long. I plan to go gluten free right away after my biopsies are done regardless. I'll update my results as soon as I get them!