My Daughter -21yrs Old

[Lisa]

Hey Guys:

Annie and I are going to the doctors again tomorrow. Annie suffers from cronic constipation and has great pain after eating. She "goes" about every third or forth day, with the constant urge to do more, but can't.

She wakes up every morning with a terrible headache that can last throughout most of the day and sometimes into the evening.

When the stomach pain hits, she is almost doubled over. (I remember the feeling as I was there and felt like I was going to pass out twenty five years ago).

She is not on the gluten-free diet, but I feel that she has a pre-disposition to celiac disease.

My GP tested her for the blood test...but what a joke. Don't know what they tested her for and just got a call that "it" was negative. That was the end of that, so we are going to a new doctor. He is an Ostiopathis Doctor (sp). He is so cool and I really like him. He has certainly made my life more pleasurable.

My question is: Should she do the blood test for celiac disease, or should she do the endocopy. or maybe an MRI.....The headaches have to go. They are sometimes bad enough that she is unable to do what she needs to do.

Eyes check out ok, and no wisdom teeth...those issues we have ruled out.

Any thoughts that I can bring to the doctors office, please.......

Lisa B.

Any suggestions as we go tomorrow.

[julie5914]

Yeah, I recently started seeing an osteopathic doctor - I hope he can help you by looking at the whole picture. The best thing is that he likely will not stop looking for the cause of those headaches just after receiving one lab test neg. He may call for an MRI, which will likely be ok but it would ease your mind a bit I am sure.

If he is a DO like mine, he will ask you and your daughter a ton of questions to get to the cause of the headaches and you will likely not have forgotten to tell him something because he will cover it all. Bring all of her med records if you have not already sent them to him. They could be caused by a number of things, but I bet he will find it (though it may cost a bit).

Definitely tell him the slightest thing that you think might be just a fluke. Every single symptom, even if you think it isn't related or you think it might steer him away from Celiac (though if you mention Celiac, he will likely look into it completely). My doctor honed in on adrenal problems, and when I read more about it, there were specific things that I hadn't even considered as symptoms because I'd lived with it for so long, like itchy skin, waking up every night between 2-4, unable to stand in one place for more than 30 min, and trouble digesting meat. Who would have linked those weird things together?

[Lisa]

Thanks Julie:

All those things will be helpful tomorrow. We signed waiver for all her hospital records to be in his office by now. We live in a small town so lots of the tests are done at the hospital. He should have the records by now.

I feel so helpless. She is getting married in June and I want her to be in good health to enjoy this time.

She is in college and commutes from home. When not going to school she sleeps until lunch and misses meals. Typical young persons agenda. We'll try to work it out tomorrow.

Thanks for your impute.

Lisa B.

[judy05]

Hey Guys:

Annie and I are going to the doctors again tomorrow.  Annie suffers from cronic constipation and has great pain after eating.  She "goes" about every third or forth day, with the constant urge to do more, but can't.

She wakes up every morning with a terrible headache that can last throughout most of the day and sometimes into the evening.

When the stomach pain hits, she is almost doubled over. (I remember the feeling as I was there and felt like I was going to pass out twenty five years ago).

She is not on the gluten-free diet, but I feel that she has a pre-disposition to celiac disease.

My GP tested her for the blood test...but what a joke.  Don't know what they tested her for and just got a call that "it" was negative.  That was the end of that, so we are going to a new doctor.  He is an Ostiopathis Doctor (sp).  He is so cool and I really like him.  He has certainly made my life more pleasurable.

My question is:  Should she do the blood test for celiac disease, or should she do the endocopy. or maybe an MRI.....The headaches have to go.  They are sometimes bad enough that she is unable to do what she needs to do.

Eyes check out ok, and no wisdom teeth...those issues we have ruled out.

Any thoughts that I can bring to the doctors office, please.......

Lisa B.

Any suggestions as we go tomorrow.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I personally would first check her B/p, my son and I both had bad headaches prior to being diagnosed with hypertension. If the headches are over both eyes, it is likely a sinus headache, sometimes these can occur as a result of milk intolerance. Of course she should have the gene test and celiac panel to check for antibodies. I highly recommend Citracel fiber pills for the constipation. The headaches could be caused by the constipation alone. Don't go gluten free until all of the testing is done. If any of the antibodies are elevated then of course she should have an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy since she is also presenting with stomach pain and distress. These are a few of my suggestions, I hope you have good luck with the new Dr and you get to the bottom of her problems. Theses things helped me...

[jerseyangel]

It's true that morning headaches can be caused by high BP. I used to wake up with pain in the back of my head and neck (at the base of my skull) and it would usually last untill I took a shower or was up and around for a while. It turned out I had high BP. After going on medication, the headaches went away and have not returned--its been about 6 mo. I don't think it is related to celiac disease, but this happened right around the time of my DX of celiac disease. Just a lousy coincidance I guess.

[Lisa]

Thanks for your responses.

Today, he switched her meds a little. For the stomach pain he wants her to try Hyoscyamine to be taken twice a day. For the headaches he gave her two Relpax (migrain med) to see if this will make the headache go away. If these do not work, he suggested that she go off Estrostepp (BC) for a month to see if headaches are relieved. Trying to eliminate possible sources before doing an MRI or endoscopy.

She is in college, making wedding plans, trying to pass the Praxis test (for ed.major), dad freekin about the cost of putting on a wedding and she is high strung by nature and a controll freak. HEADACHE STRESS IS HIGHLY LIKELY. Stress is making the IBS worse, constipation bringing on the headaches, and around and around we go.

Does all that make sense???

What do you all think? I do not now think that this is celiac disease but unless handled now, could very well be in the future.

Thanks for any input and those that have already posted in.

Lisa B.

[julie5914]

So has she still not been tested for celiac? I would really for push for this - that sounds like me before diagnosis, except I didn't have headaches every day. Should especially get tested since you have it.

[Lisa]

So has she still not been tested for celiac? I would really for push for this - that sounds like me before diagnosis, except I didn't have headaches every day. Should especially get tested since you have it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nope. I did request one blood test from her PP, and then I called them after two weeks and they sent to results to MY Gastro Dr. (who dosen't know who in the heck she is). PP's nurse said it was neg., but I have seen not a copy, nor numbers.

Should we run the full panel, or go straight for the endoscopy? What do you think?

Headaches are mostly above her eyes and last all day, every day.

Thanks for your impute.

[julie5914]

I'd go for endoscopy if your insurance will cover. With that kind of stomach pain, endoscopy may be able to show something else wrong if it isn't celiac. Make sure the main purpose is to check for celiac though of course and that they take mult. samples for biospy.

[Lisa]

So has she still not been tested for celiac? I would really for push for this - that sounds like me before diagnosis, except I didn't have headaches every day. Should especially get tested since you have it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Julie:

She has not been tested yet, trying to see if the meds for her consipation/and spasams will settle down the headaches. She not complaining as much, so that may be working. If not on the endoscopy.

Thanks for keeping up with us.

[debmidge]

Lisa

You asked for advice and what we all think. I want to address the headaches. I understand your daughter is preparing to get married, did she recently go on birth control pills in preparation for marriage? I used to get terrible headaches from them when I took them (I've stopped them just a few years ago and the headaches never returned). ...Just a thought of what could trigger a migraine/headache in a young woman. Also, I believe BC pills affect blood pressure too.

[Lisa]

Lisa

You asked for advice and what we all think.    I want to address the headaches.  I understand your daughter is preparing to get married,  did she recently go on birth control pills in preparation for marriage?    I used to get terrible headaches from them when I took them (I've stopped them just a few years ago and the headaches never returned).  ...Just a thought of what could trigger a migraine/headache in a young woman.  Also, I believe BC pills affect blood pressure too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The birth control most likely is the culprit. She has an appointment next week and will consult her Doctor. Her blood pressure is right on the mark. Thank you all for you input.

[Matilda]

..

[Lisa]

She has already had A blood test, but not the full panel. It was negative.

Head aches are calming down.....we'll take every day as a test.

As said in a pre-post, she will see her gyno next week and discuss the head aches. Perhaps they will switch her to another brand. If in a few weeks, the aches will not subside, then we will do the endoscopy.

We will keep a very close watch on her as she is genetically disposed to celiac disease. She is young and just now learning to cook ( as recommended by her fiance).

In my heart and in my gut, I don't feel that it is celiac disease. Mothers kinda know these things.

I will keep you all posted as you have informed me and help me make judgements.

Without this message board, I truely don't know what I would have done in handling this infliction. Guess this is a new post.

But thank all of you that feel concern for us, as I do for you.