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

New Please Help, Does This Sound Consistant With Gluten Intolerance

Matt.tilley

Recommended Posts

Matt.tilley Newbie
Matt.tilley
Posted

Hi everyone. I'll try to be quick with the background because seemingly its the same for most people. But here goes. 2 months ago i had a stitch like pain in my left abdomen under left ribs, sort of spleen area, like a balloon was under there. and i was bloated. I had mild constipation (this day i had eaten a pizza, toast and a cake) it persisted, i went to doctor. had an array of blood tests all negative, including celiacs, doctor said mabe ibs, i then saw another doctor after a month of similar discomfort, she said seemed like gluten is a problem for me after analysing my food diary. I went gluten free for 2 weeks and felt better, however after every meal i could still physically feel something under my ribs, top of my colon, spleen stomach, muscle (no idea) but it is there. however no cramps, stitchs and bloating less. I then one week ago had a sandwich as i was in a rush and i felt terrible all day, huge bloating constipation for the first time in months, cramps. So it seems gluten is a problem for me. BUT... does anyone have the same symptoms as me? are they consistant in Gluten senstivity? what is it i can feel when im bloated? it isnt pain its just there.if you stand up and breathe in filling your abdomen on there is something tangible that follows the angle of the rib cage down,protruding a little out further than them and when i eat i feel this even when im not breathing in. is it my spleen? my transverse colon? muscles that are normal but when im bloated they are pressed against like when i breathe in? i would really appreciate any advice, i feel a little alone, the doctors don't seem very knowledgeable on this subject. btw I am fit and healthy, 29 years old from UK, im  5ft 10inches tall and 70kg , i eat healthily also. Thank you so much everyone look forward to your opinions. Thanks Matt

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


user001 Contributor
user001
Posted

I have heard that many people are tested for years before having a positive diagnosis for celiac. If you feel better off gluten, then stay away. I have been having a similar pain on the right side under the rib case, radiates a bit into the back 1-2 hours after eating. It seems to be ok if i take a digestive enzyme with my food, I think it has to do with the pancreas and the small intestine. The enzymes help. Here is a really great thread i found. https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/105648-exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency/?hl=pancreatitis#entry910796

scroll down to the #5 post from the power of positive thinking. It was very helpful to me. In the mean time if you have a heating pad on hand, laying on a heating pad seems to help me.

Matt.tilley Newbie
Matt.tilley
Posted
  • Author

Thank you very helpful. 

Matt.tilley Newbie
Matt.tilley
Posted
  • Author

Will this get better the longer i am off gluten? 

user001 Contributor
user001
Posted

Someone else could probably be more helpful. From what I have read, it is some thing where the pancreas gets messages from the villi to release enzymes and when the villi are damaged it gets all messed up and creates pain., when the villi heal, the problem should resolve (villi will should heal on a gluten free diet). The enzymes seem to help me A LOT, I thought for awhile that it was what I was eating, but it wasn't it was just anything I ate.

Matt.tilley Newbie
Matt.tilley
Posted
  • Author

Someone else could probably be more helpful. From what I have read, it is some thing where the pancreas gets messages from the villi to release enzymes and when the villi are damaged it gets all messed up and creates pain., when the villi heal, the problem should resolve (villi will should heal on a gluten free diet). The enzymes seem to help me A LOT, I thought for awhile that it was what I was eating, but it wasn't it was just anything I ate.

thanks.very helpful, it is left abdomen sticking out under the ribs and when bloated I can actually feel a ridge like a tube or something, not sure if its an organ or muscle because of the bloating. very confusing. the doctor just give me 2 leaflets one on ibs one on gluten senisitivity which were so basic and sent me away 

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

When I was constipated, my colon (descending) would swell and I could feel the top of it under the bottom my ribs rather firmly.  My anatomy may be a bit different though because I haven't had a spleen for over 20 years. The bloating would sometimes hurt to stand up straight and it did change with deep breaths but after being gluten-free for 2 years, I don't remember exactly how.

 

My bloating and constipation (and stomach pains, arthritis, migraines, etc) were not a consistent thing for me.  Some days (weeks/months/years) were better than others, although the symptoms did slowly grow worse and more frequent as the years went by.

 

You might as well get tested. Keep eating gluten until testing is complete.  Best wishes.  :)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


user001 Contributor
user001
Posted

I mentioned it to my doctor 3 times and he brushed it off. He said 'it might be a little IBS' riight. Since I have been gluten free, i just have this pain, no C or D associated with it. it could be a world of things! I really recommend the enzymes, try it and see if it helps, if not press the doctor to investigate more.

Matt.tilley Newbie
Matt.tilley
Posted
  • Author

I mentioned it to my doctor 3 times and he brushed it off. He said 'it might be a little IBS' riight. Since I have been gluten free, i just have this pain, no C or D associated with it. it could be a world of things! I really recommend the enzymes, try it and see if it helps, if not press the doctor to investigate more.

Thanks a lot. what enzymes? do i just go to pharmacy and buy any that say digestive enzymes. or... can you recommend a brand or are there certain buzzwords/ ingredients to look out for ? 

user001 Contributor
user001
Posted

Well here in the US there is a brand called enzymedica "digest gold" is the type i use. There is several different kinds in there. You could look them up and see whats in there or if you can purchase in your area.

TorontoGal Newbie
TorontoGal
Posted

I've been gluten free for 2 months now. All my symptoms went away, but about a month in, I had the same feeling under my ribs on the left as well. I couldn't even sleep on that side because it felt like I was laying on a ball or something. After eating, or when taking deep breaths, I would get pain there that almost felt like a tearing? Anyway, I had an ultrasound done, but it came back normal. I then went to a Naturopath who said it may be a muscle problem. She did acupuncture, which seemed to help a little bit. I still have the pain from time to time, but it's no longer constant. I hope you get it figured out!!

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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. MichaelDG
      - MichaelDG posted a topic in Board/Forum Technical Help
      0

      celiac.com support

      How do I contact someone at celiac.com concerning the cessation of my weekly e-newsletter? I had been receiving it regularly for years. When I tried to sign-up on the website, my email was not accepted. I tried again with a new email address and that was rejected as well. Thank you in advance!
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • 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.