Can Anyone Relate To Severe Stomach And Back Pain?

[golfman]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I came here because I was diganosed with Celiacs Disease last week. I'm a 60 year old male who has always had good health.

I had never had any stomach issues until a month ago. I started to have stomach pain that radiates around to both sides of my back. I have to either lean forward or sit in the floor and prop on my elbow on the couch. Those positions help relieve the pain. I also have had no appetite for about a month. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a week ago. The results came back as severe gastritis and celiacs. I have been eating a gluten free diet since my diagnosis. Last night was my best night of sleep in awhile. My stomach had been hurting bad when lying down. I was able to eat a little better today. My question is; has anybody else here suffered severe stomach pain, and back pain for a long period of time with Celiacs? I'm concerned as to whether something else may be going on.

[cyclinglady]

Welcome to the forum! Be sure to read the Newbie Info 101 thread located under "Coping" or hit this link:

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

It takes plenty of time to heal. My biopsy showed a Marsh Stage IIIB which is pretty significant damage. Took me almost a year to feel better and I live with a husband who has been gluten free for 13 years. So, my learning curve regarding cross contamination, etc. was tiny compared to others.

My symptom was anemia. But during the 7 weeks between my blood test and endoscopy, I ate a loaf of bread (literally) along with my favorite cookies, pies and cakes. It was a fond farewell to gluten. My blood test showed that I had celiac disease.and I knew exactly what I was going to have to give up! Kind of dumb in retrospect because I caused more damage to my stomach. That pain diminished within a month after being on the diet.

You might try going up dairy temporarily until your intestines heal too. Damaged villi can not release the enzymes to break lactose (milk sugar), etc.

Pain in your back may be related to your stomach or gallbladder. Time and a gluten-free diet should resolve that or you should get a bone density test. I fractured two vertebrae doing NOTHING three months after my diagnosis. Another complication of having celiac disease and I did not even know it!

Good luck and be patient! We are all happy to help as many of us have been in your shoes.

[golfman]

Welcome to the forum! Be sure to read the Newbie Info 101 thread located under "Coping" or hit this link:

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

It takes plenty of time to heal. My biopsy showed a Marsh Stage IIIB which is pretty significant damage. Took me almost a year to feel better and I live with a husband who has been gluten free for 13 years. So, my learning curve regarding cross contamination, etc. was tiny compared to others.

My symptom was anemia. But during the 7 weeks between my blood test and endoscopy, I ate a loaf of bread (literally) along with my favorite cookies, pies and cakes. It was a fond farewell to gluten. My blood test showed that I had celiac disease.and I knew exactly what I was going to have to give up! Kind of dumb in retrospect because I caused more damage to my stomach. That pain diminished within a month after being on the diet.

You might try going up dairy temporarily until your intestines heal too. Damaged villi can not release the enzymes to break lactose (milk sugar), etc.

Pain in your back may be related to your stomach or gallbladder. Time and a gluten-free diet should resolve that or you should get a bone density test. I fractured two vertebrae doing NOTHING three months after my diagnosis. Another complication of having celiac disease and I did not even know it!

Good luck and be patient! We are all happy to help as many of us have been in your shoes.

Thanks for your response. Sounds like you have a had a very rough time, too! I have not had any dairy products since I was diagnosed. So yes, laying off of that for awhile. I had blood work done before my endoscopy/colonoscopy. It all came back good. I'm waiting on blood work specifically regarding celiac. I'm not quite sure what that's about. The doctor said it may take a month to get results. My pain has gotten some better. I have been on the gluten free diet for a week. And I'm also taking Levsin and Protonix. I take Tylenol for the pain. At one point my stomach and back pain was so bad,( and always got worse at night), I tried taking Percocet but it interfered with my sleep so I stopped taking it. I never knew anything at all about celiac disease! And definitely wouldn't have guessed it cause such severe pain! And also, not having an appetite is no fun.

[cyclinglady]

Yeah, I was pretty shocked about my diagnosis. I just went in for a routine colonoscopy and during my prep consult, the GI suggested celiac disease since I was anemic. I have always been anemic (have a genetic anemia but that one was different from iron deficiency anemia) but I guess I had two different anemias. My other docs never caught it or blamed it on menstruation.

What are the odds that both my husband and I would have issues with gluten? He went gluten-free per the advice of my allergist and his GP 13 years ago. All his symptoms went away. Now, we would wish for a proper diagnosis, but he refuses to do a challenge to get tested (eat gluten for two months). I can not blame him!

You should be feeling better soon. It took a lot of time to cause the initial damage and it will take time to heal. Watch for contamination...."Honey, can you brush your teeth before kissing me?"

Our house is gluten free. Easier for all. My kid gets her gluten fix outside of the house. She has been tested for celiac disease and is negative to date. You might ask close family members to get tested too. celiac disease runs in families.