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

stomach pain when eating anything!

mpflynn

By mpflynn
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

mpflynn Newbie
mpflynn
Posted

Hey everybody, so I have a friend (female, 20 years old) who has NOT been diagnosed with celiac and does not think she is allergic to wheat but is having severe tummy issues.

symptoms and factors:

shooting stomach pain immediately after eating anything

nausea and pain for almost 40 minutes after eating

unintentional weight loss (30 pounds in 1 month)

high stress environment

on medicine from doctor (to coat her stomach throughout the day)

long term, 8 months...

Whenever she eats anything, for almost 8 months now, she experiences nauseating shooting pains that go through her stomach immediately whenever she eats anything. Her doctor put her on a medicine that coats her stomach throughout the day, so she takes it every morning before she eats, and it is the only way she is currenty able to eat. Since this began she unintentionally lost 30 pounds in a month and continues to loose weight. She is in college and taking many hard classes so stress could be a factor. She has not had a scope to look at her stomach to check for ulcers because she can't afford it right now. I got her to start trying kefir and see if that helps. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions!? It would be super appreciated, any imput is really awesome! Thank you!!!!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Maddi Community Regular
Maddi
Posted

Hello,

It's very nice of you to be worried about your friend. However, I really think your friend should see a gastrointerologist. I know you said she saw a doctor so I don't know if that was a specialist but if she's worried about Celiac she should start off with a celiac panel (blood tests). I'm sure others will post about the specific blood tests required (there's about 4-5). Make sure she asks for the FULL panel that way she has a higher chance of the test being accurate (also make sure she doesn't get off gluten until all tests are done). If she's in such pain she really needs an endoscopy or a colonoscopy since it's impossible to diagnose over the Internet. It could be many things causing pain like IBS, crohn's, celiac, or small intestinal bacteria overgrowth.... or a lot more things! It would be a good start to request a celiac panel. Your friend seems lucky to have such a caring friend! 

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Your friend needs to see a GI ASAP. If money is an issue for more testing most hospitals will work with her for payment or in some circumstances may even cover the cost of testing in part or completely. 30 lbs in a month is a lot and she could have something very serious or even fatal. I hope she can get some help soon.

lgregg Newbie
lgregg
Posted

Hey everybody, so I have a friend (female, 20 years old) who has NOT been diagnosed with celiac and does not think she is allergic to wheat but is having severe tummy issues.

symptoms and factors:

shooting stomach pain immediately after eating anything

nausea and pain for almost 40 minutes after eating

unintentional weight loss (30 pounds in 1 month)

high stress environment

on medicine from doctor (to coat her stomach throughout the day)

long term, 8 months...

Whenever she eats anything, for almost 8 months now, she experiences nauseating shooting pains that go through her stomach immediately whenever she eats anything. Her doctor put her on a medicine that coats her stomach throughout the day, so she takes it every morning before she eats, and it is the only way she is currenty able to eat. Since this began she unintentionally lost 30 pounds in a month and continues to loose weight. She is in college and taking many hard classes so stress could be a factor. She has not had a scope to look at her stomach to check for ulcers because she can't afford it right now. I got her to start trying kefir and see if that helps. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions!? It would be super appreciated, any imput is really awesome! Thank you!!!!

She needs to see an gastroenterologist asap! it sounds like she may have gallstones or an obstructed intestinal problem. I would not wait another moment, really.  I'd take her to the ER, she can pay out a bill.  Her health is the most important.  And if she does not want to go to the ER, make an appointment asap with a gastro.  Have them put her on a wait list. 

Rebecca Newbie
Rebecca
Posted

I agree with the others.  I have a teenage son with Celiac, but there are many other things that this could be.  Our daughter was recently told she has low B12 and is anemic.  She has been losing weight and although she tested negative for Celiac, she's been told to see a GI doctor.  The condition that her neurologist believes she has is called pernicious anemia.  It can cause some of the symptoms you mentioned. 

There are so many other things it could be and it is not a good idea to wait, especially when rapid weight loss is involved.  The doctor could decide to start with some simpler tests besides endoscopy.  Also, seeing the psychiatrist or psychologist at your school may be an eventual help (after medical help is sought).  College can be tremendously overwhelming and sometimes the stress can cause major health issues.  Seeing a professional will help your friend put things in perspective.  I currently have two children attending college and both have needed to seek counseling.  It is a sign of strength to know when to get input from a professional. Not getting help is neglecting one of the most important parts of our body - the part which is responsible for how we live and react to our environment and relationships in it.  

It's so caring of you to take time to help your friend.  As I said before, I have two college students and although they are wonderful people, I'm not sure either has a friend that would seek help for them.  Please keep us posted.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,914
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ChrisMary
    Newest Member
    ChrisMary
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      All of a sudden I can't get any gluten-free nuts. There are only 2 nuts available that I can find on the market that are gluten-free. One is Mauna loa brand macadamia nuts, the other is Wonderful pistachios. Other than that all types of nuts that are plain nuts, roasted or raw are no longer gluten-free and are processed and plants that also process wheat.  Has anyone found a source for Pecans, almonds peanuts, walnuts, Pine nuts, etc that is gluten-free?
    • knitty kitty
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Xravith, How are you doing?   Two cookies are not enough.  For testing, you need to be eating a minimum of ten grams of gluten for two weeks minimum before testing for Celiac antibodies.  Ten grams of gluten is roughly five or six slices of gluten containing bread per day for two weeks minimum. Breads that contain lots of gluten typically have large bubbles formed by gases escaping during baking.  Gluten helps form those bubbles of trapped gases, like a balloon.  Artisan breads, and thick, chewy pizza crust are good examples.  Look at the size of the bubbles in cakes and cookies.  Small bubbles, so not lots of gluten in them.  You'd have to eat tons of cookies to get ten grams.   Antibodies are made in the small intestine. If you eat at least TEN grams of gluten for at least two weeks, then there will be sufficient antibodies to move into the bloodstream, which can be measured in antibody tests.   If you eat less than ten grams of gluten daily, you will get celiac symptoms, but not enough antibodies will get into the bloodstream to be measured, resulting in false negatives.  Anemia, diabetes, and thiamine deficiency can also affect testing, resulting in false negatives. Since you are having such difficulty consuming sufficient quantities of gluten, you should consider getting a genetic test done.  You do not have to eat gluten to have a genetic test done.  Celiac is inherited.  It's in your genes.  Genes don't change whether you eat gluten or not.  A genetic test looks for the most common known Celiac genes.  If you do not have the genes, your doctor can look for other health conditions that can be causing symptoms.  If you do have Celiac genes, you can assume that those genes are actively causing symptoms.  An endoscopy to check for the amount of intestinal damage caused by Celiac Disease is usually done.   You should also be checked for nutritional deficiencies.  Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test, which checks for Thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine, Vitamin B 1, is one of the eight essential B vitamins.  Thiamine can become low quickly because our bodies use so much of it everyday.  If we're not replenishing Thiamine daily from our diet or because of malabsorption, we can become seriously ill.  Same with the other seven B vitamins.   Doctors are not familiar with nutritional deficiency symptoms as can occur in Celiac disease.  Please get checked for nutritional deficiencies.  Ask for the Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test soon. Please let us know how you are doing.  
    • Rogol72
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Rogol72 · Posted

      @klmgarland, My dermatitis herpetiformis didn't clear up until I became meticulous about cross contamination. I cut out gluten-free oats and all gluten-free foods, dairy and gluten-free rice. Additionally, getting the right amount of protein for my body weight helped significantly in my body's healing process ... along with supplementing with enough of all the vitamins and minerals ... especially Zinc and Magnesium. I went from 70kg to 82kg in a year. Protein with each meal 3 times daily, especially eggs at breakfast made the difference. I'm not sure whether iodine was a problem for me, but I can tolerate iodine no problem now. I'm off Dapsone and feel great. Not a sign of an itch. So there is hope. I'm not advocating for the use of Dapsone, but it can bring a huge amount of relief despite it's effect on red blood cells. The itch is so distracting and debilitating. I tried many times to get off it, it wasn't until I implemented the changes above and was consistent that I got off it. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  
    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
×
×
  • 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.