Stomach pains every few days

[Josie Jo]

Hi All,

I’m new to this whole world of celiac and wondered if you could give me your opinions please?! 

I have been having on off stomach pains for about the last 5 months. They started to happen once every couple of weeks, then once a week and now literally every other day, sometimes every day. It’s quite a crippling pain that literally bends me over double and nothing gives me any relief. It usually happens within about an hour of eating, but not every time I eat. Along with this I have been constipated for a while and in the last 2-3 weeks on off had a feeling of a big lump in my throat when I try to swallow (I actually thought I was getting tonsillitis until it kept happening and then just goes away!). My stomach is bloated every night also. I am always quite tired, but just put this down to the fact that I find it quite hard to switch off at night and actually get to bed, so don’t get that much sleep, but always feel shattered in the mornings. 

Anyway, initially they it was thought I had a stomach ulcer (I only told them about the stomach pains as I didn’t think any of the other symptoms were even really symptoms I guess!). They gave me antacid medication, which did nothing. Saw a different doc and told her my other symptoms too and she said it sounds like I could be celiac. This was never even on my radar, so I was really surprised! Everyone I know who’s had it always has diarreah and has lost weight. I’ve not done either and I would have thought my stomach would hurt every time I ate gluten, not just some of the time? Has anyone had intermittent stomach pain and ended up being celiac? I’m waiting on my blood tests, which should be back at the end of the week. TIA x

[Ennis-TX]

Well keep eating gluten til all testing is done including the follow up endoscope and biopsy they will do to check for villi damage. Open Original Shared Link

The tiredness is often caused by nutrient deficiency from the damaged vili with celiac disease commonly the whole B-vitamin spectrum. The lack of sleep could be from b-6, magnesium, and complications with tryptophan again from celiac damage, combo that with pain and being uncomfortable and there you go. Some have the pain some do not, I did not have a noticeable pain for years with just other symptoms I had had most my life and thought were normal back then. I then did something stupid, shocked my immune system and changed my symptoms and started having pain. Constipation was also a major issue for me, the constipation is caused by magnesium deficiency in celiacs and supplementing with Natural Vitality calm can help with this symptom and the sleep issues. Start off with 1/4tsp (1-2g) a day and up it another 1/4tsp (1-2g) til you reach the full dose or go above that dosing to tolerance where you get loose stools then back the dose back down that much.

When you get your testing done feel free to post the results here and others will be able to help you interpret them if you need it. If your positive for celiac the community here will help you with adjusting to the diet/lifestyle changes, and any other complications you might have.
 

[squirmingitch]

6 hours ago, Josie Jo said:

Saw a different doc and told her my other symptoms too and she said it sounds like I could be celiac. This was never even on my radar, so I was really surprised! Everyone I know who’s had it always has diarreah and has lost weight. I’ve not done either and I would have thought my stomach would hurt every time I ate gluten, not just some of the time? Has anyone had intermittent stomach pain and ended up being celiac? I’m waiting on my blood tests, which should be back at the end of the week. TIA x

Keep this doc!!!! Fact: over 50% of all dx'd celiacs did NOT present with any GI issues at all. It isn't all about diarrhea. That's such a common misnomer - even the vast majority of docs think celiac is all about diarrhea. There are some 200 symptoms associated with celiac disease yet it seems almost the only one talked about is diarrhea. There is even such a thing as "silent celiac" where the person has no symptoms. there are celiacs who only have constipation & wish they could "go". There are fat celiacs, skinny celiacs & everything in between. 

Yes, your stomach can hurt sometimes & not hurt sometimes. Yes, plenty of people have had intermittent stomach pain & been dx'd celiac.

I want to repeat this b/c it is of utmost importance!!! CONTINUE TO EAT GLUTEN EACH DAY UNTIL THE ENDOSCOPY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. Otherwise you risk a false negative result.