Pain under ribs.

[Legend13]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease around 5 years ago. I never really followed the diet as my symptoms were never too bad. Around 5 months ago I developed a pain below my rib cage. It is either on the left or the right hand side, it seems to very daily. I got referred to a GI doctor who done an ultrasound and an endoscopy and decided he thought it was my celiac that was causing my pain. I instantly started falling a gluten-free diet and have been for 3 months. I would say that my symptoms have got ever so slightly better but I still have the pain below my ribs daily. I’m starting to get a bit worried as it’s been 3 months now and I’m still not pain free. I’m not due to go back for a follow up appt for another 2 months. Do you think the doc could’ve got my diagnosis wrong or is this a normal amount of time for your insides to heal? I’m very aware I must’ve caused a lot af damage with not following the diet for 5 years, but I thought if the pain was celiac related then I would have healed by now. Any advice would be great fully received. 

[kareng]

3 minutes ago, Legend13 said:

I was diagnosed with celiac disease around 5 years ago. I never really followed the diet as my symptoms were never too bad. Around 5 months ago I developed a pain below my rib cage. It is either on the left or the right hand side, it seems to very daily. I got referred to a GI doctor who done an ultrasound and an endoscopy and decided he thought it was my celiac that was causing my pain. I instantly started falling a gluten-free diet and have been for 3 months. I would say that my symptoms have got ever so slightly better but I still have the pain below my ribs daily. I’m starting to get a bit worried as it’s been 3 months now and I’m still not pain free. I’m not due to go back for a follow up appt for another 2 months. Do you think the doc could’ve got my diagnosis wrong or is this a normal amount of time for your insides to heal? I’m very aware I must’ve caused a lot af damage with not following the diet for 5 years, but I thought if the pain was celiac related then I would have healed by now. Any advice would be great fully received. 

You damaged it for more than five years - it might take a while to heal.  Maybe a few years.  Some people who have un-treated Celiac for a long period of time never completely heal.  

[MichelleSC]

Those little hairs in your intestines (they move food along the digestive tract) can only heal if they’ve been damaged to an extent. After so much damage, they may not come back at all, or very little. I was diagnosed about 4-5 years ago, and have followed a strict diet since. One of my biggest symptoms was intense stomach pain, where you described - so I totally understand! It would also move along my stomach, as it went through my intestines, the pain moving with it. The pain is gone now, unless I accidentally eat something gluten. And then it takes a few days for the obvious symptoms to go away. I also get an intense stomach ache at my actual stomach location, about 15-20 minutes after eating gluten. So, it takes following a VERY strict gluten-free diet. And it’s in EVERYTHING - even shampoo and body wash, lotion, face wash (watch out especially for that one!), etc. So make sure to read ALL labels of everything you put on or in your body.

I find the ShopWell app helpful for food and drinks, since you can put in a gluten “allergy” and scan the barcodes of foods. It tells you if it’s safe or not. There’s many similar ones too. Dining out, is pretty much not an option for me anymore. There are a few safe places, in my area, but I have to mention that I have Celiac, otherwise I risk cross contamination. Also, you may have an Irritable Bowel Syndrome going on now, from the intestinal damage. There are medications that can help. I have one that I keep on hand, in case I accidentally get “glutened.” So....good luck! I would definitely talk to your dr too. Emails are great for questions like this, if your dr has that option. 

[Legend13]

Many thanks for your responses. I’m maybe a bit premature in expecting my pain to of gone away. Fingers crossed it clears up soon though! 

[Legend13]

Hi guys. Iv been doing a bit of research, and I seem to read regularly that I should have seen a significant improvement within 6-8 weeks of going gluten free. Just wondering if what I am experiencing above is normal, as it’s been 12 weeks now, or if I should push for an earlier appt as I’m not really seeing any major improvement? 

[cyclinglady]

Okay, in theory, a celiac should heal within weeks of consuming a gluten free diet.  The villi do have that capability which is well documented.  But in reality, most of us can take up to a year to heal or even longer?  Why?  The gluten-free diet has a steep learning curve.  Mistakes are made.  You have been a celiac for five years, but you are just starting the diet now.    There are also concurrent issues (e.g. anemia) that have to be resolved as well.  Some celiacs have more than one autoimmune disorder. It can take a year for antibodies to diminish but they should be declining.  The list is endless.  Give it a complete six months.  Rule out celiac disease first as the source of your pain found under your ribs.  

What to heal faster?  Do NOT eat out.  Do NOT eat oats.  Avoid  processed foods.  No guarantees, but it can work.  

 

 

Edited June 12, 2018 by cyclinglady

[Legend13]

Many thanks for ur response. Yeah it makes sense that it would take a while to heal. I found out only yesterday that my favourite crisps have gluten in them and Iv been eating them for the past 6 months. Mistakes obviously do happen but hopefully I can get a hang of this diet soon! If anybody else can share there experiences with pain below the ribs and the time taken to heal it would be greatly appreciated.