Ache around bottom of rib cage!

[Becktoria01]

Hi,

So I’ve been experiencing a stitch like feeling in my stomach, just under my rib cage - it isn’t specific to one side, it can be either or. This has been ongoing for around 7 months.  It’s not constant, but it is daily, on & off. The ache has now started to spread across the top of my tummy on occasions too. Other symptoms include a slight shift in by bowel habits...I can be constipated some days and then looser stools the other. I had blood tests done earlier in the year, not for Celiac, and it was noted that I was folic deficient.  I’m noticing the ache feeling is worse throughout the night when I’m in bed.

My consultant is now investigating and I’ve just had bloods taken, one of the tests is for Celiac.

My problem is, I suffer with health anxiety and I’m getting into a real panic that it may be something more sinister! Not to say being Celiac isn’t upsetting to be diagnosed with, but in a way, I’m hoping this maybe the cause of my symptoms!

Has anyone else had symptoms similar to mine - particularly the stitch like feeling around top of abdomen and around bottom of rib cage? I have been more gasier too...sometimes getting a mild pain in my lower back passage. Fatigue, brain fog also...but not sure if that’s because I’m distracted by the worry!

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone who may have had similar symptoms.

Many thanks 

[trents]

Do you know more specifically what blood tests are being done for Celiac Disease? There are several antibody tests that should be done for Celiac.

It also sounds like to me you ought to get an upper GI done to check for things like peptic ulcers. If the Celiac Antibodies are positive then there is a good chance they would do an upper GI and biopsy anyway since that is the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease.

[Becktoria01]

Hi Trents,

Thank you for replying.

I’m not sure what blood tests are being done tbh. I’m only at the beginning of investigations. I have an ultrasound scan for my upper abdomen on Friday and I’ve also been asked to provide a stool sample.  
When I advised my consultant that I had tested for folic deficiency earlier in the year, this is when he suggested that I get tested for Celiac - assuming folic deficiency is a symptom of Celiac? 
 

As I said, I’m right at the start of my journey for some sort of diagnosis and just wondered if the symptoms I described could be typical of Celiac. It’s mind boggling to research on the internet as it seems there are 100’s of typical symptoms 🥺!

I will mention to my consultant about having a GI & biopsy - thank you ☺️ 

[trents]

The symptoms you describe are certainly common to those with Celiac Disease. The symptoms associated with Celiac Disease are indeed wide and varied.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder (not an allergy) defined by the gluten present in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats (for about 10% of Celiac sufferers) triggering inflammation of the lining of the small bowel (blunting of the microscopic villi) when ingested. Since this lining and area of the bowel is the place where the nutrition from our food is absorbed, the damage to the villi results in impaired absorption of many vitamins and minerals, including but not limited to folic acid.

Edited November 18, 2020 by trents

[GFinDC]

Hi Becktoria,

Often a doctor will do a ttg IgA test as a screen for celiac disease.  There are also other tests like DGP IgA, DGP IgG, total IgA count, and EMA.  This more complete celiac disease test panel is higher cost so it may not be done right away, if at all.  Some people don't show positive on the ttg IgA but do show up positive on another antibody test.

Your symptoms do sound like possible celiac disease.  As you said there are many other possible symptoms too, and you don't need to have all of them to have celiac disease.  The classic symptoms are GI related, but some people have skin rash or joint pain, or hair loss, insomnia etc, etc instead or in addition to GI symptoms.

It's important that you keep eating gluten until all testing is done.  Stopping gluten earlier can interfere with accurate antibody testing.

An endoscopy is the 2nd part of diagnosis and is often done under light anesthesia.  If possible it's good idea to ask for a twofer and get a colonoscopy done at the same time IMHO.  During the endoscopy the GI should take multiple biopsy samples of the small intestine lining for microscopic review.

Finding out for sure you have celiac is helpful as you can adjust your diet and start on the road to healing.  Many people go undiagnosed their whole lives.

[DJFL77I]

Celiac can cause pain in stomach, under ribs....

[Swd]

I am diagnosed celiac and your symptoms are exactly how i felt ... i hope you get some answers soon

[Kate333]

My problem is, I suffer with health anxiety and I’m getting into a real panic that it may be something more sinister!

As someone who has lived with lifelong health anxiety (HA), I can relate. 

But I also know from experience that chronic, severe HA can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including physical aches and pains, fatigue, insomnia, and/or fluctuating or constant indigestion issues.  I know it is human nature to scan the internet hoping to find a definitive answer to your worries or Qs.  It's been my experience that spending a lot of time reading about symptoms and possible diseases on the internet only feeds and increases worry, and people speculating on websites cannot give you definitive answers.  Only a doctor can tell you for sure what your symptoms mean.  I hope for your sake that you do not have celiac disease, but a simple blood test will rule that likelihood in (or out) and hopefully reduce your fears.  If you don't have celiac disease, I would ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist who can help you address your HA.  

 

[trents]

It would be nice if doctors could give definitive answers but that is not always the case. But with proper testing doctors should be able to give a definitive answer about whether or not you have celiac disease.

[Becktoria01]

On 11/19/2020 at 10:40 AM, DJFL77I said:

Celiac can cause pain in stomach, under ribs....

Thanks all for taking the time to respond and assist me.

I have had an upper abdominal scan today - Liver, Kidneys, Gallbladder & Pancreas confirmed as all looking healthy.  My consultant has now requested I have a colonoscopy- waiting for that appointment.  I also gave in a stool sample today so waiting on the results from this and the blood tests. 
 

I have been diagnosed with IBS a few years ago...although I fear this is a bit of a fob off and IBS diagnosis is thrown about a little to easily and frequently by GP’s.  My investigation is now being carried out privately and not through the NHS.

Although I do suffer with HA, and I’m definitely familiar with aches and pains being bought on by anxiety, this feels different, the aches across the top of my abdomen and under my rib cage are quite prominent, also the shift in my bowel movements - as well as being diagnosed with folic deficiency recently tell me that something isn’t quite right.

All of your advice and experiences have been really reassuring and helpful...certainly feeling more in the know in terms of what tests I need to request, for a through investigation and clear diagnosis for Celiac.

Many thanks 😊 

[GFinDC]

Hi Becktoria,

There certainly is a lot to learn about celiac disease and eating gluten-free.  The endoscopy is done by putting an endoscope into the mouth, through the stomach, and into the first 5 feet of the small intestine.  There is about 20 to 22 feet of intestine but they can only reach the first 5 feet through the mouth.  Coming in from the other direction (downstairs) they call a colonoscopy.  Celiac disease is diagnosed via endoscopy because it affects the small intestine lining, not the large intestine.  Sometimes the endoscopy is called an upper GI.

[cristiana]

22 hours ago, Becktoria01 said:

I have been diagnosed with IBS a few years ago...although I fear this is a bit of a fob off and IBS diagnosis is thrown about a little to easily and frequently by GP’s.  My investigation is now being carried out privately and not through the NHS.

 

HI Becktoria

Just saying hi to a fellow Brit, but also to say I have that pain you describe when I'm having a flare when I've been glutened.  I also sometimes get pain in the pelvis, and to the sides of my abdomen - this thing keeps you guessing!

 All the best with the diagnosis, and if it is Coeliac, I recommend joining Coeliac UK for at least the first year following diagnosis. 

Cristiana

[Misslee]

Yes I had a weird pain on the left side right under my ribcage when I didn't know what is was I thought it was my ribs pushing unto my organs or something. 

[cristiana]

A difficult pain to describe.  At times for me it was a dull ache, other times burning.  When I had an u/s I was told the pain was where my stomach was.  When I am glutened I get the same pain as when I have gastritis, caused by, say, certain antibiotics or aspirin.   When I am having a flare I find it really soothing to drink chamomile tea.

[DJFL77I]

dull ache in stomach area...   I'd say like a 4 out of 10 discomfort level....

4 months in......    ;o/

Dr told me 6 - 12 months   ;o/

[DavidG1228]

I had pain similar to what you're describing before my celiac diagnosis.  It would keep me up at night sometimes because I couldn't get comfortable.

Right before I was diagnosed with celiac, I had a CT scan because of the pain and discomfort that showed numerous enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph nodes were found to be caused by the immune reaction my body was having, and were the cause of the pain and discomfort. 

[Yvonne (Vonnie) Mostat, RN]

On 11/18/2020 at 1:18 PM, trents said:

Do you know more specifically what blood tests are being done for Celiac Disease? There are several antibody tests that should be done for Celiac.

It also sounds like to me you ought to get an upper GI done to check for things like peptic ulcers. If the Celiac Antibodies are positive then there is a good chance they would do an upper GI and biopsy anyway since that is the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease.

As you are aware, we are not physicians who contribute to the Celiac Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.  Although this magazine is considered to be one of the best Celiac Magazines in the Western World, we are not allowed to quote as if from a physician, but so many authors have been writing and discovering so much about celiac disease that it "boggles our minds" as to how quickly it has changed in the last 35 years, the advances, failures, testings, negative items that were once positive. That makes is all the more fearful of offering you an answer to your pain around the ribs. You have to first ask yourself what is under the ribs and around them. One can get ulcers that can cause pain in the upper G.I. area.  I already take medication for the pains I get in the rib area.  Many celiac people get gastric ulcers from the stress of dealing with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. It has histamine effects to settle down a gastric ulcer, which at one time we thought was caused by stress, or some physicians thought we ate our meals without chewing food properly.... poor digestion. Then Dapsone, the wonderful drug that alleviates some of the dreadful  itching that you get from dermatitis herpetiformis,  but it has its own side effects, and you really should avoid taking them daily if possible. Some people cannot tolerate taking a break from Dapsone for three or four days without the DH rearing its ugly head once again.  Other DH people are fortunate and only have to take Dapsone after a major ouibreak of DH, and then other people do not have enough sense and eat huge pieces of apple pie saying to themselves, "I will really enjoy this piece of apply pie full of gluten, and double or triple up on their Dapsone to settle down the lesions for a week. I was even told thirty years ago to "Go 5 - 4- 3 - 2- 1- on the Dapsone, and if the lesions were showing no signs of scabbing and the itch was still as bad as ever. I was told that by a specialist at our University and I became so ill taking that much Dapsone that my stomach suffered.  I was given Cimetidine, a histamine receptor to take daily. It indeed helps with the abdominal pains I was getting, but again it has side effects.  I URGE anyone that comes into the Dietician's Office at the Langley Hospital to read ALL the possible side effects of every drug you are  prescribed by your physician, and store those sheets in a three ring binder.  When I am admitted to the hospital, which seems far too many times this past year, I can take a list of all my medications with their possible side effects enclosed at the back of the book, along with my last Lab. tests and specialist consultations.  You cannot possibly remember all the drugs you have tried, taken and had issues with, but if you have the possible side effects you can then tell your family physician what your indications towards that drug are.  Celiac people get gastro-intestinal disorders, Acid reflux is another painful disorder that can occur as well as a hiatus hernia, and often the suffering person ends up half sitting up and half lying down because their gut or gastro-intestinal disorders. Some celiacs manage by taking some TUMS or other allergy pill and manage fine with that, but again it has its own set of problems.  As a celiac you can no longer stuff yourself full of food and not expect to get abdominal pain and remember celiac disease can cause malabsorption of the B12 Vitamins, fat soluble vitamiins are not absorbed well in this disorder, and we are urged not to take too many sugary products, processed foods, any products Vitamin K which is often deficient in those with celiac disease, Watch for hidden sources of gluten such as HVP, (hydrolyzed vegetable protein, binders, vinegars, modified food starch, some soy sauces, grain vinegars, food starch,. Read all LABELS CARFEFULLY when grocery shopping (right down to the end of the list. Telephone your pharmacist, (Keep the same pharmacist if you can). Become proficient in e-mailing food production companies and don't be afraid to ask.  It is a good idea if your symptoms of upper abdominal pain, rib pain as you call it, Psyllium seed. Are you aware that Vitamin K deficiency caused by celiac disease may lead to a hypoprothrombinemia (a lack of clotting - great if you have to have your blood tested because you bleed!)

Talk to your family physician regarding a referral to a gastroenterologist or ask if he feels it necessary to have an intestinal biopsy or if you should avoid milk or milk products for a while since it can be blamed for abdominal discomfort.  If you have had a cold and have been constantly coughing you are going to get sore ribs, both in your back and at the front.

There is a. number you can call - The Celiac Disease Foundation at 13251 Ventura Boulevard, |Suite 3, Studio City, CA 91604-1838  Telephone Number 818-990-2354.  Look up Malabsorption Syndrome on the great Web, or check in with Scott Adams, our Editor. He is always willing to quote articles found in previous magazine sites that can explain things in "Plain English"   Don't try to self diagnose  There are so many possible connections bet ween celiac disease and other connective tissue diseases. The British Lancet Medical Journal The Mayo Clinic Celiac Research Department and my favorite, The Chicago Celiac Research Department, whose quick response to your questions is admirable. I know Celiac Disease is a bitter pill to swallow, and any pain incurred on your journey towards knowledge of this troubling connective tissue disease.   Good luck in your research, but better still, urge your family physician to refer you to a celiac disease specialist. Not all general practitioners have the time to discuss the issues attached to this disease.

 

[Mer123]

On 11/19/2020 at 10:11 AM, Becktoria01 said:

Hi,

So I’ve been experiencing a stitch like feeling in my stomach, just under my rib cage - it isn’t specific to one side, it can be either or. This has been ongoing for around 7 months.  It’s not constant, but it is daily, on & off. The ache has now started to spread across the top of my tummy on occasions too. Other symptoms include a slight shift in by bowel habits...I can be constipated some days and then looser stools the other. I had blood tests done earlier in the year, not for Celiac, and it was noted that I was folic deficient.  I’m noticing the ache feeling is worse throughout the night when I’m in bed.

My consultant is now investigating and I’ve just had bloods taken, one of the tests is for Celiac.

My problem is, I suffer with health anxiety and I’m getting into a real panic that it may be something more sinister! Not to say being Celiac isn’t upsetting to be diagnosed with, but in a way, I’m hoping this maybe the cause of my symptoms!

Has anyone else had symptoms similar to mine - particularly the stitch like feeling around top of abdomen and around bottom of rib cage? I have been more gasier too...sometimes getting a mild pain in my lower back passage. Fatigue, brain fog also...but not sure if that’s because I’m distracted by the worry!

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone who may have had similar symptoms.

Many thanks 

Yeah I've had this exact type of pain, just as you describe stitch like, under the bust or as you more accurately describe under the ribcage, it moves around (mine went around to the lower back as well eventually, I also had also a minor change in bowel movements and the pain got worse and worse) when it became excruciating the doctor sent me for an ultrasound and it turned out to be gallstones after a brief stint on Morphine they were taken out in a surgery, and a year or so after that, I had a blood test that tested positive for celiac disease

[Ivana]

Hello,

I experienced somethng similar prior to my diagnosis, a stitch kind of feeling, sometimes left sometimes right below the ribcage. However, whenever I was distracted it went away, so I think now it was stress related. I was experiencing a lot of stress then. I also developed a mild gastritis-burning in my stomach, occassionally and also not really painful. The reason I finally went to a gastro was because I was anemic for a long time, and my health anxiety kicked in when after getting iron supplements my levels were still low. When I saw my iron test results I got a panic attack! Anyway, endoscopy showed celiac and h pylori. I have been gluten free for five months now. The thing is, ever since the diagnosis I have been suffering from such health anxiety, that now what used to be tightness under my ribcage, turned into tightness in my back, chest, stomach. Everyone always asks me if I feel better now on gluten-free diet. The thing is, I was like 95 percent fine before and now I feel I am falling apart. So the bottom line is, I can't tell anymore what symptoms were and are anxiety and what celiac, or possibly (hopefully not!) something else. By now I worry about so many other diseases, that in comparison celiac doesn't seem that bad . Maybe that is how my brain made me less afraid of it .

 

Oh, I also had stomach churning and popcorn popping kind of feeling in my abdomen/chest the last month or two before diagnosis. But I still sometimes have that. I don't think it is cros contamination. Perhaps another intolerance. It is nothing too uncomfortable, so I won't investgate for the time being. 

[DJFL77I]

We're all gonna make it

🥴

[MADMOM]

On 11/18/2020 at 4:11 PM, Becktoria01 said:

Hi,

So I’ve been experiencing a stitch like feeling in my stomach, just under my rib cage - it isn’t specific to one side, it can be either or. This has been ongoing for around 7 months.  It’s not constant, but it is daily, on & off. The ache has now started to spread across the top of my tummy on occasions too. Other symptoms include a slight shift in by bowel habits...I can be constipated some days and then looser stools the other. I had blood tests done earlier in the year, not for Celiac, and it was noted that I was folic deficient.  I’m noticing the ache feeling is worse throughout the night when I’m in bed.

My consultant is now investigating and I’ve just had bloods taken, one of the tests is for Celiac.

My problem is, I suffer with health anxiety and I’m getting into a real panic that it may be something more sinister! Not to say being Celiac isn’t upsetting to be diagnosed with, but in a way, I’m hoping this maybe the cause of my symptoms!

Has anyone else had symptoms similar to mine - particularly the stitch like feeling around top of abdomen and around bottom of rib cage? I have been more gasier too...sometimes getting a mild pain in my lower back passage. Fatigue, brain fog also...but not sure if that’s because I’m distracted by the worry!

I would be really grateful to hear from anyone who may have had similar symptoms.

Many thanks 

i’m just like you - i’ve had so much anxiety and panic over my dx last month - i still feel these pains on and off and i’ve been gluten free only 5 weeks - My gI says it takes a good 6 months to really feel better and a few ppl i know who are also celiac say te same - it takes a long time to heal your gut - and there are days i feel great!  don’t worry!!! keep on the diet, stay hydrated and take your vitamins -👍🏼🙏🏻

[Scott Adams]

@MADMOM, 5 weeks is too short a time for all of your symptoms to go away. The average time for full recover is 2 years, so be patient, and vigilant on your gluten-free diet.

[MADMOM]

32 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

@MADMOM, 5 weeks is too short a time for all of your symptoms to go away. The average time for full recover is 2 years, so be patient, and vigilant on your gluten-free diet.

ty Scott i just needed to hear that from someone who has been through it- i guess every time i feel a twinge of pain or ache or punch i feel scared 

[cristiana]

3 hours ago, MADMOM said:

ty Scott i just needed to hear that from someone who has been through it- i guess every time i feel a twinge of pain or ache or punch i feel scared 

Hi Madmom

It can be scary.  I completely relate.  And sometimes I still feel alarmed by some of my pains, and I was diagnosed back in 2013! If I had a pound (dollar) for every time I had a weird twinge I reckon I'd have quite a bit of money by now. 

Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease I've had some very strange twinges but they have come to nothing.  I've had a lot of tests and all has been well.   My gastroenterologist says its IBS.  There were quite a few foods I could not eat for some time after my diagnosis but I can eat them now - for example, dairy, soya, lentils... they would give me stomach/gut pains.  But now I can eat them all.  

I get pain under my ribs, mostly left side.  It is a kind of burning pain which passes, but it can be quite severe.   While I was healing I got this quite a lot.  Now I only tend to get it if I eat gluten by mistake, or when I consume aspirin.   I try not to take aspirin for that reason, but I sometimes do have to take it because I get a certain headache that I can only shift with a small dose of aspirin. I'm still not entirely sure what this pain is.  I had an ultrasound once and was told the area I was feeling the pain was my stomach.  I've surmised that I get gastritis when I'm glutened.  I could be wrong, of course.

As Trents mentioned, watch for oatmeal - in the UK we are told not to eat oats for about 6 months after diagnosis and then to only reintroduce pure oats (oats prepared in a gluten free environment).   But reintroduce them very slowly.   Unfortunately I still can't eat oats, but most coeliacs can.

Cristiana

[KylieG]

Hi there,

@Becktoria01 did you ever receive a diagnosis? I have very similar symptoms.

I was negative for celiac but just told I must have a Gluten Intolerance, cutting the gluten has certainly helped (it's only been 2 weeks!)

Thanks,
Kylie