I don't know what to do about abdominal pain

[ellajones]

Hi, I have already made a previous thread on here about my bloating but since writing that my pain has got 10x worse. I was diagnosed with celiac from a blood test last July and since have been gluten-free (I know you need an endoscopy to be 100% confirmed but I am having this after my a levels). It seemed as if my bloating was finally dying down/manageable until about 2 weeks ago. I don't know whether it is due to going back to school and wearing clothes again (been learning at home for 3 months with no trousers on etc because of pain) or whether its been due to my periods, I have been having 4 week periods at the moment of utter hell even though I am on the pill. The pain I am feeling at the moment isn't my normal bloating pain, its more like someone has twisted my insides and It feels like scrunched paper, all I want to do is curl into ball when im awake. I used to be able to roll down my trousers or skirt or whatever to hip level and be okay but now this is unbearable and I think actually hurts worse so then I unroll but after a while my stomach starts hurting as its pressing on it. I have had to leave school almost every other day these past couple weeks because of the pain of just wearing clothes/sitting down for 50 minute lesson. I am really not sure what to be eating/doing at the moment to improve this pain. Should I cut out sugar? or reduce amount of lactose? Should I start eating meat (ive been veggie for 4 years) I have no clue. Another factor could be stress I am in year 13 and safe to say this has probably been my worst school year yet!

I hope this makes sense, sorry for the rambling!

[knitty kitty]

@ellajones,

Have you tried taking Thiamine Vitamin B1?

Studies show thiamine can help with menstrual cramps.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4825494/

Thiamine and getting your Vitamin D level up will help.  Also take a B Complex and magnesium. 

I had very bad cramps and prolonged periods. I developed a fondness for my hot water bottle.  The warmth and weight of it is relaxing. 

Lay on your back, hot water bottle on where it hurts and wiggle your toes.  Concentrate on moving each toe individually.  The nerves from the toes enter the spinal cord near the same location abdominal nerves do.  Conscious muscle movement will take precedence over other input and the cramps should take a back seat.   

Yes, cut out all dairy and processed foods.  Yes, consider eating meat again.  Meat and liver are great sources of B Complex vitamins and minerals like iron.  

I followed the Autoimmune Paleo diet.  Just meat and veggies.  No nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers). No grains, no alternative grains.  No oats. No nuts.  No dairy.  

Keep a food/mood/poo'd journal.  It helps pinpoint problematic foods that might trigger additional symptoms.  

And get your B12 level and iron checked.  Veggie-terians are notorious for anemia and low B 12.  Check thyroid function, too.  Have you notified your doctor that you're in great pain?  A check for endometriosis might be warranted.  Endometriosis is linked to thiamine deficiency.  

Keep us posted on your progress.  

 

[ellajones]

16 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

@ellajones,

Have you tried taking Thiamine Vitamin B1?

Studies show thiamine can help with menstrual cramps.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4825494/

Thiamine and getting your Vitamin D level up will help.  Also take a B Complex and magnesium. 

I had very bad cramps and prolonged periods. I developed a fondness for my hot water bottle.  The warmth and weight of it is relaxing. 

Lay on your back, hot water bottle on where it hurts and wiggle your toes.  Concentrate on moving each toe individually.  The nerves from the toes enter the spinal cord near the same location abdominal nerves do.  Conscious muscle movement will take precedence over other input and the cramps should take a back seat.   

Yes, cut out all dairy and processed foods.  Yes, consider eating meat again.  Meat and liver are great sources of B Complex vitamins and minerals like iron.  

I followed the Autoimmune Paleo diet.  Just meat and veggies.  No nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers). No grains, no alternative grains.  No oats. No nuts.  No dairy.  

Keep a food/mood/poo'd journal.  It helps pinpoint problematic foods that might trigger additional symptoms.  

And get your B12 level and iron checked.  Veggie-terians are notorious for anemia and low B 12.  Check thyroid function, too.  Have you notified your doctor that you're in great pain?  A check for endometriosis might be warranted.  Endometriosis is linked to thiamine deficiency.  

Keep us posted on your progress.  

 

Thank you so much for the reply. I completely agree about the hot water bottle, I make one every night and its the highlight of my day!

I am currently taking a D3 +K2 tablet as well as an advanced multi which contains vitamin B1 but only 3mg per tablet so im assuming thats not enough? I recently had another blood test done and expected to be deficient in at least iron because im so drained all the time but all my mineral levels are apparently normal. Regardless I think it is time to start eating meat again but im now scared that it will worsen my bloating and pain after not having it for years, I know in the long term this is benefit but im currently doing my A level exams and am in enough pain as it is!

I am cutting out all processed foods but at the moment am finding it difficult to cut out diary completely like cheese etc. I also have muesli every morning with coconut milk, Is this bad as you have mentioned about oats (they are gluten free oats).

I have told my doctor about my pain and they have taken a blood test, effectively found nothing unusual and are booking an ultrasound. I have debated about having endometriosis however I really hope I don't.

again thank you for the advice, I tried the toe wriggling last night and it was great!

[knitty kitty]

8 hours ago, ellajones said:

Thank you so much for the reply. I completely agree about the hot water bottle, I make one every night and its the highlight of my day!

I am currently taking a D3 +K2 tablet as well as an advanced multi which contains vitamin B1 but only 3mg per tablet so im assuming thats not enough? I recently had another blood test done and expected to be deficient in at least iron because im so drained all the time but all my mineral levels are apparently normal. Regardless I think it is time to start eating meat again but im now scared that it will worsen my bloating and pain after not having it for years, I know in the long term this is benefit but im currently doing my A level exams and am in enough pain as it is!

I am cutting out all processed foods but at the moment am finding it difficult to cut out diary completely like cheese etc. I also have muesli every morning with coconut milk, Is this bad as you have mentioned about oats (they are gluten free oats).

I have told my doctor about my pain and they have taken a blood test, effectively found nothing unusual and are booking an ultrasound. I have debated about having endometriosis however I really hope I don't.

again thank you for the advice, I tried the toe wriggling last night and it was great!

I'm so glad you found the toe wriggling a relief!  

Yes, thiamine needs to be increased to 300mg a day.  I took 100mg of Thiamine HCl  with each meal.  I later added Benfotiamine to help with my Type Two Diabetes, and allithiamine (fat based so it crosses the blood brain barrier) to help with brain fog.  

Thiamine transporters that let thiamine into cells turn off when there's not enough thiamine around.  To get the thiamine into the cells, you have to flood the system so thiamine can get into the cells passively.  So, 300mg (or more) is needed for several months while the transporters are replaced.  

Sounds like a lot, but high dose thiamine works and is safe.  Thiamine is water soluble (any excess is excreted in urine).  There's no toxicity level.  

Thiamine needs magnesium to work properly, so add a magnesium citrate supplement. 

Muscles need both magnesium and calcium to contract and relax.  So, add a calcium supplement. But....

Don't take calcium and magnesium together, they'll compete for absorption.  

....a calcium citrate supplement to go with the D3 and K2.  And boron.   It's like a club, certain vitamins and minerals like to hang out together.   

You might want to add a B50Complex or a B100Complex to ensure you're getting enough of all eight essential B vitamins.  Again, water soluble, safe.  

Or you can eat lots of liver! 😺

Dr. Sarah Ballantyne's book, The Paleo Approach, helped me understand all the stuff going on in autoimmune reactions.  It's even got a section for veggie-tarians.  It's an easy read with lots of diagrams if you're a visual learner.

And check all this stuff out with your doctor.... 

Sending lots of good juju that endometriosis will be avoided.  Keep us posted on your progress!

P.S.  Remember to breathe.  I found myself so tense before exams, I was holding my breath.  Breathing is good for brain function.  LoL

[PerpetuallyConfused]

Hi @ellajones

I've been having extremely similar symptoms to this- did you work out what was causing it?? I'm completely at a loss.. Hope you're feeling better by now  Thanks!