My Eyes Are Rolling In My Head From The Pain..Need Info

[SjoDry]

Hi All,

 I just found this site in hopes that someone may be able to offer quick solutions. I have not been diagnosed with Celiac, but strongly suspect that I may have it. Quick background: I have an immune deficiency (CVID) that I must take weekly IVIG infusions for. The immune deficiency led to autoimmune problems which have been called Sjogren’s Syndrome or Undifferentiated Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. I have a number of symptoms that suggest that my Undifferentiated Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is starting to differentiate to what looks like is an overlap of Sjogren’s Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and possibly some Scleroderma.

I started noticing that I would get really sick with horrible abdominal pain after eating certain things. I decided to start following a gluten-free diet and have done fairly well with it. 2 nights ago, I had;had a really rough emotional day (I am caring for my mom with Alzheimer’s/Hospice. I discovered that I had some small (one glass size) bottles of wine in my refrigerator. I drank 2 of them. After all, grapes are gluten-free right?! Ha!  I felt okay that night, but omg..the next morning (yesterday), I was seized with horrible abdominal pain. (Sorry if this is too much info), it literally felt like my bowel was paralyzed with waves of pain. It is the kind of feeling where you know diarrhea is imminent, yet it never arrives..you just keep languishing in excruciating pain. I spent the entire day and last night like this. I have had very little sleep, with periods of nausea.

 I guess I am begging for any solutions here. I tried 3 or 4 cups of very hot water which helped some. Is there any quick remedy that helps move things along or minimizes the waves of pain. Are there any medical prescriptions that can help with this condition? I have used a heating pad. Would appreciate any thoughts you may have. I must be functional by this afternoon as I need to see my mom and have a cat scan. Have also developed a rash on my arm. Help!

Sandy

[GFinDC]

Hi Sandy,

Gluten may not be the exact cause of your pain but it's hard to be sure.  Wine is usually considered to be gluten-free.  But there are other elements in wine that could cause a reaction.  Sulfites in wine can cause some people to react.  Or the pain could be caused by something else you ate or drank that day.

I suggest you try some milk of magnesia to clear out your GI system.  Pepto Bismol has at least some soothing effect on the GI system also.  Another thing to try is anti-histamines (hay fever meds).  Since we  don't know exactly the cause it is worth trying a few different simple things IMHO.

Peppermint tea may help also.  Pepto Bismol has aspirin in it.  I hope you feel better soon. 

 

Edited July 1, 2021 by GFinDC

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum! If you strongly suspect celiac disease, then you should know that to be tested for it you need to be eating gluten daily for at least 6-8 weeks before taking a blood test for it. I recommend that you get tested before going gluten-free. You may also need to do an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis, and it's recommended that you keep eating gluten until all tests are finished.

That said, there is a much more common condition called non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and unfortunately there are still no tests for this, with the exception Dr. Kenneth Fine and his Enterolab stool testing, although he has not published studies that confirm his methods (there are some unrelated publications that seem to support the idea that the antibodies show up in the gut before they do in the blood).