Opioids and Celiac

[Chance]

I have had stomach issues all my life. Even to have surgery my first week of being born. These last few years have been the worst and started to see doctors about what I can do.

I hope I have not waited to late as I am 34 years old. I have tested positive for Celiac and doing colonoscopy's in February. 

I have been prescribed all kinds of stomach medications and acid reflux medications but nothing has helped. Always feel fatigue, brain fog and contently in the bathroom.

I hate taken medications fells like my life will dependent on a medicine to feel good and I hate that.

 

The absolute only thing that helps my stomach and abdominal pain is an opioid. From taking oxycodone 10mg to hydrocodone 10mg, 7.5mg or tramadol. Just one or 2 will stop it all and have normal bowl movements. No brain fog or feel fatigued. I don't like taking these cause I don't want to be labeled as anything. 

 

Along with now eating right or staying away from certain foods I have read about. Is there anything that I can take prescribed or over the counter that will stop the abdominal pain, diarrhea, brain fog, and fatigue  

[plumbago]

The medications you mention are mostly opioids and synthetic opioids and likely help because one, they are potent pain relievers for sure, and two, they slow many of the body's processes like digestion. They are, as you no doubt know, also highly addictive and present issues of their own. Has your doctor mentioned any other medication (like lomotil) that can slow digestion? [Do not take my or anyone else's advice on here without talking to a medical provider first, most especially when thinking about adding medications to or subtracting them from an already established drug regimen, especially one with opioids.] Once you get your diagnosis sorted, you will be on a gluten free diet, and for most of us, getting on a nutritious meal plan is key to feeling better. I must say, I'm surprised that your doctor would prescribe you opioids, unless there's something I'm missing.

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum. 

To confirm a celiac disease diagnosis the next step after a positive blood panel would be an endoscopy, rather than a colonoscopy...are you sure the test scheduled is a colonoscopy?

I can't speak to how much pain you are in, but I can say that over the 25+ years this site has been around it is very unusual for someone newly diagnosed with celiac disease to require such strong pain medication, so make sure that you don't have additional issues going on. 

Also, and you should discuss this with your doctor, but you could go gluten-free until 2-3 weeks before your endoscopy (if that is what test is scheduled), and then eat 2 slices of wheat bread daily for at least 2 weeks beforehand. 

[knitty kitty]

@Chance,

Welcome to the forum!

Have you been checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies?  

Since Celiac Disease affects the absorption of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), correcting deficiencies is a priority.  

Discuss with your doctor or nutritionist the benefits of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  The AIP diet has been shown to promote healing in the digestive tract.   

And discuss with your doctor or nutritionist the benefits of supplementing with the eight essential B vitamins, Vitamin D, Vitamin C and minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron.

Be aware that PPI's can cause continuing inflammation in the digestive tract. 

I was given PPI's and opioids in pill form at one point in my Celiac journey.  My digestive system was seriously inflamed.  The opioid caused severe constipation.  I was given opioids intravenously in order to spare my raw digestive system.  I followed the AIP diet and improved dramatically within a few weeks.  I also supplement vitamins and minerals.  

Hope this helps.

[LCAnacortes]

I had stomach pain every night and it was getting to every time I ate.  I was also super tired and felt crappy - not to mention hours and hours in the bathroom.  The majority of the problems I had went away after going gluten free, and then dairy free too. Especially after I stopped cross-contaminating myself. I still have some issues but it is so much better. I also started supplementing vitamins as mentioned above.  That helped too.  Good luck on your journey.  There are super smart people here to help you.  

[Chance]

WOW!! Thank you all so much for the responses. This has help me more than you can possibly know.

To give a little more background information about my question on opioids and celiac. I was raised on a farm, breeding and breaking horses. I have tried bull riding in rodeos, skydiving, bungee jumping to extreme snowboarding and more. Kind of an adrenaline junky. Drinking and drugs were not my thing. So broken bones and concussions along the way.

So, I stayed away from prescription drugs and tried things like physical therapy, acupuncture, over the counter heating pads, and back braces because I feel like everyone has back pain. Mine was kind of extreme on some days. But just some rest and 3-4 days later not as bad. Did x-rays and MRI’s. I have some bad back problems according to those and doctors, but like I said I feel like everyone does. Then in my late 20’s early 30’s I was prescribed pain medication. I noticed during that time my digestion was normal, and overall feeling a lot better. They never made me constipated like I hear from a lot of people but made my digestion normal. But I was on them for a couple years and knew it was time to come off. I have been off them for a long while now. So, when you say all it does is slow down the process that makes so much since. I have tried, feels like everything over the counter stuff from CVS for stomach stuff doesn’t seem to help.  My somewhat recent doctor has prescribed me tramadol recently and that has helped a lot.

So, over the last few years my stomach has gotten worse to the point I went to see some doctors and specialist which takes a lot for me to go to the doctors.

To Plumbago: I have not tried Lomotil but will discuss with my doctor. I am and have starting my gluten-free diet and I have cut out dairy a long time ago which has helped.

To Scott Adams: I have the positive blood panel and they said they are sending it off for more detail on my blood panel?? I have to provide a stool sample this week. But sorry I forgot to say that my colonoscopy in February is also an endoscopy. They are doing both.

To Knitty kitty: I have not been checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I don’t know if that is tested in the blood panel or another test I have to do but will discuss with my doctor.  

Again, I am very new to all this and to be honest I don’t like doctors or going to the doctors. I have high blood pressure which is not too bad but supposed to be taking medication for that and I don’t. I would rather just try and continue eating like I should according the celiac and feel normal without any medication. But being honest the last few months and especially the last few weeks have been hard. Haven’t had a hard stool in months and must force myself to eat and when I do, I can only eat half a meal. I am starting to lose weight kind of quickly. That’s why I have gone an seen doctors now.

Thank you all for the responses.

[plumbago]

22 minutes ago, Chance said:

My somewhat recent doctor has prescribed me tramadol recently and that has helped a lot.

 

23 minutes ago, Chance said:

o Plumbago: I have not tried Lomotil but will discuss with my doctor. I am and have starting my gluten-free diet and I have cut out dairy a long time ago which has helped.

Tramadol, if I recall correctly, is a synthetic opioid, or "opioid-like," (at any rate it's a schedule 4 controlled substance and an analgesic) so it will help with pain and slowing digestion. Lomotil may be over the counter. I have no personal experience with it, but working in healthcare, I know lots of doctors prescribe it for things like chronic diarrhea and I've given it to patients who report it helps somewhat. But if you don't need it, by all means, do not take it!

Thanks for reporting back. Most of our responses go unresponded to, so we really appreciate it!

[Scott Adams]

Thank you for the update @Chance. Please see if you can get a copy of the blood test results and share them here, including the reference ranges for a positive test. This would be helpful, but it sounds like you tested positive for celiac disease. 

[Posterboy]

7 hours ago, Chance said:

Again, I am very new to all this and to be honest I don’t like doctors or going to the doctors. I have high blood pressure which is not too bad but supposed to be taking medication for that and I don’t. I would rather just try and continue eating like I should according the celiac and feel normal without any medication. But being honest the last few months and especially the last few weeks have been hard. Haven’t had a hard stool in months and must force myself to eat and when I do, I can only eat half a meal. I am starting to lose weight kind of quickly. That’s why I have gone an seen doctors now.

Chance,

This is about your blood pressure......try and either a B-Complex (which has Vitamin B-2 aka Riboflavin in it or just Riboflavin by itself) and I think you notice it can help your blood pressure!

Here is an article about it entitled "Riboflavin, MTHFR genotype and blood pressure: A personalized approach to prevention and treatment of hypertension"

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27720779/#:~:text=For hypertensive patients%2C riboflavin supplementation can offer a,or delay the development of high blood pressure.

I went from needing 3 meds for BP down to 1 within about 3 months after taken Riboflavin frequently (2x or 3x a day) until my urine was a bright yellow/orange color......this was a sign I had enought B-2 now and I haven't struggled with high blood pressure since.  It took about 2 to 3 months before I noticed a sustained difference........but it really has been better since.

My doctor recenlty told me I didn't need the one I was on......(Mainly a security blanket for me) and that I should go without it because I didn't need it anymore!

B-Vitamins and especially Riboflavin helps high BP because it down regulates Oxidative Stress in the body!

Good luck on your continued journeys in life!

2 Timothy 2:7 As always, “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” this included.

I hope this is helpful, but it is not medical advice.

Posterboy by the grace of God,