Burning Sensation in the small intestine

[pilber309]

Hello

 

I have been diagnosed Celiac for 14 yrs now and despite ups and downs I've never felt better in terms of what I was suffering pre diagnoses due to being G.F. The one feeling I cant seem to get rid of is a burning sensation in the very part of the small intestine where the villi is. I seem to be noticing it a lot more recently.  Has anyone had this or have any medical tips about what I can do about it. It doesn't hurt really its just irritating. 

[cristiana]

Hello @pilber309 and welcome to the forum.

(Nice to meet an almost-twin, I have nearly reached 14 years post diagnosis, too!)

I suffer from burning pain in an area which you might be describing:   if you were looking at me, south of my ribs, between the sternum and belly button.  Is that the area you are talking about?  I get this pain when I am glutened, but also when I take strong antibiotics, or drink too much coffee or eat too much rich food.   I believe that it is a type of gastritis, which I treat with a very short dose of over the counter or prescription omeprazole, strong chamomile infusions, lots of water, and a reflux/gastritis diet.  There are many such diets available online to look at but in my case when it is playing up I avoid spicy food, strong coffee, citrus fruit, tomatoes, fatty meals etc, and I eat small but regular meals.  I don't actually enjoy alcohol but if you do happen to have gastritis, like me, it really can hurt if you have gastritis so should also be avoided.

If you are taking iron supplements or NSAIDs such as aspirin, these can be very irritating to this area, too.

I wonder if any of the above might apply to you?

Cristiana

 

[pilber309]

Thanks for the reply. My burning sensation is bottom left side of my belly button so not directly below the sternum. My diet has been very austere for a while, I am eating in last few yrs what ive been eating now. No alcohol, 1 cup of coffee in the morning ,carnivore based , I have cut down on how much I eat as well lots of dairy Greek yog cheese etc, I am fitter than ever and don't have the symptoms I had pre diagnoses such has chronic fatigue ,migraines etc just this burning sensation.

[cristiana]

Have you mentioned it to your gastroenterologist?

[pilber309]

1 minute ago, cristiana said:

Have you mentioned it to your gastroenterologist?

I will be doing in the new year. I had a thought that it might be Diverticulitis but I have no other symptoms related to that.

[trents]

Yes, take this up with your GI doc during the next visit. It might be a good idea to get an upper GI scoping done if you haven't had one done since diagnosis.

[cristiana]

I agree with @trents, could be worth having another scope. Oddly enough I'm in the same boat except my current odd sensation is near my appendix, I think I'll request a colonoscopy for peace of mind.

[pilber309]

17 minutes ago, trents said:

Yes, take this up with your GI doc during the next visit. It might be a good idea to get an upper GI scoping done if you haven't had one done since diagnosis.

Last one was about 2 yrs ago nothing untoward was seen

 

[trents]

And you were experiencing this burning sensation back then?

[pilber309]

38 minutes ago, trents said:

And you were experiencing this burning sensation back then?

yes it was very notable during the pre diagnosis of coeliacs in fact it was all the time.

[trents]

No, I meant two years ago when you had your most recent upper GI scope.

[knitty kitty]

Hello, @pilber309, welcome to the forum!

Are you currently consuming dairy?  

You mentioned something about lots of yogurt and cheese, but did you cut it out or are you eating lots of it?   Could you clarify please?

Some people with Celiac react to casein, the protein in dairy the same as to gluten with antibodies and villi damage. 

[pilber309]

13 hours ago, trents said:

No, I meant two years ago when you had your most recent upper GI scope.

not as much

[pilber309]

5 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

Hello, @pilber309, welcome to the forum!

Are you currently consuming dairy?  

You mentioned something about lots of yogurt and cheese, but did you cut it out or are you eating lots of it?   Could you clarify please?

Some people with Celiac react to casein, the protein in dairy the same as to gluten with antibodies and villi damage. 

I eat a lot of dairy but its intermittent is this burning so I would assume it would happen all the time. Plus I have been tested for lactose intolerance  etc and I am fine and the other symptoms of that I don't get. As a aside  my dad died last month after a long illness so I wonder if the stress of that might be a influence as a bodily reaction to stress.

[cristiana]

It could well be a new intolerance developing.  Does your diet incorporate pure oats i.e. those safe for coeliac consumption?  I find I can only tolerate a certain amount, same goes for dairy in fact, then I start to get gastric symptoms.   Or have you started consuming a new type of gluten-free bread, or more gluten-free bread than normal, that might contain oats?  I remember reading a post on this forum from a woman who had started to eat a lot of loaves made with oat flour and her coeliac symptoms kicked off again.  I am sure you know this, but some coeliacs cannot tolerate pure oats.

Edited December 31, 2025 by cristiana

[pilber309]

39 minutes ago, cristiana said:

It could well be a new intolerance developing.  Does your diet incorporate pure oats i.e. those safe for coeliac consumption?  I find I can only tolerate a certain amount, same goes for dairy in fact, then I start to get gastric symptoms.   Or have you started consuming a new type of gluten-free bread, or more gluten-free bread than normal, that might contain oats?  I remember reading a post on this forum from a woman who had started to eat a lot of loaves made with oat flour and her coeliac symptoms kicked off again.  I am sure you know this, but some coeliacs cannot tolerate pure oats.

Stop eating oats as it did give me irritation.The only diffrent thing i have been consuming are a new probitics which seem to have a fruit ive never heard of as a prebiotic

[trents]

@pilber309, as knittykitty pointed out, lactose intolerance is not the only issue with dairy in celiac community. Lactose intolerance has to do with the sugar component of dairy, lactose. However, some celiacs react to a protein fraction in dairy, namely, casein, like they do gluten.

[knitty kitty]

Thanks, @trents, lactose intolerance is different than a reaction to casein.  Consuming casein could be causing that continuing antibody reaction causing localized inflammation.  Still worth trying a diet without it.

Since you mentioned your father passing, you may want to add Benfotiamine.  Benfotiamine is a form of thiamine Vitamin B 1 that has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Tryptophan is helpful, too.  Tryptophan is derived from Niacin Vitamin B 3, and helps repair the intestinal tract.  Tryptophan works well with the amino acid Theanine.  So all three help immensely.  

We need additional thiamine when we're emotionally stressed, physically ill and exercise a lot  or do physical labor.  The brain uses the most thiamine of any organ, twenty percent of intake!  

What's your fruity probiotic?

[pilber309]

7 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

Thanks, @trents, lactose intolerance is different than a reaction to casein.  Consuming casein could be causing that continuing antibody reaction causing localized inflammation.  Still worth trying a diet without it.

Since you mentioned your father passing, you may want to add Benfotiamine.  Benfotiamine is a form of thiamine Vitamin B 1 that has been shown to improve intestinal health.  Tryptophan is helpful, too.  Tryptophan is derived from Niacin Vitamin B 3, and helps repair the intestinal tract.  Tryptophan works well with the amino acid Theanine.  So all three help immensely.  

We need additional thiamine when we're emotionally stressed, physically ill and exercise a lot  or do physical labor.  The brain uses the most thiamine of any organ, twenty percent of intake!  

What's your fruity probiotic?

Thanks for the info, Its one I've not used before its got Noni Fruit, Astragalus Root in it as a prebiotic. As i never eat fruit it might be a cause.

[knitty kitty]

Do you get any Vitamin C?  

 

[pilber309]

Just now, knitty kitty said:

Do you get any Vitamin C?  

 

Yes I do as a supplement

[trents]

Be careful with C supplementation. It's ascorbic "acid". Too much can cause stomach and gut irritation.

[knitty kitty]

Yes, @trents is right, ascorbic acid can be irritating.  Do you take it with food?

Do you take other supplements or vitamins?

Do you eat processed meats?  

Is your diet high in carbohydrates?

[Stegosaurus]

I have a very timid tummy after 13 years of strict gluten free.  If I try to eat like my pals, I burn.