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Celian Diet & Breast Lumps?

Guest gato.milagro

By Guest gato.milagro
in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms

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Guest gato.milagro
Guest gato.milagro
Posted

Hi everyone!

I have been on the gluten-free diet for almost two months now. I am feeling better than I have in 5 years! (I have a biopsy scheduled in 2 weeks).

Anyway, just today, I noticed a dime-sized lump in one of my breasts. Could this be a result of the change in diet? I don't drink caffeine or eat chocolate and I'm under 30. Should I run to the Gyno or wait to see if it changes after my period?

I'd like to avoid unnessary DR appointments since I've seen so many specialists for celiac disease already. Geez, I'm just so tired of DR appointments!

Thanks for the advice!

'

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rinne Apprentice
rinne
Posted
I'd like to avoid unnessary DR appointments since I've seen so many specialists for celiac disease already. Geez, I'm just so tired of DR appointments!

I hear you. :( In the midst of my celiac crisis, (melting-lost 30 pounds), I discovered a lump in my breast also, but I am older than you and menopausal. I did have it checked out and it is not cancerous. I have the impression that fibroids may be common to Celiacs but I am new to this so don't know so much. Hopefully someone more informed will arrive. :)

Have you lost weight? Is it possible it has been there for a while and you didn't notice it? I think that was the case for me because the mass is not actually in the breast tissue, more above it and so I missed it until I saw it.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
Hi everyone!

I have been on the gluten-free diet for almost two months now. I am feeling better than I have in 5 years! (I have a biopsy scheduled in 2 weeks).

Anyway, just today, I noticed a dime-sized lump in one of my breasts. Could this be a result of the change in diet? I don't drink caffeine or eat chocolate and I'm under 30. Should I run to the Gyno or wait to see if it changes after my period?

I'd like to avoid unnessary DR appointments since I've seen so many specialists for celiac disease already. Geez, I'm just so tired of DR appointments!

Thanks for the advice!

'

Just so you know, your biopsy will probably be negative because you've been gluten-free for two months. You have to be eating gluten to have the celiac reaction to have damage in your intestine. Just a heads up.

I would at least ask about the lump, never hurts to be too careful. It may be a normal bump that you haven't noticed before. Better to be paranoid than let problems progress ;)

Guest gato.milagro
Guest gato.milagro
Posted

Thanks for responding. I decided to go ahead and make an appointment and have it checked. I haven't lost a significant amount of weight or anything (would have been nice!) I am pretty sure that I would have noticed this .... I've read on several women's health sites that this sort of thing is common and not to worry too much. I just decided that if I go to the doctor, have a medical professional tell me that I'm worried about nothing and I can forget about it completely.

About the biopsy.....I've been a bit concerned about that since I have been gluten-free for two months. I told my GI and she said that i would be best if I went back on a 'normal' diet until the test. But, when I explained how bad my symptoms had been (serious irritability, depression, crying several times a day, fatigue and severe joint pain, etc) She said that we should go ahead with the biopsy anyway. I've thought about trying to eat gluten for a few weeks but I just can't bring myself to do it! Now that I know how great it feels to not have it in my system, it's just so hard to poison myself on purpose. (Sigh!)

I do hate the idea of going through all the trouble of this biopsy for nothing. I was really hoping that past damage would be enough..... Do you think it is pointless while I'm gluten-free?

Gosh I hope not!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Hi everyone!

I have been on the gluten-free diet for almost two months now. I am feeling better than I have in 5 years! (I have a biopsy scheduled in 2 weeks).

Anyway, just today, I noticed a dime-sized lump in one of my breasts. Could this be a result of the change in diet? I don't drink caffeine or eat chocolate and I'm under 30. Should I run to the Gyno or wait to see if it changes after my period?

I'd like to avoid unnessary DR appointments since I've seen so many specialists for celiac disease already. Geez, I'm just so tired of DR appointments!

Thanks for the advice!

'

If your breasts normally get swollen and are painful with your periods this could be related to that. However if that is not the case you should get an appointment. Any lump in your breasts needs to be checked out, they can do a mamogram if needed or an ultrasound to check it. Women can get breast cancer , and men too, at any age. As far as the endoscopic biopsy goes if you feel more comfortable if you do it do it. Just don't rely on the results as to whether or not you stay gluten free. Your dietary results have confirmed your need to be gluten free.

rogue Rookie
rogue
Posted

if you don't have a family history of breast cancer, you shouldn't worry. but it's always wise to get it checked out. it's either fibrocystic breast disease (really common and totally benign), a cyst (also common), or a fibroadenoma- which is a benign breast tumor. i had one of the latter when i was 18 and then another when i was 21. i had them both removed via surgery. if it's a cyst, they can generally fix it right there in the office with some anasthetic and a syringe, and the fibrocystic breast disease you just have to live with.

  • 9 years later...
Awol cast iron stomach Experienced
Awol cast iron stomach
Posted

"it's either fibrocystic breast disease (really common and totally benign), a cyst (also common), or a fibroadenoma- which is a benign breast tumor."

I know this is an old post but I had to comment. With all this info on here that fits me to a T, how have I been misdiagnosed for so long? fibroadenoma-check another symptom. Really no one could ever look at all the things I sought help for and test me? I could see missing it when I was a child but from the 1990's on you can check way too many boxes. No one must have  even looked at my past medical records records ever!!! UGH  had those since the 90's. still all those years no one thought that IBS was Celiac? Thank goodness my lay husband came along to tell me to stop eating gluten because no on else did. I went off gluten without being diagnosed is it a wonder? If I asked I'm sure they wouldn't have. No today you helped make it clear, I had plenty of signs and symptoms of Celiac , I am not going back on gluten to find out. All the info they needed then and now is in my past medical records and this website's forum. Thank you all for helping me between you all and my husband I am no longer eating gluten and no longer falling through the cracks. I wish I found you sooner.

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      Accuracy of testing concerns

      By trents · Posted

      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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