Urgent - Need Advice Regarding Pregnancy Symptoms

[High-Tech Mom]

I'm in my 25th week of my 3rd pregnancy, and I have a question for moms with pregnancies involving celiac.

During my pregnanices, I have attacks that are very painful in my back and diaphram area. It's hard to describe them, but they are very intense, painful attacks. I can't move, it's hard to breathe. Relaxing does not help the attack end any sooner. During the first two pregnanices, these attacks would last about 10 minutes each. However, this pregnancy, I'm experiencing these attacks more frequently and they are lasting much longer. Last night I had an attack that woke me from sleep and lasted 4 hours.

The doctor doesn't know what it is, and won't discuss the possibilities that celiac may be complicating my pregnancy. I have hyperemesis with all of my pregnancies, but the vomiting is under control with medication.

I have two children, one of which has been recently diagnosed with celiac (has DQ8 genetic marker and antibodies are highly elevated). My husband also has the genetic marker. I've been on a gluten-free diet for two weeks now.

If any of you have experienced similar attacks during pregnancy or know what's going on, please send me your feedback.

[GFBetsy]

This is just a "for what it's worth" kind of post. I don't have any medical background or even personal experience with the kind of pain you are talking about. I do have a friend, however, who suffered from excessive vomiting during her first 4 pregnancies. She also had a lot of stomach pains which she associated with milk consumption while she wasn't pregnant. After her 4th pregnancy, she had her gall bladder removed. All of her "milk related" pains went away (because they were really related to fat consumption, not dairy). She got pregnant relatively quickly after her surgery, and was SHOCKED at how easy everything was - she didn't have to go in to be rehydrated at all, and her nausea only lasted for 3 or 4 months, instead of the 9 months of incessant illness she'd experienced before.

I know that information has a lot more to do with hyperemesis than with the pains you are talking about, but have you considered having your gall bladder checked? Gall stones/infections can be very painful. It may be something to look into, anyway. And, by the way, if your doctor refuses to discuss your medical concerns, I'd fire him/her. Find someone who is willing to listen and investigate your concerns. Such doctors do exist . . . though you may have to search a bit. Ask questions of the physician before you employ him/her. After all, the Dr. is providing a service for which you are paying. It's not like they are doing you a favor out of the goodness of their hearts!

[hannahsue01]

I'm in my 25th week of my 3rd pregnancy, and I have a question for moms with pregnancies involving celiac.

During my pregnanices, I have attacks that are very painful in my back and diaphram area. It's hard to describe them, but they are very intense, painful attacks. I can't move, it's hard to breathe. Relaxing does not help the attack end any sooner. During the first two pregnanices, these attacks would last about 10 minutes each. However, this pregnancy, I'm experiencing these attacks more frequently and they are lasting much longer. Last night I had an attack that woke me from sleep and lasted 4 hours.

The doctor doesn't know what it is, and won't discuss the possibilities that celiac may be complicating my pregnancy. I have hyperemesis with all of my pregnancies, but the vomiting is under control with medication.

I have two children, one of which has been recently diagnosed with celiac (has DQ8 genetic marker and antibodies are highly elevated). My husband also has the genetic marker. I've been on a gluten-free diet for two weeks now.

If any of you have experienced similar attacks during pregnancy or know what's going on, please send me your feedback.

I would be very concerned if you are in that much pain and that often. I think you should get an answear on what it is so both you and your baby aren't harmed. I would be concerned about your doctor not being concerned about celiac having anything to do with it. I had an uneventfull first pregnancy. My second however I kept having severe pain in my lower abdoman where it turns out my duaghter was conected. I would get the pain more with activity or when really tired. I also found myself getting very dehydrated causing dizziness and nautiosness. I was also loosing wieght even while eating allot of food....I found I was extreamly hungary at least every two hours. I would find a doctor who will listen to you and soon. I see you have only been on the diet for a couple of weeks and my understanding is that it takes quite awhile for the stomach to heal and obsorb what it is sapossed to. I am not a doctor but this concerns me being babies usually attach higher up. With no warning one morning I started to gush blood (felt like my water broke) and was taken by ambulance. Within a few hours I had a little girl at 29 weeks. They said it was a placental abrubtion (the placenta rips away from the uterous...if it rips all the way the baby will die within 3 mins). I did not know of celiac disease at the time but my understanding now is that the baby was not getting enough nutriants to grow so nature takes it apon itself to get rid of the baby. I have since had one miscariage. I have come to find out many of my family members after having ok 1st or 2nd pregnancy ended up with premature births...low birth wieghts like 4 lbs....and still births all on the side that has celiac. I don't want to scare you but for your sake and the babies I would suggest getting this resolved.

[tiredofdoctors]

I'm a PT who treats women's health, including pregnancy and post-partum. I'm not giving you medical advice as a professional, just information as someone who cares. (had to add that caveat so as NOT to get in trouble).

I have treated patients who have experienced the same symptoms as you are right now. Even though they are at the level of your diaphragm, I am wondering if they are off to the right of it. Quite often, if a gallbladder is going to act up, it does so during pregnancy. The symptoms are QUITE similar to what you are describing, but the pain is usually in the right portion of the back. It feels much like a knife being stuck in your back, and you can feel it in your front.

Second, since this is your third pregnancy, I would GUESS that your baby is carrying fairly low. The exception would be if you were very athletic, or had done "transverse abdominus" exercises following your previous pregnancies. Also, were they C-sections? I am wondering if the baby is starting to turn, and is pressing upward on your diaphragm.

Have you had an ultrasound done? Do you know the position of the baby at this point?

Does your upper back hurt? Are you having difficulty taking a full breath? Sometimes, particularly after multiple pregnancies, the upper back begins to curve forward (to counterbalance the extreme curve in the lower back) and the diaphragm shortens, then develops trigger points which REALLY stop it from expanding. Also, because the uterus goes from being a pelvic organ to being an abdominal organ, it GREATLY moves the rest of your organs upward -- which pushes your ribs together, and causes the intercostal muscles (the muscles between your ribs) to shorten. I always teach my moms-to-be exercises to move their ribs BACK DOWN after the baby is born. That can also make you have that kind of pain.

Those are just a few of the questions I am pondering . . . post some more info and we'll see if we can figure out this puzzle!

TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!!!!!!!

Lynne

[Green Fingered Gaelic]

Dear High Tech Mom,

This is your 3rd pregnancy, and you've experienced similiar pains before. So who knows this could just be a painfull muscle, disk, thing.

I've never heard of a gluten-free diet hurting anyone.

I'm an athiest but I pray you have a safe birth, and a happy family.

Peace

[High-Tech Mom]

Thank you all for your feedback! I really appreciate your responses.

Lynn, the back pain IS coming from the right side of my back, and the pain radiates around to the front. It is difficult to take a full breath when the attacks occur, so I find myself taking shorter, shallower breaths. I'm not sure if I'm carrying low or high, but I have not had any c-sections. I'm not sure about the position of the baby either, since my last ultrasound was over a month ago.

Lynn and GFBetsy, you might be on to something with the gallbladder. I've scheduled an appointment with my family doctor to run some tests. I'll post again when I get the results back.

Hannahsue, I share your concerns too, espcially with the placenta problems that arise when celiac is involved. We have just recently discovered that celiac disease is in the family, and are still getting tested and waiting for results. It's possible that I may not have celiac disease, and the baby might have celiac disease, which still may contribute to the pre-maturely aging placenta. When I delivered my first son (who is celiac), my placenta was in bad shape. I wish I knew what kind of condition it is in now!

I wish I could another doctor, but unfortunately, it's very difficult to find any ob/gyn to take on a pregnant woman this far along - it's too risky for them.

[GFBetsy]

Hey, High-Tech,

I hope that you can get some answers . . . I'm glad that you were able to get your family doc to look into things.

And hey, at least you know which ob/gyn you don't want to go to next time!

Betsy

[tiredofdoctors]

Hi Tech -- gluten-free Betsy is right .. . . you CAN find a doctor who will listen to you. I hope your family doc will listen -- if he/she doesn't, keep going . . . even if you have to see a GI doctor during your pregnancy. I would keep pressing . . . SOMEONE NEEDS TO LISTEN TO YOU!!!!! Good luck to you . . . I wish you the best and will say a little prayer for you . . . . Lynne

[High-Tech Mom]

I have treated patients who have experienced the same symptoms as you are right now. Even though they are at the level of your diaphragm, I am wondering if they are off to the right of it. Quite often, if a gallbladder is going to act up, it does so during pregnancy.

Lynne, a huge THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! You were absoutely RIGHT - it's my gallbladder!!!! I had an ultrasound today and there was no question about the source of the problem since there were visible gallstones.

I have been suffering with these gallbladder attacks for 6 years through 3 pregnancies, not knowing the cause. Two different doctors blew me off whenever I brought up the symptoms. I cannot express to you how much of a relief it is to finally know the cause of these attacks. Lynne, your post diagnosed the problem and gave me the confidence to pursue it with another doctor.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my post. Your thoughts and wishes are greatly appreciated!

[GFBetsy]

Hey!

I'm SO GLAD you were able to find out what was wrong! Good for you for pursuing it! Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to insist that you know something is wrong when your doctors keep pooh-poohing the whole idea. I hope your docs will be able to do something right now to aleviate your pain.

Best Wishes!

Betsy

[tiredofdoctors]

Hey Hi-Tech -- It feels kind of funny to say "I'm so happy that you have gallstones"!!!!! I am SO glad that you got that ultrasound done . . . I'm tellin' ya . . . I can't begin to count the pregnant women I treated that their gallbladder trouble inevitably kicked in during their pregnancy. Sounds bizarre, but it happens.

Have they talked to you about your diet? Fatty foods are an ABSOLUTE no-no. At this point, I would SERIOUSLY entertain the idea of consulting a dietician, preferably one that is very well-versed in celiac. I was fortunate enough to find one here -- she was a WEALTH of information. If you find one like that, not only will she/he be able to give you guidance with regard to the gallbladder, but you might also get some additional celiac info -- bonus!

I am so sorry that you had to suffer through three (now) pregnancies before someone took you seriously. That is unacceptable. It makes me furious that healthcare is where it is today. I was fortunate enough to work with some physicians who would take me seriously and listen to what I had to say -- even though I had a "lesser" degree than them. I also had some that thought if I had an independent thought that I was overstepping my boundaries -- despite the fact that our Practice Act in Kentucky allows for us to give a "Physical Therapy Diagnosis".

I would guess that if you have that many stones, they may want to remove your gallbladder after the baby is born. Not a bad idea, really . . . . you would be surprised how much better IN GENERAL you'll feel afterward . . . those stones can be real stinkers -- and you don't even realize it, because it's not as bad as it is right now.

I'm sorry I was right, but I'm glad you got an answer . . . how's that??? Please take care of you . . . .

xoxoxoxoxox

Lynne

[High-Tech Mom]

At this point, I would SERIOUSLY entertain the idea of consulting a dietician, preferably one that is very well-versed in celiac.

Yes, this is another great idea and I'm going to see if I can get a referral from the local support group. Maybe they'll have someone with an emphasis on celiac. Thanks again!

[tiredofdoctors]

You're welcome -- good luck, and I hope you're feeling better. Hugs, Lynne