Celiac Disease May Cause Gallbladder Attacks

[W.D. Smith]

Some celiac sufferers may be having gallbladder attacks and even have their gallbladder removed because of their gluten intolerance. In 1993 before I knew I had celiac disease, I had a gall bladder attack where my blood lipase level rose to 1000 when normal is probably less than 30. I had been eating artificial nuts for which the first ingredient was gluten. The attack manifested itself with intense pain in the area of the junction between the esophagus and the stomach with pain also in the back. Thinking it was a heart attack, I went to the ER and eventually they ran a sonogram and found small gallstones in my gallbladder. After waiting about 10 hours, the blockage of common duct resolved itself, my lipase count dropped to a safe level and my gallbladder was removed. It is likely what actually happened is that the gluten caused an inflammation of my small intestine including in the area of the common duct where the ducts from the gallbladder and the pancreas merge and enter the small intestine. This caused enzymes from the pancreas to build up to unsafe levels. In this case, a small gallstone which might normally pass without difficulty can get hung up and cause the gallbladder attack. Why do I think is the likely explanation? In 2005, I became intolerant of corn protein too, and I had the identical type of reaction even though my gallbladder was missing. It is likely that the corn protein caused the intestinal wall to be inflamed and the duct from the pancreas to become blocked again. A echocardiograph showed my heart to be in excellent condition. I was not clever enough to have them run a test of my lipase level.

Thus, people who are suffering gallbladder attacks should be taken off of gluten and see if the symptoms of the attack subside. If the gall stones are small enough to pass when the intestinal wall is not inflamed, then a removal operation may not be required. I am not a doctor, but doctors need to evaluate this possible cause and treatment.

[Jestgar]

Thus, people who are suffering gallbladder attacks should be taken off of gluten and see if the symptoms of the attack subside. If the gall stones are small enough to pass when the intestinal wall is not inflamed, then a removal operation may not be required. I am not a doctor, but doctors need to evaluate this possible cause and treatment.

An n of 1 isn't usually enough to lead to treatment change.

[chasbari]

An n of 1 isn't usually enough to lead to treatment change.

But it isn't a bad place to begin an anecdotal inquiry as a point of departure for future study. I am dealing with this issue with my FIL at present and suspect he might be dealing with this very complication.

CS

[Jestgar]

But it isn't a bad place to begin an anecdotal inquiry as a point of departure for future study. I am dealing with this issue with my FIL at present and suspect he might be dealing with this very complication.

CS

That would be true. And actually I think it's more than one. Other people are more up on this than I am, but many people have posted of gall bladder issues.

[Generic]

I was a a gluten free, diagnosed celiac for 20 years before I had any gall bladder issues. Yes, I had mine removed. No I haven't had any similar attacks since. So in my case, that theory wouldn't work.

[num1habsfan]

I myself and 2 former members of this forum could argue the point that Celiac triggered gallbladder problems after being gluten-free. Its what the others lived through, and what I am currently suffering with. So can't say that gluten-free helps when my diet is the same both before and after severe gallbladder problems...