Is It Normal/okay To Have Stomach Pain After 1 Year?

[raisin]

Okay, I'm at 10 months gluten-free, 3 months CC-free.. But I still have significant dyspepsia (stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, belching), even when not glutened.

It's definitely calmer than when I was on gluten. It revs up if I'm contaminated somehow.. But it also acts up on its own, it seems. I couldn't say for sure if the recent "rev" was caused by my newly-found coconut allergy, or just total random. If I don't eat at a regulated schedule, or eat eggs, broccoli, or have strong coffee, without other foods, my stomach gets upset and I start belching. My stomach won't let me skip a meal, and won't let me go to bed without eating before (opposite of acid reflux - where you shouldn't eat before bed - but I occasionally get "hot/burning" burps, a sign of heartburn? acid reflux? I am pretty confused).

Does anyone else experience this? Will it probably diminish as I continue to heal?

I goggled "dyspepsia" and "celiac" only to find they coexist commonly. Dyspepsia is a sign of Celiac, or Celiac causes it, I don't really know.

[cat3883]

My GI told me it will take 2 years for my gut to completely heal. Maybe thats your case too.

[MaryJones2]

I would agree that it can take quite a while to fully heal. It took 2 years for a lot of my symptoms to disappear and another year before I could tolerate a lot of foods. Pepto Bismol is your friend. Tagment HB also works well for me.

[raisin]

Wow, really?

I never had an endoscopy, sense I was diagnosed young, and had no signs of complications. But had a small number of TTG antibodies which would imply some gut damage had been done. (the TTGs are the ones that do it right?)

For some reason I thought it was supposed to take me 1 year, but 2 years is much more believable. Oh wow, that means there is a chance I can eat corn and potatoes again. Citrus fruit, and other spicy/acid things too. Fatty things like eggs, without salad on the side. Not having to worry about calming my stomach would certainly help me gain weight ..and sleep.

For some reason, I also thought celiacs were not supposed to take antacids like peptobismol, because it's more common to have heartburn from low stomach acid for us? - Even if that's true, Peppermint tea seems to cure my dyspepsia, but it would be nice for pepto to be an option.

[ravenwoodglass]

I really like the pepto because for me it stops the pain very quickly and many times the pain doesn't return. That said you may want to check with your doctor as celiac is not the only reason for stomach pain. Other conditions independant of the celiac may be responsible.

[MaryJones2]

As ravenswood said you should be checked out by a doctor to make sure it's not something more serious.

I observed something odd in my body and will share. I had major issues with lots of foods. I discussed with my doctor and he suggested taking Tagment HB daily and Pepto twice daily for 3 weeks. I did this 3 months ago I've seen dramatic improvement in my overall heath and absorbtion since then and I can now tolerate fresh corn, very small amounts of dairy and soy sauce occasionally. One could also argue that I was finally fully healed and I wouldn't disagree with that either but I do wonder why I improved so much. (I am getting tested for H. Pylori the next time I go back in.) I think there is something to the Pepto helping to coat the intestinal tract and helping it heal.

So this might be worth asking your doctor about. The combo of Pepto and acid reducers is part of the treatment for ulcers (research triple therapy).

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[raisin]

It does the same for me, which is why I'd love to add it back to my list of "takeable medicines"

I was worried about it being a second stomach condition when I posted this, but after thinking it over.. I don't know what I could be tested for. Certainly not the right symptoms for a hiatal hernia, stomach ulcer, cancers, or anything else I can think of. Acid reflux also runs in my family, with two of my siblings and one parent having it. This would imply the dyspepsia is related to (or caused by) a combo of acid reflux and dyspepsia.

I don't know if there is enough reason to see a gastro doctor, but I will at least get a lab done for H. Pylori, as Janet mentioned. If that comes back negative, or I develop new symptoms (had these sense childhood and doctors keep claiming its "normal") that would be reason enough.

[ravenwoodglass]

I don't know what I could be tested for. Certainly not the right symptoms for a hiatal hernia, stomach ulcer, cancers, or anything else I can think of.

Your doctor would be the person who would know better what your symptoms fit and what tests should be done. If the pain doesn't resolve with selfhelp measures soon please go ahead and book an appointment. It is better to be safe than sorry.

[raisin]

Your doctor would be the person who would know better what your symptoms fit and what tests should be done. If the pain doesn't resolve with selfhelp measures soon please go ahead and book an appointment. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Sadly, I have no choice.

I called about having a lab done for H. pylori, and a local hospital offers it, but they won't do it without a doctors referral and they won't proscribe medicine if it comes back positive.

My best bet is a family health care facility that has labs on-site. Probably cheaper and faster.

[ang1e0251]

I didn't notice whether you are still having dairy. If you are you might stop that for awhile and see if it helps. Lots of us cannot tolerate dairy. Some can add it back in later.

Also you mentioned coconut. Do you drink water from a filter? Many water filters have coconut fibers in them and can kick in your allergic response. I read a poster who once said they were having problems with coffee filters but didn't say what substance was the offending one. You could take a second look at these items. Drink spring water instead of filtered. Even refridgerator water goes through a filter.

Hope this helps.

[raisin]

Oh, I never ate dairy. Allergic all my life. I used to drink filtered water, but it didn't give me a problem. I do drink bottled now. That is very interesting though, I guess I'd better call the company before buying filters in the future.

I actually found.. my stomach problems do not seem to be ulcer related, but food related, just not in a way I would ever have expected.

I recently added Kiwi Fruit and Almond-butter back into my diet. Now initially I removed almond butter and felt a great deal better, added it back and felt worse. But I was still having symptoms in between, and remembered not liking kiwis as a child. I decided to look for a connection.

Kiwis and almonds are allergen-related in only one way : Birch Pollen.

Here is a combo of two lists I found :

o Root vegetables: potato, carrot, celery, parsnip

o Fruit and other vegetables: apple, pear, peach, kiwi fruit, plum, mango, tomato, sweet pepper, oranges, limes, kumquats, Melons, cherries.

o Spices: mustard, caraway, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon

o Others: walnut, almond, fennel, wheat, peanuts, and hazelnuts

Here is Wikipedia's list :

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[dilettantesteph]

Just because your blood test is clear doesn't mean that you aren't getting any gluten. There are lots of celiacs diagnosed with negative blood tests and positive biopsies (who are eating gluten). Just wanted to put that out there.

After I got a negative blood test, I found gluten in my diet, eliminated it and felt better.

Hope you feel better soon.

[raisin]

Just because your blood test is clear doesn't mean that you aren't getting any gluten. There are lots of celiacs diagnosed with negative blood tests and positive biopsies (who are eating gluten). Just wanted to put that out there.

After I got a negative blood test, I found gluten in my diet, eliminated it and felt better.

Hope you feel better soon.

I am a super sensitive. When I get glutened.. I definitely know. The only prepackaged food I even eat is Lundberg rice, and I don't bake with anything "gluten-free" either. Can't get much safer than "all raws + rice".. + gluten-free home, + no eating out, + dedicated soaps, toothpaste, etc.

But thank you for the heads up.

[dilettantesteph]

Good for you having such a good diet. I'm almost there myself, but still eat a few processed things. Sorry you are having pain still.

[bibbity]

Oh, I never ate dairy. Allergic all my life. I used to drink filtered water, but it didn't give me a problem. I do drink bottled now. That is very interesting though, I guess I'd better call the company before buying filters in the future.

I actually found.. my stomach problems do not seem to be ulcer related, but food related, just not in a way I would ever have expected.

I recently added Kiwi Fruit and Almond-butter back into my diet. Now initially I removed almond butter and felt a great deal better, added it back and felt worse. But I was still having symptoms in between, and remembered not liking kiwis as a child. I decided to look for a connection.

Kiwis and almonds are allergen-related in only one way : Birch Pollen.

Here is a combo of two lists I found :

o Root vegetables: potato, carrot, celery, parsnip

o Fruit and other vegetables: apple, pear, peach, kiwi fruit, plum, mango, tomato, sweet pepper, oranges, limes, kumquats, Melons, cherries.

o Spices: mustard, caraway, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon

o Others: walnut, almond, fennel, wheat, peanuts, and hazelnuts

Here is Wikipedia's list :

Open Original Shared Link

Birch pollen: almonds, apples, apricots, avocados, carrots, celery, cherries, chicory, coriander, fennel, fig, hazelnuts, kiwifruit, nectarines, parsley, parsnips, peaches, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, prunes, soy, strawberries, wheat;

Potential:

walnuts

Everything on that list I have actually eaten before, at least sparks a mild reaction in me. A number of them spark harsh reactions. Soy is an especially severe allergy for me. Birch also causes seasonal allergies, which I've had sense I was a child and run in one side of my family, but never found which plant (or plants) caused it.

--

I'm actually ecstatic.. I only cut almonds and kiwis out of my diet last night, and my symptoms are already improving! I feel better (especially related to my stomach) than I have in weeks. It also explains why I'm so sensitive to so many foods, and opens the door for me to openly try new foods again without fret! I'm getting an allergy test done next week, and the H. Pylori test done, as a precaution, later.