I Think I May Have Celiac, Anyone?

[stevie22]

I've had stomach problems on and off for years, but it's never been soooo bad that I sought out a physican for it. Back in January of this year, I quit smoking and started Weight Watchers (as to not gain weight during my quit). I'm not overweight by any means (at present 117, 5'4'). I stopped being able to have a bowel movement when I quit and was having to use suppositories (as I wasn't having my routine morning bowel movement that I use to have with a smoke). The problems seemed to get worse about a month into quitting and it started with chest pain. After a few weeks of periodic chest pain (sternum) that radiated to my right chest I went to the ER and they found absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. I also had a chest x-ray and ultrasound of the abdomen in which the gall bladder and kidneys were unremarkable. Nevertheless, I started smoking again because I couldn't bare not having the bowel movements with the intentions of trying to quit again after seeing an MD. I've held off for quite some time on seeing a doctor because I don't have health ins but my boyfriend and I decided if we can go on a vacation then we can afford to pay out of pocket to see a doctor.

So....here I am today, three months now, I have been having horrible chest pain that is accompanied by belching, bloating, burning in the stomach, severe gas that doesn't go away til morning, irregular bowel movements (borderline constipation but when I do go it's loose). You can literally hear my stomach from 5 feet away at all times. When I wake in the morning my belly is fine and flat, as soon as I put a bite to my mouth the gurgleing starts and the bloating begins. I also have a history of migranes that have continued. I've been feeling extremely tired lately and started to get depressed with the unknown regarding what is going on digestively. I have a doctors appt on Tuesday with a GI. I want to be tested for Celiac because my daughter who is now 10 years old was diagnosed at 16 months with it and I'm aware it's hereditary. Also, I read somewhere that a low-fat diet can trigger the symptoms, hence starting weight watchers 3 months ago. What do you think?

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Well, you sure have the symptoms, and your daughter has it. So, there is a higher chance you do, too. It is worth getting tested for.

[tommchale]

I've had stomach problems on and off for years, but it's never been soooo bad that I sought out a physican for it. Back in January of this year, I quit smoking and started Weight Watchers (as to not gain weight during my quit). I'm not overweight by any means (at present 117, 5'4'). I stopped being able to have a bowel movement when I quit and was having to use suppositories (as I wasn't having my routine morning bowel movement that I use to have with a smoke). The problems seemed to get worse about a month into quitting and it started with chest pain. After a few weeks of periodic chest pain (sternum) that radiated to my right chest I went to the ER and they found absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. I also had a chest x-ray and ultrasound of the abdomen in which the gall bladder and kidneys were unremarkable. Nevertheless, I started smoking again because I couldn't bare not having the bowel movements with the intentions of trying to quit again after seeing an MD. I've held off for quite some time on seeing a doctor because I don't have health ins but my boyfriend and I decided if we can go on a vacation then we can afford to pay out of pocket to see a doctor.

So....here I am today, three months now, I have been having horrible chest pain that is accompanied by belching, bloating, burning in the stomach, severe gas that doesn't go away til morning, irregular bowel movements (borderline constipation but when I do go it's loose). You can literally hear my stomach from 5 feet away at all times. When I wake in the morning my belly is fine and flat, as soon as I put a bite to my mouth the gurgleing starts and the bloating begins. I also have a history of migranes that have continued. I've been feeling extremely tired lately and started to get depressed with the unknown regarding what is going on digestively. I have a doctors appt on Tuesday with a GI. I want to be tested for Celiac because my daughter who is now 10 years old was diagnosed at 16 months with it and I'm aware it's hereditary. Also, I read somewhere that a low-fat diet can trigger the symptoms, hence starting weight watchers 3 months ago. What do you think?

While usually showing symptoms in childhood, its not unusual to have an uptick in symptom severity later in life. I only started to get really sick when I was about 40. Docs think it was triggered by a serious viral infection I had. They think I had low grade symptoms all my life and my illness kicked Celiac into high gear. Defintely get tested but don't change your diet to full gluten-free until you get confirmation one way or the other. That mistake delayed my official diagnosis by months.