Stomach Pain Questions....

[jmjsmomma]

Hello,

I am new to this board but not to the forum, I post on the Parents of Celiac Kids board. My now six year old was dx with Celiac via bloodwork and scope in January. My husband and 4 yo tested negatvie, and my 2 yo had the gene test as she was IGA deficient and she came back "no chance". I tried to have my doctor do the panel on me and she screwed it up. I went to another doctor and he screwed it up. I have other auto immune issues (psoriasis) so I'm assuming I am the carrier. Our home is almost completely gluten-free unless dh and I eat take out, etc. I do eat gluten at a designated area and am very careful. My son is thriving after 9 months of gluten-free diet.

So my question is this. I am getting terrible lower ab pain about 24 hours after consuming a large amount of gluten. I eat gluten almost every day, and have this nagging pain under my rib cage...like pancreas area?....that sometimes goes back and forth from gall bladder area to pancreas area. Does this sound like a gluten issue to anyone? Specifically the pancreas/rib cage area? My Dad died of pancreatic cancer at age 49 (I am 40) but I had a scan last summer with the same symptoms and everything was fine.

I appreciate your time and comments....

[OptimisticMom42]

Why not go gluten free for a bit and see if it goes away? You know how.

[jmjsmomma]

I have a physical at the end of this month with a doctor that knows about Celiac Disease, so I don't want to go gluten-free until I have the panel done to prevent a false negative. Just curious about other abdominal issues in the meantime...

[jmjsmomma]

Wow....I hear crickets chirping....I'll keep researching )

[momxyz]

I think any abdominal pain that occurs after eating gluten is a telling sign....

You mentioned you have psoriasis. I was doing some research comparing and contrasting psoriasis with DH (dermatitis herpetiformis). I stumbled across this article that indicated an association between psoraisis and celiac diseaase. This article stated that when these patients went on a gluten free diet, their psoriasis improved.

[tunibell]

Hi there,

Abdominal pain (which felt like a dull, tight ache between and under my ribs) was the symptom that drove me to the doctor's office. I'd never had a single digestive disorder symptom before that time.

I also had my gallbladder scanned because of the location of the pain and I also have (mild) psoriasis, which showed up out of the blue three years ago.

I'd definitely go get yourself another blood test. How are the physicians screwing up the test?

[momxyz]

yes, definitely pursue testing.

But as soon as the testing process is completed, I would try the gluten free diet, regardless of the results.

[FishyLibrarian]

I have pain in the same spot...on my right side, just under my rib cage. The onset of the pain was quite sudden for me, back in May, but it has persisted since then. I was severe enough that first week that I went to the ER twice. The second time they admitted me to the hospital because they couldn't figure out what was causing it. I was convinced it was my gallbladder, but ultrasounds showed my GB was normal, along with my pancreas, kidneys, spleen and liver. Doc thought I had an ulcer, but the endoscopy and biopsy for h. pylori bacteria were negative.

I'm working my way through specialists trying to figure out what's causing the pain, and decided a couple of weeks ago to try giving up gluten as an experiment. I hadn't realized just how ill I had been feeling until I felt well! After 4 gluten-free days, I started eating gluten again so I could be tested a.s.a.p. I had my blood drawn yesterday for a tTG-IgA test...I should have the results later today. I told my doctor that the results are inconsequential to me, really...I'm giving up gluten even if I get a negative, but I'm waiting until after I have a second consult with the gastroenterologist before I give it up for good because I want my results to be accurate. The gastro took biopsies of my small bowel in June when he was looking for h. pylori, but I'm not sure if he tested them for Celiac as well, thus the waiting for a second consult with him. I'm hoping that I can get in to see him soon, because I'm excited about the prospect of feeling well again!

Not sure if that helps you at all, since you and I share a symptom and neither of us has been diagnosed, but I thought I'd chime in to say that, literally, I feel your pain. Hope we get some answers soon.

Cheers,

Lynne