Appendicitis?

[klslynn]

Hi all!

I found out in January 2009 that I have Celiacs. I went gluten free and within a month or so and started feeling better. Prior to finding out I had celiacs about a year before I had to have my gallbladder removed and I have suffered from digestive issues for a very long time. Prior to my diagnosis I had a terrible doctor who always claimed I just have IBS and would do nothing for me, he also missed my gallbladder for probably four years.

So now its been almost a year later and I still find myself having some severe pains in my side occasionally and found out that I may possibly have chronic appendicitis but unfortunately they are unable to locate my appendix through catscan and ultrasound. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had appendix issues if there is a possible link to celiacs? I'm basically just waiting for another flair up before they'll just go in an remove it. Also wondering how many of you have other digestive condition? I"m just tired of never feeling well and want to get to the bottom of it. I've followed a gluten free diet very strictly, I've only accidently ingested gluten twice and definitely knew it over the next week.

I just find myself being very tired a lot and I also get hypoglycemic, anyone have that problem? Its starting to affect my relationships and my job because I never feel well, I have good days and bad days. so basically looking for any incite on the matter, any feedback would be very appreciated!!

Thank you!

[mommida]

I just had another attack on Monday. Went to the ER and the wait was so long, I think I passed a stone before I ever saw the doc. They couldn't find any sign of enlarged gallbladder or appendix. I'm supossed to go in for CT scan for a closer look.

Did you feel any better after getting your gallbladder out? I've been having these kinds of attacks for years and I'm not convinced about getting my gallbladder out. Classic symptoms, but no tests have proven a conclusive diagnoses.

[Roda]

I just had another attack on Monday. Went to the ER and the wait was so long, I think I passed a stone before I ever saw the doc. They couldn't find any sign of enlarged gallbladder or appendix. I'm supossed to go in for CT scan for a closer look.

Did you feel any better after getting your gallbladder out? I've been having these kinds of attacks for years and I'm not convinced about getting my gallbladder out. Classic symptoms, but no tests have proven a conclusive diagnoses.

The CT will be good to acess if you have kidney stones and an overall look at your abdomen and pelvis. You can have a normal appearing gallbladder on ultrasound and CT. If those are inconclusive I would ask about a nuclear medicine study called a HIDA scan. It can tell if the gallbladder is functioning properly or not. Here are a couple of links explaining the procedure.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Hope you feel better soon and figure it out.

[Roda]

Hi all!

I found out in January 2009 that I have Celiacs. I went gluten free and within a month or so and started feeling better. Prior to finding out I had celiacs about a year before I had to have my gallbladder removed and I have suffered from digestive issues for a very long time. Prior to my diagnosis I had a terrible doctor who always claimed I just have IBS and would do nothing for me, he also missed my gallbladder for probably four years.

So now its been almost a year later and I still find myself having some severe pains in my side occasionally and found out that I may possibly have chronic appendicitis but unfortunately they are unable to locate my appendix through catscan and ultrasound. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had appendix issues if there is a possible link to celiacs? I'm basically just waiting for another flair up before they'll just go in an remove it. Also wondering how many of you have other digestive condition? I"m just tired of never feeling well and want to get to the bottom of it. I've followed a gluten free diet very strictly, I've only accidently ingested gluten twice and definitely knew it over the next week.

I just find myself being very tired a lot and I also get hypoglycemic, anyone have that problem? Its starting to affect my relationships and my job because I never feel well, I have good days and bad days. so basically looking for any incite on the matter, any feedback would be very appreciated!!

Thank you!

If the doctors truley believe it could be chronic appendicitis it needs to come out. From some reading I've done chronic appendicits can sometimes be worse than acute appendicits. There are so many people that don't present with the "classic symptoms".

[KristaleeJane]

Hello

I was DX with celiac in Mar-08, and came down with appendicitis in May 08. It was first detected there was something wrong on an ultrasound and then they did a cat scan to confirm it. The surgeon said you sure don't have the symptoms of appendicitis but we will go ahead with surgery anyway.

Sure enough it was appendicitis and I was lucky it didn't burst. I think that there was a link between this and celiac disease honestly.

Good luck!!

[mommida]

I still have to schedule the appoint for the CT scan and HIDA. I was trying to work around all the Christmas activities for the kids and family.

Today is Saturday and if I vomit or dry heave one more time I'm going back to the ER. I know hospitals tend to be poorly staffed on the weekends.

[Roda]

I still have to schedule the appoint for the CT scan and HIDA. I was trying to work around all the Christmas activities for the kids and family.

Today is Saturday and if I vomit or dry heave one more time I'm going back to the ER. I know hospitals tend to be poorly staffed on the weekends.

Well at least if you do go to the ER they may end up ordering that CT scan that you were to schedule. The HIDA will have to be scheduled as an outpatient, unless they were to admit you then it would be done on an inpatient basis. I hope you feel better.

[Imanistj]

Please get the HIDA and any other tests your doctor suggests. I had prolonged vomiting episodes for about three years before I finally had my gall bladder removed. Fixing my problem was complicated because I never had pain. I had a terrible sensation as if someone were holding my stomach tightly closed. I couldn't eat or drink because I kept vomiting, sometimes for as long as 36 hours. I had had stomach surgery many years ago and I mistakenly insisted to every doctor I saw that my old surgery was acting up. I finally had a gastric emptying study and a nuclear study in which my gall bladder was visualized while I was given an IV medication to stimulate my gall bladder to empty. Previous tests showed I had zero stones but this test proved that my gall bladder was functioning at only 6%. My poor GB would get the stimulus to squirt bile into my small intestine but it could only produce a tiny amount. The GB kept trying for hours to empty and it was actually having spasms. That caused the "blocking" sensation I reported. I had my GB removed and the problem has totally disappeared. I hope you find a solution to your vomiting soon. The GB removal was the exact thing I needed.

[jkr]

Please get the HIDA and any other tests your doctor suggests. I had prolonged vomiting episodes for about three years before I finally had my gall bladder removed. Fixing my problem was complicated because I never had pain. I had a terrible sensation as if someone were holding my stomach tightly closed. I couldn't eat or drink because I kept vomiting, sometimes for as long as 36 hours. I had had stomach surgery many years ago and I mistakenly insisted to every doctor I saw that my old surgery was acting up. I finally had a gastric emptying study and a nuclear study in which my gall bladder was visualized while I was given an IV medication to stimulate my gall bladder to empty. Previous tests showed I had zero stones but this test proved that my gall bladder was functioning at only 6%. My poor GB would get the stimulus to squirt bile into my small intestine but it could only produce a tiny amount. The GB kept trying for hours to empty and it was actually having spasms. That caused the "blocking" sensation I reported. I had my GB removed and the problem has totally disappeared. I hope you find a solution to your vomiting soon. The GB removal was the exact thing I needed.

I also have been experiencing a "sensation" like yours. Was it right under your ribs?

[mommida]

I have an appointment for Wednesday. Got to love insurance.

I am having burning under the ribs on the right side. (including the back)

[carecare]

My daughter had her appendix out 5 yrs ago when she was in 6th grade. She had pain on her right side for a week and was sent home 3 times from different doctors telling me it wasn't her appendix. Well, when she woke up needing to vomit I rushed her to the ER. I had told her if she felt like she needed to vomit she needed to tell me asap. ER dr still felt it wasn't her appendix but they ordered a CT and did surgery within the hour of the results. Her appendix were not in the typical place...and the result was probably her not having typical symptoms. Her's was lying at the base of her intestines near her rectum I guess...way towards the back. No wonder her pain was not like normal appenix pain. Anyway, after her appendix were taken out I was told there was fluid around it...lymphocytic fluid that patients with celiac would have. They ran the blood test which was negative so they didn't do any other testing. However, for the next 8 months she was sick every 2 wks....which led me to pull her out of school to homeschool her. So anyway, she hasn't been as sick now for the last few years....but I still wonder about celiac. Her father gave up gluten in October and is feeling soooo much better. We think he's celiac but he won't get tested and now that he's gluten free...well, he's not about to ingest gluten to get tested. I'm considering having her get the enterolab test.

Hope you figure out your pain issue. My nephew had his appendix removed as well and he had several bouts of "appendix" pain for a couple years. Hmmm...and I have suspected for years that he might be celiac. I didn't even think about he appendix. I also have two brothers who have had their appendix out and both have IBS. Hmmm...again...never linked the two. I also have had mine removed....and the last two years have had IBS issues. Interesting. Is there a link?

CC

[Imanistj]

I also have been experiencing a "sensation" like yours. Was it right under your ribs?

The feeling was as if someone reached inside me and made a tight fist right around the top of my stomach, where it joins the esophagus. The area is in the middle, very near the bottom of your breast bone. It might help to find a diagram of the digestive system to see the actual location. I never felt pain but the pressure/strangulation sensation was just as stressful. The gall bladder is just to your right of that area. I have never experienced that feeling again since the surgery last March 31.

[klslynn]

I just had another attack on Monday. Went to the ER and the wait was so long, I think I passed a stone before I ever saw the doc. They couldn't find any sign of enlarged gallbladder or appendix. I'm supossed to go in for CT scan for a closer look.

Did you feel any better after getting your gallbladder out? I've been having these kinds of attacks for years and I'm not convinced about getting my gallbladder out. Classic symptoms, but no tests have proven a conclusive diagnoses.

Sorry to hear that, I know what you are going through. I felt better for a while. I had a huge stone so I didnt have much choice other than to have it removed. Unfortunately they think that my surgery is what may have triggered my celiacs. I probably always had a sensitivity but after I had my gallbladder out I was in and out of the ER with horrible pains that felt like a gallbladder attack, only I didnt have one anymore. So if you can avoid it i would.

[DownWithGluten]

I had my appendix out when I was 10. I went to the general practioner for my intense burning abdomen pain that was not getting any better. He told me I had an upset stomach, but then somehow noticed my neck and discovered I had hashimoto's/thyroid disease. (Well, he suspected it and told me and my mom to check it out and sure enough, I have hypothyroidism.)

Anyway so it didn't get better and I went to the ER after about 3 days of the pain and I had appendicitis. All swollen, close to bursting. They got it in time though. And I had it out back when they'd cut you open, not using four little holes and laser surgery

[awoods1965]

Hi all!

I found out in January 2009 that I have Celiacs. I went gluten free and within a month or so and started feeling better. Prior to finding out I had celiacs about a year before I had to have my gallbladder removed and I have suffered from digestive issues for a very long time. Prior to my diagnosis I had a terrible doctor who always claimed I just have IBS and would do nothing for me, he also missed my gallbladder for probably four years.

So now its been almost a year later and I still find myself having some severe pains in my side occasionally and found out that I may possibly have chronic appendicitis but unfortunately they are unable to locate my appendix through catscan and ultrasound. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had appendix issues if there is a possible link to celiacs? I'm basically just waiting for another flair up before they'll just go in an remove it. Also wondering how many of you have other digestive condition? I"m just tired of never feeling well and want to get to the bottom of it. I've followed a gluten free diet very strictly, I've only accidently ingested gluten twice and definitely knew it over the next week.

I just find myself being very tired a lot and I also get hypoglycemic, anyone have that problem? Its starting to affect my relationships and my job because I never feel well, I have good days and bad days. so basically looking for any incite on the matter, any feedback would be very appreciated!!

Thank you!

[awoods1965]

Hi there. I'm very sorry to hear about your suffering for so long. It seems to be quite common that people go for years misdiagnosed. I had my appendix taken and missed my honeymoon when all that was really going on is that I had a celiac flare-up. I am finding for me, that eliminating gluten was not enough; I'm just highly sensitive from years of celiac disease I suppose. I am following the Paleolithic nutrition and I'm honestly feeling almost 100% better! SERIOUSLY! You can go to www.paleodiet.com and order the book Paleo Diet. Also google paleo diet. I think you will be surprised with what you learn. Good luck!