Kidney Problems?

[scuzy]

Hello,

I have self diagnosed myself with Celiac Disease back in August. I have been feeling sooooo much better since I have been gluten free. It took me about two years to figure out that I had Celiac Disease and am wondering what kind of damage could I have done to my body within those two years of horrible symptoms.

Before I went gluten free I would get these really sharp pains in my lower right back (the doc says the kidneys). I noticed that when I went gluten free they almost went away. I also noticed if I were to get one of those painful episodes it was always around if I got glutened by something. So since I don't have health insurance I never went to the doctor for it. I finally went the other day because I had a really really really ext... painful episode for about 5 hours. The doctor felt around and said that he felt a mass on my right kidney and he also found blood in my urine. I had a CT scan today and the doctor called me to tell me he was stumped. Everything came back fine, there was nothing abnormal about the scan, he has no idea what is wrong with me. I mentioned to him I believe I have Celiac Disease so he said that it could be causing pain and that when my insurance starts next month to go to a Gastroenterologist. So my question to everyone is... Does anyone know if Celiac can cause kidney problems? And how would the doctor figure it out if I am gluten free? I would hope he wouldn't have to gluten me to figure it out...

[ravenwoodglass]

I have the same issues with the kidneys that you describe. As long as I stay away from gluten I am pain and bleeding free. Can't say it will be the same for you. If you want a diagnosis of celiac from the GI you need to go back on gluten for a couple of months. If you just can't stand the pain of that then keep in mind we don't need a doctors permission to be gluten free.

[scuzy]

I have the same issues with the kidneys that you describe. As long as I stay away from gluten I am pain and bleeding free. Can't say it will be the same for you. If you want a diagnosis of celiac from the GI you need to go back on gluten for a couple of months. If you just can't stand the pain of that then keep in mind we don't need a doctors permission to be gluten free.

True. But is it possible that the gluten has damaged them somehow? And that it could have caused some other medical condition that we should know about? I mean kidneys are very important.

[ravenwoodglass]

True. But is it possible that the gluten has damaged them somehow? And that it could have caused some other medical condition that we should know about? I mean kidneys are very important.

If you are continueing to have pain and blood in your urine and possible problems with your kidney that are concerning you then it might be a good idea to see a nephrologist. They specialize in kidney issues. If your symptoms have been relieved with the diet then IMHO it would be counterproductive to gluten yourself for the 2 or 3 months it would take to see a GI and possibly end up still with a false negative on celiac testing.