Anyone Have Thoughts On Celiac Abdominal Pain

[TTNOGluten]

throughout my posts I have experienced considerable pain from this, or what I think is this damn disease was really hoping to know if anyone else feels like this?

Have been gluten free now for 3 month, seems like a short period of time compared to many, but feels like an eternity when you are in pain everyday

My pain is constant, 24/7 pain almost regardless of what I eat, it is always in upper belly and feels so raw/hollow/gnawing and inflamed like, actually sometimes temporarily feels better when I eat at least for a short period of time, but then comes back, I have a constant ache straight through in my midback and right flank, shoulder blade area, that is dull and achey like a bad toothache??? I have to burp alot, and I meal alot, with alot of gas pressure, even from so much as a sip of water. Never have I had any diarrhea, stools have been relatively normal??

Anyone else expericience anything like this, the back pain is a bear, thinking more and more about getting my gallbladder out, it has polyps but otherwise looked OK, just flat out desperate, docs told me they have no idea why I hurt in my back like this, yet my back is fine by MRI

[RiceGuy]

Although your descriptions seem a bit different from the pains I had, there is certainly some similarity. What helped me may help you. It certainly cannot hurt. In short, I started taking magnesium, and a sublingual methylcobalamin (specific form of B12) tablet 5mg per day. I also eliminated all nightshade foods from my diet. These steps resolved the pains very quickly, and it has never returned.

Start the magnesium at a low dose, such as 200mg per day, and gradually increase by 100mg every 5 days or so. Too much will have a stool softening effect, at which point you can reduce it to a level which is comfortable for you. The form of magnesium you select can have a significant impact on how well it works for you. Some people prefer one over another. Some are better absorbed than others. Magnesium citrate is fairly effective, and low cost. Especially if you buy it in powdered form. It mixes with citrus fruit juices better than non-acidic juices.

You may also find a strong co-enzyme B-complex supplement helpful. There are many on the market to choose from. Make sure it doesn't contain offending ingredients. Source Naturals and NOW Foods are generally good about labeling.

Vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 may also help you, as many on this board have found them helpful.

[ravenwoodglass]

Have you ruled out other intolerances? For me soy causes a pain like what you describe. Are you eating mostly whole foods and cutting out any CC risk? Have you checked all your supplements and all drugs and toiletries?

[lynnelise]

Have you had a HIDA scan on your gallbladder? Sometimes you may be free of gallstones but still have a non-functioning gallbladder.

Have you had an EGD to look for ulcers or gastritis? Both can cause a gnawing/burning pain, especially when you are hungry.

[TTNOGluten]

I am as religious as possible about cross contamination and primarily try to avoid most of all processed foods even if they say gluten free. I have had 3 EGD's in 4 months, which revealed minimal gastritis and only mild inflammation by biopsy in my doudenum, and actually my celiac labs TTG has normalized from 29 down to 3. I did have a u/s of my gallbladder which they found to be slightly contracted with multiple small polyps, but no stones, my HIDA was normal but I know these are not all that reliable. One of the things the docs have talked about is the possiblility of this being gallbladder, but none of them can conclusively say yes or no, however it is getting to the point where I might go and get it out, as something has got to give soon, this is just getting to difficult to manage.

[beebs]

That sounds EXACTLY like when i had my stomach ulcers. Like a gnawing pain - like a mouse eating away at my stomach or something, temporarily relieved by eating and then back again all the time, excessive belching etc. My ulcers were cause by acid/GERD which was caused by gluten. If it is that you need to see your Dr asap. Tell him/her you are in pain and that it relieves a bit when you eat.