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Can Getting Glutened Trigger A Gallbladder Attack?

MitziG

By MitziG
in Related Issues & Disorders

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MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted

What I initially thought was a glutening incident last night, got much, much worse over a few hours. Horrible knife like pains between my shoulder blades and under my rib cage, right side. Quite certain it was a gallbladder attack as I had a few several years ago- and then the drs decided my gallbladder was just fine and sent me home...but I digress.

Anyway, I haven't had any in years and am really surprised that when i have been feeling so well (been gluten free for 10 mos since celiac DX) that I would suddenly get one out of the blue.

If I was glutened, I dont know what from. Had pot roast and potatoes and carrots for dinner, nothing out of the ordinary (tho I realize red meat is hard on gallbladder, but like I said, I haven't had nay gallbladder issues in years)

So, any ideas what might bring it on? Could a random glutening have triggered it? I am much better today, but still having pain in back and under ribs, just not agonizing. No solid food today, just apple cider vinegar all day- that has helped the pain alot. Going to try a cleanse this weekend. Anyone had success with those?

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I have had gallbladder attacks when glutened. It is very painful and thankfully haven't had one in years. IMHO doing a cleanse is not a real good idea. If the pain continues please contact your doctor as there are many things that may cause that type of pain.

butterfl8 Rookie
butterfl8
Posted

That sounds like gallbladder evil-ness to me. Do you get other symptoms from gluten? Fatigue, muscle aches? Did you have those symptoms this time?

After 2 years gluten free, my gallbladder (all of a sudden) went out of control pain-wise. Hadn't really had a problem with it before, but never ate a high fat diet. This was caused by the fat from hamburger patties from Omaha Steak Co. Eating a NO fat diet kept me pain-free/reduced, but that is VERY bad for anyone, nutrition wise. My gallbladder was removed just before Thanksgiving, and I feel a million times better.

I would say for sure see your Dr. You don't want this to get worse!

-Daisy

MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted
  • Author

That sounds like gallbladder evil-ness to me. Do you get other symptoms from gluten? Fatigue, muscle aches? Did you have those symptoms this time?

After 2 years gluten free, my gallbladder (all of a sudden) went out of control pain-wise. Hadn't really had a problem with it before, but never ate a high fat diet. This was caused by the fat from hamburger patties from Omaha Steak Co. Eating a NO fat diet kept me pain-free/reduced, but that is VERY bad for anyone, nutrition wise. My gallbladder was removed just before Thanksgiving, and I feel a million times better.

I would say for sure see your Dr. You don't want this to get worse!

-Daisy

With minute amounts of gluten, like from CC, I generally get nausea and the big D within minutes and then for the next week or so I have a flare of my interstitial cystitis and I just feel tired and crummy altogether. On the one occasion I actually cheated and ingested REAL gluten(crab rangoons)- I started throwing up about an hour later. (That was around month 6 gluten free, havent cheated since!)

So, this doesnt feel like glutening anymore. The attack was Thursday night. Today (Saturday) I still have steady gnawing pain in the top middle of my stomach, right under ribs, slightly worse on the right side. Constant dull ache between my shoulder blades. No more attacks though, but I have not eaten anything except some applesauce and a little bit of hot rice cereal with honey. Eating doesnt make the pain increase at all. When I have been lying down for several hours without moving, the pain almost disappears. As soon as I get up, or even if I roll over in bed, it starts again. I have an appt with a new dr on Friday (heard through the grapevine that she was very good and knowledgeable about celiac, keeping fingers crossed!) for thyroid test and Celiac follow up bloodwork, and I am hoping to last until then as she is in Haiti right now and I dont want to see any of the other moron doctors around here! The more I am reading about cleanses, the more they scare me. I do NOT want to trigger another attack! Maybe if I just dont eat or move for a week I will make it?...BTW, I love your dog? Bird? Dird? lol

Bubba's Mom Enthusiast
Bubba's Mom
Posted

It's possible you could have a stone that moved and blocked a bile duct causing the pain? They can move around and may not cause symptoms when in a centered position, or it could be that it's not squeezing the bile out like it should?

A lot of Celiacs have gallbladder problems. I'm dealing with one that has a slowed function found through a HIDA scan, and I'm hoping it will improve on the gluten-free diet.

I was advised to consult a surgeon about having it removed. My thought was that 30% function is better than 0%, which I would have if it were removed? I have gallbladder pain and sometimes nausea with it. My Dr. agreed that it's possible that it could get better. He said the use of PPI medications can help to cause slow function too. I was advised to stop taking mine for a bit to see how I do.

I had an ultrasound done a 1 1/2years ago, which showed no stones. I continued to have GB symptoms though. My Dr. didn't order a HIDA scan. He told me there was nothing wrong with me. If he had ordered the test back then, it would have shown what the real problem was.

Stay on top of this. It could be something else other than gallbladder. An inflamed intestine can cause that sort of pain too.

faithforlife Apprentice
faithforlife
Posted

I'm having the same pains. I see my doc tomorrow. It's been a week now. It hurts to laugh and yawn and roll over. I was under some stress though so am wondering if it's an ulcer.

  • 9 months later...
callen13 Newbie
callen13
Posted

You weren't necessarily glutened, the fact that you have only been gluten-free for 10 months, it's possible that you still aren't completely healed. It can take up to 3 years before your duodenum is back to normal. Your duodenum sends the hormone signal to your gallbladder when you eat fat to tell your gb to release the bile to digest the fat. Pot roast can be a heavy fatty meal so your intestine probably didn't signal enough hormone to make your gb make enough bile, therefore the bile piles up in your gb and you have an attack.

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NorthernElf Enthusiast
NorthernElf
Posted

I have been gluten free for about 11 years - a few years ago I had the whole gallbladder work up because of pain in that area - the doc said it was fine. Keep in mind I am not "officially diagnosed" with celiac because my original doc was an idiot. <_<

The doc I worked with on this said one can get localized infections in the intestinal tract....???....

It amazes me that after 11 years of being strictly gluten free a doc still doesn't seem to think you could be celiac. I had a neurologist tell me I should get retested - how ? There is absolutely no way I could eat gluten. ????

Anyway, I assume my pain was celiac related...just as I sometimes feel like I`m getting appendicitis ! My pains seem to be on my right side primarily, only occassionally on my left.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I want to say this not to scare you, but to make you aware. If the pain comes back severely, get to an ER! My celiac was diagnosed when my gallbladder was removed (SURPRISE!) so I can't say if gluten would have triggered an attack, although I can say it does trigger liver pain still. For me it was always fat. I had stones and one fully blocked a duct. The continuing pain is what I experienced and at this point with the continued liver pain it is suspected that I have permanent liver damage from them screwing off until Friday morning instead of doing something the Monday I was in the ER. But I digress, if it comes back badly get there and make sure they do blood work to test your liver enzymes. My doctor told me that a blocked duct can be so serious that it an lead to needing a liver transplant.

  • 2 weeks later...
MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted
  • Author

Funny you should post this now. Adelaide. My original post was back in January. They did an ultrasound then and found no stones and said I was fine. Now, just a few days ago (11 months later I guess) I had another attack, and spent the night and next day in hospital. They did a CT scan and found nothing. I was supposed to have a HIDA scan yesterday too, but it got rescheduled for next week now. I really hope it shows something as I do NOT want to go through this again!

frieze Community Regular
frieze
Posted

I just read that eggs, pork, and onions are common food allergens r/t "gallbladder attacks".....though any food can be suspect.

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

Psh, my gallbladder was working at 5% and dying. But noooo when i went to the E.R. the blood results were "FINE". ugh..... the same with ultrasounds. I am now a proud supporter of the HIDA scan. I was in sooooo much pain it hurt to move and all i did was crawl around the house.

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