Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Can Getting Glutened Trigger A Gallbladder Attack?

MitziG

By MitziG
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

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?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.