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I'm 43 years old and only the past 2 years have been horrible. I always had bouts of constipation, but that's it. I'm pretty athletic and usually have more energy than my kids. This all changed a couple years ago. My constipation got worse, I got severe stomach aches, and I felt a burning sensation in my intestines. Sometimes I couldn't even ride my bicycle it hurt so bad. I also have acid reflux and take meds for that. Fatigue is my newest symptom, along with numbness in my arms. Some days I can't move which is annoying because I've always been so active. Through trial and error, I decided to cut out gluten. Nearly all of my symptoms are gone except for the lingering fatigue. I think I am on to something. I've got my first GI appt tomorrow, but was curious if anyone has experienced anything similar to what I've described. Also, is it odd this is happening in my 40s? Why did I not feel so bad in my 20s or 30s?

I was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease six months ago at the age of 35. Five years ago (at age 30), I fell ill for days with flu-like symptoms and abdominal pain. My doctor's office did a blood test and sent me to the hospital where I underwent emergency surgery for "perforated diverticulitis". Until this point, I had always considered myself healthy. I am a non-smoker. I was 5'7", 145 lbs. I wasn't aware I had diverticulitis. Apparently it was so bad that it had burst open. My surgeon told me if I had waited 24 hours to seek medical attention, I would have likely died. Very scary. He also told me that this kind of illness at my age was extremely rare. This is the type of thing that they see in people over 80. I had to have 1.5 feet of large colon removed. I wore a colostomy bag for 3 months while I healed and I was able to have the reversal surgery after that. Following the surgeries, I've had a lot of digestive problems. I saw many specialists who told me it was anxiety that induced my symptoms. Finally I went to a new GI who found the celiac disease. After my endoscopy, he told me it was advanced. I know celiac is supposed to attack the small intestines, but I am curious to know if there is a link to large bowel issues as well. Has anyone had a similar experience? Or able to shed any light on this? I also have: Fibromyalgia Shadow block migraines bulging discs scoliosis acid reflux Chronic nausea peripheral neuropathy memory issues Chronic ear pain swollen lump under left ear (for two years) reynauds syndrome (all of which began after my surgeries) The only thing that appeared to get better after beginning a strict gluten free diet, is the acid reflux and chronic nausea. Everything else has gotten a lot worse.

Hi All, I was diagnosed with celiac about 4 months ago and am having persisting symptoms. I'm looking for some advice. Since January of this year I was having gastrological symptoms (sharp abdominal pain after consuming gluten or acidic foods, constipation, acid reflux, bloating, mild weight gain). Throughout the year I noticed other symptoms like face puffiness, especially around my eyes, mouth, and under my chin. I went gluten free in June because I realized it alleviated some intestinal symptoms. They tried to give me omeprazole for the acid reflux but it made me very nauseous so I stopped. I also found out I was anemic and began taking iron supplements. In August I went back on a gluten diet for two weeks in order to have the celiac blood test, which came back positive. The next available appointment for an endoscopy/biopsy wasn't until November and my doctor said I could remain gluten-free because it would put me in too much pain, but that it may cause a false negative in the biopsy. So I decided to act as if I had celiac-- I stuck to a VERY strict gluten-free diet and started to really pay attention to cross-contamination. I got all new cookware, etc. However, at that point a whole host of other symptoms began, mostly neurological. I started getting debilitating brain fog (like I couldn't think clearly at all, couldn't pay attention, felt brain dead), my anxiety and depression went through the roof, I felt dizzy constantly (like the room was spinning), headaches, fatigue. The intestinal symptoms got better-- no more sharp pain, no acid reflux unless I got gluten sick, less bloating. My skin and face also began to suffer-- it started looking dull and sagging like I was aging (I'm 24 and otherwise healthy), acne got worse, my face was more swelled than before, my eyelids started drooping (the left one droops all the way to my eyelashes). But the neurological symptoms were the most difficult to endure because it made functioning in daily life almost impossible. I suspected a thyroid issue and got that tested but the results were normal. I finally had my endoscopy and the biopsy results were negative other than some "mild chronic inflammation." Slowly over the course of 4 months there has been some improvement (my face looks less puffy some days/acne has cleared up), my dizziness is better but still persistent, my brain is still foggy but better than before. My first clue to getting gluten cross-contaminated is a bout of dizziness followed by a panic attack and acid reflux, constipation the next day, and pretty bad brain fog for a few days until I level off. I have little to no other gastrological symptoms. Despite being better than before, I still haven't felt "normal" in 4 months since August. I had been feeling like I was improving slightly but recently I feel like it's leveling off and I'm stuck at this half-sick stage. I am very strict with my eating habits and I eat mostly vegetables and meat. I exercise multiple days a week. I don't understand why these neurological symptoms came on so suddenly when I had already been on a gluten-free diet for a few months... I don't understand why I'm not getting better. When I consulted my doctor about this she said I might be having physical manifestations of anxiety/depression (since they came on so quickly after I was formally diagnosed and that could've triggered it). But I feel like there is more going on in my body. I just want to feel like a normally functioning human again. So I'm asking for some advice on what to do next? Why am I not improving? Do I just need to give it more time? Any other tests I could be taking to see if something else is going on? My doctors have been so unhelpful. Thank you!

Hi guys. I've had three blood tests for celiac, all negative, and one biopsy that I'm still waiting for the results of. I have a lot of the symptoms, and my body has been breaking down and getting sicker over the past year. I have gut pain, constipation, piles, sometimes loose stools, gas, muscle pain, bone pain, a fuzzy/light head, noise and light sensitivity, bleeding gums and mouth ulcers. But the worst is chronic acid reflux, which has been resistant to treatment. The endoscopy I had on April 30th found a hiatal hernia, which I didn't have when I had my first endoscopy in 2015. The area was full of acid and bile, which I have always been able to feel, 24/7. For the last 6+ years I've been on the IBS and the acid reflux diet. No FODMAPS (which seems to be everything), and nothing with acid in, like citric acid. I've decided to go gluten-free now, without waiting for my results, and my father has just found out that his last blood test had raised transglutaminase and was "strongly suggestive of coeliac," which has motivated me even more. But finding gluten-free alternatives is proving difficult, especially bread. The problem isn't so much taste, as acid and IBS triggers in the ingredients. All the gluten-free breads I can find contain acids like citric acid, honey, vinegar, and apple, and others contain possible IBS triggers like bamboo fibre (?) and Quinoa, which the jury seems to be out on in regards to IBS. I suspect I have to continue avoiding these ingredients as my gut is very painful and sensitive, and I'm worried about worsening gut symptoms instead of healing. Are these ingredients actually safe when the problem is (or could be) gluten? Or do they tear through the gut if the gut is damaged? I wouldn't bother with bread, but I'm 10 pounds underweight and I get a lot of flak about it, and honestly I've been getting most of my calories through bread, and don't know how to get calories without it. There is so much food I have to avoid, if not "IBS" triggers, then acidic foods. I won't touch something acidic with a barge pole! I don't really know what my question is, I feel stumped here! But any ideas would be much appreciated. Also, I live in the UK, so some brands aren't available here. I wondered if supermarket-own gluten-free bread is OK for celiacs, as although it has the crossed grain symbol, isn't it manufactured in the same place, and therefore possibly contaminated? I thought I had this gluten-free-thing figured out months in advance (I've done a lot of reading since my doctor suggested celiac last year), but turns out, I haven't the foggiest what to do. I'm thinking of quitting food, to be honest with you. Thanks for any replies!?

Hello all, So, long story short, in 2011 I started getting really really sick, with no discernible cause. Violent vomiting daily, rapid weight gain (40 pounds in one month) unbelievable exhaustion, depression, social anxiety to the point of not being able to leave the house, hives, acne, rashes, brain fog, and my LEAST favorite, the all-over bruised body feeling you get when you have the flu (that horrible bone deep aching that makes it uncomfortable to move at all, and any clothing touching you hurts.) Oh, and monstrous swelling of my face and stomach. I wound up figuring out through elimination of certain things in my diet that what was doing it was gluten and dairy. So, over the years I've cut them out (at first, after I cut them out, I was still getting horrendously sick, just less often and it took me too long to realize CROSS CONTAMINATION WAS A THING) So fast forward to now, I'm able to function like a human again by being INCREDIBLY strict with my diet and making almost all of my food myself and NEVER taking any chances with anything that was "processed in the same facility with..." etc etc I've also recently started going back to school, which means I have to be EXTRA careful, or I won't be able to attend classes or study because my brain, and my body just don't function when I've been exposed. However, I've always been a do it yourself girl, so after having endoscopies and colonoscopies years ago, and having a doctor tell me I had "acid reflux" (way to diagnose the symptom, not the cause, ya jerk) and having no doctors know why I was getting so sick, and eventually figuring it out myself, I never was tested for Celiac's Disease. So obviously, I'm scarred for life, and terrified to death of gluten and I was wondering; does anyone know of some way that I could be tested for it WITHOUT exposing myself to it? Thank you so much in advance

Hi there! I am looking for insight from anyone that may have insight on what is going on in my body. I have had 6 years of fuzzy head and GI issues (bloating, constipation, nausea, pain, discomfort). I cut out gluten 3 years ago. Then did a IgG mediated food allergy test with a holistic doctor and did a food elimination diet based on those results. So I now avoid dairy and gluten and tomato. I notice i have flare ups when I consume corn so I am trying to be more strict about it lately but I get a week long of nausea/heartburn/acid reflux when i do eat it. I also started following a low fodmap diet a few months ago due to still not feeling great and when I follow all of these things (gluten free, dairy free, corn free, low fodmap) I feel the best I ever have, although it is very hard to sustain. Also, i still have random spouts of horrible heart burn and nausea occasionally and cannot pinpoint it. I also am on a PPI for this. I have had a hydrogen breath test in 2015 and it was negative. I also have had multiple EGD's and Colonoscopies that have been unrevealing besides a stomach ulcer which is now healed and some esophagus irritation most recently. I am now scared of eating so many foods because I have had so many days of not feeling right. I have considered getting more strict on the corn restriction or maybe considering nightshade free because I am not sure what to do/if Fodmap is really helping since it isnt all the time and I am stressed about what I can even eat anymore. Any suggestions or thoughts are appreciated! Thanks in advanced, Sara

I am posting this on behalf of my wife who has had Celiac for several years now (or rather, more likely non-celiac gluten sensitivity). She has gotten very, very good at not getting contaminated, as she is EXTREMELY sensitive to gluten. However, when she DOES get contaminated, she suffers from terrible acid reflux and GERD for 6-7 weeks post-contamination. I have a couple questions. First, does anyone else here experience this length of symptoms post-contamination? Second, does anyone have any recommendations of anything she can try to reduce the gerd/reflux during her 6-7 week recovery period (we have tried DGL and a few other things, and nothing seems to do a whole lot of good). Any help/advice appreciated. Noel