Does this sound like Coeliac Disease?

[ShortyShortLegs]

I'm not sure if I have worsening IBS symptoms or something else....if anyone could have a read and give me opinions I would be very grateful :)

I've always suffered with indigestion/heartburn/constipation (since childhood, now 38) it got worse and about 8/9 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS (GP sent me for a scan to rule out gall stones first) and having been taking Buscopan and Omeprazole ever since.

Last December I was found to be B12 deficient so started a course of injections, but I was allergic to them so couldn't finish the course. I was given penicillin and steroids, but had an allergic reaction to the penicillin, so had a course of erythromycin which was fine but I have since reacted to.

I am also allergic to fish, shellfish, most fruits, latex, washing powders, perfumes, statins, several blood pressure medicines, Metformin, metals and have hayfever.
I have asthma and Type 2 Diabetes.

Since having the B12 reaction I have been having lots of allergic reactions and mystery rashes as though my skin has got even more sensitive than before.

But, the worst part is that my IBS seems to have gone totally opposite - instead of the constipation I now have horrendous diarrhoea and am living on Immodium.

Sorry for Too Much Information: I have awful cramping stomach pains, hot and cold sweats, nausea, sometimes vomiting, and then diarrhoea which is mainly pale/yellow and can be almost frothy and or mucousy (sorry). And there is so much of it, I am not over-eating, but I am going to toilet 3-4 times most days, up to 8 times on a bad day or if I don't take Immodium. I have awful wind, bloating, really fast bowel transit, tender stomach in the centre just below the middle of my ribs, lower back pain most days. I also get terrible pain in my lower stomach on the left side, but I have a piece of mesh stuck to my bowel from a failed hernia repair, adhesions and scar tissue, plus muscle and nerve damage from the op to fix it, so have lower stomach pains anyway, I think this diarrhoea and cramping is just aggravating that, and I feel like my stomach is being ripped apart. And my bottom is so sore thank goodness for Sudocreme!

Yesterday I cooked spaghetti bolognaise and within two hours I was in the bathroom with diarrhoea, nausea, hot sweats, cramps, 30 minutes later everything has left my system and I feel drained.

I feel as though I have a stomach bug or food poisoning most of the time, but I do all the cooking and five other people are eating the same food as me without symptoms! After the episodes I feel washed out, legs feel shaky, tender stomach, exhausted, just like with a stomach bug.

I am also suffering with recurrent thrush after every period for most of this year, so will be visiting GP about that, again. I have very long, heavy periods and am hoping for a hysterectomy.

The last 12-18 months I have had water retention in my feet/ankles/legs and can no longer wear socks...never had that before, but could be old age I suppose!

No-one in my family has Coeliacs, but my nan had B12 deficiency, frequent indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and hiatus hernia. My mum has H-Pylori, constipation, gallstones and indigestion, both my brothers get frequent indigestion and heartburn.

I am wondering if it is worth asking the GP for a blood test, or is this just worsening/different IBS symptoms.....or maybe another food allergy that I haven't worked out yet! (all of my food allergies give me a rash/hives/itching as well as diarrhoea)

Any ideas?
TIA

Have a google of the FODMAP diet for managing ibs thtough diet.There is also a very good book and cookbook you can buy.

I don't stick to it 100% but I've had noticeable improvement. The trick i find to avoiding wheat is to not try and replace it - so rather than sandwiches at lunch have salad with rice or potatoes.

I took Years for them to diagnose my crohns disease so you may need colonoscopy etc. Hope you get to the 'bottom ' of it soon..... :)

Poor you OP - sounds like you've had a tough time.

Celiac disease is hard to diagnose and many get false negative. I've read that a lot of people are sensitive and not just to wheat but grains in general. Humans aren't supposed to eat grains in large quantities. Nightshades (tomato, pepper, white potato) are also common food sensitivities for people with gastrointestinal disorders.

I've just finished reading 'Practical Paleo' by Diane Sanfillipo. I can highly recommend it - might be worth giving a paleo or elimination diet like Whole30 a try to see if it improves things.

Also - as a frequent heartburn sufferer (over 15 years of misery) I finally found relief with Apple Cider Vinegar 1-2 tablespoons in half a glass of water. It actually works. Read up on low stomach acid and heartburn.

Consider an alternative approach with your diet. The medical profession (in my experience) aren't very helpful with this sort of thing.

Shortie, I am one of the 'hidden' coeliacs the stats are 1in 9 if your gp didnt check for immuno deficiency he cannot know if you have a false negative as we cannot express the antibodies

When I eventually saw my gastro I was approaching death! With all the facts he realised that I was one of the hidden ones and an extremely severe coeliac

You have 3 choices now,

1 trust blindly and run the risk that they are wrong
2 Insist on a gastro referral which I would do
3 do your own thing and go gf, see if it helps and then you will know

Baking wise dont bother, I tried making bread it was yuk Asda own brand is ok and we like udi's tiger loaf glutafin fresh bread is our fave and weve tried many

If youre anywhere near Liverpool the allergy show is on this weekend and its jam packed full of tasting opportunities free tickets on line

Sorry not to have come back to this thread....hectic week, plus son's birthday!

Schrodingersmum - I have a gastro referral now, and won't be fobbed off ;) The nurse showed me the test results screen which said 3% of people would not have the antibodies, although the doctor did not mention it...I've said even if it is not CD, there must be something wrong with my stomach which I wanted to be investigated because I can't go on like this indefinitely.

I have decided to try going gluten free for a while and see if I am better. Today was my first day, I've had scrambled egg for breakfast, jacket potato, cheese and salad for dinner, some strawberries for tea and some chocolate for a treat....so far so good!

No bloated 6 months pregnant stomach, no indigestion, no wind, no running to the toilet after dinner, no nausea - I know this could well be all in the mind, or a fluke, so I am trying to keep neutral, but I already feel so much better than I have done in the last few days, so fingers crossed.

Just bare in mind that sometimes a few days in you can have withdrawal symptoms as your body realises you have removed gluten. I felt like I was dying for 3 days headache/ sick etc but afterwards was amazing, good luck

Schrodingersmum you were spot on...thumping headache yesterday and this morning!

I am feeling great apart from that, more energy, no stomach cramps, etc. And my blood sugar has levelled out and is lower than it has been for months (I've been struggling to get control, but not because of poor diet) so am going to carry on GF for a while.
I'll probably then eat some bread, etc. to see if it triggers the upset stomach again.

I had blood tests done last week, LFT and plasma viscosity are abnormal, as are some others, so need to see GP again. I Googled, both suggest inflammation so not sure why, my kidneys are always leaking protein so that was probably the other abnormal one!

I was like that for years, ask to have your B12 and folate levels checked as when these start to fall due to malabsorption you secrete a protein which name I cant remember this morning, this particular protein is associated with gall stones etc

Dont try gluten for at least 2 months as your body needs to forget gluten to react to it

Thanks, I'll look up that protein and ask if they tested for it.

GP has said plasma viscosity means infection somewhere in body, but as I have no obvious infection I have to repeat test in one week. Not sure if I should go back to eating gluten for that test....I really don't want to, feeling so much better.

Got emergency Diabetes appointment for early next week too, because my sugars levels are so high (hb1ac is 61mmol/10%)....should be 48mmol, and hasn't been this bad since diagnosis three years ago.

I have been telling them I can't get control...I think the diarrhoea is not giving the tablets time to work maybe as I am not eating any differently.

Also managed to get a referral to an allergy clinic at long last! I think the GP is getting a bit because I've had allergic reactions to three types of blood pressure pills now as well as everything else, and still itching despite being on max dose of anti-histamines.

Just a further thought for you, certain diabetes medication like metformin reduce your ability to absorb B12 which could explain certain things, the protein can be checked for with a urine test

Stay off the gluten, you may find that your blood tests have improved already and inflammatory markers are improving (if they do an ESR)

The allergic responses are your body shouting that there is a problem with your immune system and as you already have one auto immune condition you are highly likely to have others