Is an allergy causing my joint pain and tummy issues? Please help.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago as I was alternating constipation and diarrhoea, and have managed it since with a high fibre diet. Over the years I've cut out white bread, white rice, and white pasta, until I reintroduced during pregnancy in 2013 and was fine. I seemed fine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

During this time I've found things that give me a funny reaction - pizza, samosas from my local Asian supermarket, malt loaf, shop brought naan bread, things like that. Very wheats beer is also a problem. I'd narrowed it down to probably being some sort of preservative used in things that are part baked or produced cheaply, so I just avoid those things and have been ok.

The reaction is achey joints, feeling fluey (including feverish shakes), and then constipation/brick in stomach feeling for a couple of days. Ginger tea and ibuprofen seems to help. It doesn't sound like much but I have to retire to bed when it takes hold - the achey joints are like waves of a feeling that makes me feel almost seasick.

DD3 is 10 weeks, and I've had two episodes of this in the last fortnight. No idea what the trigger could be, or why exclusive breastfeeding isn't protecting me this time.

I'm absolutely fine with brown bread, homemade or shop/Cafe bought cakes and biscuits (except fondant fancies - I get a funny crash after eating those, presumably from the sugars and colouring?), and since DD2 was born have kept eating white rice, white pasta and noodles with no issue.

I'm worried that if I see the GP they'll just tell me to avoid processed food (I have 3 kids under 5 and a teenager - I need to be realistic!). I've heard that online allergy testing is inaccurate and costly.

Any thoughts? I'd be very grateful for any ideas or insight. After reading this board quickly today I've read about FODMAP but I eat lots of those things regularly and have no issue.

Thanks for getting this far!

Have you looked at cutting out dairy? It really isn’t good for you at all, have a google about the bad side effects

www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/side-effects-of-consuming-too-much-dairy-protein/

I think I'd like some evidence that was the issue before I did something that drastic tbh.

Have you been tested for coeliac disease? All of your symptoms fit. Agree don’t things out randomly, especially if tgere’s Potentially an underlying immune issue

I haven't been tested, but wouldn't it show up in everything I ate that had gluten in?

Not necessarily. It’s a weird immune response so Is subject to many variables and if you’re chronically gluten exposed you’ll be having a chronic immune response with intermittent flare ups. Plus the damage to your intestines over time means that you can develop additional issues such as bile acid malabsorption or b12 deficiency which complicate the clinical signs further.
Check out the coeliac uk website and get tested

Thanks all. I've made an appointment with the GP. I'll report back in 3 weeks ...

Before I was diagnosed with coeliac disease my main symptom was joint pain and swelling. And as gluten is in so many things, plus the reaction takes a while to develop, its really hard to pin down

That's really interesting - thanks CMOT. Are you symptoms better since going gluten free?

20 years gluten free now! Within a week of going gf I could move better than I had in a year, and it was amazing. I also realised that my skin rash and mouth ulcers went away, and as long as I am strictly GF, I'm great

I get joint pain from gluten, along with diarreah and sudden weight gain. I've decided not to be tested for coeliac as I have been told I would have to eat gluten for 6 weeks before they would test me, and I'm not willing to do that.

I have for the last few years mostly cut out gluten, and have noticed if I decide to eat something with gluten in my symptoms come back really quickly.

I also avoid too much dairy due to inflammation. Same with grains (rice, couscous etc).

Personally if I were you I'd try eliminating all gluten for a few weeks and see how you feel. Then if that doesn't make a difference, eliminate dairy.

Hope you get to the bottom of it

Quick update - I saw the GP today (who was lovely!). I'm having blood tests for coeliac and thyroid on Friday and if they're clear we'll talk about management of symptoms from an IBS perspective.

Another update ... following a minor muck up with what they were actually testing for, I've finally had my results which are clear for thyroid issues, coeliac, liver function, iron levels and some other stuff I didn't understand.

I think the next step is a referral to gastro specialists. No idea what they will mean!

Just updating/bumping. I've got my referral to see a gastro consultant. From my notes, he thinks IBS. I think I'm having non-IGE allergic reactions to something.

We shall see ...