Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Is Extreme, Sudden Abdominal Bloating Part Of Celiac?

ksangie

Recommended Posts

ksangie Rookie
ksangie
Posted

A little background:

I was diagnosed with IBS and fibro back in 2006 due to mysterious pains and consitpation. They tested my EMA and it was negative, so no further tests were done. A (highly regarded) doctor from a university research hospital said it couldn't possibly be celiac and that test is accurate unless there is an IGA deficiency which he claimed I obviously didn't have due to my otherwise good health.

Fast forward to late 2009. I started having extreme joint pain in my feet, then my hands, then my other joints. They tested for RA and lupus, both negative. Then the really strange thing happened in January. My stomach swelled so that my waist is 5 inches larger than it used to be. I was totally poopooed for worrying about this by my PCP because I'm just 6 months past having a baby. I tried to tell him I'd regained my figure already, but he wouldn't listen. Anyway, my stomach swelled and has yet to go down.

Got a new PCP and he ran a celiac panel. My IGG was literally off the charts, my IGA was literally below the charts (IGA deficient?) and my EMA was negative. Awaiting my biopsy on Friday and the results of that next week.

Okay, to make a long question much shorter... Has anyone had extreme and sudden stomach bloating that has gone down after going on a gluten-free diet? I'm just praying this is related to Celiac and easily solved. I've yet to get a diagnosis of Celiac, but I'm actually hoping to.

Thanks for reading/ answering.

Angie

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted

Angie,

I am one of the few strange ones who never had bloating before going gluten free, I think it's because nothing stayed in me long enough to cause bloat.

When I first went gluten-free, it took a while for my body to figure out how to process everything, and I literally looked 8 months preggers :blink:

Now, if I get accidentally glutened or get cc, BOOM , massive bloating.

Regardless of your biopsy result, you could probalby benefit greatly by the diet. Testing isn't foolproof, and gluten intolerance will not show up on any test, only Celiac.

A strict dietary trial would probably give you a "firm" dx.

Janie

bekkaz Apprentice
bekkaz
Posted

A little background:

I was diagnosed with IBS and fibro back in 2006 due to mysterious pains and consitpation. They tested my EMA and it was negative, so no further tests were done. A (highly regarded) doctor from a university research hospital said it couldn't possibly be celiac and that test is accurate unless there is an IGA deficiency which he claimed I obviously didn't have due to my otherwise good health.

Fast forward to late 2009. I started having extreme joint pain in my feet, then my hands, then my other joints. They tested for RA and lupus, both negative. Then the really strange thing happened in January. My stomach swelled so that my waist is 5 inches larger than it used to be. I was totally poopooed for worrying about this by my PCP because I'm just 6 months past having a baby. I tried to tell him I'd regained my figure already, but he wouldn't listen. Anyway, my stomach swelled and has yet to go down.

Got a new PCP and he ran a celiac panel. My IGG was literally off the charts, my IGA was literally below the charts (IGA deficient?) and my EMA was negative. Awaiting my biopsy on Friday and the results of that next week.

Okay, to make a long question much shorter... Has anyone had extreme and sudden stomach bloating that has gone down after going on a gluten-free diet? I'm just praying this is related to Celiac and easily solved. I've yet to get a diagnosis of Celiac, but I'm actually hoping to.

Thanks for reading/ answering.

Angie

I am wondering the same thing Angie. I also get very bloated right after eating and also get a little cough for about 10 mins. or so. I had a baby 7 months ago. I sound just about like I could have written your post!

boysmom Explorer
boysmom
Posted

Yep, sounds about right to me. In my case, my tummy just never returned to normal after my 4th baby, which I attributed to it being my 4th baby ;). However, I had finally begun to suspect something wasn't normal a few months before I went gluten-free and had measured myself to see whether it was all in my mind. I found that I could gain 2-5 inches on my waist just by eating a small meal. Once I finally discovered celiac disease and went gluten-free I lost 8 inches off my hips (measuring around my lower abs also) and 2 1/2 inches off my waist the first month!

OptimisticMom42 Apprentice
OptimisticMom42
Posted

I ate a dill pickle and a handfull of walnuts and swelled to about the 7 month size. Started forcing down the cherry juice/maple syrup/miralax tonic as soon as the itching started and today I'm tired but things are moving again. Not sure if it was the pickle or if the walnuts were CC'd. Anyhow my tummy will be flat again in about a week :angry: Hate it when this happens.

DoodleDog Apprentice
DoodleDog
Posted

bekkaz,

My symptoms are identical to yours! Fiannaly I don't feel crazy! I was diagnosed with IBS, symptoms exactly like yours when I was 17 now I am 38. My stomach pains are in the middle of my abs above belly button...so I question if IBS is a correct diagnosis for me. REgarding the belly, I am very thin and thought my belly was due to children. And this past year my belly has been swelling to look like 3-5 months preg. after I eat sometimes. In addition, I have been having joint pain and numbness in feet, hands and other joints. RA test came back negative as with other tests. I was not tested for celiac. Doc said no reason for my fatigue and etc... So I have gone gluten free for about 2 months with cheating about 3 times. For about 2 weeks I have been swelling up like a baloon! I must be getting gluten somewhere. But I can tell you when I first went gluten free, I was not sure what to eat so I ate rice and stuck to safe, boring food items ... the result... a flat belly! So maybe the same will be true for you.

newgfcali Rookie
newgfcali
Posted

Ditto what DoodleDog described. I'm pretty thin, but when I was eating gluten, I would blow up and look like I swallowed a bowling ball. Very uncomfortable. Now that I'm gluten-free, my abdomen is almost flat, even after I eat. The only difference from what you're describing, Angie, is my belly would go down in size overnight, then blow up again the next day after eating gluten.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ksangie Rookie
ksangie
Posted
  • Author

Ditto what DoodleDog described. I'm pretty thin, but when I was eating gluten, I would blow up and look like I swallowed a bowling ball. Very uncomfortable. Now that I'm gluten-free, my abdomen is almost flat, even after I eat. The only difference from what you're describing, Angie, is my belly would go down in size overnight, then blow up again the next day after eating gluten.

My belly actually does get a bit smaller overnight and I just experienced it going down even further after fasting for yesterday's edoscopy (by about 3 inches.) Here's to hoping this is it and the biopsies come back positive!

CecilyF Rookie
CecilyF
Posted

My belly actually does get a bit smaller overnight and I just experienced it going down even further after fasting for yesterday's edoscopy (by about 3 inches.) Here's to hoping this is it and the biopsies come back positive!

CecilyF Rookie
CecilyF
Posted

I too have extreme bloating and the other symptoms you described. I went gluten-free December 7th and my bloating has been better, but I still cannot get into my pants. I've had NO weight loss whatsoever and am VERY discouraged. I feel 100 percent better. I also find that right before my cycle I get extremely bloated. I went back to my natural doc Monday, and he said my thyroid and hormones are out of whack too. Anyone have any wisdom or knowlege for me.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

It might be time for a visit to an endocrinologist. You need to get all your systems back into "whack" :)

Girrlock Newbie
Girrlock
Posted

Hi. Extreme bloating can be a symptom of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO.) SIBO is very common in people with Celiac disease. In fact one in ten people with Celiac also have SIBO.

Please review the relevant information on medicinenet: Open Original Shared Link

Its a great resource on SIBO. The treatment is completely different; and the diet, unfortunately is...stricter...than just going gluten-free. I have a SIBO; I made the mistake of eating at a gluten-free restaurant once and I got very bloated after!

For even more info, a recent Huff Post article called "All that Bloats is Not Celiac Disease" is helpful: Open Original Shared Link

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,199
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    johnkelley.kj
    Newest Member
    johnkelley.kj
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By trents · Posted

      Because you have significantly reduced your gluten intake over a considerable amount of time, it is likely that you will test negative on the antibody tests. However, if the $112 for the Quest test is not a burden, it wouldn't hurt to try. It tests for total IGA (to ascertain if you are IGA deficient) and tTG-IGA. If total IGA is deficient, it can result in false negatives in other IGA tests. The tTG-IGA is the single most popular test ordered by physicians. The Quest test is not a complete celiac panel by any means (refer to the linked article above) but it might be a good place to start. Personally, I think you know enough to conclude that you need to get serious about avoiding gluten, whether you have celiac disease or NCGS. Human nature being what it is, however, many people seem to need an official diagnosis of celiac disease in order to stay on the bandwagon. Otherwise, they seem to rationalize cheating on the gluten-free diet. And there is this misconception out there that NCGS is inconvenient and uncomfortable but not harmful so it's okay to cheat. The more we learn about gluten-related disorders the more they seem to not fit into our neat little black and white categories. By the way, celiac disease is not a food allergy. It is classified as an autoimmune disorder.
    • More2Learn
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By More2Learn · Posted

      These responses are all extremely helpful, ty.  Really good reminder about omega 6.  I also know I'm low in zinc; I took the zinc test where I drank it on a spoon and couldn't taste it.  To that end, I try to eat a lot of oysters.  I do think it would be a good idea to get the blood test.  Two questions: 1-  Is there any reason you wouldn't recommend that I just buy and take a test like this as a first step? 2- I've been somewhat gluten free since ~Jan 2023 (technically organic, gluten free, soy free, light on dairy).  I eat a lot of meat, vegetables, rice -- a common breakfast for me is three eggs and a sausage link, and I can't remember the last time I had a sandwich or bread.  However, because in my mind I didn't think I had an allergy, and I more was doing gluten free to avoid artificially iron-enriched foods, I do make exceptions.  I'll eat breaded calamari.  When my Dad visits, I split mozzarella sticks with him because he loves them so much.  I'll eat the "gluten sensitive" items at a restaurant and if they asked, "is cross contamination ok?",  I always said yes.  Based on that, since I never probably fully eliminated gluten, but it was significantly reduced... is that good enough to take the blood test?  Because the pain in my side gets SO bad (really sometimes I can't function, and I absolutely thought I was dying), I am hesitant to do the gluten challenge.  Would it make sense to take the test, and if it's negative, then consider doing the challenge and seeing if I can deal with eating the bread every day? Thanks again!
    • Yaya
      Muscle Twitching

      By Yaya · Posted

      For me, with osteoporosis, Celiac and more than 1 heart condition, the slower, safer route is preferable.  I'm on 5 meds per day.  Too much of anything can disturb absorption of this or that. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.  I'm gone for a few days.  
    • Wheatwacked
      Muscle Twitching

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      It took me 2015 to 2021 at 10,000 IU a day to get to 80 ng/ml. In 2019 I was still only 47 ng/ml The highest it has reached is 93.  Tested every 3 months.     While a one time massive dose can be used to quickly raise vitamin D levels, its effects only last three months.  Because vitamin D is stored in fat, an obese person would require more to raise blood level.     Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Volumetric Bone Density and Bone Strength   The point of higher vitamin D is for the mental health and immune system requirements.  Also this study included supplementing calcium.  "Research suggests that women with low levels of vitamin D have a higher risk of breast cancer. Vitamin D may play a role in controlling normal breast cell growth and may be able to stop breast cancer cells from growing." This information is provided by Breastcancer.org. https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/risk-factors/low-vitamin-d-levels Higher vitamin D levels have been consistently associated with reduced risks of colorectal cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/vitamin-d-fact-sheet  
    • RMJ
      Contaminated cooking oils

      By RMJ · Posted

      You can search here for certified gluten free olive oil GFCO productfinder
×
×
  • Create New...