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Going To Md Today, Asking About Celiac/gluten

sickoftummyaches

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sickoftummyaches Newbie
sickoftummyaches
Posted

Hello

I am new here, but so far have found the info fantastic.

I'm in my late 20's female. I began having stomach issues about 4 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child...with that pregnancy I'd have excessively LOUD and frequent stomach gurgling noises...almost sounded like a wounded animal! I had issues with alternating constipation + diarrhea + abdominal pain, excessive gas. I figured this is all the joys of pregnancy, until I had my daughter and it didn't go away!

This January I was dx with gallstones, so I had a lap chole and got that sucker out!

Now, here I am with the same issues :excessive gas, pain, distention (like looking 5 months pregnant), FATIGUE (so bad!), a couple days of feeling good and then back to tummy aching, constipation, then loose stools, pain, gas, loud bowel sounds etc.

I am actually headed to my internist in a little bit to follow up on my antidepressant (wellbutrin), which I started in August after coming down with some nasty depression. Wellbutrin is supposed to help with the fatigue, but so far I feel the same...could always sleep, and always sleep 12+ hours if I could (not with kids!).

I suppose I am scared to get "you have IBS". I do like my MD, so if I bring up gluten issues I'm guessing she'd test me. I have a PPO and I can see specialists (GI) if needed too. Oh and I am in nursing school and we tested our blood sugars and mine, at 8:30am, two hours after I ate an eggwhite flatbread sandwich was 66? Huh? Pretty low for non-fasting? I don't know. I guess I was just looking for some answers. I HATE feeling this way and my husband is sick of me complaining about stomach pain,etc! Oh, and he's not a fan of the gas ;)

Does this sound like it could be gluten issues? IBS? Thanks in advance!

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littlesmiles Newbie
littlesmiles
Posted

I had a similar situation w/ the antidepressant, but I was taking paxil. i'm wondering if the two cause each other to flare. let me know how your appointment goes, and good luck.

Dixiebell Contributor
Dixiebell
Posted

Welcome sickoftummyaches!

I was severely depressed, or so I thought and had terrible fatigue. My Dr. put me on wellbutrin also(pre gluten free) and it helped for a while then the fatigue came back with a vengance. Then she put me on prozac and I still didn't feel better. She actually told me to see a 'mental health care specialist'. I didn't, I started eating gluten free, weaned myself off the prozac(I had done this before), got some higher IU of vit D, fish oil, B complex and I started to feel like a new person.

Yes it does sound like gluten problems. BTW, IBS is a symptom and Dr.s like to use it when they just don't know what is wrong.

If you have testing and the results are negative please do try gluten free, it helped me so much.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Get the testing, then try the diet. You have nothing to lose but all that stomach trouble and depression.

By the way, I was treated with Prozac for the celiac fatigue and depression. My mood is normal now with proper nutrition and a gluten-free diet. The antidepressants don't cause celiac - the depression can be an early sign of it!

sickoftummyaches Newbie
sickoftummyaches
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all sooooo much.

Shockingly enough, my doctor claims IBS. She said my Vit D was low and put me on the rx 50000 IU once weekly for 4 weeks. She feels like Vit D is a major factor of my fatigue...yet I'm not so sure since I've been fatigued for 4 years and my vit D has been normal besides this time. She said to eat a high fiber diet with lots of water and take Align probiotics. If the issues keep up she would like me to see a GI doc. She even mentioned an ulcer...but I don't have any heartburn/indigestion issues.

I really do eat more fiber than most people. I think I'll give it 2 more weeks before I make an appt with a GI doc.

Also, I had a great effect from the wellbutrin on my energy at first and it also went away...bummer....But my mood is better, I'm just so damn tired! I think the root cause of my depression was always feeling so tired, and when my kids would wake up early I'd feel like I slept 2 hours when I'd slept 8 or 9. The constant urge to sleep just made me crabby and led to depression. A vicious cycle!

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

So did you get the celiac bloodwork you were wanting?

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Thank you all sooooo much.

Shockingly enough, my doctor claims IBS. She said my Vit D was low and put me on the rx 50000 IU once weekly for 4 weeks. She feels like Vit D is a major factor of my fatigue...yet I'm not so sure since I've been fatigued for 4 years and my vit D has been normal besides this time. She said to eat a high fiber diet with lots of water and take Align probiotics. If the issues keep up she would like me to see a GI doc. She even mentioned an ulcer...but I don't have any heartburn/indigestion issues.

I really do eat more fiber than most people. I think I'll give it 2 more weeks before I make an appt with a GI doc.

Also, I had a great effect from the wellbutrin on my energy at first and it also went away...bummer....But my mood is better, I'm just so damn tired! I think the root cause of my depression was always feeling so tired, and when my kids would wake up early I'd feel like I slept 2 hours when I'd slept 8 or 9. The constant urge to sleep just made me crabby and led to depression. A vicious cycle!

Or the root cause of your depression could be celiac. It can have that effect on people. There is some new research that is encouraging doctors to test folks with depression that do not respond to meds. Did the doctor do the celiac panel or just blow you off with the IBS 'diagnosis'?

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Raebies Newbie
Raebies
Posted

Shockingly enough, my doctor claims IBS. She said my Vit D was low and put me on the rx 50000 IU once weekly for 4 weeks. She feels like Vit D is a major factor of my fatigue...yet I'm not so sure since I've been fatigued for 4 years and my vit D has been normal besides this time.

I went to my doctor for extreme fatigue and re-occuring sinus infections. She said my vitamin D levels were lo, she gave me the RX suppliment and told me to get a dietary suppliment with Vit D in it and that was that. The thing is... I drink about a gallon of milk, fortified with Vit D, a WEEK. I shouldn't have had low Vit D levels.

I went gluten-free 6 weeks ago and the fatigue is pretty much gone (except for the fact I'm fighting off the flu right now, rather effectively I might add). I'll have to see how my levels are next time I get a blood test.

Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

Be sure to also try digestive enzymes. Many people find they have trouble with digestion and nausea after they have their gallbladders removed. While we can live without them, they do serve a purpose and help break down food.

Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

I went to my doctor for extreme fatigue and re-occuring sinus infections. She said my vitamin D levels were lo, she gave me the RX suppliment and told me to get a dietary suppliment with Vit D in it and that was that. The thing is... I drink about a gallon of milk, fortified with Vit D, a WEEK. I shouldn't have had low Vit D levels.

I went gluten-free 6 weeks ago and the fatigue is pretty much gone (except for the fact I'm fighting off the flu right now, rather effectively I might add). I'll have to see how my levels are next time I get a blood test.

Two thoughts to share here: vitamin D fortified in milk (meaning it's added and synthetic) is hard for the body to absorb. You should try taking supplements and be sure it's Vitamin D3, not Vitmain D2 (which is found in milk). Also, it's fat soluble, so be sure to take it with fat. I take mine with my Omega 3 supplements. Also, many people find that dairy leads to chronic sinus infections/allergies. It does for me. I tried to be brave two weeks ago and ate some yogurt, just to come down with a sore throat later in the day, that turned into a full-blown cold that lasted a week. Not pleasant. You may want to try to eliminate milk for a while and see if it helps.

sickoftummyaches Newbie
sickoftummyaches
Posted
  • Author

Oh, no, she did zero bloodwork on me. She had vit D levels from my previous visit.

I went ahead and set up an appt with a GI doc. I won't get in until Dec. 13th. I hope she has some answers...even if it IS IBS, I'd like to rule out other stuff.

Thanks for all the advice here.

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