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

Upper Abdominal Pain - Under Ribcage

pondy

By pondy
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted

Hi Everyone,

A while back I posted about Upper GI/Ribcage Pain.

Just wanted to update that I had a follow-up Endoscopy (after 9 months gluten free) & the results are in.

It's the H. Pylori bacteria. :huh: Lo & behold, common to this infection is burning/gnawing upper abdominal pain - lots of times under/behind the left ribcage area. In other words, exactly what I've had.

G.I Doc said that my little villi are growing back, so the gluten free diet is working! There is hope! :D

Now I'm on Clarithromycin, Amoxcillin & Prilosec for treatment. Also, still taking the Culturelle probiotic & staying dairy free. I'm 3 days in & I do believe it's starting to work.

For those of you suffering from that crazy under-the-ribs pain, it might not be a bad idea to get tested for H. Pylori. I've read that it's very common.

All best to everyone. Happy New Year, by the way!

Pondy

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


TTNOGluten Explorer
TTNOGluten
Posted

Pondy

glad to hear everything is headed in the right direction, hopefully the tx for the H. Pylori gives you some relief, I am now 2 1/2 weeks out from gallbladder surgery, wish I could say the same, the ribcage pain continues as well as into my back, with no improvement, but what can you do. going for 2nd opinion next week with new gastro, hope he has some magic up his sleeve or is at least able to think outside the box, unlike the last one who basically told me that folks with celiac disease usually don't have much in the way of pain. I guess he has never had it to know, as that is by far and away my biggest symptom. I wish the best for you and the H.pylori quick eradication

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Oh, Thank Goodness you found out!! :)

I am so sorry that in all the things I suggested, I never thought to suggest h. pylori to you (my Dad had that and I asked to be tested for it myself when I had this upper rib cage pain--but I was negative)

but I am so glad you took our advice to keep pressing for follow up testing!!

You kept saying you knew it had to be more than just CC issues--and you were right! I was so hoping the follow up care/consult would give you an answer.

(After all those ANTIbiotics you will definitely need the PRObiotics.)

I do hope you recover quickly.

Happy New Year, hon!!!

pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted
  • Author

TTNOGluten,

I forgot if you answered this already, but are you consuming dairy? My pain began to get better after I cut out all dairy products. I also noticed a correlation between major C and upper GI pain. Have you been checked for a kidney infection? Perhaps some other kind of gut infection/bacterial overgrowth?? I'm just grasping at staws here...

I'm very sorry that having your gallbladder removed didn't put an end to your ongoing pain. I know it's terrible not knowing what the hell is going on!

I don't know if having Celiac generally slows healing processes, but it took my body two full months to recover from an easy breezy knee arthrosopy! I felt like a 90 year old in a 41 year old body. I did eventually heal though - as you will. I know you're hurting, but try & think positively. Yeah, easier said than done - but as my new

GI said, where the mind goes the body tends to follow.

Hang in there! Thanks for your response!

Pondy

pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted
  • Author

Oh, Thank Goodness you found out!! :)

I am so sorry that in all the things I suggested, I never thought to suggest h. pylori to you (my Dad had that and I asked to be tested for it myself when I had this upper rib cage pain--but I was negative)

but I am so glad you took our advice to keep pressing for follow up testing!!

You kept saying you knew it had to be more than just CC issues--and you were right! I was so hoping the follow up care/consult would give you an answer.

(After all those ANTIbiotics you will definitely need the PRObiotics.)

I do hope you recover quickly.

Happy New Year, hon!!!

IR,

Oh yes, you are so right about the probiotics! The GI has me on a double dose while I'm taking all these antibiotics.

By the way, everything you suggested has been more than helpful! Especially during the time when I had my old GI who dismissed me completely! You've been a superb source of knowledge for me. So, thanks!

:)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

IR,

Oh yes, you are so right about the probiotics! The GI has me on a double dose while I'm taking all these antibiotics.

By the way, everything you suggested has been more than helpful! Especially during the time when I had my old GI who dismissed me completely! You've been a superb source of knowledge for me. So, thanks!

:)

You're welcome. I am just sooooooo glad you found the culprit and that now you can heal up and get on with it. yaaay!!! Be well, hon!! ;)

jeanniek Newbie
jeanniek
Posted

I had stomach pain and gas for years after I went gluten free. I had been told to eat five small meals a day; but when you work full-time, that is not possible. Finally, I found that eating my breakfast slowly solved both of those problems. Every day I make Cream of Rice and pour about 1/4 of it in a bowl and 3/4 of it in a travel mug, adding vanilla almond milk to each. I eat the bowl of Cream of Rice, one vanilla Kinnikinnick donut, and a cup of warm vanilla almond milk for breakfast. I take the mug of Cream of Rice to work and sip it throughout the morning. Then I try stretching my lunch out throughout the afternoon. I am feeing much better - both physically and emotionally - no more gas, stomach pain, or bloating!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted
  • Author

I agree that eatiing frequent small meals throughout the day is easier on the g.i system. I've gotten into this habit recently & have found it helpful too. Now that I am taking massive quantities of antibiotics for the H Pylori, I have severe burning & indigestion... Eating a little snack always remedies the situation.

Thanks for the input!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Pondy, Thought of you when I saw this and wondered how you are doing???

Open Original Shared Link

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Mastic gum is the way to go. It kills the h.pylori bacteria.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Mastic gum is the way to go. It kills the h.pylori bacteria.

One study from 1998 says it does:

Open Original Shared Link

One study from 2003 says it does NOT:

Open Original Shared Link

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

I think I'll go with the first study then. And with my stomach which says yes, it does kill it. My tummie's opinion has a lot of weight in the argument from my personal perspective. :) Thanks for the links

IH.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I think I'll go with the first study then. And with my stomach which says yes, it does kill it. My tummie's opinion has a lot of weight in the argument from my personal perspective. :) Thanks for the links

IH.

I'm with you. :)

The human body has an amazing capacity to heal--given the right circumstances. I am often told (about my symptoms and my recovery) " well, that's not possible!" and "I have never seen THAT before in my 30- something years!" blah blah blah ....and so, I just listen to my body and my brain now---they are (almost) always right! ;)

Whatever works...works! ;)

pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted
  • Author

Update here...

I am on day 12 of 2 different antibiotics for H Pylori. I've been extremely nauseous - only really able to eat plain bread & water. Thank goodness I only have 2 days of meds to go.

Came down with stomach flu - everyone at work had it. No D, just vomit, abdominal pain... the usual suspects. Today I had D twice - how, I don't know since there is virtually nothing in my stomach.

Enough of the gross stuff! There is good news too!

Burning pain in upper left abdominal quad has gone away! It feels too good to be true. Perhaps these crazy meds with all the crazy side effects are working!!

I follow up with my GI on the 19th.

Best,

Pondy :)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Antibiotics kill my stomach, too :blink: --sorry, kiddo

Keep the probiotics on board. Drink as much water as you can stand so you do not get dehydrated and hang in there.

That is good news that the awful pain has stopped.

I had a"bug" this week too...ugh! But I fought it off pretty good--could have been worse! ah well, as my Dad used to say "This Too Shall Pass." :)

Geesh, you have had quite a run. Hopefully, you will be right as rain soon.

My best, IH

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,150
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    felix13
    Newest Member
    felix13
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      70.7k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Testing for celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In case you decide to go the route of a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood test or biopsy: Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy: and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:    
    • Wheatwacked
      Do I really need to get a biopsy?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Kosher salt is not usually iodized. Shortly after starting GFD in 2014, I realized I wasn't getting enough iodine.  Growing up in the 50's and 60's we ate bread that used iodine as a dough modifier so each slice had about 100 mcg of iodine.  A sandwich and glass of milk supplied 300 mcg a day.  In the 70's they stopped using iodine as a conditioner in the US.  Then everyone got scared of milk.  The US intake of iodine dropped 50% since 1974.  Prescriptions of Thyroxine for hypothyroid disease doubled in the same period.  I tried using iodized salt and seaweed and took an expensive thyroid supplement but it wasn't enough.  In 2014 I had a sebaceous cyst (third eye blind).  The previous 6 cysts on my face had all drained and healed with no problem back in the 1990,s.  One on my check had sugically removed. They are genetic from my mom and my brother and son also get them in the same places.  This one I did not have surgery for because I wanted a bellweather to moniter healing.  It did not start healing until I started until 10 years when I started taking 600 mcg of Liquid Iodine a year ago Nov 2023. Lot's of comment about how it was offputting and maybe cancer, it was deep, down to the bone, but I can be obstenant.  Now it is scabbing over and healing normally.  Vision is returning to my right eye (glucoma), musle tone in my chest was the first sign of improvement.  For healing, iodine breaks down defective and aging cells to make room for new growth. I take Liquid Iodine drops from Pipingrock.com but there is also Strong Iodine and Lugols Solution. 50 mcg/drop a dropper full is 12 drops, 600 mcg.,  usually I put it in a can of Red Bull, My brother, son and his family also started taking it. https://www.pipingrock.com/iodine/liquid-iodine-2-fl-oz-59-ml-dropper-bottle-14690 390 drops for $8.  They ship internationally if you can't find it locally. It the US the Safe Tolerable Upper Limit is 1000 mcg a day.  In Japan it is 3000 mcg a day.  The Japanese traditional diet has 50% less breast cancer, nicer hair, skin and nails, and in the 80's the US educational system dropped down comared to the rest of the world while Japanese kids moved up to the top.  Low iodine affects brain fog. According to most education rankings, Japan generally has a higher education rating than the United States, with Japan often ranking within the top 10 globally while the US usually places slightly lower.  In the 1960s, the United States was near the top of the world for education, especially for young people.  About why iodine was removed from medicint: The Wolff-Chaikoff Effect: Crying Wolf? About why over 40% of us are vitamin D deficient: Mayo Proceedings,  Vitamin D Is Not as Toxic as Was Once Thought:  
    • trents
      Does High DGP IGA Typically Mean Celiac?

      By trents · Posted

      Current "gluten challenge" recommendations are the daily consumption of at least 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) daily leading up to the day of the biopsy.
    • Bebee
      Testing for celiac

      By Bebee · Posted

      Thank you for your input!  I would really like to know if I have celiac disease because you need make sure you are not getting any cross contamination due to cancer concerns.  I guess I need to start with a knowledgeable Gastroenterologist. Thank you again!
    • trents
      Does High DGP IGA Typically Mean Celiac?

      By trents · Posted

      Gotcha!
×
×
  • Create New...