Help! :-(

[ElleALaw]

Hi all,

I've suffered for a number of years, got diagnosed with coeliac disease and consultant stopped looking. My old GP was certain it was some sort of IBD and my new GP is also.

I was going away with work and given two short courses of pred. Then I had the most horrendous flare up. I went back to my GP a week last Thursday and was put on pred. 4 for 5 days then 2. Last Tuesday started the 2 a day and tonight have had horrendous symptoms again.

Symptoms :

Severe abdo pain
Diaarhoea (initial sort of stools then green/pale water) sorry to be so graphic but just want your opinion
Sweating
Heartburn (new one so probably unrelated)
Nausea though I think maybe the pain causes this
Tummy boiling hit to touch

What I have eaten today :

Cornflakes
3 slices of salt beef from M&S
2 gluten free cupcakes (handmade)
Chicken & bacon in cream sauce with gluten free pasta (homemade)
2 lemonade ice lollies

Firstly from my symptoms what would your personal opinion be and secondly do you think the food may have triggered it?

I am already on meds for malabsorption so tke calci-chew D3forte, ferratin etc.
I'm always low on bit D and B12 and often need ferratin infusions. Was checked if I needed an infusion 2 weeks ago but doctor told me inflammation increase ferratin so they wouldn't give a true reading so to leave it! Very helpful!

I've taken an extra 2 steroids and tramadol but the pain in horrific - I can't cope with this much longer, it's ruling my life :-frown::frown::frown:

 

[Rebecca85]

IBD does sound like a possibility with your symptoms.

However, your symptoms also sound like they could be a complication of your celiac disease. For example, there is a possibility that you are still eating tiny amounts of gluten through cross contamination of foods in the factory, or through the fact that manufacturers don't have to list ingredients which are only in the food in tiny amounts. And some people with celiac can't tolerate even these tiny bits of gluten.

And have you checked your meds for any gluten in the fillers?

Another possibility is that your intestines are too badly damaged from celiac and need help to heal- which would explain why the pred helps your symptoms.

I found this page that explains some of the reasons why a gluten free diet might not help some people with celiac: http://www.medicinenet.com/celiac_disease/page9.htm

By the way- I really wouldn't be taking extra steroids on bad days. It's important that you follow the regime prescribed by your doctor, and if you think it needs changing then consult with him/her. Steroids can cause problems such as adrenal insufficiency (where your body can't make it's own natural steroids) which is serious, that's why you need to follow the taper.