Does Celiac cause upper right quadrant pain??

I have had stomach issues since I was a child. I am now 26. My GP that I just started seeing a year ago now thinks I have celiac disease after losing 13 pounds in a month and being really sick with the nausea,diarrhea and vomiting. I also have anxiety issues which I was suprised to read can come from celiac disease. I hope this is the answer I have been looking for all these years. I went off gluten for about 2 weeks and already started to feel MUCH better with my stomach and anxiety but had to start eating it again for my blood test yesterday and I have felt like total crap. I have to questions. First how long will you feel sick after eating the gluten? Second can celiac cause sharp stabbing pains in the URQ of you abdomen.It feels kind of like a gallbladder attack(which I had removed 6 years ago) but doesn't last long just will come and go over a few hours.I have read about the Spinchter of Oddi Dysfunction(which was another suggestion from my GP) after having your gallbladder out but liver and pancreas levels are perfect and the pain doesn't last hours like it says so I am hoping that I can rule that out as I hear if you do the ERCP for it it can make it worse. It just concerns me that my pain is in that RUQ and I was wondering if anyone else experiences pain there with celiac?? Thanks.

[becky808]

I am not celiac but have a gluten intolerance. My first symptom was sharp pain in my URQ. It started when I was pregnant and just never went away. They thought it was my gallbladder at first. It's not. There's nothing physically wrong with that area of my body. It just hurts really bad (like getting stabbed in the ribs) then fades away after a while.

[mama23babies]

Thank you so so much. I was starting to think I was going crazy.It definately feels llike someone stabbing me in the ribs. I am starting to think I never needed my gallbladder out to begin with. I had my blood  tests for celiac on Wednesday so don't know the results yet. Tuesday was the last I ate gluten and I am still suffering. I get so nauseous,diarrhead,extremely tired not to mention the pain. How long does your symptoms last when you eat gluten. I hope it goes away soon. Is there a test for gluten intolerance or do you just know from eliminating it?? I hope I get some answers soon. I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired..

[becky808]

You can get a test through enterolab. Elimination is the best way to tell for sure. I did get the blood tests done early on, but they came back negative. Celiac disease is a progressive illness. Sometimes you just aren't sick enough to get a + result. I think I probably would now though. It seems like the longer I go without it, the sicker I get when I eat it.

The rib pain is weird. It feels like stabbing, but when I try to push on it I can never actually find exactly where it hurts. The gastro said I probably have a spot in my intestinal tract that cramps up. When I do get the stabbing pain, it usually means my symptoms are almost over. I also get extremely tired, have swelling in my throat and ringing ears. When the stomach pain starts, the fatigue usually lessens and it's almost over.

Good luck finding the answers you need!

[mama23babies]

I know what you mean about not being able to find the exact spot with the rib pain. I push on mine and can feel my rib move which probably has nothing to do with my stomach but the stabbing pains are the worst. It's been 3 days now since I haven't eaten anything with gluten and the pains are finally starting to go away but I'm still really fatigued. Who knew food could make you so sick for so long. Do you only get the stabbing pains after eating gluten??

[becky808]

Yes. I get stabbing pains after eating something I shouldn't have.

I found that if I drink lots of warm water it calms down a bit.

[Fuzzz]

I do get pains like that, but then I also have more of a constipation problem and possibly colitis when I'm not gluten-free.  I have had my gallbladder out.

I believe you ARE intolerant of gluten or have full-blown celiac, and that there will be more consequences for you down the road if you don't adhere to the diet.  My doctor doesn't believe in the tests.  He says if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, DON'T EAT GLUTEN!  

[mama23babies]

Thanks for the comment. My surgeon thinks I am crazy that I keep telling him I feel like I am having gallbladder pains without the gallbladder. My GP is the one who suggested celiac. I tried the gluten free diet for about 2 weeks and did feel better but started eating gluten again before my blood test. It will be 2 weeks on Wednesday and I haven't gotten the results back yet but have been gluten free since my bloodwork but I can't tell much difference this time. I still feel like crapy. My surgeon is going to do a coloscopy next week just to rule out things like Chron's. I already had one 8 years ago but he wants to repeat because of small amount of blood that showed up on my stool test. How long being gluten free before you really feel better. I know I should expect it to take longer as it hasn't been 2 full weeks yet but I am tired of feeling sick and losing wieght.

[Fuzzz]

It can take 3 months for some people, such as a coworker whose main symptom was heartburn.  But watch for an unnoticed source of gluten, also.  Eat lots of vegetables.  My surgeon likes the green smoothie diet when you need to have something in the fridge that's quick.  I haven't done it yet, but I plan to.  Don't cook with wooden spoons that have been used with gluten previously.  Don't use lipstick with gluten.  Most soy sauce has gluten, but Target's soy sauce is gluten-free.  I've gone to a restaurant, ordered gluten free, including special soy sauce, and then caught myself eating the first half of a fortune cookie - oops.  

[Willowme]

I was diagnosed with Gluten intolerance and have been GF for abour 4 years. Recently started having pain in URQ and bloating like never before. They did a CT scan and found thickening of colon walls and Colitis, inflamation (inflammation) in the colon. They never did find why I have the pain under my right rib (like a fist under there). Doctor said it could be that my Gallbladder has something like sand in it that the CT scan won't pick up. I don't know. Looks like I have a new diet to follow now like going GF wasn't enought. I wonder if it is a problem with gluten and not just the Colitis? Probably is Gluten stuff.  Just let my mind go to a happy place where I could cat a chilli cheese dog again. sign

[mama23babies]

When I started researching celiac and gluten intolerance I actually found a website saying it could be related to gallbladder stuff too. I had mine removed 6 years ago though.I know the feeling you are talking about with the fist under there. It feels like your lung is going to explode or something from all the pressure. I can now rule out colon issues like chrons or colitis as I had a colonoscopy last week. So I am pretty much narrowed down to gluten/dairy intolerance or the sphincter of oddi dysfunction and problems with bile after gallbladder removal. I go back to the Dr on the 28th to see how I am doing and going from there. The chili cheese dog sure sounds good though!! LOL

[tony5]

hi i get the pain too in the upper right quadrant pain, it hasnt come back for 3 weeks nearly now, normally it does come back, i originally had a tooth extracted nearly 10 months ago, i was on antbiotics, after using them i began to get  upper right quadrant pain, it lasted for months and months, i was placed on antiacids and peptic ulcer drugs, they helped the acid and the pain did go away for abit, when i woud stop them it came back, but the soreness and remained in my upper middle part of the stomach, i have been gluten free for 3 weeks and i havent had much of the pain back at all, still sore and weak in the middle and get the acid, i do suffer from chronic diahrea, so i believe i may have some kind of gluen intolerance, i have had a blood test done today for ceoliac, so waiting for the results, but i have read somwhere  that gluten intolerance and other conditions like crohns disease can cause the  upper right quadrant pain too, including the liver,gallbladder,ulcer,ribs, even the pancreas too i've heard

[mama23babies]

Thanks for the reply. I had the celiac bloodwork and it came back negative. I have been gluten free for about 5 weeks now and the pain still remains but I feel alot better mentally and have more energy. My surgeon thinks I have something called sphincter of oddi dysfunction so I am being referred to a specialist to have an ercp. I'm glad you feel better on the diet. I wish this would have been my answer but it looks like more procedures. Keep me posted.

[gilly1975]

Hi All, Im from the U.K and ive suffered feeling horrid, bed bound, anxiety, anxiousness, constipation, tierd & groggy after eating most foods and stabbing pain under right rib cage. The final straw came in the last 12 months when i lost over 3 stone in weight and energy levels dropped, my BMI went well below and bloods was all out. 4 years ago when it all started, i went to my Dr and explained how i was feeling. Straight away, diagnosed IBS. So, away i went, watched my diet and what i drank ect but thinks still the same. The next thing was the feeling/wanting to drop to sleep soon as i had eaten at the table, or i would get crazy cramps and get diarrea (diarrhea). So i went back to the dr's. This time i had blood test for coeliac and thyroid gland, sent for a ultra sound abdominal scan which all came out fine. After numerous scans, tests ect over the years, i asked to have an endoscopy and a colonoscopy (camera down, camera up). First camera down with 6 biopsys taken shown nothing. The second camera down (6 months later) shown inflamation (inflammation) in my stomach. The took so many biopsys from the inflamation (inflammation) and was then called up to go back to see the consultant. Straight away i was diagnosed coeliac. What i want people to understand, blood tests do not have a very good chance of catching coeliac. Ask for an Endoscopy and biopsys to be taken. My consultant told me this herself about blood tests being very poor at finding problems like coeliac. Im now 8 weeks total gluten, wheat, barley ect ect free and still loosing weight, still feeling unwell which is now looking like i could have "Refractory coeliac disease" which is a term used to describe the condition when the patient does not respond to the gluten-free diet and remains clinically unwell. My Dr is now discussing putting me on steroids to sort of kick start and hopefuly fix the problem, specialy as ive done such a strict diet. Hope my bit of write up here can help some of you. If it helps 1, thats better than none. Thankyou for reading.

[marilyn13192]

For a long time, I have a stabbing pain in my right side under my ribs plus pain all over...fatigue...memory difficulties, I had to stop driving,cannot bend or turn over in bed or take a normal bath. At first Doctor's said "I was crazy" and that was irritating. Then, One Doctor said "I have Lupus." But, recently a Gastroligist told me I have Celiax and it is hard to beleive. I only get SSI Disability and the gluten free bread etc is expensive...I am 58 and wonder if it will be worth having to give up all i like to eat and struggle to buy the expensive stuff. I just always felt like Gallbladder pain, but i had all those tests and was negative.  If a Patient is a woman, Doctors always go for crazy..depression and makes me so angry... A person knows when they are really sick and something is wrong. I want the pain to stop, as i take a few bites and start having pain..feels like a big rock in my side...nausea and i have to take pain pills every day ...I just do not know what to do...

[Hilalio]

You may want to try giving up all starches for awhile.  When I first went gluten free it took months for my body to be able to break down any starches.  Even when I ate gluten free bread or rice I would have a bad reaction.  Sometimes you need to give your small intestine a break from all starches to feel a difference.  I have slowly introduced rice and rice flour items back into my diet, but I have to be careful about how much.  Eating greens, lean proteins, coconut milk & coconut water, and fruits have been the best. Good luck and feel better soon!

[Chellshocked]

I have the exact same thing happening to me. I will sleep all day long after the pain in the ribs start. It comes and goes but I am on a GF diet for 2 years. I also have an allergy to pineapple. I cut out all processed juice because of cross contamination. No matter what I still get exposed. My last scope showed normal.  

[tialee15]

Gluten intolerance can often be triggered by a nice dose of antibiotics mine was triggered after a round of antibiotics from contracting Tuberculosis.. fun times