hi all! i have been coeliac for 4 mon... - Gluten Free Guerr...

Gluten Free Guerrillas

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hi all! i have been coeliac for 4 months now and still have severe lower back and abdominal pain ,can anyone shed any light as to why?? xx

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Lynxcat profile image
Lynxcat

Hi PrincessJasmine, Your pain could be being caused by a variety of things, the most obvious first thing to rule out is are you ingesting any hidden forms of gluten? Accidentally taking in gluten often leads to all kinds of problems including lower back and abdominal pains in some people. Take a look at all of the possibilities of accidental ingestion. Are you eating any types of sauces? Are you eating any foods that contain maltodextrin? Is there any possibility that you may be eating cereals such as cornflakes, rice krispies or other types of cereal which contain malt (barley)? Are you eating oats - these contain avenine which is 'oat gluten' they also are often processed near to where wheat products are manufactured and so there is an added possibility of added wheat gluten? Have you checked breads, biscuits and cakes and are they free from Codex wheat starch - as many 'gluten free' products contain upto 20ppm gluten very often in the form of wheat starch and these by law are allowed to be marked 'gluten free?' Could cross-contamination be occurring - in other words have you your own tea towel, chopping board, preparation area so that there is no question of accidental transferrance of breadcrumbs, etc to what you are eating or drinking?

Has your doctor checked to see whether your vitamin and mineral levels are adequate? Sometimes, especially in coeliacs it may take quite a long time for their intestines to heal so that they can absorb the goodness from their foods. Vitamin D and Sodium are often major culprits for lower back pain - but your doctor should be able to advise of this with a simple blood test.

If you know that you are definitely not consuming any gluten and you have also had checks for vitamin and mineral levels by your doctor - then it might be wise to have a general check-up at your GP to rule out other possibilities.

ladydawny profile image
ladydawny in reply to Lynxcat

Thanks for that post. My vit D is so low but supplementing makes me really anxious and get panic attacks. Suspect that isdue to one of the other deficiencies I have, but I have the terrible back pain too.

I have Hashimoto's, common in Gluten intolerent I believe. When my HPA goes out of balance for some reason the back gets worse. So do other agonizing muscle spasms.

Having blood test on Monday so after that will start on half teaspoon a day of Celtic gray salt see how that goes.

cheers Fluffy

Penel profile image
Penel

A lot of people find it helps to avoid 'free from' food when first diagnosed and to just stick to basic unprocessed food, until their insides have healed.

princessjasmine1 profile image
princessjasmine1

thanks for the information guys,i dont think i am ingesting any gluten im being very careful.Think i will go and see my doctor .

princessjasmine1 profile image
princessjasmine1

A friend has informed me that Asda own coco pops are ok to eat but iv checked them and they contain barley?? Also is it ok to eat the instant quaker oats porridge pots it says they are made in a factory that handles wheat and gluten.

barny profile image
barny in reply to princessjasmine1

no they have got gluton in i have a book from ceilec uk of all the foods wot are safe and make my own as much as pos x

in reply to princessjasmine1

asda do choco snaps, corn flakes rice snaps frosted flakes and honey nut corn flakes.. that you can have.... its on page 50 of the coeliac food and drink directory... as for having oats i would use the gf ones..

janie

Lynxcat profile image
Lynxcat in reply to princessjasmine1

No! Please don't eat oats. I know that many coeliacs re-introduce them after six months to a year after being gluten free as they recommend no oats to begin with on a gluten free diet. Oats, I believe are a cross grain between wheat and barley and although they do not have such large quantities of avenin (the oat version of gluten) in them as wheat has of gliadin (the wheat version of gluten) they still have some. Oats are generally, unless otherwise stated grown near wheat or even in rotation with wheat (oats one year, wheat the next and so on). Pure oats have a lot of the gliadin which has transferred over from the wheat washed out of them but not all and they are allowed to state that the oats are 'gluten free' or 'pure' if up to 20ppm parts of the wheat gluten remains within the processed oats. They still on top of this have all of their own natural avenin. The avenin triggers villi atrophy in 15% or more of coeliacs (on-one knows the exact number it is just a guess) the gluten triggers villi atrophy in all coeliacs.

There are other variations of porridge using a mixture of other grains .. many of which are instant porridge.

ulula.co.uk/shop/baby-food-...

channel4.com/entertainment/...

Some choose to use ground rice porridge as this is very quick to make first thing in the morning and rather than buy a brand you can choose to purchase a packet of ground or flaked rice which cooks in a couple of minutes. Millet flakes have a stronger flavour and so you may prefer to mix these with coconutm rice or quinoa and drizzle with honey. If you are a nut fan then you could use ground almond porridge which is fairly instant - (ground almonds in a little water or milk produce a wonderful creamy porridge that is very nutritious and high in calcium - a teaspoon of cocoa powder or Nutella added in makes a nice rich chocolatey change!)

barny profile image
barny

hi i have been gf 16 months and avoid cornflakes and eggs as they set me off it does take at least 12months to feel well an i still have slip ups gl with it xx

Mmmm profile image
Mmmm

I found GF biscuits gave me a lot of pain - also Genius bread.

I have also given up coffee and that has given me a lot of relief as well as substantially reducing the amount of dairy I ingest (was told to keep that to a minimum).

I feel much better now - have been on GF diet now for 6 months.

asborne profile image
asborne in reply to Mmmm

Ran out of my bread, so had slice Genius bread and now have abdominal pain/ache must look at ingredients. Wouldnt have given gf bread a thought but worth looking at since reading your effects.

princessjasmine1 profile image
princessjasmine1

i have just bought genius bread yesterday! so porridge pots are a no go. where did u get your book from barny?? xx

Lynxcat profile image
Lynxcat in reply to princessjasmine1

Oats are probably best avoided altogether. There is much discussion about them at the moment. They are often either grown near to wheat and barley or are processed in a factory where wheat and barley are also packaged. Added to this there is the added concern that they have the protein avenin.

Take a look at this coeliac site and it is explained:

coeliac.org.au/coeliac-dise...

Penel profile image
Penel

If you join Coeliac UK they will send you info on gluten free food

coeliac.org.uk/

zoombie profile image
zoombie

Beware of ASDA GF products - they claim to be GF but I have not touched them since having a pizza base and it flared up my DH. Sainsburys free from range is very good and that doesnt flare up the DH! If you are medically diagnosed, you can get the juvela range on prescription and these are excellent. I avoid the Glutafin range tho as their products do not agree with me! I also made the bad mistake a having a coke - NEVER again!

Irene profile image
IreneAdministrator

There have also been links between Coeliac Disease and Endometriosis which can cause pelvic and back pains (put Endometriosis in the search bar to see previous threads). There is also an Endometriosis page on Health Unlocked. It might be useful to post your Q on there as well. Many of their members also have Coeliac Disease.

wobblytulip profile image
wobblytulip

Yes, I'm with Irene. Check out for endometriosis. I have it and am now going through formal diagnosis for coealiac disease. The Endometriosis UK website is also a helpful resource.

endometriosis-uk.org/

mediachap profile image
mediachap

Try excluding dairy from your food for a week... Then do the same with Carbohydrates... I have problems it seems with Carbs... I can take enzyme supplements in order to eat them but if I forget I get all sorts of stomach problems and back ache. Everyone is different and you will find your comfort level, it just takes time.

Mmmm profile image
Mmmm

If you drink coffee give that a rest too. I read somewhere that coffee can have the same effect on gluten antibodies as gluten. I've given it up and am much better. Tea's fine (without milk)

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