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Q: Celiac Disease With Colon Cancer?

asked by: SunnySportsFan on October 30th, 2007

New User

Hi all...unfortunately I have now found the need to come into this forum. A little about me...I am 31 years old, and was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about 3 years ago now. I have 3 children, my 3rd only 2 months old. Most of my symptoms I have attributed to my celiac disease until a few weeks ago (although, I have been "managing" my disease I have never seemed to be able to feel completely better). A few weeks ago I found bright red blood covering my stools, and this went on for 3 days. It freaked me out, and I called my mom who is a nurse and she said it was probably just an internal hemmroid since I was recently pregnant. However, that didn't make me feel any better, because my mom never gets nervous about anything. In fact when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back she acted like she just had a splinter in her finger.
I have a long history of constipation, since I was a kid - probably due to the celiac. Probably for a year now I have thin stools sometimes, and other times they seem normal. I thought they were just thinner because I have been drinking Aloe Vera juice the past year after a doc told me it would help keep me regular. I have major gas and bloating, and that has been going on for several years, but just seems to keep getting worse. During the last month of my pregnancy I had a lot of pain but I thought it was just from a big baby. I also have a place on my lower left side that shoots pain every so often. This I talked to a doctor about once about a year ago as well, and they didn't seem to think it was a big deal.
I really want a colonoscopy (spelling?) but I am not sure how to approach the doctor with it to where she will listen and take it seriously. I am really scared, and afraid that if I have cancer that I have waited too long. I really want to be here for my kids. Anyone have any suggestions? I have an appointment on friday. Thank you.

Replies(14)

MandMs

replied on October 31st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Hi!

Having bright red blood with bowel movements and abdominal pain are enough symptoms to get medical attention and refer for colonoscopy.
Your stool form is a worrying sign and tumors tend to bleed, not a whole lot and not constantly, but they do bleed.
Do you have stomach cramps?
Are you having sense of fullness all the time?
Do you often feel sick and feel need to throw up?

SunnySportsFan

replied on October 31st, 2007

New User

Re: Hi!

MandMs wrote:

My stomach cramps seem to only come when I have gas pains, but sometimes they are so bad they wake me up at night. Then I have those lower left shooting pains once in awhile.
I don't have a sense of fullness all of the time. But, many times after I go to the bathroom I feel like I still have to go. I had this yesterday almost all day long, but today I am fine.
I have waves of nausea that don't last very long, but I never actually throw up.

MandMs

replied on November 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Do you feel strange smell?
What kind of food you are usually consuming?

SunnySportsFan

replied on November 2nd, 2007

New User

No strange smells.
I eat an all gluten free diet, which is mostly pretty healthy since there is a lot I cannot have. I buy gluten free breads, cereals, and things like that from a health food store. I think I eat a lot of veggies, not so good on the fruit (most fruit tends to make my stomach sick), rice, cheese, meats. My one big weakness is chocolate. I eat it everyday. However, I stay away from soda. I drink one coffee in the morning - decaf. I try and stay away from a lot of caffeine, but I do have an iced tea once in awhile.

sillyakchick

replied on November 3rd, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Wow, that sounds really awful. I am sorry you are dealing with this. I have a few questions about the celiac disease:

Have you visited with your physician about the fact that you don't really feel better after having begun the GF diet? There is a small number of people who don't improve onteh GF diet. This is called "refractory sprue". If you are concerned you can have him schedule another endoscopy to check the status of your villi. If they are still flattened after three years, then you definitely need medical attention for that.

I would also definitely mention the part about the bleeding. I am not sure what that is related to and it could be a number of things. You state that fruit tends to cause stomach upset...is this citrus? Ulcers can cause bleeding and lots of pain, particulalry with citrus. THey can be caused by an H.Pylori infection or by the overuse of NSAIDS (Ibuprophen, Naprosyn, Celebrex, etc).

Untreated Celiac disease can eventually lead to Colon Cancer, statistically speaking, there is an increased rate of lymphoma for untreated celiacs than the rest of the population. I would not have that as my first suspicion, however.

There are a lot of possible scenarios for your symptoms-if it were me, I would go back to the GI doc, tell him about all that has been going on and request an endoscopy and colonoscopy. This can help get to the bottom of your myriad symptoms and put your mind at ease.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

MandMs

replied on November 8th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Did you have your appointment on Friday?
What you were told?

For most people, following the gluten-free diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. The small intestine is usually completely healed in 3 to 6 months in children and younger adults and within 2 years for older adults.
Eating any gluten, no matter how small an amount, can damage the small intestine.

Some people with celiac disease show no improvement on the gluten-free diet. This condition is called unresponsive celiac disease. The most common reason for poor response is that small amounts of gluten are still present in the diet.

Rarely, the intestinal injury will continue despite a strictly gluten-free diet. People in this situation have severely damaged intestines that cannot heal. Because their intestines are not absorbing enough nutrients, they may need to receive nutrients directly into their bloodstream through a vein, or intravenously. People with this condition may need to be evaluated for complications of the disease.

SunnySportsFan

replied on November 29th, 2007

New User

Sorry that I kind of disappeared. Things have been busy. I have an appointment with a GI on December 11. My other doctor is only sending me to "calm my anxiety". She doesn't think there is really anything wrong. Since I first came in here and wrote about my problem I have developed a hard place in my abdomen. I found in one day when I layed down on my stomach. It was painful and felt like a lump. I can also push on it with my fingers. It has been there for probably a week now.
I am definately going to mention the celiac problem with the GI doctor also. December 11 seems like an eternity away.

sillyakchick

replied on November 29th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Yes, it does seem like an eternity when you are sick and waiting and worrying. Take a deep breath and try to be calm. Make sure you have not stopped eating gluten in the meantime. This would give afalse positive. Let us know what happens!

MandMs

replied on December 5th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Try to stick to full glutein-free diet. Avoid chocolate because it can make your Celiac symptoms worse.
Do you find your abdominal pain less intense after a bowel movement?

SunnySportsFan

replied on December 30th, 2007

New User

Still Waiting...

The GI doctor is doing a endoscope and a colonoscopy the 7th of January. So, I am still waiting to find out what is going on.

I will try and eat less chocolate, it is just hard because with the gluten free diet there is already so little I can have.
And, yes, it does seem like the pain lessens or goes away completely after a bowel movement.

sillyakchick

replied on December 31st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Dear Butterfly;

If you are having an endoscopy, and have been on a gluten free diet, then you MUST resume a "Gluten Challenge" until the test. IT is not fun, but ti is the only way any damage can be detected. If you aren't eating gluten and you have an endoscopy done to determine if there is damage, there won't be any to biopsy. This is extremely important.

Good luck on your tests-let us know what you find!

MandMs

replied on January 17th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Hi Butterfly!

Rereading all the posts helped me to come to an idea about what can be your medical problem.
You have stated that the pain lessens or goes away after a bowel movement, that many times after you go to the bathroom you feel like you still have to go, bloating and gas, constipation,pain and discomfort in your abdomen (pain often worse at evening) and there are all common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Have you noticed ups and downs of pain that relate to your menstrual cycle?
Are you experiencing worse symptoms after you have eaten or if you are under stress?
Do you usually have a feeling of strong urge to have a bowel movement?

Hope you'll check the topic soon and find this helpful.
Waiting for your post
Marija

SunnySportsFan

replied on January 22nd, 2008

New User

Hello. Had my tests done. My colonoscopy only showed that I had internal hemmroids. Otherwise that all looked normal. The endo showed no signs of celiac, not even healing, so now I am looking into something else. I have been eating gluten again, and feeling mostly just very tired. Thinking about allergy testing, and I will bring up IBS with my doctor as well (this is what they thought I had before, but the medications they put me on never seemed to help). I also had polyps in my stomach, which were benign. I am not sure if this is something to worry about in the future, or not? I go back to the GI in about a week. Will discuss that more then I guess. Thank you all for your input. It has been very helpful.

MandMs

replied on February 13th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

FiberglassButterfly!

What kind of medications you were prescribed for IBS?
Do you have some new informations from your last doctor's visit to share it with us?

All best to you!
Marija

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