Pregnancy induced celiac?

jkwall1 · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 9 Location: NJ

Hi all. Just looking for some thoughts on my symptoms and possible celiac disease. I'm currently seeing a GI and had blood/stool labs taken and am waiting on those, but here's what's been going on:
Had a baby on 3/12. Had cramps since then (16 weeks now). At first I thought they were post-partum cramps, but they never stopped. Saw the OB and he told me to "take a poop" and I'll feel better, but I'm not constipated. Went to the GP and got an antispasmodic. Did nothing. Then I was referred to a GI. Here's how the symptoms have progressed: Constant cramps (like level 1-3 pain usually, sometimes like 6-7), extreme bloating (like 8 inches greater waist than usual, even though I've lost all my pg weight--41 lbs. gone by week 4), "weird" poop for me (soft, looks totally weird compared to my usual, and I've never had a gastro problem in my life), difficulty breathing b/c of bloating, now constant dizziness (like I'm on a carnival ride), extreme fatigue (used to be able to exercise, but now I can barely walk around the block), exhaustion in legs/cramps in legs at night, difficulty focusing my eyes, sad/moody (maybe b/c I feel like crap???). Everything is getting worse. Some dumbies tell me "this happens after a baby"--what, your body falls apart? My daughter sleeps all night, so I'm not tired from that, and I don't see how a baby gives you gastro problems. I'm wondering if it could be celiac b/c I read that "trauma" like birth can trigger it in some. I'm a carb/wheat addict and eat it a lot. I've noticed that after a big pasta/bread dinner I felt dead--worst I've felt, but I don't know if that is b/c I'm reading about it? I dunno!!! Anyway, I'm just looking for opinions on whether this sounds like celiac as I wait for results. Also, if anyone knows of getting it after pregnancy.
Thanks!
Jennifer

cruelshoes · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 3380 Location: Washington State

Hi, jkwall1. I'm sorry you have been unwell. Celiec, for the most part, requires 3 things:

-certain genes (some combination of the DQ2 and DQ8 genes. Nearly all celiacs have one or both. Some 30% of the population posesses them, but not all go on to develop celiac)

-A trigger of some sort - illness, pregnancy, a period of stress

-Exposure to gluten

Pregnancy is a very common trigger. We can't diagnose you because we are not doctors, but I would say that your physician is wise to be running the tests on you. Your symptoms could be pointing to celiac.

I hope you will let us know how your tests come out. It might be a good idea for you to get copies of your bloodwork results. Not all GI doctors are experts in celiac disease or other forms of gluten intolerance. I hope your test results give you some answers to whatever you have going on.
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

Kathie · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 1018 Location: Florida

Both of my pregnancies triggered my CD. In High school I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia (which was probably CD) so when I got sick after my first child they thought it was that and I went back on a high protein low carb diet and got somewhat better, after the second child I just got sicker and sicker, after a year they finally diagnosed the CD.
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CD by Biopsy 3/25/88

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Denver, CO

I'm sure I was experiencing symptoms when I was pregnant, and then increasing in frequency and intensity for the next 5 years until I went GF.

Please post back on your labwork and get copies, as mentioned above.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

Mom2BoyzOnly · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 64 Location: Indiana

Even though I can remember episodes throughout my childhood, I believe my celiac was brought on full force by three pregnancies...first ended in miscarriage, took 2 years before being able to get pregnant again, third pregnancy was 15 1/2 months later....became very very sick after the third.
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Robin
Diagnosed approx 13 yrs ago
Seriously GF past 4 yrs

jsb · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 62 Location: Florida

I did get a little worse after each pregnancy. I had horrible gas after my 1st one. The dr wanted to test for occult blood in my stool, but I didn't follow up on it. Maybe if I had, I would've had a diagnosis. After my 2nd, once AF returned, I started having big D only in the 2 weeks before AF, which then led me to experiment on my own with gluten-free diet. (I do wish I'd gone the proper way with testing.)
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Jen
GF since 10/07