Abdominal distention, or bloating, is characterized by enlargement in normal size of abdomen not due to fatty tissue.
Q: Why does the abdomen enlarge?
A: The abdomen enlarges because the bowel is dysfunctional. Loops of bowel usually lack normal peristalsis (rhythmic wave-like muscle movement) trapping gas in stagnant loops of bowel, inflammation swells loops of bowel also trapping gas, and dysbiosis overproduces gas. All these factors distend the abdomen.
What Is Chronic Abdominal Distention In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Postbulbar duodenal ulceration is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by thickening of the intestinal lining with excoriation penetrating the muscularis mucosae (muscle layer of the intestine) associated with villous atrophy.
The ulcer is well-defined. Stenosis due to thickening of the area narrows the hollow inside of the duodenum which impairs passage of foodstuffs and may lead to obstruction.
Q: Is postbulbar duodenal ulceration painful?
A: Postbulbar duodenal ulceration may not cause symptoms but usually causes gnawing pain that is relieved by eating food. After eating there develops nausea and bloating.
Complications include obstruction, bleeding, and perforation of the duodenal lining. Ulcers do not usually become malignant.
What Is Postbulbar Duodenal Ulceration/Stenosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Esophageal small cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy arising in the esophagus with a poor prognosis.
Q: Where does the cancer occur in the esophagus?
A: Esophageal cancer can occur anywhere in the esophagus.
The esophagus is a muscular tube that transports swallowed substances to the stomach. It begins at the cricoid cartilage (Adam’s apple) as a continuation of the pharynx and ends at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The LES is a circular muscle surrounding the junction of the esophagus and stomach. The LES opens to allow swallowed food and liquids to enter the stomach and closes to prevent their travelling back into the esophagus.
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurs when the inside diameter of the esophagus constricts to less than 14 millimeters. First there is difficulty swallowing solid food then liquids and saliva due to progressive growth of the cancer.
What Is Esophageal Small Cell Carcinoma In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
What Is Chronic Or Recurrent Abdominal Pain? Abdominal pain is characterized by pain anywhere in the abdominal cavity between the chest and groin. This region is often referred to as the belly. Abdominal pain, or…
Beaded Barium Swallow Shows Spasms of Espophagus. Courtesy Quizlet.com
What Are Esophageal Motor Abnormalities?
Esophageal motor abnormalities are disorders of the esophagus involving altered muscular motility characterized by impaired esophageal peristalsis, or the progressive wave-like movement that occurs automatically when food or fluids are swallowed.
Q: What is altered motility?
A: Altered motility describes the lack of coordinated muscular movements or weak muscular movement needed to rapidly propel food and fluids through the highly muscular esophagus from the throat to the stomach.
The esophagus is a tube-like organ that begins at the cricoid cartilage (Adam’s apple) as a continuation of the pharynx and ends at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The LES is a very strong, circular muscle surrounding the junction of the esophagus and stomach. The LES opens to allow swallowed food and liquids to enter the stomach and closes to prevent their travelling back into the esophagus.
Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to remain tightly closed after swallowing allows stomach contents to reenter the esophagus giving symptoms of heartburn.
On the other hand, failure of the LES to relax traps the contents of the esophagus so that it cannot quickly empty into the stomach as it should. Because the esophagus is not designed to hold food/fluids, the abnormal expansion results in pain, anxiety and possibly vomiting and choking. If the contents are aspirated into the windpipe upon choking, there will be coughing with attempts to clear it.
What Are Esophageal Motor Abnormalities In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Aphthous ulcers, also called canker sores, are a chronic disorder of soft mouth tissue characterized by small, painful purpuric, papular, or erosive lesions that are often surrounded by erythematous (red) margins.1
Q: What soft mouth tissues develop canker sores?
A: Canker sores can erupt on the mucosal surface of the inside lip, sides of mouth, under the tongue and along the side of the tongue. When they are forming, the area swells into a papule, or small bump. Later, the surface erodes and a crater forms with firm pus.
What Are Aphthous Ulcers In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Sources:
Lahteenoja H, Toivanen A, Viander M, Maki M, Irjala K, Raiha I, Syrjanen S. Oral mucosal changes in coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet. European Journal of Oral Sciences. Oct 1998;106(5):899,8p. [↩]
What Is Carbohydrate Malabsorption? Carbohydrate malabsorption is a digestive disorder characterized by the inability to properly digest and absorb carbohydrates within the small intestine to supply needed energy to the body. Q: What carbohydrates should be normally…
Small Bowel Volvulus Caused the Enlarged Dark Loops. Courtesy African Journal of Pediatric Surgery.
What Is Volvulus?
Volvulus is twisting of a loop(s) of bowel onto itself which effectively closes it thus preventing digested matter from passing and causing engorgement of the closed loop with gas and fluid.
Q: How does the bowel get untwisted?
A: This condition usually necessitates surgical correction although some do return to their proper position.
The danger is that there may develop necrosis of the twisted loop(s) in which case, if left untreated,death will ensue.
What Is Volvulus In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
What Is Chronic Abdominal Distention?
![Aphthous_ulcer[1]](https://glutenfreeworks.com/health/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/Aphthous_ulcer1.jpg)
