James S: Son of Watermelon Stomach Sufferer

Last year, my mother was diagnosed as a celiac. Since then a number of other problems have risen to the surface, all of which I see as being connected.

A couple of months later she was also diagnosed as having primary biliary cirrhosis (serious liver malfunction), and in the last few months, has been receiving laser treatment for Watermelon Stomach. She is undergoing her ninth such laser treatment. She has since been told that this treatment is not helping her and that a different procedure will have to be taken.

The two options that have been put to her so far include an operation to remove part of the stomach and the other option is to give her blood coagulating (thickening) medication. This worries her a lot as it can cause blood clots and strokes. The doctors (in an excellent and very expensive private hospital) seem to be incapable of explaining the root cause of this condition and I am very worried for her as both these measures are very severe as her hemoglobin and iron levels are very low and she is already tired and weak.

Seeing as the doctors have failed to come up with the cause I have come up with my own theory as to the cause. She has always been very healthy, never smoked or drank. She worked as a stay at home mother all her life. She is a very caring, calm lady who rarely stresses out. She has eaten healthily all her life, living on a farm eating much of our own organic eggs and vegetables. So I am suspecting the gluten intolerance as the root cause.

In the body of a person with celiac disease the gluten is seen as an attacking body which the body tries to defend against and in turn produces antibodies which end up attacking the body as it cannot defeat the gluten (one of the most difficult substances for the body to digest.) So I believe the liver damage was caused by antibodies attacking it, as well.

I see the Watermelon stomach problem also related to this as she would have been incapable of absorbing her vitamins and minerals due to the liver malfunctioning and may also have had antibodies attacking the stomach lining.

I have given my mam lactobacillicus probiotics to help her digest her food and absorb nutrients better along with silica to coat her digestive tract and stomach lining and spirulina powder capsules as a source of high value food to maybe help her body start to cure itself.

Unfortunately, I think it is too late for her with my hippy herbal treatment as she is in line for her operation over the coming few days.

I would appreciate any support from anyone who either has this condition or anyone who may have any suggestions or knowledge in relation to the hospital treatment or any other alternative suggestions. I am very worried for her as are all my siblings and we will do anything to improve her condition.

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(1) The association between primary biliary cirrhosis and coeliac disease: a study of relative prevalences. Gut. 1998 Jan;42(1):120-2.

(2) Watermelon stomach: a cause of chronic blood loss in the elderly. Associated diseases, including achlorhydria, pernicious anemia and chronic liver disease have been reported. Harefuah. 1996 Mar 1;130(5):313-5, 359.

(3) Treatment of Celiac Disease. The best and only known treatment for Celiac Disease is simply this: a lifelong elimination of gluten. Celiac Sprue Association.