Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Help Celiac.com:
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Long Term Iron Supplementation for Women?


cristiana

Recommended Posts

cristiana Veteran

I hope you all had a good Christmas.

For the girls.

A couple of months ago I had to have blood test to see if I was anemic.  My blood iron which was just over 40 in April 2014 has now halved.  

About six months before my DX in 2013 I was put onto some pretty heavy-duty iron tablets for at that stage unexplained anemia.  This supplementation caused diarrhea and I bled (fissures, nothing more sinister) so was moved onto a much reduced dosage.  I found it was then causing me constipation so only took it now and again.  As I was so half-hearted taking it I concluded that it was probably going up because I was healing, thus stopped taking it all together.

My last blood test was requested by my doctor following a terrible period which was more like a haemorrhage.  Sorry for TMI.  

Ladies, could one incident of terrible blood loss cause my levels to drop?   Thankfully it seems to have been a one off, and nothing untoward was found in the scans.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



1desperateladysaved Proficient

My ferritin level went down from the high I had achieved after months from 26 (I think it was) down to 16 after one extremely heavy 2 week cycle.  I do think that one cycle can throw the iron off a lot.  My doctors have been watching my levels closely every 2 months recently.  I have dealt with some kind of hormonal imbalance.  I am considering with my doctors whether H-pylori may be playing a part in this.  I know my magnesium, vitamin B, and iron levels are high need.  I had already been checked for issues relating to uterus and female issues and found to have fibroids.  I hope this helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cyclinglady Grand Master

Yes!  Iron levels can drop fast in just a month per my doctor.  The key is how fast your body is able to recover. Amazingly, it can but some things like intestinal damage from celiac disease or heavy-long periods from hypothyroidism or other fluctuating hormones can prevent recovery (iron absorption).    Personally, I dealt with 30 day periods, undiagnosed celiac disease and thalassemia all at the same time.  I was an anemic mess.  But after going gluten-free, my thyroid calming down (Hashi's) and going through the menopause window, solved my anemia.  I still have Thals, but I have had that all my life and my body has adjusted.  My ferritin has been documented as low as a 2 but is now a healthy 50. I no longer take any iron supplements (stopped six months after my celiac disease diagnosis).  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cristiana Veteran

Thanks so much - v. informative.   I guess it would have been easier to know if malabsorption of iron was the principal problem behind my lower levels if I hadn't had these 'womens issues'.  I am taking some gluten-free Floradix every day now until my next blood test in about 25 days.  It will be interesting to see if it is a bit better by then.  

My aunt who has had colon cancer said her tumor made her anemic which worried me as pain was her only symptom - typical of me to think the worst and apply her story to mine.  She is fine now, glad to say.   However I started to wonder if the bad time I had a couple of months ago could cause a sudden drop or if it was something more sinister.  I must admit I felt terribly dizzy and weak for several days after that episode. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gemini Experienced

Floradix is a really good supplement for anemia and it doesn't cause constipation, which is such a problem for many when supplementing with iron.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 7 months later...
1desperateladysaved Proficient

Vitamin B12 injections seemed to help with my ferritin levels.  The finally popped up to 58!  I worked with a physician to get the shots.  I believe I had been suffering from mal-absorbption and the shots helped me over the HUMP!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      120,154
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Ohwowitsgluten
    Newest Member
    Ohwowitsgluten
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • CatherineWang
      I'm pretty sure that in stores, you can find plenty of gluten-free options. But they are usually a bit more expensive.
    • cristiana
      Hello @BunnyBrown and welcome to the forum. I cannot say that I have had the procedure you describe, but recently I did have general surgery and was routinely intubated.  That pain was what troubled me most after the operation, far more than the operation site.  It took a few days to really settle down, I was quite badly bruised. It was taking so long I was a bit concerned so asked the question on another forum. A few patients came back to me and said they had suffered the same.  I imagine in my own case possibly the throat got bashed about a bit,  maybe they had difficult inserting the tube?  I've suffered with a painful throat post-endoscopy too, but never as long as the intubation pain.   I hope you will be feeling better very soon.   PS BTW - love the name!  I saw this today in an Easter display in a shop and your name reminded me of it.🙂  
    • cristiana
      This wonderful, Anne. I think you have a point about why people disappear off forums.  I found the first few years post diagnosis a real struggle and frankly wondered if I would ever feel better (not to dishearten people, but just to say it can take a while longer for some folk to heal).  However, once my antibodies were back within normal range it really has made a big difference to my health.  I've chosen to stick around because I'm a Mod, otherwise I might have been one of those that disappeared, too!      
    • Exchange Students
      Yes absolutely, we work with all public schools and some private schools in all 50 states.
    • Scott Adams
      Just a quick question, can the host live in any state in the USA?
×
×
  • Create New...