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:
    Support Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Help! Even Floradix Hurts Now!

cristiana

By cristiana
in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut

Recommended Posts

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted

Hello there - is anyone out there who has managed to increase their iron (ferritin) levels without supplementation.   I feel I am running out of options now - I started with heavy duty tablets which caused diarrhea and bleeding.  Then I went onto ferrous glucanate (sp) and eventually that started to hurt.  So now I am Floradix - gluten-free - and nearing the end of the bottle am again in pain.  It seems as soon as I go anywhere near iron I get wind, diffuse abdominal pain and constipation.  

I'm looking for tips on foods/drinks that are palatable and that might help.  Otherwise I guess it is the dreaded needle?

I find it so strange that my stomach seems more sensitive than ever when it comes to iron.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Do you  know why you need so much iron?  I would want to find out the exact cause.

Iron supplements are hard on the GI system.  When I was first diagnosed with Celiac and very low on iron, I spread my iron out to twice a day.  If you want it to be effective, you need to follow the exact directions - no calcium within a few hours before and after, taken on an empty stomach, making sure you get some B12 and vitamin C with it.  I am trying to remember the exact thing.  Read your prescription insert for the exact thing.

Open Original Shared Link

There are foods with significant amounts of iron,  To maximize your iron uptake, you would want to apply the same rules as the iron pills - especially the no calcium foods.

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I agree with Karen.  There must be something wrong with your inability to absorb iron and increase your ferritin levels when you have been gluten-free for so long.    I have Thalassemia (a genetic anemia).  One  doctor just blamed my Thals for my anemia but never suspected celiac disease.  Another doctor blamed my low ferritin on my being a woman.  Only the GI doctor after I was four months into menopause suggested celiac disease.  I still have Thals, but my body compensates for it.  My iron-deficiency anemia resolved in just a few months of going gluten free.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

Oh I'm sorry Cristiana.  ((((Hugs))))

Maybe adding in more iron rich foods would do the trick with less digestive trouble.  Kareng  has attached a list...hope that will help.  I know that dark chocolate is a yummy source that I do indulge in.  Even rice Chex has a pretty good amount.

I hope you feel better friend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cristiana Veteran
cristiana
  • Author
Posted

Hi Gals

Thanks for your replies.  I am not sure why my levels are dipping.  I was supplementing in a very half-hearted way when I  had my levels checked about 12-18 months ago.  My levels were at 41.  

I then stopped because I assumed I was healed so no problems.   

Then two months ago I had the most terrifying blood loss in one period.  I reckon I must have lost over a pint in the first 24 hours - sorry about tmi but the blood loss seemed worse than after giving birth.   Into day two of my period and this ghastly experience my blood was taken and ferritin was down to 21 but I was not anemic.   Scans showed all was well and thankfully I haven't had that again - in fact, I am wondering if it might have been to do with the fact that I was taking aspirin at the time which made the bleeding worse.   Anyway,  I have another test this month so it will be interesting to see whether the levels have increased.

Oh, I do hope that it isn't anything sinister.  

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
2 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi Gals

Thanks for your replies.  I am not sure why my levels are dipping.  I was supplementing in a very half-hearted way when I  had my levels checked about 12-18 months ago.  My levels were at 41.  

I then stopped because I assumed I was healed so no problems.   

Then two months ago I had the most terrifying blood loss in one period.  I reckon I must have lost over a pint in the first 24 hours - sorry about tmi but the blood loss seemed worse than after giving birth.   Into day two of my period and this ghastly experience my blood was taken and ferritin was down to 21 but I was not anemic.   Scans showed all was well and thankfully I haven't had that again - in fact, I am wondering if it might have been to do with the fact that I was taking aspirin at the time which made the bleeding worse.   Anyway,  I have another test this month so it will be interesting to see whether the levels have increased.

Oh, I do hope that it isn't anything sinister.  

 

 

Ah!  That can happen after a flooding experience (been there done that).  If your intestines have healed, you should rebound within a month or so per my old doctor.  I would not worry about taking iron as much. Cut back enough so that you do not have symptoms.  Better to focus on iron-rich food sources.  Just allow more time for iron stores to build especially if your hemoglobin levels are within range.  But, as always, check with your doctor because I am not one!  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

I agree with cycling...I get those horrible flooding periods as well.  Ugh...if your ferritin was tested soon after it would be more likely to be low.  Maybe work on the iron rich foods and try doing the supplement a couple of times a week instead of daily and see how you do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cristiana Veteran
cristiana
  • Author
Posted

Friends - thank you.  I can't believe that I am even sharing something so personal and horrid on the internet!  But it is great to know that it could be down to women's problems.   Apologies to all male readers.  I pity my gastro next appointment, but I will have to tell him!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
48 minutes ago, cristiana said:

Friends - thank you.  I can't believe that I am even sharing something so personal and horrid on the internet!  But it is great to know that it could be down to women's problems.   Apologies to all male readers.  I pity my gastro next appointment, but I will have to tell him!

If the flooding continues, a trip to your GYN can help.  I was put on hormone replacement.  Thirty day periods were draining -- literally!    It was all just part of perimenopause (actually the final year before hitting official menopause status).  My thyroid was also out of wack and needed adjusting too and that contributed to the flooding as well.  When my anemia did not resolve after menopause, it was my GI who caught celiac disease.   He said I should have rebounded after going through menopause in a few months.  Go figure!  Am good now.  Last check my ferritin was over 70 and it was a 2 at diagnosis.  

Hey, there is a reason I do not belong to Facebook Groups and this is one of them!  :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cristiana Veteran
cristiana
  • Author
Posted
38 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

Hey, there is a reason I do not belong to Facebook Groups and this is one of them!  :D

Yes,  quite so - let's hope some bored hacker out there doesn't reveal all our real identities!

I wondered about the thyroid thing, I had read about that somewhere else.  Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      121,091
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Grammar B
    Newest Member
    Grammar B
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By trents · Posted

      Oh, okay. The lower case "b" in boots in your first post didn't lead me in the direction of a proper name. I thought maybe it was a specialty apothecary for people with pedal diseases or something.
    • Scott Adams
      50 YO Male Recently Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In the Europe the new protocol for making a celiac disease diagnosis in children is if their tTg-IgA (tissue transglutaminase IgA) levels are 10 times or above the positive level for celiac disease. According to the latest research, if the blood test results are at certain high levels that range between 5-10 times the reference range for a positive celiac disease diagnosis, it may not be necessary to confirm the results using an endoscopy/biopsy: Blood Test Alone Can Diagnose Celiac Disease in Most Children and Adults TGA-IgA at or Above Five Times Normal Limit in Kids Indicates Celiac Disease in Nearly All Cases No More Biopsies to Diagnose Celiac Disease in Children! There are other things that may cause elevated tTg-IgA levels, but in general a reaction to gluten is the culprit:    
    • cristiana
      Waiting for urgent referral.

      By cristiana · Posted

      Hi @trents Just seen this - Boot's is a chain of pharmacies in the UK, originally founded in the 19th Century by a chap with the surname, Boot.  It's a household name here in the UK and if you say you are going to Boot's everyone knows you are off to the pharmacist! Cristiana
    • Denise I
      Celiac Dietician

      By Denise I · Posted

      I am looking to find a Celiac Dietician who is affiliated with the Celiac Disease Foundation who I can set up an appointment with.  Can you possibly give some guidance on this?  Thank you!
    • Posterboy
      14 year old with Celiac & EOE still suffering...

      By Posterboy · Posted

      Nacina, Knitty Kitty has given you good advice. But I would say/add find a Fat Soluble B-1 like Benfotiamine for best results.  The kind found in most Multivitamins have a very low absorption rate. This article shows how taking a Fat Soluble B-1 can effectively help absorption by 6x to7x times. https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/thiamine-deficiency-and-diabetic-polyneuropathy quoting from the article.... "The group ingesting benfotiamine had maximum plasma thiamine levels that were 6.7 times higher than the group ingesting thiamine mononitrate.32" Also, frequency is much more important than amount when it comes to B-Vitamin. These are best taken with meals because they provide the fat for better absorption. You will know your B-Vitamin is working properly when your urine becomes bright yellow all the time. This may take two or three months to achieve this.......maybe even longer depending on how low he/you are. The Yellow color is from excess Riboflavin bypassing the Kidneys....... Don't stop them until when 2x a day with meals they start producing a bright yellow urine with in 2 or 3 hours after the ingesting the B-Complex...... You will be able to see the color of your urine change as the hours go by and bounce back up after you take them in the evening. When this happens quickly......you are now bypassing all the Riboflavin that is in the supplement. The body won't absorb more than it needs! This can be taken as a "proxy" for your other B-Vitamin levels (if taken a B-Complex) ...... at least at a quick and dirty level......this will only be so for the B-1 Thiamine levels if you are taking the Fat Soluble forms with the Magnesium as Knitty Kitty mentioned. Magnesium is a Co-Factor is a Co-factor for both Thiamine and Vitamin D and your sons levels won't improve unless he also takes Magnesium with his Thiamine and B-Complex. You will notice his energy levels really pick up.  His sleeping will improve and his muscle cramps will get better from the Magnesium! Here is nice blog post that can help you Thiamine and it's many benefits. I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advice God speed on your son's continued journey I used to be him. There is hope! 2 Tim 2:7 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” this included. Posterboy by the grace of God,  
×
×
  • Create New...