Supplements Question

[charlieroseburns]

I re-did my blood work and my malnutrition is still bad (B-12, iron, vitamin d). I tried supplement pills for a week (they were gluten free: b-12, calcium-because I had to remove dairy, and vitamin d) but I stopped because I got sick. I had an upset tummy, couldn't get out of bed, and the veins in my eye looked like they burst. I slowly have been adding things to my diet and watching for that reaction because upset tummy, fatigue, and burst eye veins are my signs for not handling types of food well. The only thing I added to my diet was the supplements so I stopped and after a few days I got better. I went to a doctor and told her and she said it was a coincidence and to start taking them again. I have not because I'm scared. Is my fear of taking supplement pills irrational? I have also read a bunch of people suggesting probiotics, is that good for someone with severe damage just starting to heal or is that something to introduce after more healing? I appreciate your guidance! 

[cyclinglady]

Start slowly, adding one vitamin at a time. You are still new and I bet your intestines are not healed completely yet.

My old retired doc often advised slowly building the amounts of supplements or meds that I needed. Think about when you add food back in after the stomach flu or abdominal surgery. You chose foods that are easy to digest and work your way up to more complex foods.

Start with b-12 taken sublingually (under tongue) and by-pass your intestines for the most part. It is a better quality vitamin and is already methylated. Take it once, wait three days, take it again and wait two days, etc. Back off it if your feel bad. Then add vitamin D and calcium. A few weeks later, add in a split multi and work your way up to twice a day getting the recommended 1 tablet per day dosage. Am I making sense? Add in the iron and take with OJ or Vitamin C for better absorption.

You might be reacting to specific ingredients and like, food intolerances, you will not know if you take all your supplements at once.

I am assuming that you are are not getting glutened from other sources....

It is also better to focus on whole foods that contain the nutrients you are lacking as well. I eat lots of cooked greens for a folate deficiency.

Probiotics are great. Then help populate your intestines with good bacteria. I even give them to my dog especially after a course of antibiotics. Choose ones that are not derived from milk since you are avoiding milk now.

I hope this helps. Hang in there! You will get better! It just takes tons of time!!!!

[icelandgirl]

I think when your gut is in bad shape you have to start slowly with supplements. I am D deficient. My Dr wanted me to do 2000 IUs a day...I couldn't tolerate it. So I went out and got 400's. For 2 weeks I did 400 once a day. Then 400 twice day. It took a bit but I was able to get to the 2000. My D went up 3 points in 4 months so it's an improvement.

I also have lowish iron and low ferritin. A lot of people have issues taking iron...it is hard on the system. A celiac friend recommended ferrous gluconate to me as it is supposed to be easier on the system. I started that and have had no GI issues. I started very slowly though. I took 1...waited a few days...took another. I'm now taking one every other day. I realize it will take longer to get my levels up this way but I'm OK with that.

The other thing is that I make sure that the supplements are not only gluten free, but dairy and soy free as well.

I like cyclingladys suggestion of starting with one type of supplement at a time and slowly with that. I sure hope you get to feeling better soon!

[icelandgirl]

Also...yes to probiotics! I believe that they really do help!

[charlieroseburns]

Thanks guys for your help! I defiantly think I did way to much way to fast. It's hard to figure this stuff out! Hopefully I will learn some new stuff at the gluten free expo I'm going to this month.