Jump to content

  • 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 Our Content
    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.

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

 

 

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.

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.

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

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.  

 

 

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!  

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.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

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!

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

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author
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!

Archived

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

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

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,799
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Liss Drisk
    Newest Member
    Liss Drisk
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • RMJ
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By RMJ · Posted

      The normal ranges can vary for the tissue transglutaminase and gliadin antibody celiac tests because the units aren’t absolute.  Could you please tell us what the normal ranges are for the laboratory used? If her tissue transglutaminase results are 10-fold above the normal range some would diagnose her on that alone.  Endomysial antibody ranges are more standardized, and a titer of 1:5 would usually be normal.  Might that be the normal range and not her result?  Her total immunoglobulin A is normal for her age. (This is tested because if low, then the other IgA tests might not be valid).
    • Samanthaeileen1
      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

      By Samanthaeileen1 · Posted

      Hello there! New to celiac community, although I have lots of family in it.  My two year old was just diagnosed with celiac disease based on symptoms and bloodwork.  symptoms (swollen belly, stomach hurting, gagging all the time, regular small vomit, fatigue, irritability, bum hurting, etc) she got tests at 18 months and her bloodwork was normal. She just got tested again at 2 1/2  because her symptoms were getting worse and these were her results :   Tissue Transglutaminase Ab, IgA 58.8 Unit/mL (High) Endomysial Antibody IgA Titer 1:5 titer (Abnormal)   Gliadin Antibody IgA < 1.0 Unit/mL Gliadin Antibody IgG 8.5 Unit/mL Immunoglobulin A 66 mg/dL Her regular pediatrician diagnosed her with celiac and told us to put her on the strict gluten free diet and that we wouldn’t do an endoscopy since it was so positive and she is so little (26lbs and two years old). I’m honestly happy with this decision, but my family is saying I should push and get an endoscopy for her. It just seems unnecessary and an endoscopy has its own risks that make me nervous. I’m certain she has celiac especially with it running in mine and my husbands family. We are now thinking of testing ourselves and our 5 year old as well.  anyways what would y’all recommend though? Should we ask for an endoscopy and a GI referral? (We are moving soon in 5 months so I think that’s part of why she didn’t refer us to GI)    
    • olivia11
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By olivia11 · Posted

      This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too color coding and baking G F first makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too color coding and baking G F first makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too color coding and baking G F first makes a lot of sense.   You are not confusing yourself  you have got it right. Thiamax (TTFD) plus a B-complex, and if you want benfotiamine, the Life Extension formula covers that at ~100 mg.
    • olivia11
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By olivia11 · Posted

      High fiber can definitely cause sudden GI distress especially if it’s a new addition but accidental gluten exposure can feel similar. Keeping a simple food/symptom log and introducing new gluten-free foods one at a time can really help you spot the pattern. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too; color-coding and baking gluten-free first makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too; color-coding and baking gluten-free first makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too; color-coding and baking gluten-free first makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful  I had not considered sugar alcohols or inulin as triggers. Thanks for the practical baking tips too; color-coding and baking gluten-free first makes a lot of sense.
    • xxnonamexx
      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      sorry a bit confused so I should take my B complex along with Objective Nutrients Thiamax for TTFD but what about a Benfotiamine to take. The Life extensions contains Benfotiamine and Thiamine together or im confusing myself. I am trying to see if I take Thiamax what should I take for Benfotiamine. Thanks EDITING after further research I see ones water soluble ones fat soluble. So I guess 100MG as you suggested of Life Extension contains Benfotiamine and Thiamine Hydrochloride. and the Objective Nutrients Thiamax contains TTFD.     would work for me.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.