How long should I take supplements with celiac diseases?

[Sabaarya]

Hi

I did feel a lil bit better after 2 months,but still have ups and downs. I think I’m not following a proper diet. I drink tea and coffee everyday with gluten free chocolates and biscuits that I buy from health shops here. I do use gluten free tomato paste for my food and now it’s been 4-5 days since I have this mild pain under my right rib. Like upper right side of my abdomen. I do have upset stomach as well. Headaches gotbetter,hand tingling got better,but I god stomach issues. I do take B complex and Vitamin B for almost 20 days. Do you think that vitamins can cause GI issues? I do have chronic gastrities. For how long did you take B complex ?

Saba

[cristiana]

Hi Saba

I'm so glad to read that you have experienced some improvement.

Have you checked your vitamin supplements for gluten?  A few years ago I experienced pain under my left rib and it turned out the liquid supplement I was taking did contain gluten.  

I have been diagnosed with coeliac disease since 2013 and I still take daily vitamin supplements, including B vitamins.   

Cristiana

[Sabaarya]

1 hour ago, cristiana said:

Hi Saba

I'm so glad to read that you have experienced some improvement.

Have you checked your vitamin supplements for gluten?  A few years ago I experienced pain under my left rib and it turned out the liquid supplement I was taking did contain gluten.  

I have been diagnosed with coeliac disease since 2013 and I still take daily vitamin supplements, including B vitamins.   

Cristiana

My vitamins are gluten free,not sure about iron supplements. Have you been taking your vitamins for 8 years now? Wow,that’s a lot. I always was sensitive to any kind of medications. I’m gonna stop all supplements to see if it’s get better.  What about gluten-free products? Like gluten-free chocolates,chips and biscuits? All of them contains milk,soya nuts. I don’t know if I should eat them or no:(( 

[cristiana]

Hi Saba

I have to say I don't take them religiously - I forget sometimes, for long periods.  But taking a daily quality multivitamin as a supplement was something a pharmacist and a nutritionist recommended for me as a coeliac - not huge doses of anything, we're talking a gluten free supplement containing no more than the daily recommended  amounts.  I think it is important for you to speak to your doctor before you embark on long term supplementation to make sure they are happy with what you are taking.  My own doctor warned me off a supplement which contained too much Vitamin A, for example.

In some countries you can have all your vitamin and mineral levels checked but that doesn't happen much here in the UK.  However, some tests are offered to coeliacs: vitamin D, B12, folate, iron.  I take larger doses of Vitamin D and B12 but that's under medical supervision as my levels were low at diagnosis and if I stop taking them they get very low again.   I have blood tests every six months to a year to check the levels are in a good normal range.  As for iron, it is very important as a coeliac that you have your iron levels checked on a regular basis - not just to check you aren't anemic, but also to make sure you haven't got too much in your system which can be very dangerous. 

Ideally one should be getting all one's vitamins from one's diet, though.  So whilst you and I share a great love of chocolates and biscuits every biscuit or chocolate we eat, even if gluten free, can take the place of something more healing and nutritious like a banana, or an orange, or a yoghurt ... if you see what I mean. But we have a saying in this country about food - "A little of what you fancy does you good"... and that means if the odd treat cheers you up, that's OK.  So long as it hasn't got gluten in it, obviously!  But try to concentrate on a varied diet, with at least five fruit or vegetables every day.

Edited October 20, 2021 by cristiana

[Sabaarya]

6 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi Saba

I have to say I don't take them religiously - I forget sometimes, for long periods.  But taking a daily quality multivitamin as a supplement was something a pharmacist and a nutritionist recommended for me as a coeliac - not huge doses of anything, we're talking a gluten free supplement containing no more than the daily recommended  amounts.  I think it is important for you to speak to your doctor before you embark on long term supplementation to make sure they are happy with what you are taking.  My own doctor warned me off a supplement which contained too much Vitamin A, for example.

In some countries you can have all your vitamin and mineral levels checked but that doesn't happen much here in the UK.  However, some tests are offered to coeliacs: vitamin D, B12, folate, iron.  I take larger doses of Vitamin D and B12 but that's under medical supervision as my levels were low at diagnosis and if I stop taking them they get very low again.   I have blood tests every six months to a year to check the levels are in a good normal range.  As for iron, it is very important as a coeliac that you have your iron levels checked on a regular basis - not just to check you aren't anemic, but also to make sure you haven't got too much in your system which can be very dangerous. 

Ideally one should be getting all one's vitamins from one's diet, though.  So whilst you and I share a great love of chocolates and biscuits every biscuit or chocolate we eat, even if gluten free, can take the place of something more healing and nutritious like a banana, or an orange, or a yoghurt ... if you see what I mean. But we have a saying in this country about food - "A little of what you fancy does you good"... and that means if the odd treat cheers you up, that's OK.  So long as it hasn't got gluten in it, obviously!  But try to concentrate on a varied diet, with at least five fruit or vegetables every day.

Thank you :)

[cristiana]

26 minutes ago, Sabaarya said:

Thank you

You are more than welcome Saba.

[Mike0000]

On 10/19/2021 at 9:32 AM, Sabaarya said:

Hi

I did feel a lil bit better after 2 months,but still have ups and downs. I think I’m not following a proper diet. I drink tea and coffee everyday with gluten free chocolates and biscuits that I buy from health shops here. I do use gluten free tomato paste for my food and now it’s been 4-5 days since I have this mild pain under my right rib. Like upper right side of my abdomen. I do have upset stomach as well. Headaches gotbetter,hand tingling got better,but I god stomach issues. I do take B complex and Vitamin B for almost 20 days. Do you think that vitamins can cause GI issues? I do have chronic gastrities. For how long did you take B complex ?

Saba

Hello, I have been gluten free for one year since diagnosis, your symptoms mirror my experience but you may want to take a look at lactose intolerance that may explain that pain you are describing, same description as to what has happened to me as I recently added more milk products to my diet.  After cutting milk products and switching to lactose free items, the rib location pain subsides after 3 or four days.  Lactose intolerance pretty common trigger with celiac and or can start suddenly from a variety other reasons.  

[Sabaarya]

On 10/26/2021 at 6:24 PM, Mike0000 said:

Hello, I have been gluten free for one year since diagnosis, your symptoms mirror my experience but you may want to take a look at lactose intolerance that may explain that pain you are describing, same description as to what has happened to me as I recently added more milk products to my diet.  After cutting milk products and switching to lactose free items, the rib location pain subsides after 3 or four days.  Lactose intolerance pretty common trigger with celiac and or can start suddenly from a variety other reasons.  

Hi.

I’m  pretty sure I’m lactose intolerant,cause I feel bloated right after drinking milk. I hate milk. But I love all sorts of cheeses and yogurt. Anyway not having dairy products for 2 months except for cheddar cheese and goat cheese. Had the GI dietitian appointment. She said it takes time for villi to get healed and avoid oats and dairy for now. My doctor wanted repeat endoscopy after 3 months but dietitian thinks it’s too early even with mild atrophy. She recommendation was to wait at least for 6 months. I cut my vitamins for couple of days now and the right rib pain is much better.