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Anemia

penguin11

By penguin11
in Related Issues & Disorders

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penguin11 Explorer
penguin11
Posted

Hello,

Did anyone have anemia before getting getting diagnosed with celiac disease? Is so, how did it feel, and how long did it go before you saw an improvement after going gluten-free?

 

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trents Grand Master
trents
Posted
(edited)

Anemia is one of the most common spinoffs of celiac disease. I was slightly anemic before I was diagnosed but not enough to really produce symptoms. Becoming easily fatigued is usually the first symptom of significant anemia. You may also experience rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, feeling chilly like the thermostat has been turned down and brittle nails. That's not a complete catalog but some of the more common effects produced by anemia.

Anemia should begin to resolve slowly after going truly gluten free if you are a celiac. Recovery from anemia can be speeded up by taking iron supplements. If you have a type of anemia called pernicious anemia you lack an enzyme produced by the stomach called "intrinsic factor" which makes you unable to absorb vitamin B12. B12 is necessary for the assimilation of iron. In that case you would need B12 injections regularly.

Edited by trents
Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

I did not have anemia, but this is definitely one of the more common symptoms, and is one of the primary ways that people who don't know that they have celiac disease find out that they have it. 

  • 5 months later...
europyia Rookie
europyia
Posted

I was severely Anemic. Had to get regular Iron Infusions. And had to see a Hematologist regularly. Extreme fatigue, wanted to sleep all the time, light headed,  cold hands and feet. 

Went gluten free after diagnosis and my numbers came back up within 6 months.

 

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    • trents
      celiac, chocolate and alcohol

      By trents · Posted

      So, you had both and endoscopy with biopsy and a colonoscopy. That helps me understand what you were trying to communicate. No, no! It never occurred to me that you were trying to mislead me. It's just that we get a lot of posters on the forum who are misinformed about what celiac disease is and how it is diagnosed so I need some clarification from you which you were so gracious to give.
    • barb simkin
      celiac, chocolate and alcohol

      By barb simkin · Posted

      I had both the genetic genes for celiac.  My gastroenologist advised he also took a biopsy during one of my colonoscopies and endoscopy and advised I had celiac disease, along with stomach ulcers from my esophagus stomach down to my small bowel. I was shown the ulcers on the catscan and endoscopy report.  I also had polyps in 3 places throughout my large bowel. I was on a strict diet for months following.  I am sorry if I didnt define how I was diagnosed with celiac disease.  I am sorry if you think I was misleading you. I also had to pay $150.00 for the genetic testing.
    • trents
      celiac, chocolate and alcohol

      By trents · Posted

      So, I'm a little confused here. I understand you to say that you have not been officially diagnosed with celiac disease. Is this correct?  You have had genetic testing done to check for the potential for developing celiac disease and that was positive. Is this correct? I think you meant to type "gluten sensitivity" but you typed "gluten insensitivity". Just so we are clear about the terminology, there is celiac disease and there is NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). They are not the same but they have overlapping symptoms. Celiac disease causes damage to the small bowel lining but NCGS does not. NCGS is often referred to in short form as gluten sensitivity. However, people often use the terms celiac disease and gluten sensitivity interchangeably so it can be unclear which disease they are referring to. Genetic testing cannot be used to diagnose celiac disease but it can be used to establish the potential to develop active celiac disease. About 40% of the general population has one or both of  the genes that have been most strongly connected with the potential to develop active celiac disease but only about 1% of the population actually develops active celiac disease. This makes the genetic test useful for ruling out celiac disease but not for diagnosing it. A colonoscopy cannot be used to diagnose celiac disease because it doesn't permit the scope to go up into the small bowel where celiac disease does the damage. They use an endoscopy ("upper GI) for checking the small bowel lining for celiac damage.
    • barb simkin
      celiac, chocolate and alcohol

      By barb simkin · Posted

      I did nor read the chocolate pkg as it was of fered to me and I ate 2 pcs. I do know that only very dark chocolate and and a very few others are gluten free. Most alcohols contain gluten. I have several yrs of not knowing my celiac condition as docs would not do the test. After looking on the internet about my sufferings I insisted on the gene trsting which showed positive for gluten insensitivity and a biopsy on my next colonoscopy that also showed positive which could not help the damage done to my small bowel. So I very rarely have a glass of wine
    • trents
      celiac, chocolate and alcohol

      By trents · Posted

      @barb simkin, are you sure the chocolate products are gluten-free and not "manufactured on equipment that also handles wheat products and tree nuts", i.e., cross-contamination? And what kind of alcoholic beverages are we talking about? Most beers are made from gluten-containing grains. Just checking.
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