Swollen lymph nodes in connection to celiac.

[RDLiberty]

This is kind of a followup to a thread I posted two days ago.

I am kinda just wanting to gather info before contacting my doctor.

How many people here have issues with chronically swollen lymph nodes, not tied to any cancerous cause? I have been panicking ever since I read that swollen lymph nodes and having celiac is considered a serious concern.

Mind you, all my chronically swollen nodes (ranging anywhere from a year swollen to 5+ years swollen), are in my head and neck, they've been ultrasounded once, and CT scanned twice. Everything came up as being mildly swollen but normal on scans and when the dr. felt them. The hematologist/oncologist I saw said they were likely a result of my auto-immune issues (diabetes, hoshimotos), but at the time I hadn't yet been diagnosed with celiac.

So, my question is, how many people with celiac have swollen nodes as well and have had them checked, confirming it's not cancerous? I just want to know how common non-cancerous swollen nodes are in celiac patients and how pushy I need to be with my dr. about any followups since I've been diagnosed with celiac on top of my other conditions and chronically swollen nodes.

I hate to be repetitive but I just want to have all the info ahead of calling the dr. Thanks.

[trents]

Just some quick googling did confirm that swollen glands can be associated with autoimmune diseases and certainly, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. However, the only thing I could find that specifically connected lymphatic problems to celiac disease was NHL. I could be wrong but my impression is lymphoma of the small bowel rather than head or neck is how it usually manifests in celiacs. Again, it was a quick search so there may be more and it may be better to zoom out to autoimmune disorders in general in this case. If this has been going on for five years and no cancer has been found then I would not think cancer is a primary concern. But I would not take anything for granted and make sure you get regular checkups for lymphoma.

I wonder if it would be valuable to talk to your doctor about being put on a prednisone regimen for a time to see if the lymph nodes quiet down.

[RDLiberty]

14 hours ago, trents said:

Just some quick googling did confirm that swollen glands can be associated with autoimmune diseases and certainly, celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. However, the only thing I could find that specifically connected lymphatic problems to celiac disease was NHL. I could be wrong but my impression is lymphoma of the small bowel rather than head or neck is how it usually manifests in celiacs. Again, it was a quick search so there may be more and it may be better to zoom out to autoimmune disorders in general in this case. If this has been going on for five years and no cancer has been found then I would not think cancer is a primary concern. But I would not take anything for granted and make sure you get regular checkups for lymphoma.

I wonder if it would be valuable to talk to your doctor about being put on a prednisone regimen for a time to see if the lymph nodes quiet down.

Thank you! I noticed the same thing, all the lymph node info with celiac seemed connected to NHL in the bowels/intestines. I haven't noticed any swollen lymph nodes in my abdomen, plus I just had a hysterectomy two days ago and with that the doctor was all over in my abdomen and he didn't mention anything of concern regarding lymph nodes or intestines. I haven't gotten to speak to him directly yet and ask further questions though.

That said, I looked up intestinal lymphoma and aside from swollen lymph nodes (but in my head and neck, not my stomach), I don't have any symptoms related to it.

I guess it just scared me with reading that lymph nodes + celiac = scary. I would assume that two CT scans of my head and neck, and no further changes since, would be pretty much my answer, but give my celiac diagnosis, I'd also like to be getting checking for lymphomas more regularly.

I have had two of these lymph nodes for 5+ years, the other three for over a year now. There hasn't been any changes in that time, my last CT scan was late March of this year.

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

The lymph nodes are part of the immune system which helps us fight off pathogens like viruses and bacteria and other antigens like pollen and gluten.  Nodes can swell during these times.

Release of histamine by mast cells is part of the immune response to fight antigens.  Histamine release can affect the thyroid.  Thyroid hormones can also affect mast cells and their histamine release. 

High levels of histamine affect the lymph nodes.  Some cells in the lymphatic system (the links between lymph nodes throughout the body) can contract and pump lymph fluid around the body.  High histamine levels cause the lymphatic pump cells to stop contracting.  Lymph fluid doesn't move around and the nodes swell.  

High levels of histamine are linked to some cancers.  High histamine levels are found in Diabetes and other autoimmune diseases like Celiac Disease.

Histamine is degraded (broken down) by an enzyme called Diamine oxidase (DAO).  This enzyme is made in the villi lining the small intestine.  These villi cannot make DAO nor lactase when blunted and damaged in Celiac Disease.  Taking DAO supplements has been shown to improve histamine degradation.

A Low Histamine Diet can help lower histamine levels in the body.  Histamine is naturally occurring in foods.  Eliminating high histamine foods from the diet provides relief from the histamine load the body has to clear.  Caffeine stimulates histamine release.  

I've had swollen neck lymph nodes until my Celiac diagnosis and subsequent Autoimmune Paleo Diet (with low histamine foods only).  My swollen neck lymph nodes started shrinking.  Correcting poor posture helped, too.  I was sitting unmindfully with rounded shoulders, hunched over, head jutting forward to squint because I have poor eyesight.  Sitting up straight allows for better circulation. 

Discuss with your doctor and nutritionist the low histamine diet and Diamine Oxidase supplements.

Hope this helps!

References:

Thyroid Hormone, Thyroid Hormone Metabolites and Mast Cells: A Less Explored Issue

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449760/

And...

Itching for Answers: How Histamine Relaxes Lymphatic Vessels

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6859891/

And...

Histamine Intolerance—The More We Know the Less We Know. A Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8308327/

And...

Histamine Intolerance Originates in the Gut

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8069563/

[trents]

RDLiberty, it would be a good idea I think to look into the low histamine diet.

[RDLiberty]

Thank you, both of you.

I honestly do not mind having the swollen nodes as long as I know they are not cancerous. They do not hurt, nor do they effect how I function on a day to day. I just want to make sure they aren't anything 'lethal', which so far, CT scans seem to show they aren't. I just really want to be sure my doctor has run all tests needed to confirm that. They, so far, have said my nodes are too small to be worth biopsying, which disappoints me, but what can I do if the doctor says they aren't big enough?

I have been doing pretty well on my gluten free diet all in all, though I did notice that when I got glutened a few days ago, my nodes did feel harder for several days as though they were reacting to that gluten in my system. They seem to be improving once again with the gluten free diet.

I have heard of the low histamine diet, and I really appreciate the further info on it. Because I don't have pain with my nodes, I don't think I'm going to go horribly drastic with my diet though. I have already given up gluten and many things with gluten that I really enjoy (beer for example, pastries, etc), so giving up coffee is simply not something I'm willing to do. There are really very few things left I get to have that I like, plain black coffee is one of them. lol I can understand why someone would do so though if they were having pain or other adverse reactions.

Overall, I don't feel I am doing too bad since I've gone gluten free though. I am thinking about getting tested for a few more vitamin deficiencies, such as my B-levels. I already take magnesium and vitamin D3, as I was deficient in 3 prior to supplementing. I know that can be related to anything from the diabetes to the hoshimotos and celiac.

I have struggled a bit because I simply don't have symptoms to judge by. I don't have stomach upset, I feel pretty good all in all, so except for the apparent reaction of my lymph nodes after eating gluten several days ago, I have nothing to go by symptom wise.

If I could just get final confirmation from my dr. that my lymph nodes are okay, I'd be happy. Interestingly enough, my dr. has several swollen nodes that he's had since his 20s and he's now in his 50s. He said they're just there and he's learned not to worry about them. Because of my diabetes and hoshimotos, and now celiac, I'm hoping the case is the same for me. Problem is, I'm someone who needs an absolute answer, not a guess, which seems to be hard to get from doctors nowadays.

 

[RDLiberty]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

The lymph nodes are part of the immune system which helps us fight off pathogens like viruses and bacteria and other antigens like pollen and gluten.  Nodes can swell during these times.

Release of histamine by mast cells is part of the immune response to fight antigens.  Histamine release can affect the thyroid.  Thyroid hormones can also affect mast cells and their histamine release. 

High levels of histamine affect the lymph nodes.  Some cells in the lymphatic system (the links between lymph nodes throughout the body) can contract and pump lymph fluid around the body.  High histamine levels cause the lymphatic pump cells to stop contracting.  Lymph fluid doesn't move around and the nodes swell.  

High levels of histamine are linked to some cancers.  High histamine levels are found in Diabetes and other autoimmune diseases like Celiac Disease.

Histamine is degraded (broken down) by an enzyme called Diamine oxidase (DAO).  This enzyme is made in the villi lining the small intestine.  These villi cannot make DAO nor lactase when blunted and damaged in Celiac Disease.  Taking DAO supplements has been shown to improve histamine degradation.

A Low Histamine Diet can help lower histamine levels in the body.  Histamine is naturally occurring in foods.  Eliminating high histamine foods from the diet provides relief from the histamine load the body has to clear.  Caffeine stimulates histamine release.  

I've had swollen neck lymph nodes until my Celiac diagnosis and subsequent Autoimmune Paleo Diet (with low histamine foods only).  My swollen neck lymph nodes started shrinking.  Correcting poor posture helped, too.  I was sitting unmindfully with rounded shoulders, hunched over, head jutting forward to squint because I have poor eyesight.  Sitting up straight allows for better circulation. 

Discuss with your doctor and nutritionist the low histamine diet and Diamine Oxidase supplements.

Hope this helps!

References:

Thyroid Hormone, Thyroid Hormone Metabolites and Mast Cells: A Less Explored Issue

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6449760/

And...

Itching for Answers: How Histamine Relaxes Lymphatic Vessels

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6859891/

And...

Histamine Intolerance—The More We Know the Less We Know. A Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8308327/

And...

Histamine Intolerance Originates in the Gut

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8069563/

I am interested in the supplement for DAO.

What blood tests would be recommended for deficiencies, etc? My doctor is very thorough, but if there's anything else I should ask her about, I'd like to know regarding simple tests. Might as well, right?

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty

The Erythrocyte Transketolase test may give more accurate results concerning Thiamine utilization by the body than serum levels.

Blood serum levels can reflect any vitamins you've been talking, so don't supplement for about eight weeks prior. 

Blood serum levels are not accurate.  The body will deplete stores of vitamins inside cells in order to keep blood serum levels "normal".  One can have deficiency symptoms before blood levels reflect an outright deficiency.  

Subclinical vitamin deficiency symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously depending on the amount of vitamins are absorbed from the diet.  For example, a twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes a eighty percent improvement in brain function and symptoms.  

The B Complex vitamins are water soluble. If not needed, any excess is easily excreted.  

Since testing vitamin status is so flawed, taking B vitamins and looking for health improvements may be a better option.  

 

[RDLiberty]

5 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty

The Erythrocyte Transketolase test may give more accurate results concerning Thiamine utilization by the body than serum levels.

Blood serum levels can reflect any vitamins you've been talking, so don't supplement for about eight weeks prior. 

Blood serum levels are not accurate.  The body will deplete stores of vitamins inside cells in order to keep blood serum levels "normal".  One can have deficiency symptoms before blood levels reflect an outright deficiency.  

Subclinical vitamin deficiency symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously depending on the amount of vitamins are absorbed from the diet.  For example, a twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes a eighty percent improvement in brain function and symptoms.  

The B Complex vitamins are water soluble. If not needed, any excess is easily excreted.  

Since testing vitamin status is so flawed, taking B vitamins and looking for health improvements may be a better option.  

 

I didn't know this, thank you so much.

I think the next supplement I'll start is a b complex. There's a total of eight different B vitamins, correct? I was taking a b12 supplement for a while, but I struggle to remember because you're not supposed to take it at night (when I take my other supplements), and I can't take it in the morning too close to my thyroid replacement, so I have to remember to take it in the early afternoon. I should seriously start making notes for all this.

Interestingly enough, also, my lymph nodes, though always somewhat swollen and easily felt under the skin, they seemed to be softer and less noticeable for the longest time when I was taking my glidin-X supplement. I had to stop taking it ahead of surgery, but now I can take it again, so I'm wondering if maybe the CC was getting me and the supplement was stopping that. It'll be interesting to see what happens now that I can resume normal supplementation.

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

Yes there are eight B vitamins.  Look for a B 50 Complex or a B 100 Complex.  These have higher levels of the B vitamins which should replenish your stores quickly.  

Thiamine needs magnesium to make enzymes, so you might want to add a magnesium glycinate supplement.  Magnesium citrate is good, also.  Magnesium oxide is not absorbed well.  

Many people think they are getting cross-contaminated, but it may be high histamine levels being released by foods in their diet.  

I believe Gliadin-X is designed for occasional use.  You might prefer to try the DAO supplements instead.  Gliadin-X is made from Aspergillis Niger, a.k.a. black mold.  So I can't take it.

Keep us posted on your progress!

[RDLiberty]

12 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

Yes there are eight B vitamins.  Look for a B 50 Complex or a B 100 Complex.  These have higher levels of the B vitamins which should replenish your stores quickly.  

Thiamine needs magnesium to make enzymes, so you might want to add a magnesium glycinate supplement.  Magnesium citrate is good, also.  Magnesium oxide is not absorbed well.  

Many people think they are getting cross-contaminated, but it may be high histamine levels being released by foods in their diet.  

I believe Gliadin-X is designed for occasional use.  You might prefer to try the DAO supplements instead.  Gliadin-X is made from Aspergillis Niger, a.k.a. black mold.  So I can't take it.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Thanks for the info. I think I take Magnesium Citrate but I can't remember. I'll have to check what type it is on the bottle.

I live in a shared house with family who still eats gluten, as well as pets eating gluten containing foods, so I'm at high risk for CC. I actually emailed the Gliagin-X company to ask if it was safe for daily use and would continue to work, they said yes, but I appreciate the info. I may add a DAO supplement into the rotation though as well. Does a DAO supplement help with the processing of accidental gluten Cross Contamination in day to day diets?

The lymph nodes may well just be something I have to live with and might have nothing to do with the celiac, which, barring any serious medical causes for them, I am fine with. As long as I feel good and there's nothing scary lurking, I'm happy. I just want to do everything I can to be healthy despite my diabetes, hoshimotos, and celiac. That being said, all my drs rave about how good I'm doing, so I do feel like I'm on the right track.

Thanks for all the vitamin info. I'm going to do some research into b-vitamins and hopefully start taking them soon! I'll let everyone know if/when my dr has anything new to say regarding the lymph nodes in correlation to the celiac.

Thanks again, -RD!

 

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

If the family you're living with are first degree relatives (parents, children), they need to be tested.  Celiac Disease is inherited.

Good to know that Gliadin X is good for regular use.  

DAO will help to break down histamine released when you do get cross contaminated, and if you eat high histamine foods. 

I encourage you to check into a low histamine diet.

Here's a good place to start with research on B vitamins.  There's a fact sheet for vitamins and minerals.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional/

[RDLiberty]

39 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

If the family you're living with are first degree relatives (parents, children), they need to be tested.  Celiac Disease is inherited.

Good to know that Gliadin X is good for regular use.  

DAO will help to break down histamine released when you do get cross contaminated, and if you eat high histamine foods. 

I encourage you to check into a low histamine diet.

Here's a good place to start with research on B vitamins.  There's a fact sheet for vitamins and minerals.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional/

I have mentioned this to family, they haven't decided to get tested yet but they know about it. Nobody listens to me in my house. lol

That's what the email said. I would confirm for yourself just in case, (I'm kinda OCD about that.), but that's what they told me anyway.

I am interested in the DAO supplement because I am going to continue drinking coffee and eating those histamine foods. I am already so restricted that I just don't want to lose out on more nutrients due to an even more restricted diet. I don't want to risk not getting the nutrients I need, especially considering I don't have any physical reactions to it.

Thanks! I checked and I'm currently taking magnesium oxide. I need to do some shopping, see about getting the citrate and a super b-complex. I've heard they have a good one from costco. Haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet though. I have to make sure they're all gluten free as well.

 

 

[RDLiberty]

Also, from what I can see thru my research, there's really no harm in taking a DAO supplement, even if I don't necessarily need it, it's not going to hurt, so I'm going to look into that as well. As long as it's not going to cause something else, there's certainly no harm in trying it. 👍

[RDLiberty]

I found this type on Amazon, is this okay? It's gluten free, appears to have everything needed in it.

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

No, that one has thiamine mononitrate which is not readily useable by the body.  

Thiamine Hydrochloride is better, like in this one.  

It doesn't have rice flour as a filler which is good.

https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item01945/bioactive-complete-b-complex?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrcHYjL7TgQMVGjfUAR1z_wClEAAYASAAEgL3pPD_BwE

And get some Benfotiamine.  Benfotiamine is a form of Thiamine that the body can easily use.  Benfotiamine promotes intestinal healing and has anti-inflammatory properties.

https://www.lifeextension.com/search#q=Benfotiamine&t=coveo4A2453FD

 

What sort of high histamine foods do you regularly eat besides coffee?

[RDLiberty]

4 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

No, that one has thiamine mononitrate which is not readily useable by the body.  

Thiamine Hydrochloride is better, like in this one.  

It doesn't have rice flour as a filler which is good.

https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item01945/bioactive-complete-b-complex?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrcHYjL7TgQMVGjfUAR1z_wClEAAYASAAEgL3pPD_BwE

And get some Benfotiamine.  Benfotiamine is a form of Thiamine that the body can easily use.  Benfotiamine promotes intestinal healing and has anti-inflammatory properties.

https://www.lifeextension.com/search#q=Benfotiamine&t=coveo4A2453FD

 

What sort of high histamine foods do you regularly eat besides coffee?

Thanks, found of both of these types on Amazon, not a bad price actually, I was pleasantly surprised. You really can find anything online nowadays.

Besides coffee, I eat tomato, avocado, dairy, and an occasional soda (pepsi, etc). (I also drink a lot of carbonated water but the kind without sugar or artificial flavorings, just fizzy water with fruit essence like LaCroix and Polar). I don't eat a lot of smoked meats, but occasionally, and I do eat nuts. These are all things I enjoy and they cause me zero stomach upset. Actually, I don't really have stomach issues, which was why being diagnosed with celiac was such a surprise. Before I was diagnosed, I was under the impression that celiacs all had stomach related symptoms. This has been a huge learning curve for me.

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

That's great that you've identified the high histamine foods in your diet!   

No, not everyone has gastrointestinal symptoms. Many other autoimmune diseases are found frequently with Celiac Disease, like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Diabetes.  High histamine levels are problematic in all three.

High histamine causes inflammation in tissues and organs throughout the body.  It's not just limited to the gastrointestinal tract.  High histamine has been linked to certain types of cancers.  

Tumor-Associated Mast Cells in Thyroid Cancer

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4563106/

 

I found following a low histamine gluten free diet while my body healed helped me feel better.  I followed the Low Histamine version of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  (The Paleo Approach by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne is a great book to help with the learning curve in Celiac Disease and other autoimmune diseases and explains the AIP diet.)

Occasionally, I would test one high histamine food.  If I experienced high histamine symptoms (stuffy or runny nose, fatigue, hives, headaches), I would leave that food out of my diet until my immune system calmed down more.  I eat high histamine foods now.  

I'm glad you found the vitamins!  

[RDLiberty]

17 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

That's great that you've identified the high histamine foods in your diet!   

No, not everyone has gastrointestinal symptoms. Many other autoimmune diseases are found frequently with Celiac Disease, like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Diabetes.  High histamine levels are problematic in all three.

High histamine causes inflammation in tissues and organs throughout the body.  It's not just limited to the gastrointestinal tract.  High histamine has been linked to certain types of cancers.  

Tumor-Associated Mast Cells in Thyroid Cancer

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4563106/

 

I found following a low histamine gluten free diet while my body healed helped me feel better.  I followed the Low Histamine version of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  (The Paleo Approach by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne is a great book to help with the learning curve in Celiac Disease and other autoimmune diseases and explains the AIP diet.)

Occasionally, I would test one high histamine food.  If I experienced high histamine symptoms (stuffy or runny nose, fatigue, hives, headaches), I would leave that food out of my diet until my immune system calmed down more.  I eat high histamine foods now.  

I'm glad you found the vitamins!  

That's very good to know.

It all tracks, really. I've already had thyroid cancer, and had a full thyroid removal last fall. I have just recently gotten my thyroid numbers normalized with proper medication. My diabetes is well managed, had it since I was three. As far a the hoshimoto's goes, I haven't noticed any symptoms from it since the thyroid removal. Before that, I had pretty bad joint aches sometimes and I put on a lot of weight. I'm still working on losing weight at this point. 

I've been trying to decide whether I should try and find an actual GI and get an endoscope done. My endocrinologist diagnosed me with the celiac via blood test, but I haven't had further testing because it's so hard to find doctors actually knowledgeable about Celiac. At this, I've gotten used to the gluten free and I really don't mind it, in fact I've learned to eat more protein and am probably healthier for it, but I still don't know if I have any intestinal damage or what, because I haven't had further testing done. I'm leery about going back to eating gluten long enough to get more tests done, honestly.

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

Benfotiamine helps is great for diabetes.  It helps with insulin sensitivity, prevents retinal damage, improves polyneuropathy.  80-90% of diabetes are thiamine deficient.  Benfotiamine has helped me lower my blood glucose levels and lose weight.  

I would advise getting an endoscopy WITHOUT a gluten challenge beforehand.  The Hippocratic oath says "first do no harm..."  I had gone gluten free then tried doing a gluten challenge and made myself seriously ill and had to stop.  Had blood tests anyway.  Blood tests for people with Diabetes and anemia can result in false negatives.  Mine did.  I requested a genetic test.  Turns out I have two Celiac genes.  I get digestive symptoms and Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH).  Celiac Disease inside and out.  Lol

An endoscopy would give you a baseline with which to compare future ones.  But don't make yourself sick.  Do  the genetic test.

Are you taking Vitamin D?  Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system.  Lots of people with autoimmune diseases are deficient in Vitamin D.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

[RDLiberty]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

Benfotiamine helps is great for diabetes.  It helps with insulin sensitivity, prevents retinal damage, improves polyneuropathy.  80-90% of diabetes are thiamine deficient.  Benfotiamine has helped me lower my blood glucose levels and lose weight.  

I would advise getting an endoscopy WITHOUT a gluten challenge beforehand.  The Hippocratic oath says "first do no harm..."  I had gone gluten free then tried doing a gluten challenge and made myself seriously ill and had to stop.  Had blood tests anyway.  Blood tests for people with Diabetes and anemia can result in false negatives.  Mine did.  I requested a genetic test.  Turns out I have two Celiac genes.  I get digestive symptoms and Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH).  Celiac Disease inside and out.  Lol

An endoscopy would give you a baseline with which to compare future ones.  But don't make yourself sick.  Do  the genetic test.

Are you taking Vitamin D?  Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system.  Lots of people with autoimmune diseases are deficient in Vitamin D.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

I am more leery toward eating gluten again, simply because I'm out of the habit now and I don't want to get back into it. I don't feel sick on gluten, but I finally stopped missing it and I'd like to keep it that way, which is why I really don't want to go back to it for the sake of tests. I'll have my dr. keep doing the routine blood tests though and continue to go by how I feel. I'm two days out of a hysterectomy so I really don't want to have more medical procedures for a while anyway. lol

Yes, I am taking vitamin D3 because I was deficient, they tested me for that last year when they found out about my hoshimotos antibodies. Since I've been taking it, my levels have normalized and I do feel better overall.

For me, I'm all for adding in supplements and vitamin replacements, anything that I can do to help my body regulate itself without extra pharmaceuticals or highly restrictive diets (beyond being gluten free). I don't think enough doctors stop and consider vitamin and mineral deficiencies when someone comes in with unexplained symptoms, not to mention all the auto-immune disorders that go diagnosed.

My hematologist did say to me, considering my auto-immune issues, he'd be more surprised if I didn't have some swollen lymph nodes. I guess I should really stop stressing about the nodes and focus more on how I feel. Honestly, all in all, I feel pretty damn good. I just have such severe health anxiety that it's hard for me not to feel like I'm constantly going to die and like something lethal is always lurking. 🤦‍♀️

 

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

I understand how you feel.  I had health anxiety and a feeling of impending doom.  I chalk it up to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  As soon as I started supplementing with the essential vitamins and minerals, my health improved and that feeling went away.  I figure it was my body trying to tell my conscious mind something was seriously wrong.  

Doctors get about twenty-four hours of nutritional education during seven to ten years in medical school.  They are taught certain vitamin deficiencies only happen in alcoholism or third world starving countries.  

The doctors during the thirties and forties were more familiar with vitamin deficiencies.  In WWII, vitamins were issued to every soldier.  The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years had lead to malnutrition in many.  

But medical schools are funded by pharmaceutical companies, so doctors get more training in prescribing pharmaceuticals.  

Vitamins cannot be patented, so there's no profit for doctors to prescribe vitamins.  However, big pharmaceutical pays them well for prescribing pharmaceuticals.  

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

[RDLiberty]

32 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@RDLiberty,

I understand how you feel.  I had health anxiety and a feeling of impending doom.  I chalk it up to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  As soon as I started supplementing with the essential vitamins and minerals, my health improved and that feeling went away.  I figure it was my body trying to tell my conscious mind something was seriously wrong.  

Doctors get about twenty-four hours of nutritional education during seven to ten years in medical school.  They are taught certain vitamin deficiencies only happen in alcoholism or third world starving countries.  

The doctors during the thirties and forties were more familiar with vitamin deficiencies.  In WWII, vitamins were issued to every soldier.  The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years had lead to malnutrition in many.  

But medical schools are funded by pharmaceutical companies, so doctors get more training in prescribing pharmaceuticals.  

Vitamins cannot be patented, so there's no profit for doctors to prescribe vitamins.  However, big pharmaceutical pays them well for prescribing pharmaceuticals.  

 

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

Wow. I knew vitamin training was limited in medical training, but I had no idea it was that limited. I'm honestly kind of surprised my endocrinologist is as versed in it as she is, but she's a really good doctor and I think she's gone above and beyond most MDs.

It's just been a really long, hard year. Started out with the swollen lymph nodes in June of last year, then the hoshimotos, then the thyroid cancer, then the thyroid removal (which by the way is way more painful than a hysterectomy, which totally surprised me), and then the Celiac. I feel like in the past couple years my health has totally tanked on me.

Am I feeling better now than I have in a long time? Yes, but I still feel like there's holes. I'm thinking you're correct in that it might be deficiencies. I'm looking forward to getting these different vitamins ordered and seeing what changes it brings. Even just with my hair and stuff, I feel like my hair doesn't grow as it should, and maybe that's why. I never really thought about the effect of vitamins on stuff like this. Thank you!!

 

[knitty kitty]

@RDLiberty,

My mom had Hashimoto's, then thyroid cancer and removal.  I had the painful hysterectomy.  Vitamin D deficiency caused my endometriosis but only learned later Vitamin D supplements would have corrected it or prevented it altogether.

Be sure to get plenty of Vitamin C!   It's important to wound healing!  My incision tore and didn't heal properly.  Again, Vitamin C would have helped.  

My hair has grown back thicker after supplementing.  Yours will, too.

 

Vitamin C and scar strength: analysis of a historical trial and implications for collagen-related pathologies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34396385/

[RDLiberty]

For me, the hysterectomy was technically elective, I'm childfree and wanted to keep it that way. It just so happens that when they went in to do the surgery, they found out the endometriosis was really bad, so in a way, being childfree and wanting to get sterilized was a saving grace for me. I seem to be healing extremely quickly though. I had the surgery Thursday and I already feel really good. I'm amazed.

I use vitamin C powder, mix it with lemon water, drink it a lot. Kinda like an energy drink but without all the sugar of gatorade.

I'm really excited to see how the vitamins help overall!