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Anyone Else Have A B12 & Iron Deficiency?

californiagirl

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californiagirl Newbie
californiagirl
Posted

First of all I'd like to thank everyone here for helping me with all of your suggestions and advice. It has helped me sooo much this last week. I began having noticable symptoms (that interfered with my daily routine) March of last year. My Mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the month prior and her Doctors gave her 11 weeks. So during that time I blew my symptoms off as stress related. My Mother passed away in December and I continued getting worse. I went to see my GP and he said I had Gerd,he gave me some meds and no improvment. I began keeping a food diary. In mid May everything I ate made me sick. Heartburn, severe cramping & diarrhea, fatigue. Last week I had a colonoscopy, bloodwork, barrium test, ultrasound. I have to wait for the blood work 10 days. But my doctor did say that he thought I had Celiac and that I had flattening of the villi. In the first round of bloodwork I was iron deficient and very low in B12 which he said was unusual for a woman. I'm not sure what a lot of that means. Does anyone else have this? I did start gluten-free Saturday. It's really hard,overwhelming at first. So many foods with gluten. Today is the first day I have felt somewhat good in a very long time. But I'm still so tired, very little energy. Thanks again,

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Guest jhmom
Guest jhmom
Posted

Welcome to the board!

I am sorry for the loss of your mother. I know that is a very hard thing to deal with no matter how old you are. I am glad you did not pass off your health problems as stress, as so many people tend to do. THe gluten-free diet can be VERY overwhelming at first, just hang in there it does get better. Once you really begin to feel a difference in your health it will ALL be worth it!

Browse around the site, there are a TON of helpful links on the site about gluten-free foods, safe places to eat, etc...

I will go ahead and give you a few links:

Open Original Shared Link

Safe & Forbidden Food & Ingredient Lists for Gluten-Free Diets

I am not sure about the resturants in your area but here are some links of places that offer a gluten-free menu and is posted on their website

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

oreyes Newbie
oreyes
Posted

Californiagirl,

Heartfelt comfort for the loss of your mother.

You asked about a deficiency of B12 and iron. My celiac diease was misdiagnosed for seven years and I experieced both of those plus severe anemia. I received three transfusions but still could not get my iron levels up. My stomach wouldn't tolerate iron tablets so I finally had to have an iron infusion. Since then, my levels have stayed pretty normal. With all the diarrhea, my system was absorbing very little nutrition and I'm wondering if you've not experienced the same problem. I've been gluten free for three years now and except for one bad bout that lasted for a couple of month this spring, I've felt great.

Hang in there and don't become discouraged. In the three years that I've been diagnosed there have been so many improvements in food products and restaurants that are gluten-free friendly. I believe this is a diease that's just being discovered by many physicians here in the states. As stated in the previous e-mail, I think you'll find a lot of information on this site and just talking with others.

Take care and good luck. :rolleyes: ............Judy

oreyes Newbie
oreyes
Posted
:( Scuse the mispelling of the word "disease"...and I did it twice!! Judy
Meenucat Newbie
Meenucat
Posted

I am *not* Celiac, apparantly, but I *do* have a B12 Deficiency - My doctors are not sure what is the cause of the defiency and I have had a normal MRI (of head), Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy...I'm in the process of trying to find out what the heck is going on with my body right now...(I do not have Pernicious Anaemia)

A low B12 level is when your body doesn't absorb B12 either through your intestines or bowel - The Ileum (part of the small intestine) is the part that is effected when you have Celiac, I believe (someone else may want to jump in and clarify this for me)...You may need to get B12 shots or maybe your levels will improve when you are further along on your gluten-free diet - Low B12 with Celiac means that your body is not absorbing certain vitamins/minerals (malabsorbtion) - Good luck to you and I hope you start to feel better soon :D

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Both of these deficiencies are QUITE common in people with untreated celiac because you haven't been absorbing things. It's very important to get both back up.

richard

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      By Scott Adams · Posted

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      My only proof

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      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By knitty kitty · Posted

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    • Mari
      My only proof

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      I think, after reading this, that you areso traumatized by not being able yo understand what your medical advisors have been  what medical conditions are that you would like to find a group of people who also feel traumatized who would agree with you and also support you. You are on a crusade much as the way the US Cabinet  official, the Health Director of our nation is in trying to change what he considers outdated and incorrect health advisories. He does not have the education, background or experience to be in the position he occupies and is not making beneficial decisions. That man suffered a terrible trauma early in his life when his father was assonated. We see now how he developed and worked himself into a powerful position.  Unless you are willing to take some advice or  are willing to use a few of the known methods of starting on a path to better health then not many of us on this Celiac Forum will be able to join you in a continuing series of complaints about medical advisors.    I am almost 90 years old. I am strictly gluten free. I use 2 herbs to help me stay as clear minded as possible. You are not wrong in complaining about medical practitioners. You might be more effective with a clearer mind, less anger and a more comfortable life if you would just try some of the suggestions offered by our fellow celiac volunteers.  
    • Jmartes71
      My only proof

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Thus has got to STOP , medical bit believing us! I literally went through 31 years thinking it was just a food allergy as its downplayed by medical if THEY weren't the ones who diagnosed us! Im positive for HLA-DQ2 which is first celiac patient per Iran and Turkey. Here in the States especially in Cali its why do you feel that way? Why do you think your celiac? Your not eating gluten so its something else.Medical caused me depression. I thought I was safe with my former pcp for 25 years considering i thought everything I went through and going through will be available when I get fired again for health. Health not write-ups my health always come back when you're better.Im not and being tossed away at no fault to my own other than shitty genes.I was denied disability because person said he didn't know how to classify me! I said Im celiac, i have ibs, hernia, sciatica, high blood pressure, in constant pain have skin and eye issues and menopause intensified everything. With that my celiac nightmare began to reprove my disregarded disease to a bunch of clowns who think they are my careteam when they said I didn't have...I feel Im still breathing so I can fight this so no body else has to deal with this nightmare. Starting over with " new care team" and waisting more time on why I think I am when diagnosed in 1994 before food eliminated from my diet. P.s everything i went through I did write to medical board, so pretty sure I will continue to have a hard time.
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