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

Anyone Else Have A B12 & Iron Deficiency?

californiagirl

Recommended Posts

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,

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


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

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,898
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    MLucia
    Newest Member
    MLucia
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
×
×
  • 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.