Low Iron

[hannahsue01]

I go into the doctor tomorrow to discuss test results and further testing with my "idiot doctor". I was told that she would be checking my blood sugar and cholesterol. However, I was told over the phone that my white blood cell count was low so I am assuming she did the standard cbc order. From what I can tell from my daughters blood results about all that includes is white and red cell counts and iron counts. I was told over the phone that my blood tests showed no signs to further test for celiac (she told me specificly she was not going to order the celiac panel of tests). I am just curious if your iron is ok if you can still be a celiac??? I guess I want all the argument power I can get when I go in tomorrow morning.

[Ursa Major]

Anemia is ONE possible symptoms of celiac disease. By far not all people with celiac disease are anemic. If your doctor claims you can't have celiac disease without being anemic, then he is just plain wrong. Don't you think it's time to find yourself a better doctor? This one is incompetent as well as arrogant, who needs people like that.

[hannahsue01]

Anemia is ONE possible symptoms of celiac disease. By far not all people with celiac disease are anemic. If your doctor claims you can't have celiac disease without being anemic, then he is just plain wrong. Don't you think it's time to find yourself a better doctor? This one is incompetent as well as arrogant, who needs people like that.

I have to go see this incompetent doctor tomorrow to at least get my birth control shot. I know she wants to discuss the testing and just want to know my stuff so I can fight back. Part of my problem is I nor my husband have any health insurance and this is an offfice that bills by your income on a slidding scale. I think I am going to go see my grandmothers doctor who he himself and his daughter are celiacs and from what I have been told about him he's far from clueless on the issue. I have to save up money first though for the visit and testing. I have thought about just going on the diet but it is such an expensive diet for our budget....we normaly spend $125 a month for 3 of us on food for a month and from what I can tell it is going to cost way more than that. I guess myself and my husband want an official diagnoses.

[Ursa Major]

You know, this diet is only expensive if you want to replace all 'normal' food like bread, cookies, muffins, pasta etc. by gluten-free foods. If you mostly only eat naturally gluten-free foods like meat, vegetables, eggs, fruit etc., it won't be expensive! If you only have those expensive foods for a special treat, rather than a staple you shouldn't have to spend more than you have before.

[RiceGuy]

I'd echo what Ursula said about the cost. If you bought specialty replacements such as those advertised on gluten-free related websites, then sure it would cost more. Just make your own or have something else. For instance, I was a BIG pasta eater. Such a diet is too expensive for me with Tinkyada gluten-free pasta. Fortunately I also enjoy rice, and I didn't have to change anything to make that gluten-free!

Now I've begun including millet, which I just basically ignored before. I wish I hadn't because I like it! So it seems we limit ourselves if we keep thinking everything "normal" is wheat-based. Just remind yourself that the most common staple grain on the planet is rice, NOT wheat. It's always been rice, and even the USA and Canada grow and export rice. Legumes and pulses are an entire food group which is typically cheap, easy to prepare, very nutritious, but largely ignored by typical Americans. They are an important part of the diet in other areas of the world, feeding billions every day. We all know how peoples throughout Asia live healthier than Americans. Iron is just one of the many nutrients you'll get in abundance from such foods.

So basically, there's likely bunches of stuff which you can ADD to your diet. More than enough to offset the things you can't have. If you do need more iron, one example food source is spinach. It also contains the vitamin C which is so important for proper absorption of iron. Getting adequate vitamin C can give you upwards of 6 times the iron absorption from your veggies.

I'd recommend trying the gluten-free diet for awhile and see how it goes, no matter what the doctors say. If it works for you as it has for so many, that's the kind of results that matter. Tests for Celiac often give false-negatives, and I cannot tell you the number of posts I've seen from those who got a definitive response from the gluten-free diet after their doctors said they didn't have Celiac.

[BostonCeliac]

Hi hannah -

i just recently went through blood test & endoscopy to diagnose Celiac, and my biggest symptom was anemia, have had low iron for YEARS, with no other issues, no stomach problems or anything - Until recently, which was why I got tested... Also, my sister was diagnosed two years ago (so I sortof knew I might have it) -- anway, she has Never been anemic - and she's had horrible stomach issues for YEARs... so I guess it's different for everyone. Only problem for her was she was diagnosed with everything else until they figured out it was celiac - which made diagnosing me a little easier.

I too am concerned about the cost of gluten free food. I see what the others are saying, but I figure it will be a transition. I will pay $6 for frozen bagels for a little while - until I'm "over it" - then I'll try to cut those things out.

Riceguy has a great point about rice, not pasta -- i'm just going to put tomato sauce on my rice from now on! & luckily i LOVE potatoes, so I plan on practically turning into a potato from eating them so much.

Good luck with your appointment!

[queenofhearts]

As to the cost of gluten-free products, if you have a craving for baked goods, I highly recommend making your own. If you are near an Asian market, you can find rice, tapioca, bean & corn flours at very low prices compared to most specialty stores, & with a good gluten-free cookbook like Bette Hagman or Annalise Roberts, you'll be able to make very tasty foods.

Leah