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

Energy - Never Seem To Have Enough


laura3

Recommended Posts

laura3 Newbie

Hi

I've been a diagnosed coeliac for 3 years now and I still seem to have issues with energy. If I overdo it slightly (i.e. working long hours or staying up late) my recovery takes a long time. I'm wondering if I'm lacking in some nutrient due to mal-absorbtion, or whether alcohol should be completely avoided as a coeliac or what? I'm interested to hear if others have found a particular connection between a vitamin or mineral and energy and/or the alcohol question.

I live in New Zealand and haven't been able to locate a GP/specialist/natural health practitioner who has a special understanding of coeliac disease. Do you know of anyone?

Huge thanks for any help you can offer.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



elye Community Regular

The first thing that comes to mind is hypothyroidism, something that can cluster with celiac disease. Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Lack of thyroxide can cause exhaustion. Low iron can, as well. You need to get a full run of blood work--can you visit a clinic, and see a doc there who can prescribe it?

YoloGx Rookie

I have found the alcohol can definitely be a problem. Much of it is made from grains--especially wheat and barley. Even corn can be suspect since much of it is infected with gluten. I used to use herbal tinctures and pour boiling water over them to get rid of the alcohol part--however the grains remain. It made a big difference for me to go off them--as well as soaps, waxed dental floss etc. that have trace gluten in them. Even building materials like pre mixed plaster often have starch and probably a host of other things with glue in them. I am thinking it might make a big dif. for you too. Only downside is that getting cross contamination effects becomes easier and more dramatic. However the increased energy, less body aches, clearer mind etc. makes it worth it.

Also do consider taking supplements since malabsorption seems to be a big deal with celiac even after following the diet for a while. Thus taking vitamin D (for me cod liver oil is best), co-enzyme B vitamin complex without the sorbitol, gluten free vitamin E, gluten free vitamin C, calcium citrate or Ezorb, magnesium, zinc, trace minerals, essential fatty acids, acidophilus all really help. Taking herbs like marshmallow root and slippery elm will help sooth and heal the lining of your gut. Using bromelain/papain caps. with your meals should help with digestion.

By the way, there is a gastro-enterologist from New Zealand who offers opinions here on celiac.com. He has written some books. I forget his name however you should be able to track him down in the section on articles.

Lux Explorer

Hey Laura,

I also live in NZ and have found it particularly difficult finding anyone with specialized knowledge regarding celiac disease. I have to say that, particularly since going gluten-free, alcohol has been a big don't-go-there zone. I actually had begun to suspect that this was due to a sulfite issue (I have a big prob with sulfites), but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were all bound up in the celiac disease.

Sorry :-(

Lux Explorer

O, the other thing I wanted to mention is that, since introducing flax seed oil into my diet, I have experienced a huge energy increase...I take 2 Tbs each day, usually poured over brown rice or veges...:-)

laura3 Newbie
The first thing that comes to mind is hypothyroidism, something that can cluster with celiac disease. Have you had your thyroid levels checked? Lack of thyroxide can cause exhaustion. Low iron can, as well. You need to get a full run of blood work--can you visit a clinic, and see a doc there who can prescribe it?

Thanks Emily, I really appreciate you taking time to offer your thoughts. My doctor suggested the blood tests today, so we shall see!

Laura

Mango04 Enthusiast

Hi - Sorry you are having a hard time. Just some thoughts....

What is your diet like? Do you eat plenty of whole, healthy foods? Do you get the correct balance of carbs to proteins to fats? Do you eat sugar? Do you eat processed foods? Hope you find some answers soon!


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



RiceGuy Collaborator

I had virtually no energy and couldn't stay awake until I started taking methylcobalamin (B12) and magnesium. My sleep cycles improved quite a lot too.

And I agree that things like alcohol, sugar, processed foods, etc can drag you down.

Joni63 Collaborator

Hi Laura,

I just wanted to add that I'm having similar problems. I've only been gluten free for 8 months, but my energy level is horrible.

I eat really well, no sugar, low carbs - about 90% whole grain products, no dairy, no caffeine, (I cheat with chocolate sometimes) a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and meats, and very little processed food.

Recently I begged the Dr. to test me for thyroid and other vitamins. You really need to check A,D,E,K,all B's, and Iron panel including Ferritin, Serum, and magnesium. I think I've covered them all.

They found my serum ferritin and D are both way below the low limits.

Try to get your Doctor to check all those vitamins. Malapsorption can cause us to lack what we need and feel really bad.

Good luck and let us know how you make out!

Archived

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

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - cristiana replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      5

      Feel like I’m starting over

    2. - knitty kitty replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    3. - Wheatwacked replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      8

      Related issues

    4. - NanceK replied to Jmartes71's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      8

      My only proof

    5. - Wheatwacked replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      5

      Feel like I’m starting over


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,294
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    laurallee
    Newest Member
    laurallee
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • cristiana
      Hi @Scatterbrain Thank you for your reply.   Some of these things could be weaknesses, also triggered by stress, which perhaps have come about as the result of long-term deficiencies which can take a long time to correct.   Some could be completely unrelated. If it is of help, I'll tell you some of the things that started in the first year or two, following my diagnosis - I pinned everything on coeliac disease, but it turns out I wasn't always right!  Dizziness, lightheaded - I was eventually diagnosed with cervical dizziness (worth googling, could be your issue too, also if you have neck pain?)  A few months after diagnosis I put my neck out slightly carrying my seven-year-old above my head, and never assigned any relevance to it as the pain at the time was severe but so short-lived that I'd forgotten the connection. Jaw pain - stress. Tinnitus - I think stress, but perhaps exacerbated by iron/vitamin deficiencies. Painful ribs and sacroiliac joints - no idea, bloating made the pain worse. It got really bad but then got better. Irregular heart rate - could be a coincidence but my sister (not a coeliac) and I both developed this temporarily after our second Astra Zeneca covid jabs.   Subsequent Pfizer jabs didn't affect us. Brain fog - a big thing for people with certain autoimmune issues but in my case I think possibly worse when my iron or B12 are low, but I have no proof of this. Insomnia - stress, menopause. So basically, it isn't always gluten.  It might be worth having your vitamins and mineral levels checked, and if you have deficiencies speak to your Dr about how better to address them?    
    • knitty kitty
      @NanceK, I do have Hypersensitivity Type Four reaction to Sulfa drugs, a sulfa allergy.  Benfotiamine and other forms of Thiamine do not bother me at all.  There's sulfur in all kinds of Thiamine, yet our bodies must have it as an essential nutrient to make life sustaining enzymes.  The sulfur in thiamine is in a ring which does not trigger sulfa allergy like sulfites in a chain found in pharmaceuticals.  Doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition (nor chemistry in this case).  I studied Nutrition before earning a degree in Microbiology.  I wanted to know what vitamins were doing inside the body.   Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Not feeling well after starting Benfotiamine is normal.  It's called the "thiamine paradox" and is equivalent to an engine backfiring if it's not been cranked up for a while.  Mine went away in about three days.  I took a B Complex, magnesium and added molybdenum for a few weeks. It's important to add a B Complex with all eight essential B vitamins. Supplementing just one B vitamin can cause lows in some of the others and result in feeling worse, too.  Celiac Disease causes malabsorption of all the B vitamins, not just thiamine.  You need all eight.  Thiamine forms including Benfotiamine interact with each of the other B vitamins in some way.  It's important to add a magnesium glycinate or chelate supplement as well.  Forms of Thiamine including Benfotiamine need magnesium to make those life sustaining enzymes.  (Don't use magnesium oxide.  It's not absorbed well.  It pulls water into the intestines and is used to relieve constipation.)   Molybdenum is a trace mineral that helps the body utilize forms of Thiamine.   Molybdenum supplements are available over the counter.  It's not unusual to be low in molybdenum if low in thiamine.   I do hope you will add the necessary supplements and try Benfotiamine again. Science-y Explanation of Thiamine Paradox: https://hormonesmatter.com/paradoxical-reactions-with-ttfd-the-glutathione-connection/#google_vignette
    • Wheatwacked
      Your goal is not to be a good puppet, there is no gain in that. You might want to restart the ones that helped.  It sounds more like you are suffering from malnutrition.  Gluten free foods are not fortified with things like Thiamine (B1), vitamin D, Iodine, B1,2,3,5,6 and 12 as non-gluten free products are required to be. There is a Catch-22 here.  Malnutrition can cause SIBO, and SIBO can worsen malnutrition. Another possibility is side effects from any medication that are taking.  I was on Metformin 3 months before it turned me into a zombi.  I had crippling side effects from most of the BP meds tried on me, and Losartan has many of the side effects on me from my pre gluten free days. Because you have been gluten free, you can test and talk until you are blue in the face but all of your tests will be negative.  Without gluten, you will not create the antigen against gluten, no antigens to gluten, so no small intestine damage from the antigens.  You will need to do a gluten challange to test positive if you need an official diagnosis, and even then, no guaranty: 10 g of gluten per day for 6 weeks! Then a full panel of Celiac tests and biopsy. At a minimum consider vitamin D, Liquid Iodine (unless you have dermatitis herpetiformis and iodine exasperates the rash), and Liquid Geritol. Push for vitamin D testing and a consult with a nutritionist experienced with Celiack Disease.  Most blood tests don't indicate nutritional deficiencies.  Your thyroid tests can be perfect, yet not indicate iodine deficiency for example.  Thiamine   test fine, but not pick up on beriberi.  Vegans are often B12 deficient because meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are the primary souces of B12. Here is what I take daily.  10,000 IU vitamin D3 750 mg g a b a [   ] 200 mg CoQ10 [   ] 100 mg DHEA [   ] 250 mg thiamine B1 [   ] 100 mg of B2 [   ] 500 mg B5 pantothenic acid [   ] 100 mg B6 [   ] 1000 micrograms B12 n [   ] 500 mg vitamin c [   ] 500 mg taurine [   ] 200 mg selenium   
    • NanceK
      Hi…Just a note that if you have an allergy to sulfa it’s best not to take Benfotiamine. I bought a bottle and tried one without looking into it first and didn’t feel well.  I checked with my pharmacist and he said not to take it with a known sulfa allergy. I was really bummed because I thought it would help my energy level, but I was thankful I was given this info before taking more of it. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Hello @Scatterbrain, Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free food is not fortified so you may be starting to run low on B vitamins and vitamin D.   By the way you should get your mom checked for celiac disease.  You got it from your mom or dad.  Some studies show that following a gluten-free diet can stabilize or improve symptoms of dementia.  I know that for the 63 years I was eating gluten I got dumber and dumber until I started GFD and vitamin replenishment and it began to reverse.  Thiamine can get used up in a week or two.  Symptoms can come and go with daily diet.  Symptoms of beriberi due to Thiamine deficiency.   Difficulty walking. Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet. Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs. Mental confusion. Pain. Speech difficulties. Strange eye movements (nystagmus) Tingling. Any change in medications? Last March I had corotid artery surgery (90 % blockage), and I started taking Losartan for blood pressure, added to the Clonidine I was taking already.  I was not recovering well and many of my pre gluten free symptoms were back  I was getting worse.  At first I thought it was caused a reaction to the anesthesia from the surgery, but that should have improved after two weeks.  Doctor thought I was just being a wimp. After three months I talked to my doctor about a break from the Losartan to see if it was causing it. It had not made any difference in my bp.  Except for clonindine, all of the previous bp meds tried had not worked to lower bp and had crippling side effects. One, I could not stand up straight; one wobbly knees, another spayed feet.  Inguinal hernia from the Lisinopril cough.  Had I contiued on those, I was destined for a wheelchair or walker. She said the symptoms were not from Losartan so I continued taking it.  Two weeks later I did not have the strength in hips and thighs to get up from sitting on the floor (Help, I can't get up😨).  I stopped AMA (not recommended).  Without the Losartan, a) bp did not change, after the 72 hour withdrawal from Losartanon, on clonidine only and b) symptoms started going away.  Improvement started in 72 hours.  After six weeks they were gone and I am getting better.  
×
×
  • 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.