I'M Cold, My Hands Fall Asleep, My Hair Is Dry...

[StacyA]

Unlike a lot of people on this site, I wasn't sick for years or decades. My celiac disease appears to have been triggered this summer with a parasite. I had a sudden and dramatic onset of symptoms: night sweats, reduction in menstruation, diahrrea, fatigue, brain fog... (I read that onset between the ages of 30 and 40 is common.) I was diagnosed within 4 months with a biopsy that showed 'mild' villous blunting - in fact, visually, my intestines looked great according to the GI doc. I started gluten-free in October and any glutening I've had since then has been accidentally or cc. Nearly all my symptoms cleared up.

Now, however, there are times I get cold and stay cold to the point my back hurts from shivering, my hands fall asleep multiple times throughout the night and are a teeny bit more clumsy during the day, my hair is dry, and I have a little bit of fatigue. I'm going to the doctor to rule out anemia, thyroid, and vitamin D deficiency(I'm up north), and anything else she wants to look at. However, since any intenstinal damage was minor months ago, even a cc episode here and there shouldn't damage me to the point of malabsorption (and my symptoms sound a heck of a lot like a malabsorption problem) - correct? I take a multi and a C and a D (1000) and iron and magnesium and a calcium every day. My first two months I also took a probiotic.

I understand that people can have problems for years even on the gluten-free diet, but isn't that usually if the person was sick for years beforehand? I also know I've gotten cc'd at times - I'm in a shared kitchen but any cc-ing has occured through commercial food - but cc exposure shouldn't do this to me, should it?

[coveowner]

You might want to consider Hypothyroidism!! I have been Hyper or hypo since I was ten and I am waaaaaaaay past that now. I was undiagnoised with Celiac for over 40 years and have been gluten free for 10. I feel fine with lots of energy but since I had constant diahrrea for all those years and was anemic due to lack of absorption and also very thin, I over do the vitamins which keeps me healthy and feeling well. I still have diahrrea due to developing cologenous colitis due to being undiagnoised all those years.! You have definite signs of being hypo.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon! Do go take those thyroid tests! By the way, brain fog is also a thyroid malady!!!

[tarnalberry]

It is possible that something else is going on entirely.

It is also possible to have a vitamin deficiency even without have celiac. (Vit D is a common one in many geographic locations and in many different groups of people.) And anemia also doesn't require a absorption issue.

Checking the thyroid is also a good idea.

[robomet]

I just read your post and thought I was reading about myself!

It's been 15 months since I was diagnosed with Celiac. Prior to being diagnosed my symptoms included severe anemia and other than that I was asymptomatic with the exception of my hands falling asleep in the middle of the night. I've been gluten-free since the day of my diagnosis

After going gluten-free I was deficient in B Vitamins and Vitamin D; I took a weekly Vitamin B shot and 50,000 units of D weekly, after three months my levels were normal and I discontinued the vitamins. I do take a multiple vitamin and calcium daily but no D,B, or iron. In addition my anemia went away as well as my hands no longer fell asleep during the night.

A few weeks ago I began having severe joint pain and my hands are extremely cold during the day and night and my hands and arms fall asleep while sleeping.

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, another autoimmune disease, I had a thyroidectomy eight years ago and my thyroid levels remain normal.

Does anyone have any idea why I would be having absorption issues even though I am entirely gluten-free, and is it common to have joint pain and hands falling asleep while sleeping?

[StacyA]

After going gluten-free I was deficient in B Vitamins and Vitamin D; I took a weekly Vitamin B shot and 50,000 units of D weekly, after three months my levels were normal and I discontinued the vitamins. I do take a multiple vitamin and calcium daily but no D,B, or iron.

We can store vitamin D, but not for too long. Should you take D again? I see you're out west - do you get enough sun? Sunscreen and windows filter out what we need.

I happened to get a full-spectrum lamp to show to some clients, and I used it myself every morning for a week and I felt an improvement in my energy - the rest of the symptoms are there, however.

I can let you know what the doctor says - I go next week. She's my PCP and I don't know if she knows much about celiac's - but we'll learn together.