New Here Not Sure What To Do

[floridalover67]

Hi

I am new to the forum. I am not sure if I have celiac disease or a GI or not. I am looking into having a blood test, even though I know it is not accurate. I am also considering going gluten free to see if it makes a difference. This is what I have currently, and maybe you can tell me what you think.

IBS: In 2006, all of a sudden I started getting bad pelvic pains. I went to every Dr, and had ultrasounds, CT Scans, bloodwork, sigmoidoscopy, saw urologist, etc, and everything was fine. It was determined that I had anxiety induced IBS. I was placed on Librax and I have been fine ever since. I never had any issues with diarrhea or constipation. Just the lower pelvic pains.

Anxiety/health anxiety/depression: Officially diagnosed around the same time in 2006. My pelvic pains made me depressed, but I also suffered depression as a child. I currently have severe health anxiety.

Iron Deficiency Anemia: Diagnosed on accident. I was asymptomatic. I asked for another blood test because all of them were coming back with high WBC, and low HB and HCT. I had all the tests done, and my ferritin was an 8. I had two IV Iron infusions, which one made me very sick and the other caused me to pass out. After two IV infusions my ferritin came up to 52. Two months later on Vitron-C iron pilss, two a day at 65mg of elemental iron, my ferritin dropped to 22. But everything else normalized. HGB, HCT, RDW all

back to normal. Rise in serum iron as well from 58 to 70. Just drop in ferritin.

I have currently upped my iron pills to 3 a day, plus using Floradix and blackstrap molasses. I am getting my bloodwork done in a weeek. GI Dr tells me it from my periods.

Angular chellitis: Craks and sores at the corners of my mouth. Comes and goes. I have been told this could be a vitmain B2(riboflavin deficiency)I have had this off and on for a very long time. Mainly in the winter.

Dandruff:I can get crusty patches on my scalp.

I have been told my my Naturopath that I could possibly have a malabsorption problem and to look into it.

This is what else that COULD be going on.

IBS: my pains have never been in my stomach. ONLY in my pelvic region. I understand your small intestine is higher up. Never had any other GI issues.

I am not underweight at all. I take effexor xr for my depression. Which causes me to gain weight. But even prior to effexor(On three years now) have never been underweight.

I have high blood pressure and being treated for that. Never ever had low BP.

My B12 and Folic Acid is fine. If I can absorb

those vitamins, which are processed through the small intestine, why not Iron?(If I do have celiac disease??)

I take antidepressents. Which could inhibit Vitamin B2. Or, I constantly have vaseline on my lips because I got into the bad habit of doing this as a child. I seem to get dry, cracked lips in the winter. I do not have conjuntivitis and I never ever have a sore throat which is another sign of B2 deficiency.

I am not lactose interolerant.

I am not tired or fatigued at all.

So I have "some" of the symptoms, but also can be explained by seperate issues.

I am very consistent with my bowel habits.

I do not ever get nauseaus.

I never get sick, not even a cold usually.

I had low Vitamin K at one point because I was on a diuretic, and took supplements, and K has been normal ever since.

Bloodwork is perfect other then anemia.

I am vitamin D deficient, I live in a cold climate, but take 2000 IU of Vit D a day and levels have risen from a 10 to a 32.

Not sure what to think????

[ravenwoodglass]

It is not a bad idea to get a celiac panel done. You mention being on Librax, that med could be preventing you from having D, it was one of the many, many drugs that I was on.

After you have had all the celiac related testing done that you want to have done do give the diet a strict trial.

Do NOT suddenly stop the meds your on. While they may be controlling your symptoms and you may not need them after you have gone gluten free to stop them suddenly could cause problems. Ask your doctor about weaning off or adjusting the dosage.

[floridalover67]

It is not a bad idea to get a celiac panel done. You mention being on Librax, that med could be preventing you from having D, it was one of the many, many drugs that I was on.

After you have had all the celiac related testing done that you want to have done do give the diet a strict trial.

Do NOT suddenly stop the meds your on. While they may be controlling your symptoms and you may not need them after you have gone gluten free to stop them suddenly could cause problems. Ask your doctor about weaning off or adjusting the dosage.

I didn't have D or C even before I took the Librax. I only had pelvic pains. Not in my upper stomach, but only in my pelvic/bladder region.

I would never even think of coming off of Librax. It was my life saver. During the time of my stomach issue(or pain in my pelvic region) I changed my diet and NOTHING helped.

I have severe anxiety, and they believe this is what caused it. Because I have never had any bowel issues in my life. I had a sigmoid done because I had rectal bleeding, and I knew I had hemorrhoiods. Bad ones. I have them internally and externally verified on sigmoid. I am as "regular" as they come.

I am just wondering about the angular chellitis. How can I be sure if I am deficient in Riboflavin is there a test for that? My Dr just gave me some B2 pills.

I am going to have the test done anyways. And go gluten-free to see if it helps. Thank you.