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

Muscle Wasting...

rbeccatexas

Recommended Posts

rbeccatexas Rookie
rbeccatexas
Posted

I've noticed lately that I've been losing the padding on my body. Has anyone else experienced this? I know our disease is a malabsorption disease so I thought this might be what's causing it. I was diagnosed in 2009. What do yall think?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Marc49 Explorer
Marc49
Posted

I've noticed lately that I've been losing the padding on my body. Has anyone else experienced this? I know our disease is a malabsorption disease so I thought this might be what's causing it. I was diagnosed in 2009. What do yall think?

I assume you are female, or I would suggest low testosterone.

There are many causes of muscle wasting. Some have to do with malabsorption, and some are neurologically based.

Certain drugs can cause this as well, including statins.

Your protein levels in blood work should tell you if you are absorbing enough protein or not though.

rbeccatexas Rookie
rbeccatexas
Posted
  • Author

I assume you are female, or I would suggest low testosterone.

There are many causes of muscle wasting. Some have to do with malabsorption, and some are neurologically based.

Certain drugs can cause this as well, including statins.

Your protein levels in blood work should tell you if you are absorbing enough protein or not though.

Thanks Marc.

Yes, I'm a female. I was just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this due to the Celiac. If it is the norm.

Marc49 Explorer
Marc49
Posted

Thanks Marc.

Yes, I'm a female. I was just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this due to the Celiac. If it is the norm.

I have no doubt that celiac can cause muscle wasting due to malabsorption of protein and necessary nutrients. Just pointing out that a lot of other things can cause it as well.

As before though, if your protein levels in your general bloodwork are good then that should rule out malabsorption I would think. I lost about 10 pounds of muscle myself due to low testosterone that seems to have largely been caused by my gluten intolerance.

My levels have come up significantly since I have been gluten-free, and I am gaining muscle back slowly. I just had my regular blood work done last week and my protein levels were fine,.....about mid-range. I have also been taking 5,000 IU's of Vitamin D3 for a few months now. I was as low as 19, and now I am about 45. I want to be between 60 and 80 for a goal though.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

I had severe muscle wasting before diagnosis. If it is happening after you have been gluten free for a couple of years I would have the Dr. look for possible causes. Make sure you take your vitamins and that you are consuming enough protein...and that you aren't getting gluten of course. I hope will post what you find out.

rbeccatexas Rookie
rbeccatexas
Posted
  • Author

I had severe muscle wasting before diagnosis. If it is happening after you have been gluten free for a couple of years I would have the Dr. look for possible causes. Make sure you take your vitamins and that you are consuming enough protein...and that you aren't getting gluten of course. I hope will post what you find out.

Thanks yall. I actually have not been to the Dr since my diagnosis as I have no health insurance right now. I've read on here before where someone was losing the padding on their feet, hands and face. That is happening to me as well. It seems like I have alot more fat on my stomach (bloating) and thighs (losing the padding on my butt and hips). But I can feel the bones right underneith my skin on my arms.

I'm going to try to get on a strength building routine when I start working in a couple of months to see if that helps. Do yall ever crave fat....like fat off of a piece of steak (not the grissel)? I've been doing this for a while now. I know we crave what our bodies need, but my family thinks I'm weird to want this. And I never craved it before. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy with this disease and I wish I could just jump out of my body.

cyberprof Enthusiast
cyberprof
Posted

Thanks yall. I actually have not been to the Dr since my diagnosis as I have no health insurance right now. I've read on here before where someone was losing the padding on their feet, hands and face. That is happening to me as well. It seems like I have alot more fat on my stomach (bloating) and thighs (losing the padding on my butt and hips). But I can feel the bones right underneith my skin on my arms.

I'm going to try to get on a strength building routine when I start working in a couple of months to see if that helps. Do yall ever crave fat....like fat off of a piece of steak (not the grissel)? I've been doing this for a while now. I know we crave what our bodies need, but my family thinks I'm weird to want this. And I never craved it before. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy with this disease and I wish I could just jump out of my body.

Even though you aren't craving it, I'd try eating avacados, extra olive oil and nuts, if you aren't intolerant of these. Have you tried flax oil or fish oil - capsules or liquid? These oils are very good and help with the healing. I'm not saying not to eat beef fat, just that these are really good for celiacs.

And are you menopausal? Or post-menopausal? It could be that too.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


rbeccatexas Rookie
rbeccatexas
Posted
  • Author

Even though you aren't craving it, I'd try eating avacados, extra olive oil and nuts, if you aren't intolerant of these. Have you tried flax oil or fish oil - capsules or liquid? These oils are very good and help with the healing. I'm not saying not to eat beef fat, just that these are really good for celiacs.

And are you menopausal? Or post-menopausal? It could be that too.

I've been craving avacado too. I must need good fat. I'm 40. My OBGYN says I'm not perimenopausal since I get my cycle on the dot each month. Idk, I chalked my moodiness up to diet. So I don't think that's it. Thanks for all of your input everyone.

CarolinaKip Community Regular
CarolinaKip
Posted

I've noticed lately that I've been losing the padding on my body. Has anyone else experienced this? I know our disease is a malabsorption disease so I thought this might be what's causing it. I was diagnosed in 2009. What do yall think?

I loss muscle due to celiac. I didnt know it at the time, but my body paid a high price. I lost a lot of muscle and weight due to my celiac. I won't go TMI, but it was bad! Now being a year gluten-free, I'm regaining some of it back! If you haven't, perhaps look at what you are eating,add exercise, and vitamins. Also check with your DR. Some blood work for what vitamins you are lacking.

  • 3 weeks later...
Neshema1 Newbie
Neshema1
Posted

Check out your creatinine levels to see if they are low. As would be the case with muscle wasting. You might want to be checked for mitochondrial myopathy as it can be associated with celiac & muscle wasting, but then agAin so can malnutrition & low protein. Good luck.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,133
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Exhausted-momma
    Newest Member
    Exhausted-momma
    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

    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
    • captaincrab55
      Finding gluten free ingredients

      By captaincrab55 · Posted

      Imemsm, Most of us have experienced discontinued, not currently available or products that suddenly become seasonal.   My biggest fear about relocating from Maryland to Florida 5 years ago, was being able to find gluten-free foods that fit my restricted diet.  I soon found out that the Win Dixie and Publix supper markets actually has 99% of their gluten-free foods tagged, next to the price.  The gluten-free tags opened up a  lot of foods that aren't actually marked gluten-free by the manufacture.  Now I only need to check for my other dietary restrictions.  Where my son lives in New Hartford, New York there's a Hannaford Supermarket that also has a gluten-free tag next to the price tag.  Hopefully you can locate a Supermarket within a reasonable travel distance that you can learn what foods to check out at a Supermarket close to you.  I have dermatitis herpetiformis too and I'm very sensitive to gluten and the three stores I named were very gluten-free friendly.  Good Luck 
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      So you're saying that you think you should have severe intestinal damage since you've had the symptoms so long?   DGP IgG antibodies are produced in response to a partial gluten molecule.  This is different than what tissue transglutaminase antibodies are  produced in response to.   TTg IgA antibodies are produced in the intestines in response to gluten.  The tTg IgA antibodies attack our own cells because a structural component in our cell membranes resembles a part of gluten.  There's a correlation between the level of intestinal damage with the level of tTg antibodies produced.  You are not producing a high number of tTg IgA antibodies, so your level of tissue damage in your intestines is not very bad.  Be thankful.   There may be reasons why you are not producing a high quantity of tTg IgA antibodies.  Consuming ten grams or more of gluten a day for two weeks to two months before blood tests are done is required to get sufficient antibody production and damage to the intestines.  Some undiagnosed people tend to subconsciously avoid lots of gluten.  Cookies and cakes do not contain as much gluten as artisan breads and thick chewy pizza crust.  Anemia, diabetes and thiamine deficiency can affect IgA antibody production as well.   Do you carry genes for Celiac?  They frequently go along with EDS.
    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
×
×
  • 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.