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

Anemia And Headaches

stephharjo

By stephharjo
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

stephharjo Rookie
stephharjo
Posted

I have read many articles and such that say that anemia is a classic sign of celiac, but I tested negative a few years ago. Can you be gluten intolerant and have anemia as well or is anemia specific to celiac? I am definetely one of the two. I have been gluten free for a month and the only symptoms I cannot resolve is my brain fog, off balance at times, and headaches. I just went to the docs 2 days ago and they said that it was from the anemia, though none of the doctors I have seen ever told me to supplement for it. Needless to say I am now supplementing. But for the past two days I have had the worst headache ever! Has anyone else ran into this problem where you can't function due to the headaches, and if so how do you deal with them? I haven't taken anything for the pain yet and don't want to but I'm desperate. I am the main worker for my household so it is imperative that I am able to function. Thank you for any insights! Also my iron was 11.7 and my hemoglobin was 3.59.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


YoloGx Rookie
YoloGx
Posted

I have read many articles and such that say that anemia is a classic sign of celiac, but I tested negative a few years ago. Can you be gluten intolerant and have anemia as well or is anemia specific to celiac? I am definetely one of the two. I have been gluten free for a month and the only symptoms I cannot resolve is my brain fog, off balance at times, and headaches. I just went to the docs 2 days ago and they said that it was from the anemia, though none of the doctors I have seen ever told me to supplement for it. Needless to say I am now supplementing. But for the past two days I have had the worst headache ever! Has anyone else ran into this problem where you can't function due to the headaches, and if so how do you deal with them? I haven't taken anything for the pain yet and don't want to but I'm desperate. I am the main worker for my household so it is imperative that I am able to function. Thank you for any insights! Also my iron was 11.7 and my hemoglobin was 3.59.

Be careful of what is in the supplements. Often gluten is in there, and even if in trace amounts could be a big problem. Don't use any Trader Joe's supplements for instance. Made in the same facility as wheat etc. is not good enough.

What kind of anemIa? Is it iron or is it from lack of B vitamins or vitamins A and D or some combination thereof?? This is common for celiacs--esp. difficulty absorbing minerals and fat soluble vitamins. I take co-enzyme B vitamins since I was unable to metabolize normal B vitamins. The co-enzyme ones go directly into the blood stream if they are taken on an empty stomach.

Sometimes pancreatic digestive enzymes really help, especially at first.

Taking probiotics also on an empty stomach (maybe with the co-enzyme B complex?) is also a good idea.

Eating liver a couple of times a week can help too.

Nattokinase with the probiotics and B complex on empty stomach can help heal the scarred villi a lot faster.

Bea

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted

My iron was like yours and I needed iv iron. Then it went back down because of undx'd celiac and now I'm supplementing and gluten-free. The brain fog from anemia is brutal. But it'll get better as you heal and absorb iron. B12 can help too.

The current headaches could be gluten withdrawal, too, but iron can take awhile to build up with damaged intestines. If a hematologist is an option, some iv iron might perk you right up.

Jenniferxgfx Contributor
Jenniferxgfx
Posted

Ps: welcome!

rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

I'd like to add to the conversation that your doctor should consider testing you for a thyroid condition. Brain fog from hypo/hyperthyroid can be terrible.

stephharjo Rookie
stephharjo
Posted
  • Author

Yolo, thank you very much for the advice. I have iron deficiency anemia.

As I read everyone's response I realize that I am going to need to find a doctor that specializes in gluten conditions. My gastro in anchorage told me "I'm glad your feeling better continue the diet and here is a prescription for IBS if you need it. Call me if your symptoms return" I now realize that this condition needs more attention and since it was self diagnosed I am sure my current gastro knows little about it. Thank you everyone for your replies and advice I will be implementing your suggestions as I continue on my journey!

Lori2 Contributor
Lori2
Posted

I am the main worker for my household so it is imperative that I am able to function. Thank you for any insights! Also my iron was 11.7 and my hemoglobin was 3.59.

Aren't iron and hemoglobin readings like this dangerously low?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • 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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable. The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body. So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days. Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte...
    2. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine?
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine. Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine. Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats. Meat, especially organ...
    4. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc. Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food....
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Russ H's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,870
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    KABoston
    Newest Member
    KABoston
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable.  The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body.  So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days.  Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test.  But even that test has been questioned as to accuracy.  It is expensive and takes time to do.   Because of the discrepancies with thiamine tests and urgency with correcting thiamine deficiency, the World Health Organization recommends giving thiamine for several weeks and looking for health improvement.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Many doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition and deficiency symptoms, and may not be familiar with how often they occur in Celiac disease.  B12 and Vitamin D can be stored for as long as a year in the liver, so not having deficiencies in these two vitamins is not a good indicator of the status of the other seven water soluble B vitamins.  It is possible to have deficiency symptoms BEFORE there's changes in the blood levels.   Ask your doctor about Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine that is better absorbed than Thiamine Mononitrate.  Thiamine Mononitrate is used in many vitamins because it is shelf-stable, a form of thiamine that won't break down sitting around on a store shelf.  This form is difficult for the body to turn into a usable form.  Only thirty percent is absorbed in the intestine, and less is actually used.   Thiamine interacts with all of the other B vitamins, so they should all be supplemented together.  Magnesium is needed to make life sustaining enzymes with thiamine, so a magnesium supplement should be added if magnesium levels are low.   Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  There's no harm in trying.
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine? 
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
    • Scott Adams
      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
×
×
  • 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.