Good luck and please keep us posted if you are comfortable doing so! Your story is a real wake-up call for all of us to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us.
You have celiac? Me too! How long have you been gluten free? I've noticed that it's taken about a year or so before I started feeling better, started to have better absorption of nutrients and stopped having anemia.
I will admit that I don't get bloodwork like this done regularly (obviously), but I always felt like I was probably fine because I go to the doctor all the damn time. I go to the gyno religiously whenever I am supposed to, I go for my headache appointments, etc. and they ask me about symptoms of stuff like this (lethargy, shortness of breath, etc.) but I always say no because I don't really have those. I get short of breath when I exert myself, but I don't feel that way just walking around. And I don't really get periods because I have an IUD so I think they don't really consider me at risk for this kind of thing.
They are sending me to some specialists to figure out what the hell is going on. My best guess is that I have some kind of malabsorption issue because I actually do take iron already. I think I read once about an autoimmune anemia that is related to celiac disease (which I have) but I can't look it up right now because I have sworn off the google until the testing is finished.
I can't believe you don't see someone about your celiac disease regularly... I agree about a possible malabsorption issue. I have a chronic GI disease (Crohn's) where malabsorption can be a problem and my doctor regularly (2-4 x a year) checks my blood work for this reason. Good luck! I hope you can get this figured out soon.
It might sound stupid, but no one ever told me that I am supposed to. I mean, the GF diet is the only treatment and I have been GF for 8 years now. The doctor who diagnosed me basically said "you have celiac, don't eat wheat" and that was it. The doctors I have seen since have never said anything about it.
Thanks for the well wishes everyone, and yes, I feel like I should write that coach a thank-you note.
I would go to a gastroenterologist. I go yearly for blood work and I've also even had a 2nd upper GI endoscopy to make sure my GF diet is working and my body is healing.
I would go to a gastroenterologist. I go yearly for blood work and I've also even had a 2nd upper GI endoscopy to make sure my GF diet is working and my body is healing.
I did have the testing redone after 6 months when I was first diagnosed, but that was in 2005 and they seemed satisfied and didn't tell me that I needed to come back. So I just assumed that it was fine.
My current doc is sending me to a GI to check for anything that could be causing blood loss (this seems unlikely as the blood would have to go SOMEWHERE and I haven't seen any) or malabsorption.
Yikes! Thank God for your coach suggesting that you get checked out (and for you taking the advice and going to the Dr!). I hope everything works out for you as quickly as possible and you get all the answers you're seeking. How scary!
First of all, MAYBE you're actually awesome? You're DEFINITELY awesome!
Second of all, thank goodness you went to see a doctor - that's some scary shizz, lady.
yup, this.
My dad was diagnosed with CHF last year, I was really freaked out, as that is how my grandmother died as well (she was also almost 100....) My dad's CHF is completely manageable with just diet and some medications, they said he will be fine. Try not to worry and keep us all posted. SO glad you went and got this checked out!