Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Common Deficiencies & Shortness Of Breath

sidelined

Recommended Posts

sidelined Apprentice
sidelined
Posted

I've been gluten free for almost 3 months, but I'm still feeling pretty lousy. Just found out my vitamin D is quite low (level was 15; "normal" range starts at 30). I'm hoping that explains some of the lethargy etc. My most troublesome symptom continues to be my shortness of breath/inability to catch a breath/air hunger. I haven't been tested for any other vitamins/minerals & related deficiencies, but as Vitamin D is typically not correlated with SOB, I'm curious about other's experiences with deficiencies and wondering which are most common to Celiac.

 

Thanks!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


HavaneseMom Explorer
HavaneseMom
Posted

Hi sidelined,

I had Vitamin D, B12 and Iron checked around the time of my diagnosis. My D and Iron came back deficient. Have you had your iron levels tested? I have noticed a lot of people on this forum have had anemia at diagnosis. Low iron or iron definciency anemia could definetely cause shortness of breath and fatigue. I couldn't walk up the stairs at my house without gasping for breathe when it was at its worse. Ask your doctor to have your Ferritin level tested specifically, in addition to the Complete Blood Count if it hasn't been done yet. If you are having a problem with iron, your Ferritin level could show it before your CBC will. I did a quick search and found this link that explains it better:

Open Original Shared Link

Hope you feel better soon. If it is your iron, it might take a little time to correct. I'm still working on mine.

  • 2 weeks later...
KCG91 Enthusiast
KCG91
Posted

Definitely get your iron levels checked if you are short of breath. I have always exercised a lot and never got any quicker - and could never walk up the hill to lectures without puffing - until I got tested and got onto some supplements. Six months in my absorption is good enough to handle it alone :)

NatureChick Rookie
NatureChick
Posted

Ditto on the iron but I'd make sure they check B12 as well. But I'd get a full panel that includes about two dozen vitamins and minerals.

Here is an official list of the deficiencies common in celiac.

Open Original Shared Link

But before you get more tests, get the printed copy of the tests you have already had. Just testing vitamin D would be pretty odd. It may be that the doctor only mentioned the one that tested as being low. But just being in the normal range doesn't mean that a level of something is ideal, and many "normal" ranges dip low enough to still cause symptoms so you have to get your results in hand and do your own research.

Sorry that I know nothing about shortness of breath as a symptom, but I wish you luck.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Other nutrients that can be a problem are Ca, A, B12, Fe, Mg, K, zinc, Mg, and Cu.

 

Hypothyroidism can also cause fatigue and it linked to celiac disease.  It might be something to check out.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,213
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jeff S
    Newest Member
    Jeff S
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • More2Learn
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By More2Learn · Posted

      Thanks, yes, I've gone back and forth.  There is a lot of autoimmune disease in my family, so primarily I was thinking a real diagnosis might be helpful for other family members -- especially as I have two young biological nephews.  I feel like I am at a crossroads, where if I'm going to test now would be the time, since I've been in a less-than-perfect eating period.  I'm either going to just going to use what I've learned in these last few months to purposely never cheat again (obviously there is the accidental glutening situations) or test first, and then do that.  I don't need an official diagnosis so much that if I'm doing well I'm going to sabotage that by then starting to eat gluten again. I'm so glad you said this.  Even from what I've read so far, it makes sense to me that this is a misconception.  But growing up with all kinds of allergies, I can see how, as for the general population it's just easier for everyone to simplify it down to a type of "allergy," people would assume this.  It's just how most people look at allergies and diets and gluten avoidance has been painted as both.  I even see it in my journey to date, when I say I want a gluten free selection at a restaurant and I am asked "is it an allergy?" and it is so much easier just to say yes (even if the answer is actually well, no, it's autoimmune).  Because the "yes" answer is the "this is serious" answer.
    • kopiq
      starting to heal, vitamin d deficiant but cannot tolerate vitamins. what to do? also multiple ongoing issues.

      By kopiq · Posted

      I also have food particles left on toiet paper when i wipe and my stool is light yellow not absorbing fats. I urinate about 15 times a day and have very sticky snot,dry throat.
    • kopiq
      starting to heal, vitamin d deficiant but cannot tolerate vitamins. what to do? also multiple ongoing issues.

      By kopiq · Posted

      Hi all, I was diagnosed by blood work about 2 months ago and have since went on a strict gluten free diet. I have an endoscopy in January and the GI dr said nothing about staying on gluten for it; hes aware i went no gluten. starting to heal symptoms include: (this is huge) sensation coming back to genitals and when having a bowl movement. everything has been numb for a long time down there including lower belly button area. good size (not abnormal) bowel movements once a day or every two days. small dot size wart just fell off my finger that was there for years. have not broke out with a cold sore this winter (every winter prior for years i would develop a cold sore on my lip) Ongoing issues I don't sweat. not from my hands, or armpits or feet. I do not get butterflys in stomach. my hands have been so dry for years ive been using a crack cream as they crack and bleed very severely in the fall and winter.  (since going gluten free ive not used crack cream but they are still very very dry and chapped/flaky, no sweat or moisture in palms of hands at all. I dont crave food. i have no cravings at all, not for pizza, ice cream , nothing. my cravings are dead. smell of foods kinda make me hungry, but my stomach blocks it. pins needles in feet get weak legs standing up from sitting and dizzy, things almost turn black. i cannot tolerate veggies or vitamins. Iam vitamin D deficient according to my Dr and Ive tried vitamin D pills. they give me a massive migraine for 8 hours and upset my stomach. the heat from the direct sun make me extremely tired to the point of wanting to pass out. again i don't sweat. broccoli gives me a migraine headache as well. mushrooms, bell peppers burn my stomach. fruits burn my stomach, fats (peanut butter, any oil or fat from meats make me sick to my stomach for a couple hours or longer. salt and pepper burns my stomach. all these issues cause pain at my belly button area and expand to the rest of my upper stomach and sides the more i ingest through out the day. I currently eat bland basmati rice, chicken, pork chops (fat trim), boiled russet potatoes no skin for three meals a day. my snacks are gluten free ground buckwheat flour pancakes. (just water, no oil , salt, dairy.) how am i to get vitamins in my system if i cannot tolerate them in my stomach? i mentioned epidermal vitamin patchs but dr said no. why cant i stand the heat from the sun ? why cant i sweat? thanks for any info.                
    • trents
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By trents · Posted

      Because you have significantly reduced your gluten intake over a considerable amount of time, it is likely that you will test negative on the antibody tests. However, if the $112 for the Quest test is not a burden, it wouldn't hurt to try. It tests for total IGA (to ascertain if you are IGA deficient) and tTG-IGA. If total IGA is deficient, it can result in false negatives in other IGA tests. The tTG-IGA is the single most popular test ordered by physicians. The Quest test is not a complete celiac panel by any means (refer to the linked article above) but it might be a good place to start. Personally, I think you know enough to conclude that you need to get serious about avoiding gluten, whether you have celiac disease or NCGS. Human nature being what it is, however, many people seem to need an official diagnosis of celiac disease in order to stay on the bandwagon. Otherwise, they seem to rationalize cheating on the gluten-free diet. And there is this misconception out there that NCGS is inconvenient and uncomfortable but not harmful so it's okay to cheat. The more we learn about gluten-related disorders the more they seem to not fit into our neat little black and white categories. By the way, celiac disease is not a food allergy. It is classified as an autoimmune disorder.
    • More2Learn
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By More2Learn · Posted

      These responses are all extremely helpful, ty.  Really good reminder about omega 6.  I also know I'm low in zinc; I took the zinc test where I drank it on a spoon and couldn't taste it.  To that end, I try to eat a lot of oysters.  I do think it would be a good idea to get the blood test.  Two questions: 1-  Is there any reason you wouldn't recommend that I just buy and take a test like this as a first step? 2- I've been somewhat gluten free since ~Jan 2023 (technically organic, gluten free, soy free, light on dairy).  I eat a lot of meat, vegetables, rice -- a common breakfast for me is three eggs and a sausage link, and I can't remember the last time I had a sandwich or bread.  However, because in my mind I didn't think I had an allergy, and I more was doing gluten free to avoid artificially iron-enriched foods, I do make exceptions.  I'll eat breaded calamari.  When my Dad visits, I split mozzarella sticks with him because he loves them so much.  I'll eat the "gluten sensitive" items at a restaurant and if they asked, "is cross contamination ok?",  I always said yes.  Based on that, since I never probably fully eliminated gluten, but it was significantly reduced... is that good enough to take the blood test?  Because the pain in my side gets SO bad (really sometimes I can't function, and I absolutely thought I was dying), I am hesitant to do the gluten challenge.  Would it make sense to take the test, and if it's negative, then consider doing the challenge and seeing if I can deal with eating the bread every day? Thanks again!
×
×
  • Create New...