Was just wondering how many of you guys have extremely low ferratin levels. And how does it effect you.

[dinger]

[FionaGFG Administrator]

This is common in coeliacs as the damage to the villi by gluten / immune system fighting etc means it's hard to absorb many vitamins and minerals. Low iron can be:

- extreme tiredness

- stomach upsets

- exhaustion

- heavy legs

- hair falling out

Let's see what other members say of their symptoms.

[Hidden]

Hi, I had a ferratin level of 2!! i also had low folic acid and i have a severe B12 deficiency resulting in pernicious anemia, the combination of this and thyroid problems affected me by being so tired all the time i couldnt drive in fear of falling asleep at the wheel, i woke up tired every time i sat down i feel asleep, explosive diarreah that i ended up taking up to 6 immodium a day just to be able to do the school run etc, my hair fell out to the point that on both sides of my head were completely bald, 3 years on this is still thin but is growing back!. it was probably the worse time of my life, i was hospitalised with suspected gallstones as i had (and still get) alot of upper gi pain especially on the left hand side under my ribs and down into my hips. I could go on and on about this im 33 years old and sometimes i feel like im 90 , i now have arthritus too gluten intolerance (although im convined im celiac- but thats another story) my asthma is really playing up at the moment too, i also have alot of teeth problems which im beginning to find out maybe linked in with all of this.

paula x

[katluck]

i am an asthmatic and suffer from i.b.s and also weak sphincter muscle in bowels and i have alot of intolerances to most foods e.g dairy ,pasta,wheat,even cooking oils i too have sore hips,pelvis.legs,back and i have lumps in mouth and my hair is weak and get really sore ribs and really bad chronic pain in stomach which i nearlly collapse and go a horrible colour fed up with doctors they dont get right tests done i am going with a private health insurance it pays to get the correct diagnosis i think there is a pattern with the symptoms and they should listen to patients n.h.s has gone to pot

[katluck]

also i wake up really tired and takes me few hours to really feel wide awake and constant discomfort in my legs and no strength in my arms katie x

[anniet]

I'm not a diagnosed coeliac but have auto immune thyroid, ferritin is 4, very low iron reading despite taking liquid iron supps. I get tired, breathless and just don't feel altogether some days, I had to have a sleep most lunchtimes this week. It makes me feel so lazy. I follow GF as its worse with it in my diet.

annie.x

[ailsamary]

i have the low ferratin along with vit d, folic acid, B12, however i also have fibromyalgia/polymyalgia/arthritis and constant pain despite large doses of analgesia, all these combine to induce tiredness and after a day at work i can sleep for most of the next day,

such is life and fortunatly now i have learned how to cope and take measures to minismise/accept what is

[dinger]

Hi, thank-you all for your answers. It's really interesting to read all the different symptoms that you all have. I have had coeliacs for 8 years diagnosed at the RUH Bath. I had an iron infusion in 2010 and my ferratin went up to a very decent 55 by at my last test it was 16. I get tired and recently have been experiencing bad abdominal cramps which I medicate with Collis Brown which is a old remedy which my mother gave us when I was small and lucky for me Boots still sell it. Usually GF diet keeps the cramps at bay but just recently they have returned with alarming speed. They leave me drained and very tired and frankly I've had enough it drives me mad . Thank you all again x

[FionaGFG Administrator]

Dinger it may sound odd but have you seen a Gyny Dr about the abdominal cramps? It is common for women to be told they have IBS - then learn it's coeliac to have ongoing problems and then discover they have endometriosis. That can cause severe abdo pains and affect the bladder and bowel even when not on a period. Some Gyny Profs now believe endometriosis to be a form of auto-immune disease. Also is the Collis Brown gluten free? Not all over the counter meds are? Personally I find the co-codamol dissolveable tablets from Boots and other pharmacies very useful for severe pain and they are fast acting.