I came across these articles about the Celiac/RLS connection

[BoldMove]

I do have both and thought these articles may be helpful for someone else. I hope these links work. As of this writing I can't seem to make them turn blue.

celiac.com/celiac-disease/r...

and

Restless leg syndrome - National Celiac Association

[ChrisColumbus]

The first link works fine; the second one should be:

nationalceliac.org/celiac-d...

[BoldMove in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks Chris, I had already read it and cut and pasted both links, I must have missed a letter somewhere.

[Joolsg]

Thanks. Coeliac disease can lead to poor absorption of iron, and low brain iron is the leading cause of RLS.Iron infusions would be particularly beneficial to help get serum ferritin levels up.

[BoldMove in reply to Joolsg]

I take a double dose of Easy Iron 28mg (ferrous bis-glycinate) on alternate nights. It has been working well for me. When I need to sleep deeply for a special occasion on the alternate nights, I take NAC. It too has been very helpful, but with my history of augmentation I don't want to use it often, I've already had to double the dose.

[SueJohnson]

I remember you were taking iron. Heme iron is good for someone with celiac disease since it is absorbed in stomach and not small intestine. Most iron tablets are non heme iron. What ones are you taking?

Also take Lactobacillus plantarum 299v as it also helps its absorption.

Be sure you take it every other day, preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee or tea and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee or tea since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and the tannins in coffee and tea limit absorption.

If you take magnesium, calcium or zinc, even in a multivitamin take them at least 2 hours apart since they interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption so should be taken at least 4 hours before the iron or at least 2 hours after.

Don't take your iron tablets before or after exercise since inflammation peaks after a workout. Don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron. If you take thyroid medicine don't take it within 4 hours.

[BoldMove in reply to SueJohnson]

Also know that I eat certified GF yoghurt, 4 oz in the morning and 4 in the evening. Otherwise, the lactose will upset my stomach. I don't eat anything at all for at least 4 hours prior to taking my iron or NAC. Many wonderful brands of dairy are shockingly not GF because of location of processing.

My RLS started very mildly and became noticeable in yr 2000. By avoiding drugs and using natural means I consider myself doing very well.

While I have main meals that often contain turmeric they are eaten by 5 and I almost never go to bed before 1AM.

I do snack on popcorn with peanut butter powder but not past 9.

[BoldMove]

PSS: My thyroid med is in the morning. My heartbeat med is 9AM and PM. It's between 4 and 5 hours before I take iron. I do drink some chamomile tea blended with some other GF, caffeine tea at night. Is that a problem? They are calming to help facilitate sleep. I don't think it is a problem for me since I am doing so very well.

[SueJohnson in reply to BoldMove]

A few have problem with caffeine but most don't so doubt it is a problem. and the chamomile tea is fine.

Turmeric however can reduce the absorption of iron by 20 to 90% so hopefully it will be out of your system by the time you take your iron.

[SueJohnson in reply to BoldMove]

Time your medicines so that you take your thyroid medicine at least 4 hours away from any medicines that contain aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, simethicone, or sucralfate even in a multivitamin.

[BoldMove]

Thank you so much! I have been taking my levothyroxine 1 hour before a calcium rich breakfast. I've gained a lot of weight since all this started. What if the food (like milk and yoghurt) has the calcium? I usually have 8 oz of plain, GF yoghurt in the morning.

[Eryl]

One of the results of coeliac disease is inflammation and inflamed nerves cause RLS.

[BoldMove in reply to Eryl]

We in the Celiac community hope for a cure and we are well aware of the inflammation it causes. I keep hearing a small group of scientists are on to something. Hope it'll be in my lifetime.

[Eryl in reply to BoldMove]

Why would you want to eat gains,? I don't and I'm not coeliac, you're better off without them.

[BoldMove in reply to Eryl]

There are many certified GF grains like quinoa, teff, certified GF oats, brown rice, buckwheat and others. I tried the meat, salad, vegetable diet for many months until I could hardly function. I switched back to whole GF grains, most vegetables, fish and lamb or beef. I feel much better.

[Eryl in reply to BoldMove]

The great thing about most of those grains is that they're eaten whole and not processed. Some vegetables can be problematic because of of natural pesticides that they contain like oxylates and lectins but There's no scientific evidence that meat should cause any problems, indeed many people extoll the benefits of a pure carnivore diet containing meat, eggs, fish and dairy if tolerated (a lot of the problems are due to the A1 protein in cows milk)

[BoldMove in reply to Eryl]

Yes, one can start with an elimination diet. I found that most foods have glutamic acid, I try to eat from the low end of glutamic acid foods. I zeroed in on it when we took our granddaughter to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I had the worst RLS of my life that night. I could not finish my meal and took it home. as long as I ate the chicken from it, I had the worst RLS. I now eat from the low end of the GA food spectrum. It seems that most food contain GA. And of course, it wasn't the chicken itself, but the added MSG.

Eating the same basic diet, there are some RLS free nights.

[SurvivorD in reply to Eryl]

I agree Eryl.......I'm doing so well NOT eating grains carbohydrates sugar certain vegetables and definitely no seed oils!!! Eating LOTS of eggs and animal products. Drinking lots of water with Celtic Salt to keep my cells hydrated.

[BoldMove in reply to SurvivorD]

We eat a very similar salt: Himalayan, but not a lot. It contains no iodine so it's a good idea to take a kelp tablet a couple of times a week.

[Eryl in reply to BoldMove]

I have a little Japanese dried seaweed in a casserole once a week as well as kelp tablets.

[BoldMove in reply to Eryl]

Also, nori has salt and a lot of other healthy elements

[SurvivorD in reply to BoldMove]

Thanks I will add some kelp.

[Lluvinlife]

thank you!