Coeliac Blood Test

[clatow23]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd let you know I received the results back of my Coeliac blood test:

Tissue transglutaminase IgA level 3.1 CU [0.0 - 20.0]

My grandma had Coeliac. My mum (her daughter) has never been tested, but has ulcerative colitis

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Result is negative for coeliac

So your next step is to trial strictly gluten free diet

Minimum 3-6 months. See if it helps

Non coeliac gluten sensitivity is extremely common with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon - could Hashimotos/hypothyroidism be the cause of my low Ferritin 18?

Also, should there have been more tests in the Coeliac panel? Have seen others with more than ttg-IgA

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

Low ferritin extremely common with Hashimoto’s/hypo, especially if under medicated and/or gluten intolerant

The only way to know if gluten is an issue for you personally is to trial strictly gluten free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

It will take many many months to improve low ferritin

Typically GP will stop iron supplements long before ferritin increases enough

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

Post discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Why low ferritin needs improving

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon - with the Ferritin from what I have read on NICE Guidelines, it says that ongoing supplementation maybe beneficial for those with malabsorbtion - which if I am correct Hashimotos/Underactive thyroid can cause?

Would it be possible that GP would provide ongoing supplementation for this?

Not a fan of the liver stuff. But already eat red meat at least twice a week so disnt expect Ferritin to come back low

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

GP should do full iron panel test 3-4 times a year if on iron supplements

It’s possible to still have low ferritin with high iron

If iron gets too high, you can’t continue iron supplements.

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon , out of interest, what level of Ferritin do GPs normally like to bring it up to?

Also, what happens if Ferritin is low but iron too high? Would they stop and wait for the iron to drop before restarting?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

Suggest you read lots of posts and replies by humanbean on iron and ferritin

If iron is high, eating more iron rich foods in diet rather than supplements

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon , I've been reading through some of humanbean posts/replies, but struggling to find what level level GPs normally want to bring Ferritin up to

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

I don’t think there’s any guidelines

Typically will prescribe for 2-3 months and should retest

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ah SlowDragon , thank you, so there is a chance I could tell my GP that I've seen a Ferritin level of 70 -100 is good and he might prescribe to bring it up to there if I could persuade him?

I've been sent 4 weeks worth so far

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

Your iron levels or saturation levels may go too high before you get ferritin high as that

See how you get on

[clatow23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon , so I asked about getting a full iron panel done with my Ferritin of 18 ng/ml. But the GP said that obviously he's given me iron tablets, and if the Ferritin hasn't come up at the end of them (it's a 28 day course) then he will do an iron panel

[clatow23]

SlowDragon Wondering whether to leave the iron pills a couple of weeks until payday and pay for a full Iron panel? Read on here a link about someone's iron pills poisoning them because there Ferritin was low but their iron was normal and have now scared myself off starting them yet

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to clatow23]

Never take iron supplements without getting full iron panel test

Possible to have low ferritin and high iron and iron supplements should not be taken if that’s the case

If GP has prescribed iron supplements, then you can take them