Celiac Disease and Fibromyalgia: The Common Denominator Vitamin D Deficiency
Finally the results are in from my Celiac blood panel and they show that I do not have Celiac Disease. The doctor says that this doesn’t mean I should start eating glutinous foods again since I have shown so much improvement healthwise following a g-free diet. However, my blood work did show that I have a Vitamin D Deficiency, so much so that my endocriniologist is putting me on Calcitriol to help raise my levels more quickly.
When I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia my Endocrinologist checked my vitamin D levels at that time. They were low then, but not worrisome enough I guess to put me on prescription medication. This was also about two years ago when a lab gave faulty lab results to doctors1.
Vitamin D deficiency is now being linked to Fibromyalgia, which imitates osteomalacia that is caused by Vitamin D deficiency2. It is no surprise that Celiac patients become deficient in many nutrients, including Vitamin D due to malabsorption issues. But what came first, the chicken or the egg? Does vitamin D deficiency cause Celiac or vice versa?3Â Hopefully by following a gluten-free diet and taking my new Vitamin D supplements my fibro flares will be few and far between.
Did your doctor test you for Celiac after you were on a gluten free diet? If so, the results won’t be accurate. You can’t test for Celiac after you have already gone gluten free, as the antibodies in your blood will already have dissipated because there is no gluten for them to react to. If you feel better not eating gluten, then you should stay gluten free indefinitely. I’d also advise going on a strict gut-healing diet to increase the health of your intestines so you can absorb vitamin D. I have Fibromyalgia, Celiac, and had low vitamin D levels too. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for your concern Andrea. My doctor ordered the blood test after I was already gluten free, and I refused to go back to eating gluten for a month to see if the results would change. I felt so much better eating gluten-free, I couldn’t go back to the misery. Could you give me more information on the “gut-healing diet” you have followed? Thanks!
both have helped me. finally after five years i have finally got my vit d to 51 started at 10
Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2005, I already had several disabilities that made my work as a medical/health writer impossible. I lost the home I owned and loved, and had very little support from family. Thank God for a few true friends and my 2 dogs . . .
My new internist suggested blood work in April 2011; I have had poor pain control for fibromyalgia and relied mostly on aspirin and a muscle relaxant. (I failed on both Lyrica and Cymbalta as prescribed by my neurologist.) The vit d level came in at a puny “8.” Dr. Forno prescribed 50,000 IU/week for 12 weeks. Last week, I tested at 26.
I’ve had gut problems since I was a child. I know how prolonged diahrrea can wreck havoc on the whole organism. Another of my doctors recently suggested that I be tested for celiac disease. I’ll talk to Dr. F about this when I see her next week.
I truly live day-today because my tenuous health won’t allow me to see beyond 24 hours. I am 60 years old and exhausted most of the time; I miss the interesting, active life I once had.
@Alexandra
Please get tested for celiac! Load up on gluten prior to your test. Also, the lab that does your test matters!!! Make sure you get the newest test -DGP,.Deamidated Gliadin Protein. The only lab that I know of that offers it is Prometheus. Quest and LabCorp do not. Contact your local Celiac support group and request the name of good Celiac GI doctor. Your story sounds similar to mine and doctors are negligently unaware of this very common, serious condition. Please get tested, there is hope you can get your life back!!! If you know of ANYONE who has been dx with fibromyalgia or thyroid problems or any autoimmune disease, please educate them about celiac! I am recently dx’d only because I pursued it myself. I was dying under the care of many doctors, all who misdiagnosed me and insisted I was not dying. 1:100 people have celiac, and 3 million in the US. are undiagnosed!!! It’s sickening.