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What is wrong here

9 replies

NoGoodDeed · 25/07/2018 22:33

My sister feels ill all of the time. Symptoms:

Joint pain/weakness
Tiredness and fatigue
Crippling headaches
Mild depression and anxiety
Very large appetite, eating lots but losing weight

She has coeliac disease (diagnosed 4 years ago) and follows a strict gluten free diet. Has been tested for thyroid issues.

Anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
9amTrain · 25/07/2018 23:15

Could be anything or multiple things.

Can you get a printout of her bloods and post them here so some members who are clued up on interpreting them can have a look.

Doctors will often tell you your results are normal when they're actually not and also won't mention they haven't tested everything. Thyroid conditions and vitamin / mineral deficiencies are grossly underdiagnosed.

Make sure all of the following have been tested in addition to the coeliac test and routine bloods:

  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin B12
  • Folate
  • Ferritin

Without knowing the levels and what's been tested it's impossible to say so try to get the results. She's legally entitled to them.

Redteapot67 · 26/07/2018 00:22

Cancer? Losing weight despite eating lots would cause me concern but there are loads of harmless things it could be too

NoGoodDeed · 26/07/2018 06:59

Thanks for the replies so far, food for thought. I forgot to mention that we also have a history of ME in the family.

OP posts:
GazeboLantern · 26/07/2018 09:25

When did she last have an endoscopy? Could it be that she's still eating gluten unknowingly?

NoGoodDeed · 26/07/2018 09:54

I'm not sure when she last had an endoscopy but I think we can rule out her still eating gluten unknowingly - she lives in a completely gluten free household and when she does accidentally eat gluten (last time about 18 months ago) it makes itself extremely known!

OP posts:
aperolspritzplease · 26/07/2018 10:13

Fibromyalgia?

But really she needs to see a m ducal professional.

NoGoodDeed · 26/07/2018 11:13

Fybromyalgia is being investigated. She is in and out of the docs constantly and nothing seems to be moving forward very fast to be honest

OP posts:
GazeboLantern · 26/07/2018 11:24

There is a condition called refractory coeliac, which happens when the gut does not heal, despite following a strict GF diet.

It is also possible to maintain a low level of glutening, and respond drastically at a high level. I've just recently seen this, as my coeliac FIL was on the verge of being diagnosed with refractory coeliac, when I spotted that the Marmite he eats every day contains wheat and barley. He had been told, when diagnosed, that Marmite was OK, and had not noticed when the label changed 3-4y ago.

NoGoodDeed · 26/07/2018 13:25

@GazeboLantern thanks that it really helpful info. I've had a look online and it would definitely fit even though she is a lot, lot younger than the average age of 50. I've passed along the info

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