Is an allergy a possibility here, or is my hypochondria kicking in?

[Mama Rana]

ETA:  sorry, there's some TMI down there.

I'm anemic.  I've probably been anemic for a while.  I was anemic while pregnant, and inconsistently took Floradix.  I've tried OTC slow-release iron before, but again, inconsistently.

Ok, but here's the thing.  Whether I'm inconsistent with the supplements or not, I'm wondering WHY I'm anemic.  My doc is going to do a stool test to see if I've got blood in my stool [great fun, that], but we can't do it for at least a week because of my period.

But I was thinking about a few other things.  I have chronic low-grade sinusitus [sp].  My doc says my ears are FULL of fluid; I cough up phlegm from my throat every morning; I can feel phlegm in the back of my throat all the time.  This has been going on for a few years now.  I've been taking Zyrtec, but frankly don't notice that it helps any.  

I'm constantly tired [the anemia].

I've been diagnosed with ADD.

I'm irritable [goes along with the ADD].

I had difficulty getting pregnant [but DH is practically infertile unless he's on l-Arginine]

I'm gassy.

These are not new things.  They've been going on for a while, and I'm largely used to them so to me they seem "normal" even though I know they're not.

I got to wondering if all these things could be caused by a food allergy [gluten, celiac].  But I'm such a hypochondriac that I'm afraid it's just that.

I've heard celiac as being described as like having glass in the bowels.  I don't have that.  I've recently had some pains in my abdomen in the morning, but they go away once I've gotten up and stretch, so I assume they're more about how I'm sleeping.  Sometimes I have discomfort in my abdomen when I'm passing my bowels, but that goes away as soon as I'm done.

I just don't know what to think here.  I need more energy though, I do know that.  I actually got a decent night's sleep last night as my toddler slept through until almost 6 and I went to bed at 9:30.  But I feel EXHAUSTED anyway.  :(

[sbgrace]

A few thoughts:
It doesn't hurt to run a celiac panel. It's common, it can cause anemia, and the symptoms can vary.
Are you getting enough iron in your diet? My guess is you're not. And you're not supplementing consistently. And pregnancy alone can make you anemic. So it may be nothing more than you need enough iron to correct a pregnancy or diet induced deficiency, you know?

So you run the stool test, run celiac panel at least when you get your next ferritin/iron check, and consistently supplement. I'm going to suggest you use Solgar Gentle Iron. It's easy on teh system, very absorbable compared to other forms, and will be easier than floradix to store and take. The floradix is a pain! Take one capsule when you brush your teeth the first time in the day or right before you go to bed or at some other set time so you don't forget. Try to keep it away from dairy, egg, nuts, and soy if you can.

[Mama Rana]

Thanks for your response, Rachelle!  I was beginning to think no one read this forum!  :lol

I'm definitely going to call and ask my doc to add the celiac panel to my blood draw, but that's not for another 7 weeks.  As you said, it won't hurt, and they'll be drawing blood anyway.  Hopefully she won't think I'm a total hypochondriac for it!

I'll look for that supplement you suggested.  I'm surprised though how many things I need to avoid taking it with!  I knew about the dairy issue, but nuts and eggs too?!  My top 3 breakfasts are yogurt and nuts, eggs and a faux-sausage of some sort, or whole grain waffles with [natural] peanut butter.  :/  How many hours do I need to try to keep the supplement and those foods separate?

Thanks again!

[sbgrace]

Three hours away is my rule of thumb. Eggs are a major inhibitor so daily (or close) eggs trying to correct iron deficiency is, in my experience with my son, not going to work well. Soy is probably second to that.

If breakfast doesn't work try it right before bed. You just want a time when you aren't eating the bad stuff near if you can and that is easier if it's your first or last meal! If you get up at night routinely for the bathroom or some such that's another idea--of all irons on an empty tummy this one is least likely to upset your stomach I'd expect.

If it's not possible, though, you supplement anyway. You need the iron.

[SweetSilver]

I have intense grass allergies, finally two years ago, I started getting a "tickle" in my lungs at the top of my breath.  Never having seen an allergist, I felt it was about time.

I did an environmental panel. 51 items.  Allergic to everything except about five.  So I do what I need to do around the house to alleviate reactions.

A few months later, I thought, maybe i should get the food panel.  Just in case, you know.  One can control food in your body better than I can control pollen and dust mites.  I felt almost apologetic because i didn't have allergic responses to food.

     Was I ever wrong.  Seriously major responses.  Oats were off the chart.  Rice, corn, rye, eggs, soy, peas, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish.  Why didn't I notice this?  The answer was, I was in an allergic fog.  I ditched oats completely right off the bat, and reduced my intake of the others until they were eliminated.

     What's the difference?  It's like I took a Prozac.  Guess what?  Walking around like a zombie is not normal.  Intestinal cramps: not normal.  Fat tongue?  Not normal.  Bouts of confusion I thought were a blood sugar rush?  Oat allergy:  not normal!

     The peanuts caused facial swelling that I noticed on my eyelids when I indulged in Chinese food.  Corn caused tongue swelling and lung tickles.

     Other allergy symptoms that are less expected are:  lethargy, confusion, adrenaline-like rushes, GI pain, frequent urination,.  I would definitely suspect your "ADD" could be allergy-related.  I, too, dismissed my thoughts.  And I would say, just because one is a hypochondriac doesn't mean everything is in one's head.

     Get thee to an allergist.  I speak from experience.  I am a whole new person, like I could never have believed.  I only wish I could have caught this sooner.