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My apologies for such a long delay in responding, we had to travel to
see a specialist and sick household on return.

I received 21 encouraging replies. I have pasted some extracts below

but first I was referred to a haematologist He said my low Iron stores
were low because I have next to no iron stored in my tissue, and that I
needed to get the iron in as first priority and then deal with the
cause. He has treated me with an IV infusion of ferrum H which going
straight into the blood stream should have me feeling like a new woman
in 2 weeks (great). I will have blood tests every 3 months to monitor my
iron levels to ascertain if I just never built up enough iron stores or
if there might be a need to look future.  The Dr said he has some
Coeliac patients who after through investigation still require ongoing
iron treatment and he finds the iron infusion to be a faster more
welcome recovery by coeliac's than oral iron supplements that take
months to work. (NOTE the good iron supps are no longer manufactured in
Australia)      Thank you all -Nicole

*you may have to take iron for longer than three months to build up the
iron stores in your tissues.  There's a test specifically to test the
amount of iron sequestered in your tissues.  I read an article somewhere
on the net about what causes the low iron levels in many celiacs.

I don't remember it too well, but it has something to do with an
irritation that makes our small intestines intermittently bleed a little
bit.  The doctor who did the study found that the celiacs that tested
low on iron in their blood were the ones that tested positive on fecal
occult blood tests.

He concluded that those celiacs weren't anemic and didn't actually have
low iron in their blood, but that it was a false reading caused by the
slight loss of blood through their intestines.

The problem with the above is that I can't remember what caused the
bleeding.  I vaguely think it had something to do with the permeability
of celiac's small intestines -- but I can't be sure. if any one can
direct me to this artitical I would appreciate it.

*Dark green vegetables is your best bet.VEggie iron is easier to absorb
and digest.

*prescription iron supplements taking Chromagen, which has something in
it to enhance absorption

*I use prescription Hemocyte Plus. It seems to work well and I don't
have any unpleasant side effects.

*you may want to check to see if you are allergic to anything else- the
casein in dairy is very similar protein-structure wise to the gluten
protein.

*You may want to consider some B12 supplement too. Calcium, and
potassium also magnesium. A good GF multi vitamin.

*My doctor had me start iron, folic acid and b12.  She said celiacs
cannot absorb iron from food properly and that I would need to stay on
iron the rest of my life (folic acid and b12 as well).  When I forget
for more than a couple of days, I see immediate effects - don't stop -
keep taking the iron.

*Be prepared to take iron supplements for the rest of your life -- maybe
on an on-again/off-again basis, or all the time.  Also be prepared that
you may develop a B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia) and will have to
take B12 shots the rest of your life.  It's very common with CD.  Good
luck -- I know how you feel.  Even tho I've been on both B12 and
Chromagen (iron supplement), for quite a few years, I still feel tired
all the time.  Just another thing we CD patients have to learn to live with.

*You might think about taking no more than 800 mcg of folic acid per
day, have your annual blood test check with your doc, be sure to also
have him check your Vit B12 level, since folic acid can mask the
symptoms of a B12 shortage.