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Anxiety

BamBam

By BamBam
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

BamBam Community Regular
BamBam
Posted

Hi,

For the last twelve years I have had lots of stomach pains, diarrhea, accidents etc. I am feeling a lot better now that I am gluten free. But I still get anxious when I travel, or when I know the bathroom is a long distance away. My husband travels a lot with school kids, and I would just love to go with him, but the fear of having an accident keeps me from going anywhere. I will travel with him, but am afraid to travel with other people, having an accident is just so embarrassing. Do we ever get "regular" again?

BAM

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darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted
<_< its an irrational fear that you may not ever get rid of--i know i panic when i dont know where the bathroom is or i am where there isnt one and i have been gluten-free for over 3 1/2 years--it's because we have been through so much before going gluten-free and we still dont trust our bodies---its a trust that doesnt come back easily---i do have very good days where i can go without knowing where each bathroom is along the way----maybe with time you will feel safer---it's hard, i know--i live it too--we do get regular, but sometimes that irrational fear will make us panic and then we have to go--its a vicious cycle for us---try talking to yourself and reminding you that you will be fine----i have to do the driving, i can ride with my boyfriend, but only him, no one else--i know i havent helped you, but i have reminded you there are others of us out here that feel the same way----i do have good days--more good then not :lol: deb
MySuicidalTurtle Enthusiast
MySuicidalTurtle
Posted

I am still suffering from that anxiety. I went to therapy and started anti-anxiety medication after my dignosis. It really helps a lot!

KaitiUSA Enthusiast
KaitiUSA
Posted

I still have anxiety as well. It's alot better then before but it's still there. Once you try things a few times with success you will trust your body more. I went to therapy and they told me it was a fear of what might happen since so many times I have went to do things and started not feeling well and I was just expecting something like that to happen.

I started on medications but I eventually was able to get off of those pills thankfully:)

Good luck:)

Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

Yes ... anxiety is a real tough one to get rid of. I have been gluten free for about 17 years, and still have some of those problems. I think maybe because every time you start to get comfortable you run into a contamination. I think what helped me the most is a few, very close friends getting me out of the house for short periods of time, to start with and then extending the time. They even helped me find the bathrooms :D I am probably more confident than a lot of Celiacs now, but that comes with time and the fact that I'm very careful what I eat for two or three days before an important outing. Well ... I'm always careful, but before an outing I never try anything new and go back to the very basics. Hope this helps some :)

Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

Oops ... I forgot. If it's an un-planned event, and I start getting nervous about it and of course, we all know what happens when we get nervous and tie up those stomach muscles, then I take my old friend "Imodium". It's got me through more than one occasion :lol:

Merika Contributor
Merika
Posted

It is so nice to hear that I am not the only one suffering from this! Before diagnosis, I had a career counselor psychologist (?) say it sounded like i had agoraphobia. At first I thought she was nuts. Then i realized i was nuts, lol.

I found a book at the library that was very helpful with anxiety called "Fearless Living: (something more...)" by Judith Marquart (sp?). It's also available from Amazon. Come to think of it, I think I may check it out again....I'm in need of a refresher :)

btw, does anyone have any advice on how to help dh's deal with this sort of thing? Mine is very understanding, but still....feels limited in going places sometimes, though tell him to go solo or whatever, if i just don't feel well. I may post this over in the "friends of" section...

Thanks,

Merika

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
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