40 replies to this topic

[sixtytwo]

Actually I knew there was a chance that the regular oatmeal could be contaminated, but as I am not celiac (or I don't think I am)----am gluten intolerant or sensitive, I just thought maybe I could get away with it. WRONG. Now I know. I do have the steel cut oats from Bob's Red Mill, but they take so long to cook and are not smooth like Quaker.

[boysmom]

I was diagnosed 8 years ago with 'panic attacks' after a brief bout with some sort of episode where it felt like heat exploded in my chest, spread throughout my body, my heart started pounding, I felt nauseous and like I couldn't get my breath. Afterward I was totally drained, weak, and shaky. Each episode became milder and farther apart until about 6-8 weeks after the first, and strongest, they didn't happen any more.

Over the intervening years I may have had 3 or 4 more isolated and very mild attacks, until about 6 weeks ago when I went to the ER believing I was having a heart attack. This one was MUCH stronger and came in waves separated by strong shaking in between. After and EKG and some time on a heart monitor they decided what was happening was an esophageal spasm and gave me a cocktail that stopped the whole thing in its tracks. During the time they were running the tests the waves had become mild enough that by the time they made the diagnosis I had finally recognized it as the same attacks I'd had 8 years ago. I'm not trying to say none of you are really having panic attacks, I'm just wondering how common this misdiagnosis is, because aside from the potential for neurological effects, this could explain a simply digestive reason some of you might notice an improvement.

I'm still in the testing stage to find out if I have celiac or gluten intolerance, but my own experiments with eating gluten free have shown that eating gluten free for about 3 days seems to cause a HUGE improvement in my overall health not just the attacks, but if I eat gluten the attacks start again, although blessedly milder than the one that sent me to the ER.

[shirleyujest]

Wow, include me as another gi or celiac disease (whatever) who has suffered anxiety/depression off and on for years. Past few years I've been on ssri and thought this managed things well. But in the past year or so I've had panic attacks bad enough that for a while I was dependent on xanax twice a week or so. This really didn't fit with my image of myself as an overall pretty bouyant, resilient person. It just seemed like I was gong downhill.

What's made it more complex for me is numerous other health issues and severe fatigue leaving me unable to work. So naturally my docs and I believe at least a chunk of my anxiety is circumstantial. Not to mention I went on a lot of medications for my illness and symptoms about 6-7 years ago.

I'm really hoping to be a bit more on an even keel once my body has adjusted to gluten-free life.

Good luck to you, I hope you find the relief you are seeking also.

[Diva1]

Hello,

First of all, I just have to say that I love being a part of this forum and learning SO many things about Celiac Disease that I never knew before (even though I've had it my whole life). All of your posts have been an inspiration to me in expanding my knowledge about my own tolerances, diet, etc. Thank you so much.

But now I would like to start a topic. I know many members on this forum get more symptoms along the lines of GI, but I'm actually asymptomatic (on surface, anyway) in that area. What I AM very sensitive to is cognitive/mental ability...if I'm glutened, one of the symptoms I know I've been suffering along steadily is panic attacks. Sometimes they're minor and I can easily control them, but other times I just can't it...they take control of me instead.

I just eliminated something from my diet which it turns out I cannot have, but thought I originally could (I had no idea that mainstream cereals contained malt or malt flavoring in them!). It's been 3 days and I'm already feeling more alert and focused than I have in a very long time, but I still had a bad panic attack today. And yesterday, I was supposed to be somewhere for school but couldn't go b/c I had a BAD panic attack right before I got in the door. My body was shaking, I couldn't see straight, I was still paniky...my friend had to drive me back to campus!

So, here are my questions...

1) Does anyone on here seem to notice a correlation between panic attacks (if they have them) and getting glutened?

2) If so, then how long does it take for the panic attacks to go away? I don't expect them to go away overnight, but I would like some insight. I'm a college student with a very busy, rigid schedule, and I can't keep on getting spontaneous panic attacks that are bad enough to send me home or excuse myself. And, if the problem is gluten (which I feel that it is), than I'm not about take medication for it and mess up my system more.

Thank you to all of you once again for your support...

Hi although I'm new at all this gluten stuff...I do suffer from panic attacks...when,mostly at night...
maybe because my severe symptoms were mostly at night after a big meal of gluten.
The attacks comes on very quickly and without warning... I think that they will subside after a few days of feeling better...

[blancasagro]

Hello,

First of all, I just have to say that I love being a part of this forum and learning SO many things about Celiac Disease that I never knew before (even though I've had it my whole life). All of your posts have been an inspiration to me in expanding my knowledge about my own tolerances, diet, etc. Thank you so much.

But now I would like to start a topic. I know many members on this forum get more symptoms along the lines of GI, but I'm actually asymptomatic (on surface, anyway) in that area. What I AM very sensitive to is cognitive/mental ability...if I'm glutened, one of the symptoms I know I've been suffering along steadily is panic attacks. Sometimes they're minor and I can easily control them, but other times I just can't it...they take control of me instead.

I just eliminated something from my diet which it turns out I cannot have, but thought I originally could (I had no idea that mainstream cereals contained malt or malt flavoring in them!). It's been 3 days and I'm already feeling more alert and focused than I have in a very long time, but I still had a bad panic attack today. And yesterday, I was supposed to be somewhere for school but couldn't go b/c I had a BAD panic attack right before I got in the door. My body was shaking, I couldn't see straight, I was still paniky...my friend had to drive me back to campus!

So, here are my questions...

1) Does anyone on here seem to notice a correlation between panic attacks (if they have them) and getting glutened?

2) If so, then how long does it take for the panic attacks to go away? I don't expect them to go away overnight, but I would like some insight. I'm a college student with a very busy, rigid schedule, and I can't keep on getting spontaneous panic attacks that are bad enough to send me home or excuse myself. And, if the problem is gluten (which I feel that it is), than I'm not about take medication for it and mess up my system more.

Thank you to all of you once again for your support...

Before I was diagnose with celiac I had not panic but anxiety attacks, I don't know if there's a difference between those two. First I start to get dizzy, then the headache, and then I can't be seat, or still I need to be walking or cleaning, thats how I feel when I eat gluten, without mentioning the diarrheas. I do yoga and pilates since like 4 years and that helped me a lot with the anxiety. I believe that's why I have never had a real panic attack cause by the celiac (I have had panic attacks caused by other situations) but that occurred before I started with yoga. I woke up some days and I'm very motivated with gluten free woojoooo, other days I'm like the hell gluten free I want pizza and bread, this life is horrible, but I always start with a prayer (If your're a believer that's the medicine) and breath, do some yoga, just a bit because I'm still recovering and I'm still very exhausted. For me God first and yoga, and all the anxiety is gone in minutes.

[darlindeb25]

I had panic attacks for years before going gluten free. I was diagnosed with panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, and borderline agoraphobia...I even was in therapy for them. Now when I look back, I was given Xanax for the panic, and of course, Xanax contained gluten,,,feeding the monster, so to speak! I was on Paxil when I went gluten free, and eventually weaned myself off of it. My earlu glutenings were stomach/diarrhea attacks. Now, 9 years later, if I get glutened, it's all neurological with panic, headaches, anxiety, brain fog, nausea...then it takes me several months to get over it all...my last glutening took 3 months to get over.

If any of you are using Xanax, make very sure you are getting a gluten free product. Many of Xanax products out there contain gluten.

I rarely panic anymore, and if I do, it doesnt last long.

[A long journey]

I was diagnosed as celiac as a baby but they told me my parents I would grow out of it. This was 50 years ago.

Since the bulk of my problems were mental (anxiety and depression) and the other symptoms were treated as unrelated and minimal. So I have been to more psychiatrists than doctors for the past 20 years, and on every class of psychiatric medicine available, including about a dozen different anti-depressants.

I don't take any more meds, but keep going on and off gluten because I still have doubts, becuase I have thought I was a hypochondriac. But this last few months have been massive for anxiety and panic attacks, and I have trouble thinking. I have been eating glutten.
I hope, first of all, that this works, and second of all, that I KEEP FAITH that it will work, because I keep doubting and going back on gluten.

[Lady]

I know now that I have been a "Celiac" all my life, I have had mental problems, eating, skin, eye problems all my life, I have been in a mental institution a couple of times, only to be diagnosed wrong, I was put on meds, locked up, beaten, you name it, it happened to me, I'm surprised I'm not in prison for the things I could have done. I am 57 years old, and scared, my sister died at the age of 57, almost 300 LBS, I have always been around 100LBS, even after 5 children, I started putting on weight around 2 years ago, I am now 140LBS, and I was always in pain, my boyfriend got worried, he thought it was an appendicitis, so he had me go to my doctor, she also thought that, so she sent me to the hospital immediately, there at the hospital I learned what I should have know 57 years ago, "I'm a Celiac", and I know now that my sister died of it, so I'm trying to get the word out to my own family, as well as the world, it is so important that we learn everything we can about our bodies, and the diseases we have, and how to control them, hopefully without meds, we can do it naturally, and I am still learning, good luck to all.

[dan_edward]

I've never thought about it. But to see so many people also share the same experience,
maybe going 100% gluten free would help the panic attack,
I've had a few accidental bday cakes about 2weeks ago, then.... I had fever after few days and
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease about 2weeks ago. panic attack this week,
trust me, I've never thought it'd be that bad......

[blessedmomto3a]

For those of you who feel that your panic attacks/anxiety has gotten better on the gluten free diet, how long did it take to see an improvement. I have been on the gluten free diet about three weeks and haven't notice much change in my anxiety (maybe a little but not much). My doctor said "mental" issues can take months to see improvement in - things such as brain fog, headaches, anxiety/depression, etc. I had tests for celiac that were negative, but this doctor thinks with all my symptoms that I still could have an allergy and feels that I should give it a try.

She said give a few months and I might notice changes - I also have bowel issues (lymphocytic colitis and IBS). She said after a couple months if I have gluten I will know because I will probably have a "reaction" to it.

My panic/anxiety keeps me housebound and I have suffered for over 20 years so if this is the answer I would be so grateful!!! Thanks everyone.

Blessings,
Leah

[ciavyn]

Woohoo! I hope y'all are correct in saying that it may go away over time. I have panic attacks and anxiety, ADD, and a short-term memory deficiency that is really frustrating, as I'm an intelligent person, and therefore have a hard time when I feel like I'm acting "stupid." Brain fog is a great way to express it. Curious to see if after 6 months I can see a significant difference.

[Korwyn]

For those of you who feel that your panic attacks/anxiety has gotten better on the gluten free diet, how long did it take to see an improvement. I have been on the gluten free diet about three weeks and haven't notice much change in my anxiety (maybe a little but not much). My doctor said "mental" issues can take months to see improvement in - things such as brain fog, headaches, anxiety/depression, etc. I had tests for celiac that were negative, but this doctor thinks with all my symptoms that I still could have an allergy and feels that I should give it a try.

She said give a few months and I might notice changes - I also have bowel issues (lymphocytic colitis and IBS). She said after a couple months if I have gluten I will know because I will probably have a "reaction" to it.

My panic/anxiety keeps me housebound and I have suffered for over 20 years so if this is the answer I would be so grateful!!! Thanks everyone.

Blessings,
Leah

Hi Leah,

I have suffered as much (if not more) mental, CNS, and neurological symptoms as GI. Panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, muscle twitching (Fasciculations), myoclonus (large muscle spasms), peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the extremities).

My panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia began to improve almost immediately (within weeks) of being gluten free. They got better for a while, then took a downturn which I found was due to soy. Once I totally eliminated the soy too, they improved dramatically. I haven't had a panic attack since except when glutened or 'soyed'.

[jerseyangel]

For those of you who feel that your panic attacks/anxiety has gotten better on the gluten free diet, how long did it take to see an improvement.

I never had another panic attack after going gluten-free 4 years ago, but it was a good 18 months-2 years before the anxiety completely let up. I will still get anxious when accidentally glutened, but nothing like the way it was before.

Truthfully, I didn't even realize how bad it was until it was gone--I had lived with it for so long.

Give it time--the emotional/nero issues take longer generally than the physical ones.

[CarbQueen]

The panic attacks I've experienced were related to allergic reaction to chemicals, and certain food.

Daily yoga sequences helped me overcome the ADHD/OCD and addictive behavior. There is a sequence to help reduce the severity of brain fog. Since I am a spiritual person, my yoga practice nourishes my body, mind and spirit.

Once the panic attacks and brain fog subsided, I was able to do hours of research to determine the cause of my physical ailments. The doctors finally told me that whatever I am doing, keep doing it because it is working.

I still experience the occasional gluten attack, but those are less severe as my digestive tract heals.

[ktnhsv]

This is so interesting to me. I've had SEVERE anxiety and depression for 14 years. SEVERE ezcema type stuff on my ears since I was a child. With each pregnancy-I got worse. (I've had 5) I've also had really bad tooth decay. Just recently I tried to go gluten free for 2 weeks, but failed miserably, which led to more depression. I'm so overweight and my body hurts like I have the Flu daily, and has been for the past 3 years. After reading this thread, I'm willing to give it another shot, I'm so skeptical though.