Severe Mental Symptoms

[Magdeliscious]

Hello everyone- my name is Magdalena, and I am brand spanking new to this forum. What's happening my gluten-free friends?

So, after reading several of your posts, I feel comforted to know that I am not alone in my GI/immune system distress.

Oh boy, the list of things that I feel- I won't go through it all, but just know that the allergies, skin rashes and BRAIN FOG/SPACINESS are the worst!

I have been wheat free for 2 years, and gluten free for one year (except 3 or 4 incidences), yet I still feel incredibly "out of it", and like this isn't reality. I know that sounds so ridiculous, but I remember feeling so much more grounded and in tune with my life. Now its like if you told me yesterday was a dream, I would believe you....

What recommendations do you have?? I am on the following diet:

Gluten free

Sugar free (I had severe yeast infections)

Cow's Dairy Free

Soy free

Is it possible that the mental symptoms never go away?????????? SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!

THanks in advance for your support.

Always,

MAgdalena

[KaitiUSA]

Welcome to the board!

There are a few thoughts that come to my mind:

1) Have you checked products as well like lipsticks and other cosmetics? shampoos? lotions? everything that you put on your face, hands, and head should probably be checked because those products can easily get into your mouth.

2) Is there a possibility you may have something else or another food sensitivity? Have you had allergy testing done? Do you notice it worse after certain foods? If so, a food journal may help you pinpoint what may be causing the symptoms.

3) You said yeast infections...have you been checked for candida in addition to celiac?

[Guest Viola]

A couple of other possibilities are;

Low blood sugar;

Not enough protien;

and enviromental allergies ... if you can't breath right, you get brain fog

[Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~]

"Brain fog" happened to me a lot before I was diagnosed. I couldn't remember what someone told me moments ago, and after you spend some time on the gluten-free diet, you will regain your memory/concentration back

I still have some "holes" in my short term memory--see my signature to find out why.

[ianm]

The brain fog was just crippling for me. You need to carefully analyze you diet to make sure no hidden gluten is getting in. Are you eating a balanced diet? Are you eating enough protiens and fats to help stabilize your blood sugar? Are you exercizing?

I only get brain fog when I accidently get nailed with gluten. It can go away and it is such a great feeling when it is gone.

[Magdeliscious]

I really appreciate your prompt responses. Thank you to everyone.

I do have really low blood sugar, but i eat a very balanced diet of mostly fresh veggies, plant based proteins, SOME animal proteins, and some complex carbs....

THe brain fog is really something I feel all day..but it is especially bad when my blood sugar drops.

I doubt that I have gluten somehow stuck in my diet...mainly because I prepare all of my own foods-very simply and always fresh.

I have not tested for Candida, but I do realize that the two (Candida and celiac disease) are really strongly linked. But even after 6 months on the Candida diet, the brain fog has not improved, even though other symptoms have (ie. no more yeast infections).

I am not aneamic and I've been tested negative for any thryoid disfunction.

sigh. I just want to feel "grounded" again.

I should also mention that I have a really low sex drive, and am usually pretty apathetic to things. I know these are signs of depression, but could they be physiological as well?

THanks again guys for welcoming me to this forum.

always,

MAGDALENA

[KaitiUSA]

Have you had your thyroid checked? Some of your symptoms resemble those of my mom and I who both have thyroid issues...I have hyper and my mom has hypo.

Blood sugar can also cause those symptoms...are you hypoglycemic?

[tarnalberry]

All of those things - including the brain fog - can be a sign of depression, and depression CAN be physiological. (A chemical imbalance - particularly one that's causing your brain to sop up serotonin quicker than it should - is a real cause of depression, and a biological one as well. Our non-brain portions of the body aren't the only bits to have things go wrong. :-) ) I would encourage finding a good psychologist or psychiatrist - not just going to an MD - to evaluate whether or not you have a problem with depression or dysthymia (a lower "grade" of depression that can be much longer lasting, but doesn't interrupt your life to the degree that depression does), and then determine if it's worth addressing pharmacologically - which it may be.

Is your blood sugar consistently very low, or only if you're not eating quite right? If it's consistently very low, I would encourage you to work with a doctor on that - consistent low blood sugar is a serious health risk, and something to take serioiusly.

Do you get much exericse? There's a lot to be said for the endorphins produced during a reasonably intense workout for both clearing the head, and improving the mood.

[skbird]

I suffer from low blood sugar from time to time, as well (am hypoglycemic). I was doing pretty well on rice and all the extra carbs I've been eating since going gluten-free but lately I'm having some trouble again. I'm forgetting words and having trouble typing - sure signs that sugar is getting to me. My blood tester is out of batteries so I haven't been checking up on it lately but am coming to the painful realization that the maple sugar I use on my morning yogurt is adding up, as are the occasional Pamela's gluten-free cookies and those awesome Kinikinick donuts I ordered online...

Gluten gives me brain fog but sugar makes it even worse- to the point where I don't believe it's the problem (probably because I cannot rationally comprehend that it is the problem!!!)

But it does sound like your diet it ok. Sometimes adding more fiber, like ground flax meal, and/or adding oils, like really extra virgin olive oil or flax oil help keep things more stable.

Wow, I can't believe the amount of typos I just made in this email (corrected, of course, a little OCD on my part!) I need to go sugar free for a while, I think...

Stephanie

[mcalistorm]

I have been (mostly) Gluten-Free for two years now, but I still have the same symptoms you are having. I am going to see a celiac disease specalist tommorrow and I will let you know what he says. However I take a lot of medication for my back condition which could account for my brain misfunction so keep that in mind. Hey theres a thought ! Do you take any other medication ? It might be interreacting with the celiac disease diet. And on that note does anyone know where we could get info about drug interactions with celiac disease and a gluten-free diet ?

[Guest Eloisa]

I've been gluten-free for a good while since I was diagnosed but I still had that brain fog. It wouldn't go away until I started Reliv shakes. A bunch of other symptoms I had went away too since I've been doing these shakes.

[Magdeliscious]

Eloisa, What are these Reliv shakes that you speak of???

Yes, tarnalberry, the advice about the depression is right on the money. I mean, the depression I am feeling right now is definitely pyschological AND phsiological. I've been to a couple of different therapists, but to be honest, Im not sure that is what the answer is. THey've recommended various anti-depressants. I've tried lexapro and some other one that didnt seem to help me..in fact, it made me feel MORE zombie like.

I hear Wellbutrin is good, but for some reason I am scared to feel better after taking an anti-depressant. Is that totally self-deusctructive or what???? I mean, its like I am scared to "give in" to the idea of solving my depression from the anti-depressant end....

BUt man, oh man, I would do anything to lift myself out of the brain fog/apathy/low sex drive (VERY low sex drive), and other symptoms of depression.

What about nutritional supplements?

Exercise is defintiely a good one....Im getting back on my yoga schedule....

I just wonder if there is another way (nutritional or otherwise) to relieve the depression before i take prescription drugs.....I've heard that an unhealthy gut depletes our B-complex count, which is wholly related to depression and mental clarity...

What does everyone think?? My body and mind are depressed. I know if i fix one (either body or mental), the other will be uplifted as well.

SO many questions! sorry! Im so confused!!!!!!!!

Love Magdalena

ps. Ive gotten my thyroid and glucose checked, and everything came out OK.

[VydorScope]

Exercise is defintiely a good one....Im getting back on my yoga schedule....

Physical Activity that causes the release of Adrenline (spelling???) is overall very good for your various mental conditions (Depresion, ADD, etc). I do not know much about Yoga, but I thought that was meditation and not realy exercise? If so, I would highly recomend you add some kind of phyiscal exercise 3 times a week, maybe a nice vigours 20-30 min walk to start?

DISCLAIMER - Check with your doctor befor starting any exercise program.

[Guest Eloisa]

Hi Magdalena,

Reliv is a nutritional supplemental shake that can be mixed with water, milk, soy milk, juice, ice cream, pudding almost anything or made into a smoothie. I make mine with either water or soy milk and drink 2-3 times a day. It replaces taking any vitamin pills or any additional vitamins you may think you need. Before Reliv came into my life I had was tired all of the time. I worked out at the gym all week with a trainer but couldn't understand why I never got the extra energy I was suppose to get from all the exercising I was doing. My trainer couldn't understand why I was this way being that he closely monitored me while lifting weights and doing cardio even when I changed routines I still felt the same. I took Reliv because I was told that it would help me with energy and would also get toxins out of my body. On the tenth day of taking Reliv I jumped out of bed at about 6:00 am and was ready to go (this was weird). Then I spend the day cleaning my whole house which is a lot of work then I shopped and carted my kids to school and I cooked separate dinners for my family. It was crazy. I was afraid it was just a one-time thing but it has never changed. I lived my life in a constant fog not knowing how I got to where I was going, sometimes almost rearending people cause I couldn't snap out of my dream. With Reliv I started sleeping better and not having insomnia anymore. I wasn't laying in bed all day like I had been. My mind got sharper and I was able to concentrate on reading and whatever I was doing. My feet and hands stopped hurting when I woke up in the morning which my dr. had already told me that it was arthritus beginning due to the Celiac. I stopped getting cluster headaches all of the time. I no longer needed to take and sinus medication which I'd been on pretty much all of my adult life. I have endometriosis and have suffered with this all my life and after several months of taking Reliv I noticed I no longer had PMS and my cycle went from 8 days to 3 1/2 days. Neck and lower back pains from a bad car accident went away after several months of taking Reliv. I've also gotten off of Detrol LA pills. There's just so many things that its done for me and others across the country. The company doesn't make any claims to healing anything but when the body gets the proper nutrition it needs it begins to heal itself. I know this might sound funny but I works. I am the biggest skeptic there is cause I've tried so many different things to help with my celiac issues and none of them have helped except Reliv and will never get off of this great stuff.

[cmom]

Do you have any problems with diarrhea from the Reliv? I know I tried Slimfast a few years ago and it was almost the death of me so I'm a little leary of any type of healthy shake. Thanks.

[Magdeliscious]

Eloisa, i really appreciate you sending me that email! Thanks for all the advice.

But I wonder, why wouldn't a good mulit-vitamin do the trick instead? you see, I am allergic to soy and yeast so the Reliv is a no go for me.

But yeah, I really feel like my depression is like 95% related to my physiological depression. I know that the B-vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and like a BUNCH of other vits and minerals play a huge part.

Other huge problems is that I am SO apathetic to things. I feel totally numb emotionally. Like nothing niether excites or bothers me. I feel sort of robotic at times....Anyone feel that?? And the sex drive is almost non existant. Sucks.

My exercise routine is pretty vigorous. Anyone who's tried Bikram Yoga knows what i mean...its def cardiovascular in addition to being meditative, etc. 115 degree heat while trying to do crazy poses gets pretty intense!

Right-back to the brain fog- IT IS SO DEBILITATING! And My main thing is that I dont want to start anti-depressants if its going to cover up a true PHYSIOLOGICAL need like nutritional deficiency, etc.

Perhaps I need to find a very good multi-vitamin....my gut has healed relatively well, so hopefully whatever vitamins I ingest will even be absorbed!

And Oh, Eloisa, did your sex drive improve too? Please say yes. haha.

Thanks again for all of your support guys,

MAGDALENA

[tarnalberry]

Ooo... no no no on the Bikram. Well, I just am not a fan of the legal crap he's going through with other yoga instructors, or the concept of doing yoga in that kind of environment, but the cup of tea I don't like might just be the cup of tea for someone else. ;-) (I've been doing yoga for 4 years or so - mostly vinyasa - so I know it can get intense. You definitely sweat, even without the heated room. Once I can find a 200 hour program I can do while still doing my real job, I'm going to get teacher training.)

As for the depression, if you think a lot of it is physiologic, please do talk to a medical professional about it. I KNOW that it's tought to go on drungs. I've been fighting that for two years now. But as much as we want to "beat it ourselves", it's really hard to change your brain chemistry by sheer force of will! ;-) I finally started taking St. John's Wort (a lot of research supporting its use for mild/moderate depression, but NOT severe depression), and have been doing as much cognitive and behavior modification as I can. And it's still tough! That full on apathy is a major red flag, and it doesn't need to hang over your life. (Ha! I say this on a good day. Try me tomorrow and I might sound much more pessimistic about the whole thing... ;-) )

[Guest Eloisa]

Do you have any problems with diarrhea from the Reliv?  I know I tried Slimfast a few years ago and it was almost the death of me so I'm a little leary of any type of healthy shake.  Thanks.

cmom,

No diarrhea at all from the Reliv shakes. I heard Slimfast had tree bark in it from a doctor of mine.

Eloisa

[Guest Eloisa]

But I wonder, why wouldn't a good mulit-vitamin do the trick instead? you see, I am allergic to soy and yeast so the Reliv is a no go for me.

But yeah, I really feel like my depression is like 95% related to my physiological depression. I know that the B-vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and like a BUNCH of other vits and minerals play a huge part.

Right-back to the brain fog- IT IS SO DEBILITATING! And My main thing is that I dont want to start anti-depressants if its going to cover up a true PHYSIOLOGICAL need like nutritional deficiency, etc.

Perhaps I need to find a very good multi-vitamin....my gut has healed relatively well, so hopefully whatever vitamins I ingest will even be absorbed!

And Oh, Eloisa, did your sex drive improve too? Please say yes. haha.

Magdalena,

Here is the thing about Reliv that so great. There is no yeast in it. As far as the soy goes, people that are allergic to it are doing Reliv. My mother was allergic to soy but she is taking Reliv religiously and also taking the Arthaffect formula and not getting any reaction whatsoever. When I started taking Reliv I was told that people who were allergic to things found that after taking Reliv those allergies went away. I tried various multi-vitamins and I never felt any difference when I took them. Also the liquid multi-vitamins would give me diahhrea.

You right about about how you feel about the depression. One of my best friends who was on anti-depressants and gaining lots of weight from them initially got on Reliv to get some weight off but other great things started happening related to her depression. First off, she stopped sleeping all day long a symptom of her depression then her eating binges stopped and then slowly after being on Reliv for a month her doctor slowly took her off of her anti-depressant medication. She is so much more happier now.

Aside from the way we have to eat which lead me into depression I suffered from anxiety because of the brain fog and being afraid to drive anywhere cause I didn't trust myself driving. I was afraid I'd either hurt my children or someone else or get lost and never find my way home. These were feelings and concerns I had everyday until I started with the Reliv. They are cutting edge formulas that deliver the optimal nutrients in a form your body can handle. Any nutrient is useless if it isn't consumed in a form the body can readily use. Remember the effective way to consume supplements is in liquid form which can be absorbed up to five times faster than tablets or capsules. Absorbtion is the worst problem for us. If we're not getting anything from the vitamins and food we eat then we're basically getting almost nothing - which is what I was going through. Going on the gluten-free diet only helped pains and bloating go away. It never gave my any energy whatsoever.

The sex drive really improved cause that was basically a dead subject in this house. Went I started feeling better about myself and finished detoxing with the Reliv shakes I started feeling like my old self, young again. HAHAHA

[Magdeliscious]

HI Eloisa, and thanks for your responses!!

So, it seems like you are a BIG advocate of Reliv...i wish there was some sort of money back guarantee or somethin! But yeah, I suppose I will talk with my doctor's about the source of my depression, but ultimately, whatever triggered this has stayed with me, and I need to get out of it!!!!!

in MY opinion, i truly believe my depression came on due to the physiological trauma of being Celiac... (bouts of diarhhea/stomach cramping/rashes, etc). But I know that I am havinga absorption issues because ive lost 25 lbs in 2 years (and I am only 5'5 and weigh 115....). I mean its a HEALHTY weight, i suppose, but i lost the weight too quickly...

RIght, back to Reliv...It sure as heck can't hurt giving it a try.

Where do you buy it? is it only on line??

thanks again,

take care!

MAGDALENA

p.s. is there a way that health insurance can reimburse for these nutritional supplements? its all SO expensive....

[VydorScope]

I do not know that I would call a 115 pluse all that high for exercise. Most medical sources that I know of call 120 as a bare min for cardovascular work out. A sustianed pluse of at least 120 for at least 20 mins is the standard I was taught back when I was the kind of guy that was in to exercise and being healthy. Short bursts are not any help.

Again I have never even seen a yoga class, all I know about yoga is seeing some old bald guy sitting cross legged in every movie ever written that has anything orential in it. Im sure you know exactly what I mean.

One day I want to be back in to Sho Do Khan or some simular program.. I miss being in reasonble shape! LOL

I am harping on this exercise angle because I have seen it reduce or eliminate the need for mental medication in many ppl. It odviously wont work for everyone, but if it does its a far safer/healthier cure then drug route, IMO.

[tarnalberry]

On the yoga bit - there are a number of branches of yoga that do not offer a sustained aerobic workout, but there are some that do. (I still ain't a fan of Bikram, though. ;-) :-P No offense to those who enjoy the practice he designed; I just can't stand what he's trying to do - legally - with it. Blah... long story.) An interesting thing about yoga, however, is that it has non-exercise benefits that help with depression. I won't go into the details I do know, and even those are too few as I'm not trained as a teacher yet (may be doing that this fall), but it really does make a difference for some people - and yes, there are studies to prove it.

Of course, I would encourage other activities in addition to yoga - as much as the meditative, cognitive, and body awareness techniques in yoga can help depression, so does that nice burst of chemicals the body produces during sustained, high-intensity physical activity. I see it as a very valuable part of a cross training program (and one that should be done at least three times a week), but only a part of it. (For me, the other activities are primarily swimming and running, but biking, weights, and the elliptical trainer are good to.)

On a side note, my yoga teacher has a saying that I've come to appreciate over the years of my practice regarding meditation. It goes something like "You should practice your meditation for five minutes in the morning, and five minutes in the evening before going to bed. If you can't find time for those ten minutes, you probably need half an hour."

[blueshift]

For depression and energy I recommend the following gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free powder by Green Foods..It is called Green Magma.

One tablespoon mixed with 8 ounces chilled water at least 2 hours after any meal (preferrably first thing in the morning) or 20 minutes before any meal. Twice a day. It does not take effect for 24 hours but when it kicks in you will leap out of bed..Your sleep time will drop and the sleep you do get will be deeper..That's how it works for me..

It is expensive...$30 for one container that lasts about 2 weeks..but it works for me one thousand-fold over anything else...I personally think it is a rival energy booster to steroids without the side effects..(I never took steroids but it really does give a kick)..

In fact, if you have a severe heart problem, you are not supposed to take it because of the amount of vitamin K will kick the heart into too high of potential.

Go to www.greenfoods.com

[Guest Eloisa]

HI Eloisa, and thanks for your responses!!

So, it seems like you are a BIG advocate of Reliv...i wish there was some sort of money back guarantee or somethin! But yeah, I suppose I will talk with my doctor's about the source of my depression, but ultimately, whatever triggered this has stayed with me, and I need to get out of it!!!!!

in MY opinion, i truly believe my depression came on due to the physiological trauma of being Celiac... (bouts of diarhhea/stomach cramping/rashes, etc). But I know that I am havinga absorption issues because ive lost 25 lbs in 2 years (and I am only 5'5 and weigh 115....). I mean its a HEALHTY weight, i suppose, but i lost the weight too quickly...

RIght, back to Reliv...It sure as heck can't hurt giving it a try.

Where do you buy it? is it only on line??

thanks again,

take care!

MAGDALENA

p.s. is there a way that health insurance can reimburse for these nutritional supplements? its all SO expensive....

Magdalena,

There is a money back guarantee on Reliv. You can order it from a Reliv distributor over the phone or I think on-line but you have to do it through a representative. They have these meetings every Tuesday night across the US and some in Canada and in different parts of the world. I have a Foundations City List that tells you where these meetings are. I'll send you an e-mail with my number so you can call me.

I don't think a Health Insurance will pay for anything but I know that if you are formally diagnosed you can claim what you spend on gluten free itemed foods and supplements.

Eloisa

[Magdeliscious]

I WOULD order Reliv except that I am allergic to Soy and Yeast. Both of which are ingredients in it!!!

I am going to look for something else though...

I truly hope my apathy/depression/low sex drive is related to the malabsorption issues...

because I just can't justify to myself going on an anti-depressant right now...

sigh, who really knows though???

Thanks to everyone for the advice.