28 replies to this topic

[celiac2]

New to the board but have been reading since my diagnosis a month ago. I was just wondering if some of the celiac vetrans could tell me if the word normal in realation to symptoms and the body in general is the same normal you felt before having celiac. Mine seems to have blossomed after a viral infection so I clearly remember what I was like before celiac disease. But at this point it feels like my whole system has changed and it won't go back to the way it was. Are bowl movements ever "normal" again? Does your body gain and lose weight the way it used to, or is this a whole new game? And what about the mental? My fog seems better but I have extreme anxiety over health issues now. Every rash, swollen node, or health condition now is feared to be cancer. It sounds stupid I know, but maybe someone can relate. Anyway, thanks for all your postings as they have helped me over the last month. I don't feel so isolated while on the boardand now look foreward to participating and not just lurking. Thanks again. Don

[JsBaby_G]

Don,

Well from my experience I don't feel the same as before I was diagnosed. In my opinion though this is the way everybody else feels. Before we all were diagnosed we were sick, unhealthy people. I don't think the way we are now differs from what people without Celiac feel like. So I guess in that sense I feel more "normal" now. As for the preoccupation with cancer, I understand. Everytime I used to get sick I though something was seriously wrong!! You get over that. Mentally, I still suffer from the occasional pang of depression for no reason but no fog. Trust me it is better and you will feel "normal" it just takes a little while to get used to it.

Hope that helps!

[kvogt]

When I manage not to poison myself for extended periods, I feel great; otherwise, I feel no worse than I ever did. I can tell you that it's really easy to get accustomed to feeling good, so an accidental poisoning can be a real downer. Regarding mental effects, my brain works better off gluten.

[lucycampbell55]

I agree with JsBaby_G and Kvogt

I've only been gluten-free since the 2nd of Nov but I feel like I'm a new person. No more fog but still have occasional bouts of depression and anxiety for no reason. No where near as often as before.

I know this is going to sound crazy but I can now answer questions on Jeopardy. We used to watch it all the time, then it got to where my brain wouldn't work fast enough to get the answer, and I stopped watching it. Like I said I know it sounds crazy to use this example but it's the best way I can explain how much better I have gotten not just physically but mentally. Even DH gets tickled when I yell out the answer before he does. Crazy I know

I had a major weight gain before going gluten-free and since then I have lost 15 lbs. I'm looking forward to losing even more.

Lucy

[spinorita]

It is ok to feel a little paranoid, your body is going through so many changes and as you heal, different things may surface. I was relieved to see other people had anxiety & depression, I go through that too and my friends and family dont get it, so I hide it, b/c they say it's all in my head. But I dont think they realize how hard it is to stay gluten-free, and if they would like to spend each day feeling like they have food poisoning, I think it might clue them in! I was recently told that I have MS and it scared the heck out of me----and of course every ache & pain was magnified until I got an MRI and I DONT have it (at least yet ) so immediately I felt a whole lot better. Just try to remind yourself that you will have good days and bad days, maintain your health but don't obsess and soon you will have a more automatic lifestyle and wont have to be fixated on certain things. But if you have concerns about cancer--get it checked out!!!!!! Don't put that off. You will feel better mentally & physically.

[JsBaby_G]

spinorita

Just thought I'd let you know that my family and friends don't get my depression either and you know what!? That's ok, because I don't even get it. My boyfriend cannot understand how I can go from hot to cold, but even if he doesn't understand it he'll be there for me. Which is the most important thing. That's why I LOVE this site, not only are there always people here for you but they can sympathize with what your going through. It makes you realize you're not a crazy as you might think you are.

Just know I'm here.

[seeking_wholeness]

Lucy, I so totally agree about Jeopardy! I used to love to watch it, but then the brain fog took over and made it so frustrating to sit there and grope for answers! I'm doing somewhat better in that department now, but I'm not really totally "with it" again yet.

spinorita and Crystal, my family doesn't really understand my depression, either. But then, I had been wheat-free (and nearly gluten-free) for a year before I realized that GLUTEN had been CAUSING my inexplicable suicidal feelings! I think my husband (like everyone else, myself included) had been operating under the assumption that it was just a part of my personality, but he can really see the improvement now that I am totally gluten-free! The rest of my family lives out of state, though, so they haven't kept abreast of my healing process--and my mother is extremely skeptical (grrrr....). I think she would PREFER to have a daughter on antidepressants than have to "deal" with a special diet when I visit--even though she doesn't cook anymore anyway, so I'm not sure exactly what her gripe is! Maybe she just feels threatened by the way I am taking charge of my own health, instead of blaming everything on forces I can't control! It seems to be a very common reaction!

I, too, am extremely grateful that all of you are here to make me realize that I'm not completely of my rocker, no matter what anyone else says! Thanks!

[lucycampbell55]

My mood swings and depression have just about disappeared since going gluten-free. None of my family ever understood what I was going through and like others they felt that I could control it. When I was told about the disease my husband was there and I asked the Dr. if the depression and mood swings could be a result of celiac disease he immediately said yes. I looked at my husband and he had tears in his eyes. He realized that all the times I would tell him that I couldn't help it, that I was telling the truth. I still have some nights when I wake up shaking all over and worrying about something I have no reason to worry about, but no where as often as before and like you seeking_wholeness, I'm not completely there yet but I know I will be.

We always spend the holidays with our children and grandchildren and there's usually a scene caused by me feeling overpowered. But not this year, I had a total of 18 people here for Thanksgiving 10 of which were children under the age of 12 and I didn't have one episode, (as I like to call them). At Christmas it was the same thing minus 6 people. Both my children their spouses and my husband made sure to comment how much they could see the difference in me since my diagnosis and going gluten-free. And each one came to me and said they were sorry for not believing me. I thank God everyday for being able to see a light at the end of a tunnel that was dark.


Lucy

[wclemens]

Don, I can certainly relate to your obsession with having cancer. My father died of colon cancer, and until I had a colonoscopy and had two polyps removed, I feared that I had it too.

After the tests showed the polyps benign I went vegan for a year, wanting to avoid any carcinogens in meat, but I was losing weight too fast, so added back protein, and was always on The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet through everything (devised by Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller, both from families with Diabetes, the same as my family).

I've had symptoms of Celiac for the past 51 years, and it took a long time to find out what it was, and that a great deal of the depression and anxiety I was experiencing were caused by the poisons I was ingesting.

After allergy testing and 3 years of shots that didn't work, many specialists and hospital stays for Asthma, many years of perplexing symptoms and abnormalities (ulcers, spastic colon, a knee cyst, etc.) I finally just went with eliminating the foods that I knew caused me problems--wheat and all other grains, all milk and dairy, egg whites and yeast.

After the scare with colon cancer I stopped all processed, canned or packaged foods and have slowly added back just a few products that I can tolerate.

I feel GREAT. I have unlimited energy and stamina, and because of what I learned on my own journey to good health, 8 months ago I was able to see that my newest little grandson was having allergic reactions to milk. He has since been diagnosed gluten sensitive and allergic to all milk and dairy. That makes any and all of the suffering I went through worthwhile! He will never have to go through that same pain that we all have.

I no longer fear cancer, because with periodic checkups and a diet that works for us we can really live, not just survive. Best wishes with your recovery. Welda

[midnightjewel40]

hey there jsbabyG
you sound just like me nobody understands how i can be depressed (get over it get on with your life, cant be all that bad )are all the things people say to me i was on antidepressents for 2 years but came off them (might have to see the doc though again) my husband doesnt understand the depression either and i get really frustrated with him sometimes anyway hang in there if you need to talk to someone im here we can compare notes to each other
jacque australia

[midnightjewel40]

hey there jsbabyG
you sound just like me nobody understands how i can be depressed (get over it get on with your life, cant be all that bad )are all the things people say to me i was on antidepressents for 2 years but came off them (might have to see the doc though again) my husband doesnt understand the depression either and i get really frustrated with him sometimes anyway hang in there if you need to talk to someone im here we can compare notes to each other
jacque australia

[irish]

Everyday I thank God I have this messageboard to go to. I too get depressed. I work nights so it very hard. I lost approximately 20 pounds and I only been diagnosed recently. I always worry that I would get diarhea at work and I would have to leave work at 3 in the morning. I would need to take public transportation home. I have no social life. I afraid to go out. Thanks for listening to me.
Loretta