Is Irritability Common Among Celiac Patients?

[learning2cope]

Today I've noticed that I am irritable, very much so. It started this evening probably around 6pm or so. I ate dinner as usual, home cooked chicken breast with Olive Garden Italian dressing on it, green beans from a can and Kraft Mac & Cheese. I have NOT been tested yet for celiac but I am certainly going to do it considering the many other symptoms I have. I then had malted milk balls after dinner (it was my easter candy from mom).

 

I usually have a very stable mood. I never get irritated by anything really. I'm very easy going but something has changed for me... AND I could have SWORN that I had malted milk balls yesterday, too! But I talked to mom when she got hom and she said she only gave them to me today. I think I had mabye 6 or so earlier today (after dinner) and then a few more (??) later? I somehow remember that but I'm totally at a loss of memory. I feel so confused! It's like I don't know what's up or down!!

 

I rarely eat malted milk balls, like less than once every 2 years. And I've never noticed mac & cheese affecting me like this... So I'm guessing it's the milk balls. I know they are made from wheat somehow or some gluten-containing grain. Um I just feel confused and alone and scared as all get out!

 

I was irritable yesterday when mom, dad and I were discussing new flooring for our house that we are building. That was after eating a sandwich I think. About the same time of day, too. But yesterday I was clear-headed. Not this evening I'm not!!

 

Could I now be starting new symptoms from ingesting gluten?? Or do you think it could be hormones? I did start my "period" today which was really nothing. Since I have PCOS I rarely get periods (like 2 a year) AND they last less than a day, very light flow, barely there, etc. Soooo I don't know if this is simply hormonal or what. I hope that I sleep well tonight and am back to normal tomorrow. BUT I will definitely keep notes from now on with how I feel, what I ate and when, and try to see if there is a pattern emerging. I plan on calling my doctor on Monday to get bloodwork done. Are these tests the only ones I need for now??:

 

ttg IgA and ttg IgG
total serum IgA
EMA IgA
DGP IgA and DGP IgG

 

I don't even know what those are or what they mean but I'll try to research it tonight unless I go to bed soon. I might just take my pills and attempt to get to sleep just to avoid feeling this irritable feeling. Ick!! I'm on edge and just kinda annoyed with everything. I'm not depressed and I don't notice any anxiety (which I'm prone to severely). I do have bipolar disorder with psychotic features (hallucinations) but with my medicine I take it gets rid of all of the moodiness, depression, etc. I'm usaully very stable mood-wise. What do you think of all of this? I need to see if you think it could just be hormones or if you think it IS related to celiac.

 

Thank you,

 

Brittany

[1desperateladysaved]

My health professional just told me that irritability can be caused by the need for B vitamins.  Irritability is one of my first signs of getting gluttened.  I am still not sure if it is "caused by" or if it just makes it hard to be nice.  You may want to check your nutrient status.

 

One more thing:  I haven't been able to eat malt balls for many years, but I recall the malt is usually made with barley.  I think they do also contain wheat.  Hard boil some eggs instead and be happy!  ha ha ha I know, it doesn't quite give the same feeling!  But who wants the grouchy feeling In spite of a little in good taste.

 

I threw cheese through a window once.  I had a sudden surge of irritability for no reason.  Well, I found out later that I was highly intolerant of cheese.  I therefore conclude avoiding foods that cause these problems is best.

 

Diana

[kareng]

You are eating so much gluten, I doubt the tiny bit in the malt balls makes such a huge difference. Feeling yucky and then adding hormones can make you grouchy. If you have Celiac, you probably aren't absorbing your medications well, either.

[kareng]

 

I threw cheese through a window once.  I had a sudden surge of irritability for no reason.  Well, I found out later that I was highly intolerant of cheese.  I therefore conclude avoiding foods that cause these problems is best.

 

Diana

That's one way to avoid a food! . Hope the window was open.

[learning2cope]

Yes I do eat a lot of gluten. I know that has to change. Even if I'm not formally diagnosed with celiac my family is going to go gluten free for at least a few months to see if my symptoms go away and my weight goes down. I have what I believe is DH but my dermatologist dx me with palmoplantar pustular psoriasis but even though they are so very similar. With all I've read DH seems to fit much better (and 100% based on symptoms) than PPP. *shrugs*

 

I don't tend to have very many intestional issues but I have lately. Monday-Thursday this week I had consistent strong bloating, pain and very little gas that would come out even though it totally felt like I had a lot of gas. I did have loose stool that was pale and yellow though.

 

I feel better today. This morning I still felt a little on edge. But I went back to sleep and I'm 95% back to normal now. I do wonder if the combination of mac & cheese and the malted milk balls caused the confusion and irritability. Though the mac & cheese I ate wasn't much. But who knows.. I'll just stay away from malted milk balls. That confusion was scary once I found out I was wrong about what I 'remembered'.

 

I will try to remember to ask my GP to test my vitamin levels. I do need to know if I am vitamin D deficient. I probably am since I get NO sun during the year since I rarely go outside (other than to go places in the car). I am photosensitive (always have been) so I do avoid sun as much as possible since the resulting rash is super itchy and painful.

 

Thank you for your replies.

 

EDIT to add: Today I'm having the same short term memory loss/confusion. I know I woke up initially at 7:00am or somewhere around that time. Not long after that I took an aspirin for my toe infection pain (need to make appt to see podiatrist early this week if possible). I also ate 2 hot dogs (with buns) like I do a few times per week, mainly because of the aspirin so that it wouldn't hurt my stomach. I don't recall falling asleep but I know I woke up around 10-something because my shirt was twisted when I woke up (I slept on my stomach and woke up on my love seat and sat up, my shirt was twisted when talking to dad when he walked into the room. So I know I had been sleeping at some point after I ate breakfast and took the aspirin but I don't recall laying down to sleep. I do know that I have been known to fall asleep here on the love seat without warning BUT not when I am fully awake and alert. 99% of the time due to the meds I take for my bipolar I do not wake up 6 hours after I go to sleep and am wide awake. I am usually very groggy and unable to focus my eyes so I end up falling asleep and sleep another 4 or so hours. So that's odd. I'll make note of that in my new daily journal.

[bartfull]

Is irritability common among celiac patients? WHY THE @#*^#** DO YOUWANT TO KNOW???!!!!  

 

In other words, yes. I get EXTREMELY grumpy when I have been glutened. Or corned, or exposed to any of my many intolerances.

[learning2cope]

Haha yeah. That stinks that you have many intolerances. I've not noticed any issue with any other food or drink but apparently it's common for those with celiac. I'm more concerned with my confusion/lack of short term memory. I'll keep an eye on it. It may be a new manifestation of celiac for me though I don't know if that's even possibly related to celiac or gluten intolerance. When I see my GP this week I'll definitely mention it.

[1desperateladysaved]

Actually, it broke the window.  I guess I did avoid it that day.  More time went by before I found out I couldn't eat cheese.  I haven't forgotten the crash of the cheese hitting the glass!

That's one way to avoid a food! . Hope the window was open.

[Smylinacha]

I get irritable and depressed. My husband said he can't wait until the gluten is out of my system. I had to go back on for the endoscopy. He said I have been a b*itch. He is right but he also doesn't admit that he is a PITA and caused me anxiety so that makes me worse. But yeah, my mood changes. And not for the better.

[kareng]

Actually, it broke the window. I guess I did avoid it that day. More time went by before I found out I couldn't eat cheese. I haven't forgotten the crash of the cheese hitting the glass!

You must have really thrown that cheese hard! Lucky your hub or one of the kids didn't get hit with it! Lol

I'm enjoying the thought of a chunk of cheese flying through the window and hitting some unsuspecting squirrel!

Thanks for the laugh! That's about the funniest thing in my day ( unfortunately).

[SeekingSarah]

Wait, what? I don't want to lose my b%$@#iness!  With that said, I have been very depressed, irritable (like every little thing about work bothers me, and it shouldn't bother me to the point I just want to quit...that is not rationale), just want to sleep all day, all worse the past few months, the same time I've had the DH (self DX for now) outbreak, might need to drop the online class I'm taking as I can't focus enough to write simple papers or discussion responses. Again I wonder if the B-12 or Vit D I was given have something that has triggered the worse symptoms...only change I can really see, I was on another medication but stopped it...still not back to normal and new spots are appearing on my scalp and face. See GI tomorrow...wish me luck!

[learning2cope]

My irritability didn't go away till about mid-day yesterday. I had to sleep it off. Haven't had it since so I can only assume it had to do with the malted milk balls somehow. Though I never get that reaction to chocolate alone. Could it have been the coloring added to them? They wre colorful, had a candy coated shell.

 

My confusion seemed to go away later in the day than the irritability.

[Smylinacha]

My inner b*tch went back to hibernating today. I think all the gluten from last week is finally out of my system. I don't want to get like that again.....very depressing. All these chemicals and gluten in food is poison.

[learning2cope]

I'm glad you are feeling better Smylinacha. I know I had really bad irritability and confusion for a full 20 hours after eating malted milk balls. I'm not yet on a gluten-free diet because I need to make an appointment to get tested for celiac disease. I will (reluctantly) make the call tomorrow I think for the appointment. I totally forgot to call today because I've had bad pain in my infected toe.  My GP wants me to only see my podiatrist about my infected toes from now on since he has no idea why it's infected all the time. I figured it out, it's the steroid ointment I'm using on my "psoriasis" (which is really probably DH). Somehow it causes infections in the big toe only, and ONLY if I get it near or on the nail fold/nail area. (shrugs)

 

So I'll bring it up to him when I see him hopefully this week for the celiac testing and maybe he'll be willing to prescribe one more antibiotic to clear it up. I'm just going to quit using the steroid ointment unless I severely need it.  I can (usually) live with the severe pain of the rawness of the rash on the bottoms of my feet.

 

I hope I never eat malted milk balls again due to that major confusion and irritiablity i had. It scared the hell out of me! I might try another brand of them before i go gluten free just to see if it is the malt in it that caused it, or if it was the colored candy shell on teh outside of the ones I had.

[cavernio]

While you're eating gluten foods that might otherwise have no effect on you, will have a bad effect on you. Bananas used to give me migraines 80% of the time. Not anymore.

[GFceliacgirl]

My health professional just told me that irritability can be caused by the need for B vitamins.  Irritability is one of my first signs of getting gluttened.  I am still not sure if it is "caused by" or if it just makes it hard to be nice.  You may want to check your nutrient status.

 

One more thing:  I haven't been able to eat malt balls for many years, but I recall the malt is usually made with barley.  I think they do also contain wheat.  Hard boil some eggs instead and be happy!  ha ha ha I know, it doesn't quite give the same feeling!  But who wants the grouchy feeling In spite of a little in good taste.

 

I threw cheese through a window once.  I had a sudden surge of irritability for no reason.  Well, I found out later that I was highly intolerant of cheese.  I therefore conclude avoiding foods that cause these problems is best.

 

Diana

I get extremely irritable a while after I've been glutened for some reason.  Today it happened after I had a fountain drink of Diet Dr. Pepper.  After consuming gluten I get immediate symptoms in my fingertips.  They turn white and feel cold and numb almost like there is no circulation.  Then a few hours later I felt the irritated about everything.  

[learning2cope]

Hmm I do remember a time when I could NOT eat bananas. It felt like my stomach was being ripped apart by the blood vessels. It was a nasty reaction! Stabbing, tearing kinds of pain. I didn't eat bananas from mid high school (2000) to probably 2008 or 2009. I didn't seem to have that reaction after that, I can now eat bananas without any issues. And in 2008 is when I started to have slight anemia which again, my doctor didn't tell me about. I only found out about it by looking back through all my labs and nitpicking every abnormal or near abnormal lab test. The MCV, MCH and MCHC (?) were abnormal (very slightly low).

[stanleymonkey]

My 4 yr old is very irritable after gluten, I n the other hand get irritable after talking to the GI at our local kids hospital!

[learning2cope]

I've not noticed irritability in me at all when ingesting gluten from bread or pasta. But something about those malted milk balls did it to me. and it was bad. I wouldn't be so freaked out by it except severe confusion went along with it. I'll have to try to find out if it was the malt in it or the food dyes for the shell of the candies. Either way, I will NOT be eating those specific malted milk balls anymore.

 

What is wrong with the GI at the hospital? Is he/she a moron?