New Here And Lost

[Amina82]

Hello

I am 33 years old and have struggled with severe mental health issues my adult life. As a child I was always sick , had mono twice and always tired. My periods were delayed until 15 and then irregular as well as painful. At 15 I developed hemeroids from constipation or diarrhea, at the same time my constant fatigue pushed me into the world of psychiatric medication. I was "depressed". I dropped out of high school due to my overwhelming feelings of exhaustion. I became so accustomed to bad bowels that it's hard for me to express how much of my life it impacted. I had my first two children young with uneventful pregnancies except for c-sections. After my second child I developed my rashes. Initially they were on my knees and elbows...red, itchy burning rashes. At 22 I decided to go on the Atkins diet and change my life. I was Polly-drugged with ADD medication, anti-depressants and sleeping pills. None of the psychiatric drugs made me feel better , at the time I weighed 240lbs (I have always been overweight) After two weeks on the no carb diet I felt amazing and was able to cut back on my medication yet successfully attend college. . After a year on the diet I lost a whopping 80lb and my gallbladder. My doctor told me the Atlkins diet along with the weight loss just blew my gallbladder right out. After the surgery that had many complications I resumed a high fiber, whole grain diet. Ar this time I developed a panic disorder that forced me on Klonopin. Now, the depression turned into the most horrific anxiety. My hands and feet would tingle and my rashes persisted. In 2009 I had my 3rd child and things went from bad to worse. After my Atkins diet I noticed that any bread ,even whole wheat made me bloated to the point of not being able to wear my jeans or rings. Overall I just never felt good. In 2011 on High doses of Klonopin , Xanax and an anti-depressant I had my first elevated liver function test. I got an ultrasound and it was determined to be from the medication. So, with my therapist I started to taper off the medication. My anxiety was unbearable to the point of hospitalization , my diarrhea was contant, my hair was thinning and the rashes started to spread. The rash became very red and ugly on my inner rist and right ring finger. It itched, burned and I began to develop little blisters. No cream helped. At the same time my mother after years Of being ill was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and a severe gluten intolorance. She was told that it could be celiac but she was so ill the doctor refused to let her do the gluten challenge.

Fast forward to 2012 and getting off medication. The only way I was able to control the anxiety was to elimininate gluten from my diet. If I touched anything with gluten I would get an immediate panic attack. I remained gluten free about 6 months, living with my husband and kids it was hard for me to keep. I never gave the gluten free diet enough time. . Slowly I started to eat small amounts of gluten and the ugly rashes came back...it was the strangest thing they dried up and healed then came back with a vengeance. It wasn't just the rashes the fatigue was back , to the point that I was sleeping all day. I Went gluten free again for most of 2013, at the same time I was withdrawing from benzodiapines (Klonopin) which has a lot of nasty side effects of its own. Yet, the only way I could focus or feel normal was to eliminate gluten. I felt the gluten-free diet was making me "more Allergic " because I realized my childhood dairy intolorance returned. At times while adhering to a gluten-free diet, if I went into a bakery or bagle store I would have panic attacks or become itchy on my upper arms. Now on to this year. I was gluten free for the longest period of time between 2013-2014. Rashes went away, fatigue gone , focused , but I just had to know for sure. I began eating small amounts of gluten 2015, felt fine. After about two weeks of pizza the fatigue started as well as increased bowel movements. I felt like I had the worst flu. Stopped gluten. Started back up in April because I was craving it so bad. Towards the end of all this glutening I could not stay out of the bathroom. Explosive diarrea, fatigue , joint pain , and a constant craving for gluten. By the beginning of June I felt the way I did pre-gallbladder removal. I could not digest anything , acid reflux and vomiting all the time add to that fatigue that had me napping multiple times a day. . I want to see my doctor and my liver enzymes are elevated. I am not on medication but was consuming a great amount of gluten. I'm so afraid I have developed a serious liver disease. I'm

Sorry this was so long just needed to vent and get some support !

[kareng]

Welcome!

 

Did you or the doctor suggest a blood test for Celiac?  You certainly have many of the symptoms.  Or a biopsy of the rash?

[Amina82]

No my doctor told me the anxiety , rashes and elevated liver enzymes are not related. I have a GI appointment in September. I don't think I can continue to eat gluten until then. I just became too sick this last time. I have been off gluten about two weeks and just starting to feel normal again. I guess I'm surprised a gluten intolorance could cause such terrible mental symtoms.

[kareng]

I am sorry because your doctor is wrong.  Maybe you could get him to run the basic Celiac blood work before you go off it?  

 

Give him these links from real docotrs- 

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

"Elevated liver enzymes are one of the extra-intestinal signs of celiac disease, so patients with elevated liver enzymes should be tested for it."

 

This list has Anxiety as a common symptom:

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

The problem is, that if you aren't eating gluten, the tests are likely to be negative.

[Amina82]

Thank you so much ! The more I read about syntoms, the more I have. My doctor basically brushed off my concerns by saying Celliacs are "very thin and have explosive diarrea" he is only concerned with figuring out why I have these elevated liver enzymes. I'm terrified I have one of the liver diseases listed for celiac disease. I can only hope the GI doctor can tell me more.

[knitty kitty]

Open Original Shared Link

Hope this link helps.

Your history sounds similar to mine. I got much worse when I started taking antidepressants.

Many medications commonly prescribed are anticholinergic. Things like antidepressants, antihypertensives, sleeping aids, antihyperglycemics,and antihistamines and antacids are anticholinergic. The more a person takes, the higher the anticholinergic load. Having a high load increases the chance of developing dementia.

Some people who have Celiac disease don't have enough of an enzyme to break down these medications, so there is a toxic build up. The saying for the symptoms of the toxicity is red as a beet, dry as a bone (skin rashes), hot as a hare, bloated as a toad, blind as a bat(vision changes), and my favorite, mad as a hatter.

My anticholinergic load was eleven (on a scale of one to ten) and I was undiagnosed Celiac at the time, so I was a hot mess. It was very scary and I never want anyone else to go through that.

Make sure your medications do not have gluten in them, too.

[Amina82]

Thank you so much for that information. i could never understand why I had so many psychiatric problems with this chronic underlying fatigue that turns into depression. What worries me, is the older I get, the worse my reaction to gluten. Another thing , when I go gluten free i feel worse for sometimes up to two weeks, sometimes longer ! On top of all the issues I have listed I had terrible issues with my gums that a periodontist could not figure out. At one point , my gums were peeling. . After my third child I developed severe arthritis with cracking joints. After one of my gluten free periods, I saw arthritis slowly go away. Now that I am making these connections its hard to believe.

[knitty kitty]

There are three hundred symptoms of Celiac Disease. Everyone has different combinations and severities.

I have found that the older I get the worse my reaction is, especially if I have been gluten free for a while. My arthritis is awful when glutened. I, too, have peeling gums when exposed. After my last dental appointment, I developed an ulcer where the topical anesthetic was rubbed and the numbing shot was given. The anesthesia was anticholinergic.

The depression that comes after being glutened is terrible. Gluten binds to the receptors in the brain where those feel good chemicals (dopamine, serotonin) are supposed to go and are hard to remove. B vitamins help displace the gluten molecules. B vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine, where damage from Celiac Disease occurs. So, I take vitamin supplements.

I recommend following the autoimmune paleo diet and the low histamine diet for several weeks. Just meat and vegetables, but no nightshade vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes) because they are anticholinergic, too. Everyone is different. This is what works for me. It does take several weeks to feel better, just be kind and patient with yourself, ride it out and it will get better.

[cyclinglady]

Is there any way for another GP or your current one to test you for celiac disease? It would help not only you (diet adherence) but your children (getting tested). Waiting for September is too long. Chances are your GI is either going to recommend a gluten challenge or you will be left in limbo land - undiagnosed. I am diagnosed but my husband is not. He went gluten-free about 14 years ago per the poor advice of his GP and my allergist. He tells me that I get way more support from family, friends and medical staff.