Total Newbie, Anxiety And Healing. Too Many Cooks

[Mrlkandee]

Hey Everyone, I'm 23 and was diagnosed in October, have been gluten-free since March (because I never "got sick" my doctor told me to minimize gluten and not get rid of it until much much later in March).

 

February of this last year I had anxiety attacks on a daily basis, couldn't go to work, etc. OBGYN switched my BC pill and also put me on Paxil. Paxil made me INSANE-it was like I was constantly having an anxiety attack inside my head, but there was no sound for my inner freak-out. And then once my GI Dr. told me to get rid of gluten entirely, my OBGYN took me off all meds, BC pills and Paxil.

2 months go by and I feel great! Even my period comes and I don't notice it coming since before my PMS was insane. I thought I had found the cure!

 

Then i get diagnosed with mild herpes that my dr thinks wont ever come back, but it sends my anxiety through the roof, which then throws my body for a loop. Can't eat, can't sleep, etc. Finally go out with my friends, but eat out all weekend, come home sick for a few days which triggers my anxiety. 

 

Just spent the last week on a new BC pill and coincidentally (or not) got bad diarrhea all week, and spent today in the ER. Got a Cat scan, blood work, etc. no issues. 

 

I started seeing a new therapist in June who has helped, but now all my doctors really want me to be on antidepressants like Buspar or Librax to help cope with BOTH anxiety and my GI issues while I heal. Has anyone dealt with something like this? What did you do? Is it possible to take these meds for a few months while the body heals and then stop taking it? I really really want to try to avoid an SSRI since I had such a bad reaction to Paxil.

 

I've heard GABA is a great vitamin for anxiety, and I've been taking it every day, do any of you take vitamins or natural supplements for this? How long did it take where both your body and mind were normal and linked? Was Also told to try acupuncture, anyone do that?

 

Right now I'm overwhelmed by how many options I have in front of me, please let me know if any of this has helped or hurt you in your healing process.

 

I don't know what normal is for my body anymore, some days I'm nauseous all day, other days I'm ravenous, some days my poop is normal, other days it's the big D. Everything that is different is scaring me right now, and unfortunately, EVERYTHING is different while I heal. 

 

Would appreciate all and any advice. 

 

[cyclinglady]

Sound like you are constantly getting glutened.  Are all your meds gluten free?  Did you contact the manufacturers to confirm?  I do that because my pharmacist told me they are just too busy to contact them on my behalf. 

 

It can take one, two or three years to finally feel better.  Most likely because the learning curve for going gluten free is steep.  Folks tend to fall off the wagon or get cross contaminated in restaurants or from kissing someone who just had a beer!  I am serious!  

 

Read our Newbie 101 section under the "Coping" section.  Read and research how to keep yourself safe.  I think that you'll fnd that your anxiety will diminish.  If you do need meds and your doctors insist, that's okay.  Just make sure they are gluten free!  Otherwise, you'll never get over your anxiety -- which is super common with those with celiac disease and can resolve with the gluten-free diet.  

 

Take care!  

[Sunshine Sassie]

Hi Mrlkandee,

 

I'm sorry to hear about the rough time you've been having! I can't imagine how challenging it must be to have Celiac without having symptoms that let you know that your body is reacting to gluten. As much as I hate having symptoms, I can always tell when I've ate something with gluten and then can avoid it to prevent pain/damage/havoc in my body.

 

I developed depression and heightened anxiety a little over a year ago. The same time I also developed severe bloating, pain in intestines when I ate and had a bowel movement, tender stomach, gas, and pain in my hips. All of these symptoms (including the depression and anxiety) are what I experience when I eat gluten  . I've spent a lot of time wondering if the depression is a result from the rest of my symptoms or if the gluten is physically causing my depression. I strongly believe that the gluten affects my mental state. As bad as my digestive symptoms are on gluten; it's ultimately the depression and mental state I just can't cope with.

 

Now hopefully I can respond to some of your questions  I am not familiar with the supplement GABA and I have not tried acupuncture before so I'm not much help there but I do currently take a low dose anti-depressant for pain related to my digestive issues. My GI prescribed my 25mg of Amitriptyline. I've been told that this low of a dose doesn't treat depression but helps relieve chronic pain. Honestly I don't know if it has helped my pain or if my gluten free diet has been the one to resolve my pain but I continue to take. One benefit is that it helps me sleep at night. I don't know if you have trouble sleeping but this is the time where my anxiety was the worst, so this has really helped cut down my anxiety.

 

I believe there is a high chance you are getting glutened at places where you eat at. Since you don't know when your body is reacting, you could be very sensitive and not even know it. Eating out 90% (if not more) makes me have a reaction. If this is the case I'm hoping your anxiety levels drop if the chances of gluten are removed. That would be ideal since you are not wanting to pursue more medication (and I don't blame you!)

 

You are going through so much right now and it sure is frustrating to decide if taking medications will help you or harm you. It doesn't take long for my mental health to improve after I've completely eliminated gluten (3 days to a week). And the smallest amount of gluten can set me off. I know it is so hard and overwhelming but this board helps me cope and I hope you can feel better very soon!

[GF Lover]

Hey Everyone, I'm 23 and was diagnosed in October, have been gluten-free since March (because I never "got sick" my doctor told me to minimize gluten and not get rid of it until much much later in March).

 

February of this last year I had anxiety attacks on a daily basis, couldn't go to work, etc. OBGYN switched my BC pill and also put me on Paxil. Paxil made me INSANE-it was like I was constantly having an anxiety attack inside my head, but there was no sound for my inner freak-out. And then once my GI Dr. told me to get rid of gluten entirely, my OBGYN took me off all meds, BC pills and Paxil.

2 months go by and I feel great! Even my period comes and I don't notice it coming since before my PMS was insane. I thought I had found the cure!

 

Then i get diagnosed with mild herpes that my dr thinks wont ever come back, but it sends my anxiety through the roof, which then throws my body for a loop. Can't eat, can't sleep, etc. Finally go out with my friends, but eat out all weekend, come home sick for a few days which triggers my anxiety. 

 

Just spent the last week on a new BC pill and coincidentally (or not) got bad diarrhea all week, and spent today in the ER. Got a Cat scan, blood work, etc. no issues. 

 

I started seeing a new therapist in June who has helped, but now all my doctors really want me to be on antidepressants like Buspar or Librax to help cope with BOTH anxiety and my GI issues while I heal. Has anyone dealt with something like this? What did you do? Is it possible to take these meds for a few months while the body heals and then stop taking it? I really really want to try to avoid an SSRI since I had such a bad reaction to Paxil.

 

I've heard GABA is a great vitamin for anxiety, and I've been taking it every day, do any of you take vitamins or natural supplements for this? How long did it take where both your body and mind were normal and linked? Was Also told to try acupuncture, anyone do that?

 

Right now I'm overwhelmed by how many options I have in front of me, please let me know if any of this has helped or hurt you in your healing process.

 

I don't know what normal is for my body anymore, some days I'm nauseous all day, other days I'm ravenous, some days my poop is normal, other days it's the big D. Everything that is different is scaring me right now, and unfortunately, EVERYTHING is different while I heal. 

 

Would appreciate all and any advice. 

 

Just a tip for you.  Always check suppliments for interactions with SSRI's and Benzo's.  Also, there is growing concerns over suppliments being not pure. 

 

Colleen