Depression after being Gluten Free

[kanucme2019]

I am a 69 year old female and I have been eating gluten free now for four months after finding out from various tests that I am wheat sensitive.  My stomach and bowel problems have all gone away.  I have never felt so good.  However, in the last month I have noticed that I am very depressed, irritated vary quickly by other people, want to be left alone, very bored and just want to go back to bed.  I am taking various vitamins like magnesium, complex B vitamins, iron (since I have always been anemic), multiple vitamin, and calcium to boast my system to help with the healing process.  But this feeling is something new.

Has anyone experience depression after going gluten free?  Any suggestions on what I can eat or take to help with this?  I really don't want to go on depression prescription and definitely do not want to go off gluten free.  I am going to my doctor next month for a checkup and to have blood work done to make sure ever thing there is ok.  Just can't figure out what is going on. 

[trents]

Do you have Celiac disease? You say you are "wheat sensitive" but you don't say you are a celiac.

You are doing the right thing in getting a checkup and blood work done. Sometimes we can make assumptions about what is causing our problems that turn out to be incorrect. Exams and testing can often turn up the real cause which may be something we never suspected. People with gluten issues can make the mistake of believing all their health problems are tied to that.

Since you mention that you have been more irritable with others lately, obviously there is still a social component to your life. Having said that, adopting a gluten free lifestyle can be very socially restricting since it renders eating out at restaurants or accepting dinner invitations at others' homes a potentially unsafe activity. So my question for you is, has your effort to eat gluten free taken away some significant social component to your life - a loss - that might be contributing to depression?

And have their been other changes? Menopause? Vocational changes? Relational changes? Financial setbacks?

[cyclinglady]

I just want to add, are you really gluten free?  Have you verified all supplements and prescriptions?  Do you ever eat out? Insuring that you are really gluten free can help you and your doctor determine the root cause of your depression.  

I wish you well.  

[kanucme2019]

I was tested for celiac and found I did not have it.  That's why the doctor thought I may be wheat sensitive. And that seems to be the case since I have not had any stomach issues since I went on the gluten free diet.  As far as my social involvement, I haven't had any problems since I can always find something to eat at the restaurants.  And when I eat at our social parties, I will stick with stuffs that I know are safe or I bring my own food. My friends are also very supported and always make something for me that is gluten free. 

I am also way passed menopause and have no relational or financial problems. And I am very happy that I finally found out what I have and never feel deprived of some food since I always can find that food available as gluten free.  I am thinking maybe I am lacking something in my diet (vitamins or minerals) since this just started after been gluten free for four months.  I do take various vitamins but maybe too much or not enough.  Or just some other things are on going in my body cause of my age not my diet. I will see what the doctor says.  Thanks for your suggestions. 

 

[GFinDC]

Hi,

Some things to have checked or maybe try taking a little of them are selenium and boron.  I am not sure they check these during typical blood tests so maybe ask your doctor to verify.  Selenium is important for gland/hormone function.  Boron is helpful for maintaining vitamin D levels and also storing calcium in bones.  Just a few things to check and perhaps try out a bit of them.