Gluten, Migraine, Hallucinations

[ElenaM]

Hello everyone,

So this is my biggest issue and mistery that I can't resolve. I suspect a gluten sensitivity. Celiac blood work negative, I will make an endoscopy. My problem is that I had an episode 3 years ago- with headache, rashes, visual phospenes/ like flashes of lights, and then I had a mania episode and diagnosed with bipolar. But still, I didn't respond to meds, and I felt there is something else wrong, because of the other symptoms, like diarrhea,bloating,headaches migraines severe. I really think I am not bipolar.Fast forward the last days, I started again seeing flashes of light, and a full blown hallucinations of o person, this morning. It scared me of course, but I remembered the fact that all night I had throbbing headache. I feel my brain is inflamed and so my body. Actually my protein c reactive level is above normal.I suspected gluten is the cause but I sometimes think maybe I am just crazy and bipolar.and I eat gluten again and things go much much worse in a matter of days. Anyone else had these please?

[Awol cast iron stomach]

I am sorry you are struggling at this time. 

Have you found links like these in your research?

https://www.verywellmind.com/gluten-and-bipolar-disorder-is-there-a-connection-562958

In past forum readings over the years I read many celiacs / NCGS report they or family members are diagnosed with mental health conditions or symptoms of their undiagnosed/misdiagnosed celiac are attributed to mental health disorders.  If I recall it included schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder etc.

Have you considered seeing another Dr or new practice for a second opinion? I am not sure what is available near you. Sometimes a team of various specialty Dr's are at celiac centers. I had a team which had immunologists and gi Dr's on it. 

Closing thought I believe there can be different types of neurologists meaning some specialize in psych where others specialize in nerve or brain dysfunction. You expressed you didn't respond to the bipolar meds you may want to research other neurological Dr's . Specialists I found on this celiac journey path in life have year long waitlists. I

For example I realize I have struggling with POTS symptoms besides my gluten intolerance. The neurology specialist geographically near me has over a year long waitlist. It is possible my insurance will change before then and I maybe asymptomatic by my appointment. I called to verify he takes my current insurance and verified he's on staff at the hospital for now and that he is a POTS expert. If I go to another neurologist they may not care about my at home blood pressure and heart rate data and just diagnose me as their field of expertise as increased heartrate can be anxiety....

good luck 

 

Ps one more thought. You have to finish the celiac endoscopy test and be strictly gluten-free (avoiding cc) for awhile to see if the visual disturbances  and migraines subside as well.

[RMJ]

It sounds like you are avoiding gluten, at least part of the time? Please remember that unfortunately, celiac testing, blood or endoscopy, won’t be accurate unless you’re eating gluten.

[Awol cast iron stomach]

23 minutes ago, RMJ said:

It sounds like you are avoiding gluten, at least part of the time? Please remember that unfortunately, celiac testing, blood or endoscopy, won’t be accurate unless you’re eating gluten.

Thanks for catching that RMJ . I should have made that clear.

[knitty kitty]

On 11/29/2019 at 2:10 AM, ElenaM said:

Hello everyone,

So this is my biggest issue and mistery that I can't resolve. I suspect a gluten sensitivity. Celiac blood work negative, I will make an endoscopy. My problem is that I had an episode 3 years ago- with headache, rashes, visual phospenes/ like flashes of lights, and then I had a mania episode and diagnosed with bipolar. But still, I didn't respond to meds, and I felt there is something else wrong, because of the other symptoms, like diarrhea,bloating,headaches migraines severe. I really think I am not bipolar.Fast forward the last days, I started again seeing flashes of light, and a full blown hallucinations of o person, this morning. It scared me of course, but I remembered the fact that all night I had throbbing headache. I feel my brain is inflamed and so my body. Actually my protein c reactive level is above normal.I suspected gluten is the cause but I sometimes think maybe I am just crazy and bipolar.and I eat gluten again and things go much much worse in a matter of days. Anyone else had these please?

Have you been checked for a vitamin B12 deficiency?  B12 deficiency can cause diarrhea, bloating, migraines, vision problems like your flashes of light, skin rashes, itching,  hallucinations, and mental problems like mania, bipolar, depression, and panic attacks.  

I lived through this myself.  Meds didn't work for me either.  Vitamin B12 deficiency is overlooked by physicians as a cause of mental health changes because those changes may occur before a deficiency can be detected in the blood.  The by-products of B12 used in the body have to be measured.  

The body needs B12, B1 (thiamine), and B6 to get rid of inflammation and lower levels of c-reactive protein.  

https://kellybroganmd.com/b12-deficiency-brain-health/

Talk to your doctor about checking for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Lots of vitamins and minerals can be lost in prolonged diarrhea.  

Hang in there.  Things will get better.

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2019 by knitty kitty
Added link

[ch88]

 

On 11/29/2019 at 1:10 AM, ElenaM said:

But still, I didn't respond to meds, and I felt there is something else wrong, because of the other symptoms, like diarrhea,bloating,headaches migraines severe

You can try the AIP diet. It is very effective for treating IBS. Migraines are often linked to IBS.

https://autoimmunewellness.com/aip-medical-study-results/

Also NAC an antioxidant that can cross the blood brain barrier.

http://schizophrenia.com/?page_id=706

[Kelly2]

On 11/29/2019 at 12:10 AM, ElenaM said:

Hello everyone,

So this is my biggest issue and mistery that I can't resolve. I suspect a gluten sensitivity. Celiac blood work negative, I will make an endoscopy. My problem is that I had an episode 3 years ago- with headache, rashes, visual phospenes/ like flashes of lights, and then I had a mania episode and diagnosed with bipolar. But still, I didn't respond to meds, and I felt there is something else wrong, because of the other symptoms, like diarrhea,bloating,headaches migraines severe. I really think I am not bipolar.Fast forward the last days, I started again seeing flashes of light, and a full blown hallucinations of o person, this morning. It scared me of course, but I remembered the fact that all night I had throbbing headache. I feel my brain is inflamed and so my body. Actually my protein c reactive level is above normal.I suspected gluten is the cause but I sometimes think maybe I am just crazy and bipolar.and I eat gluten again and things go much much worse in a matter of days. Anyone else had these please?

I have also had hallucinations.  Not very many.  But decades ago, during my teenage years (horribly sick but had not been diagnosed with Celiac so I was actively eating gluten all day every day), I hallucinated once or twice.  I never told anyone.  Then in my 30's and 40's I hallucinated spiders maybe six times.  But since being diagnosed it has never happened again.  I have wondered now and then if my alternating low energy/normal energy cycles are a bipolar symptom but then I realized that they are directly correlated to gluten contaminations - when I get contaminated it cause hypo-thyroidism which causes the fatigue/foggy head/irritability/constipation and once that clear up (it can take months) I have more typical energy levels.  Not bipolar at all, just a Celiac!!