Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Can Stress Aggravate Celiac Symptoms?

shellbean

Recommended Posts

shellbean Apprentice
shellbean
Posted

Does anyone know if stress can aggravate celiac symptoms? I haven't been diagnosed with celiac yet and I haven't started the gluten-free diet. I work in a very high stress job and my symptoms are 10 times worse when I work or come home after a very stressful day. :( I was told I had IBS and severe acid reflux and I know those symptoms are most definitely triggered by stress but I wasn't sure if it had the same effect on celiac. Did any of you find it hard to hold a job when you noticed you had become sick? I am having the worst time and have been looking for a new job that is less stressful. If I change jobs and start the diet, maybe I'll be on the road to recovery!! :D

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

Stress can aggravate any physical problems. Once you're gluten-free and healed (that is if you have celiac), stress by itself wouldn't cause real symptoms, although it might still make you sick in other ways.

richard

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
Does anyone know if stress can aggravate celiac symptoms? I haven't been diagnosed with celiac yet and I haven't started the gluten-free diet. I work in a very high stress job and my symptoms are 10 times worse when I work or come home after a very stressful day. :( I was told I had IBS and severe acid reflux and I know those symptoms are most definitely triggered by stress but I wasn't sure if it had the same effect on celiac. Did any of you find it hard to hold a job when you noticed you had become sick? I am having the worst time and have been looking for a new job that is less stressful. If I change jobs and start the diet, maybe I'll be on the road to recovery!! :D

Absolutely! Stress can mess up anyone! THis is why you need to find a way to decompress at the end of the day....yoga, exercise, something physical to release the pent up energy from the stress. :)

heli Newbie
heli
Posted

Also, what are you eating when you are stressed? Maybe you are over indulging in those refined grains? Acid reflux & IBS are celiac symptoms not just stress. The gluten free diet is inconvenient but "nothing tastes like feeling good!" I've been gluten free for 2 years and it is the best health choice I ever made.

shellbean Apprentice
shellbean
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the replys. I am noticing that my symtoms are worse a couple days after I've eatten something with pasta in it or if I've had whole wheat bread. For about a week now my hip has been hurting really bad. I haven't done anything to it but it justs hurts to move or sit or stand and I'm only 33!. I had read that celiac can cause bone and joint pains too. I want to start the diet but I don't even know where to begin. I was in the grocery store just looking at labels on stuff and everything I pick up had some sort of wheat in it. It seems overwhelming and I don't even know how to determine what all contains gluten. (By the way, I ended up leaving my job because of the stress and I feel a little better already! :)) I am anxious to start the diet. I think that will help tremendously. Best of health to you all!!

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
Thanks for the replys. I am noticing that my symtoms are worse a couple days after I've eatten something with pasta in it or if I've had whole wheat bread. For about a week now my hip has been hurting really bad. I haven't done anything to it but it justs hurts to move or sit or stand and I'm only 33!. I had read that celiac can cause bone and joint pains too. I want to start the diet but I don't even know where to begin. I was in the grocery store just looking at labels on stuff and everything I pick up had some sort of wheat in it. It seems overwhelming and I don't even know how to determine what all contains gluten. (By the way, I ended up leaving my job because of the stress and I feel a little better already! :)) I am anxious to start the diet. I think that will help tremendously. Best of health to you all!!

One thing I had too was the hip pain...my left hip. It came and went, but I think now without gluten it's getting better.

As for the diet, I am struggling with that too, but for some food items you just go back to square one. It's obviously that you will no longer eat the usual breads, pasta, crackers, coookies. If bread is important to you, find the gluten free ones that you like well enough to keep eatintg them. Find passable pastas...the rice ones probably. There are some which, after you get the sauce on them, really can taste similar to wheat pasta. There are gluten free cookies, crackers, chips, and so on. Go to health food stores....they tend to carry some gluten free items, mixes etc. Some stores carry more than others.

I think in terms of packaged foods, you just take items one by one. Mayonnaise, for example. Some have gluten related ingredients, others do not. If mayo is something you use, find one that is suitable. Same for catsup, ice cream, yogurts, whatever.

My mom was diagnosed almost 40 years ago, at a time when there were no support groups and virtually NO specialty gluten free products, and labeling on foods was inferior or incomplete. But she figured it out, and she now tells me that she just knows what to buy, she reads labels, and really doesn't let celiac disease occupy too much of her time. It just "is" and you work with what's out there.

You're only 33, but look at it this way: celiac will probably put you into a healthier, better way of eating for the rest of your life, and when you metabolism shifts in your late 40's early 50's you will probably be thinner and in better shape than others you know because they'll be stuffing themselves with too much pizza, too many cookies/chips/crackers/donuts etc, and they'll be getting all the diseases that come with overweight and bad eating: arthritis, diabetes, heartburn, digestive woes, etc etc. But you'll look and feel great! My mom is 85 and NO ONE thinks she's more than about 65 or 70. Her health is great, her mind is perfect, she has no real health problems if she stays away from gluten! :)

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Yes. Stress has a profound physiologic effect on the body, and the digestive system is one place where it has the largest effect. I would encourage you to investigate what stress reductions techniques work for you. If your job proves too stressful such that it has a huge negative impact on your health, that may be indicative of the need for a career change, but you may find that common stress reduction techniques (cognitive modification, meditation, exercise, etc.) are sufficient.

Thanks for the replys. I am noticing that my symtoms are worse a couple days after I've eatten something with pasta in it or if I've had whole wheat bread. For about a week now my hip has been hurting really bad. I haven't done anything to it but it justs hurts to move or sit or stand and I'm only 33!. I had read that celiac can cause bone and joint pains too. I want to start the diet but I don't even know where to begin. I was in the grocery store just looking at labels on stuff and everything I pick up had some sort of wheat in it. It seems overwhelming and I don't even know how to determine what all contains gluten. (By the way, I ended up leaving my job because of the stress and I feel a little better already! :)) I am anxious to start the diet. I think that will help tremendously. Best of health to you all!!

Hehe! I should have read all the way through. :-)

The easiest place to begin on the diet is with whole, naturally gluten free foods - all the produce, meat, dairy, eggs. beans, and gluten-free grains you like. There's an awful lot you can make with all that food, and starting simply not only makes it easier to figure out what to buy, but reduces the risk of cross contamination and makes it easier for you to focus on foods that are easy on your digestive system.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


plantime Contributor
plantime
Posted
My mom was diagnosed almost 40 years ago, at a time when there were no support groups and virtually NO specialty gluten free products, and labeling on foods was inferior or incomplete. But she figured it out, and she now tells me that she just knows what to buy, she reads labels, and really doesn't let celiac disease occupy too much of her time. It just "is" and you work with what's out there.

I love your mom's take on this!

Try going completely back to basics for a while. By that I mean no processed foods, just meat, veggies, and fruit. That will give your body the nutrients it needs, and time to heal. For many celiacs, dairy is a problem, so you will need to diet-test that for yourself. You have already noticed that you feel bad after eating wheat, now you need to stop eating it and watch for improvement. I am glad you got out from under your stressful job, and I hope you find a better one soon!

shellbean Apprentice
shellbean
Posted
  • Author

You guys are amazing!!! :lol: I am very new to this message board and I am just blown away at how everyone is so eager to help. I am so happy to have found you! Just reading all the replys and such has given me the biggest encouragement and has made me excited to know that there is help and ways to make this all better. I am very glad I have a place to go where I can talk to people that KNOW! It's day 2 since I quit my job and the stress has lifted tremendously! I already have a couple interviews lined up for next week so I know it will all be okay. I'm going to look into relaxation techniques (I know those wouldn't have helped at the job I was at! That job was HOPELESS! LOL!!) I think stress was a huge part of my problem. Hip still hurts pretty bad but I notice that it hurts worse after I eat....hmmm.....I see a connection! ;) Diet----here I come!! :lol:

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

I was 33 when I was dx'ed... It's almost 3 years now and I've lost 100 pounds and feel better than I have my entire life. I do still have some lingering health issues, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, it's getting better. I came very close to losing my job because of my illness. But once I started getting healthier on the gluten-free diet, I was able to deal with the job easier... I did have to cut my hours back and go to part time and I'm glad I did that even though the finances suffered a bit! So I do know a bit about having to do this diet on a tight budget! We are all here to help and be helped... to learn from one another! This is the best online support group!!!

shellbean Apprentice
shellbean
Posted
  • Author
I was 33 when I was dx'ed... It's almost 3 years now and I've lost 100 pounds and feel better than I have my entire life. I do still have some lingering health issues, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, it's getting better. I came very close to losing my job because of my illness. But once I started getting healthier on the gluten-free diet, I was able to deal with the job easier... I did have to cut my hours back and go to part time and I'm glad I did that even though the finances suffered a bit! So I do know a bit about having to do this diet on a tight budget! We are all here to help and be helped... to learn from one another! This is the best online support group!!!

Just had to tell you this.....I just found out from a coworker that had I not quit my job on Friday, my boss was going to write me up or terminate me for having "excessive absenses". Even though I have doctor notes and hospital admittance notes for all my absenses. I wasn't out that much except when I had my gallbladder surgery (I was out 3 weeks). But other than that i was only out here or there for testing and doc appts. All I can say is I'm glad I beat her to it! Heehee!! :lol: Told you it was a stressful job! ;) Oh and a big CONGRADULATIONS on the super weight loss!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

Thanks Shelly... my boss told me too that he was going to have to let me go because he needed someone dependable, and there were too many days where I had to leave after lunch because I couldn't stay out of the bathroom... once I had my dx and knew what the answer was he was more supportive of letting me stay. Especially now that he sees that I don't get sick nearly as much! I can't remember the last time I had to take a sick day!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,621
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Carrie C
    Newest Member
    Carrie C
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • AnneBSunflower
      mystery gluten?

      By AnneBSunflower · Posted

      I don't have access to the report and don't know which antibodies were found. I can email my doctor and ask her for it. GI Map: It is a fecal, microbial assay. It was done through https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map I don't consume oats-- because I don't like them.  I am trying to figure out if my Armour Thyroid has gluten in it. It is looking like a likely culprit. Tom's of Maine says that all of their toothpaste is gluten free. I share a kitchen with my son who eats gluten. Mostly, this translates to him eating his own bread. He eats my gluten free pasta and other items when we have a shared meal.
    • Rejoicephd
      Struggling to get into a good pattern

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      Thanks @cristiana I really appreciate hearing all of this... I definitely need to look out better for the shared dishes/pans/ovens thing.  I'm currently not doing a good job of that at all.  But I think I need to make the airfryer a gluten-free only airfryer.  I've been keeping a food diary for these past few days and so far its been interesting.  I think I have 2 issues going on: I get a head/neck/shoulder/jaw ache when I get glutened (as well as feeling fatigued and brain fog).  At least this is what I think are my symptoms from consuming gluten.  I think that the only things I consumed were marked gluten-free, but they were a combination of "certified gluten-free" and "gluten-free", so I think I am definitely worried thinking that the "gluten-free" non-certifieds are not good enough for me.  Also, I feel like the issue of cross-contamination of dishes could be an issue for me too.  But there's also a second issue I'm trying to figure out.  I ate 2 dishes containing chicken this week from gluten-free companies (frozen dish, fully contained and sealed) - one of which had the "certified gluten free" logo on it.  And right after eating, I had bowel movements that I think would be classified as steatorrhea.  I have this type of bowel movement multiple times a week lately, which has become quite miserable. But from my food diary, I can tell that when I don't eat meat or eat fish, I am not experiencing this issue. From my reading, I can see that steatorrhea can result from malabsorption in the gut due to celiac, and I know that I do have issues with malabsorption because I have iron-deficiency anemia (my ferritin was 10 when last tested). I also had low potassium and low Vitamin D when first diagnosed with celiac, but both have come back into the normal range since I started going gluten-free and taking supplements.   Based on what you all are saying, I am now thinking that my iron-deficiency anemia, my steatorrhea, and my head/neck aches may all still be persisting because I'm still consuming this lingering amount of gluten regularly.  I've really got to do a lot to switch over to ONLY eating certified gluten-free products and also creating a clean space within my kitchen that is just for me to use, and probably just skip restaurants completely for a while... Also maybe in the mean time, I might just keep my foods simple.. no dairy or meats (just fish) which my stomach seems happier with. Do you all think this is something I should go into my GI doctor about?  Because when I saw her last, I wasn't having steatorrhea.  My GI symptoms were actually kind of mild, which I thought was sort of strange since I had just got diagnosed with celiac disease.  I was dealing with mostly headaches, etc and so I've been mostly working with a neurologist and physical therapist on these symptoms.. but there's only so much they can do when I trigger a brand new headache/stiff neck every week and I'm starting to think that celiac is at the root of all of this...  Thanks for all your support and insights
    • trents
      mystery gluten?

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @AnneBSunflower! Can you be more specific about the gluten antibodies? Which ones were found? Do you have access to the report and can you post the results? What is a "GI map"? How was this done? Is this a fecal matter test? Are you still consuming oats? Even "Gluten-free" oats? Have you checked all meds and supplements for possible gluten fillers or casings? Oral hygiene products? Are you sharing cooking facilities with wheat eaters?
    • AnneBSunflower
      mystery gluten?

      By AnneBSunflower · Posted

      Hi. I am looking for mystery gluten in my diet due to having a GI map done recently and the results found gluten antibodies. However, let me provide a bit of background. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 15 years ago. Ten years ago I consulted with a functional medicine doctor who put me on the AIP diet due to gastrointestinal distress. She did not diagnose me with celiac disease, but my thyroid antibodies skyrocketed when we reintroduced gluten after 6 months on the AIP diet. I have been maintaining a gluten free diet for 10 years. I have on again, off again gut issues, cannot lose weight, chronic vitamin deficiencies despite a diet focused on whole foods, and my thyroid numbers are whacky even with medication (my T3 is good, T4 chronically low, TSH low). My doctor diagnosed me this week as having celiac in addition to the Hashimoto's. Again, I have been eating gluten free for 10 years. My doctor says there is something I am eating that my body is reacting to that has gluten and I have inflammation in my gut. I don't buy anything that is processed without reading the label and it stating it is gluten free. I know things like soy sauce, salad dressing, potato chips (I haven't eaten a potato chip in probably 30 years), roasted nuts, lunch meat, etc. can have gluten. What else? Does Armour Thyroid have gluten? Kirkland Almond non-dairy beverage (doesn't say gluten free, but there are no ingredients that would indicate gluten)? Philadelphia Cream cheese plant-based cream cheese says it is gluten free but it contains maltodextrin, could this still be a source of gluten? If the plant-based cream cheese with maltodextrin could be a source of gluten, could anything labeled gluten free but containing maltodextrin still be a source of gluten?
    • cristiana
      Struggling to get into a good pattern

      By cristiana · Posted

      I struggled for a long time.   My TTG levels took an age to come down.  I even gave pure gluten free oats a miss, it took 8 years before I could tolerate them.  Removing dairy temporarily from my diet was hugely helpful.  Check your utensils and the oven you use are scrupulously clean, and don't open roast or bake food uncovered in an oven shared with gluten eaters.  Shared grills must be thoroughly cleaned down, too. Our oven packed up a couple of years after I was diagnosed and after that time the top oven became my family's oven, I use the lower oven.  Also our dishwasher - the old one left a residue, and sharing with gluten eaters I think this was an important factor in my slow recovery.  When the dishwasher packed up I started hand washing the plates and making sure they were really rinsed well.  When we got a new one we bought a Miele does the initial rinse with clean water, not yesterday's old water.   I stopped eating out for a while - that's a biggie.  In recent years, in the UK, thanks to Zoe's Law, caterers are having to really tighten up on catering for people with coeliac disease and allergies so I am now finding eating out much less risky.  But I'd advise being very careful with restaurants where flour is thrown about and is airborne (such as pizzerias) or where harried chefs might cook pasta in glutenous water by mistake, as those are the places I've been glutened in the most.
×
×
  • Create New...