Doctors and post gluten-free issues

[Aaron275]

Hi,

I've been on the gluten-free diet for a long time now and I still have symptoms. After a lot of research I'm almost certain that it's leaky gut or SIBO or a combination of both.

I've been told on this forum that most doctors think that the gluten-free diet is a one size fits all treatment, and if you still have issues on that diet it can be hard to get help. I visited my gastroenterologist recently, mostly because I wanted to look into the possibility that I might have leaky gut and/or SIBO. I didn't bring these things up because I didn't want to sound like I was diagnosing myself.

He didn't even mention these things, and he basically told me that I'm just suffering from anxiety. I know anxiety can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, but I think there has to be more to it than that. For example, I'm losing weight despite eating huge amounts of food. I don't see how anxiety could cause that.

He said he doesn't want to do an endoscopy because he has already done it and everything was fine, but that was years ago and I wasn't having symptoms then. So things might be different now. My celiac blood tests are normal, but I already knew that's not the problem because I'm not eating gluten.

He wants me to try an anti-depressant medication which is supposed to help with IBS symptoms, but here's the thing - the main reason I was tested for celiac in the first place is because I was having adverse reactions to medications. When I swallow a pill or a tablet, most of the time it triggers a reaction, probably because I can't digest it properly. It doesn't matter what's in the pill, this will almost always happen. I didn't bring this up in the appointment because he seemed to have his mind set on this treatment, but I really wish I had mentioned it. I will try this treatment but it's probably not going to work for the above reason.

So where do I go from here? If his treatment doesn't work, should I go back and ask him about all of this? I have an appointment with my regular doctor next week and I'm going to ask to be tested for SIBO, because I know there is a breath test available for that which should be easy to do. But is there anyone else that might be able to help?

Thanks

[Scott Adams]

I would not let a gastroenterologist prescribe me an antidepressant after going to him with legitimate complaints about your recovery. I'm not sure how they made the leap to you being depressed because you are complaining about gut symptoms...of course those symptoms could make you depressed, but taking meds for depression would most likely not help with the issue.

It's probably time to find a new doctor. These two articles might be helpful:

 

 

[Aaron275]

Sorry, I worded my post badly. He wanted me to take that medication for anxiety, not depression. It can be used for both.

He told me that anxiety can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, and that seems to be true, but I just don't think that's the whole story. I don't see how that could explain weight loss and severe food reactions.

Anyway, I have some more appointments coming up with other doctors in the near future, so I will see how that goes. I will make sure to explain what's happening more clearly than I did with the gastroenterologist.

[Scott Adams]

I am biased, of course, due to my focus on celiac disease, but what I've seen over an over on this board over the last two decades is that various food intolerances, especially gluten sensitivity, can cause anxiety (which some doctors may then mistakenly treat with anti-anxiety meds). Here are some research articles on this connection:

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/depression-and-celiac-disease/

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/schizophrenia-mental-problems-and-celiac-disease/ 

[Aaron275]

Thanks for your help. Those links are very interesting.