Loss of Appetite, Tiredness & Anxiety

[Kristin441]

Hello, dears,

 
Recently I got diagnosed with celiac disease and I'm a week on a gluten-free diet. I was always the person who had tons of energy (besides the time I ate something - extreme fatigue was my main symptom of celiac d.), thus I ate lots of food - never had a problem losing appetite. Well, now I'm on a gluten-free diet and even tho I'm really hungry I just can't make myself to eat!

I bake and cook my own food (dairy and gluten-free), making sure it is a balanced diet but I just don't have an appetite. I know it might seem like it is just a week but during this week I ate a minimum of food. And with that comes fatigue again. And when I reach a certain point of hungriness, I am really nauseous so that's the only thing that makes me eat something little. I got to wait to get an appointment at the doctor's so that is not an option now.

My question is, does my appetite get better once I'm on a gluten-free diet for a longer period of time? Also note, I have Marsh 1 and my blood test weren't even that bad (meaning vitamins, minerals - not IgA)

Thank you all!

[trents]

 

22 minutes ago, Kristin441 said:

Hello, dears,

 
. . . and even tho I'm really hungry I just can't make myself to eat!

. . . but I just don't have an appetite.

 

Welcome to the forum, Kristin!

Those two statements seem contradictory. Can you clarify?

Also, serum testing for vitamin deficiencies is not necessarily reliable since they only measure the vitamin levels in circulation and not what is actually being taken up by the cells. Deficiency symptoms are much more helpful. Have you been checked for anemia as a cause of your fatigue? What about blood sugar levels. Also, thiamine deficiency can cause lack of appetite. What supplements are you taking?

Some people experience withdrawal when they eliminate gluten from their diet. Gluten has addictive qualities similar to opiates: https://justthrivehealth.com/blogs/blog/you-may-be-addicted-to-gluten

[Kristin441]

@trents

I'm sorry,  I will do my best to clarify it (english is not my first language). 

I feel that I'm hungry, but when I open my lunch box and actually want to eat what's in side, it's hard to  put that little piece of food in my mouth.  You can maybe imagine it better like this: when I used to be hungry before my diet, I would eat almost anything and I could imagine variiety of foods I would crave and want to eat. Now, I'm hungry and don't feel the urge to eat, even my dish may smell nice and look tasty. 

No I have never been checked for anemia, but my sugar levels seems to be fine (as my doctor said). And well, I'm not taking any supplements for about 6 months now - before it was zinc and magnesium. 

Thank you for your time and also for suggestion, I'm gonna read it!

 

[trents]

Kristin, is part of the problem that gluten free food does not taste as good or taste the same as things made with wheat?

[Scott Adams]

It will take time for you to recover from celiac disease, and the average time is 2 years. Your loss of appetite will hopefully improve after going gluten-free, but it could take more time.

[knitty kitty]

Best@Kristin441,

Welcome to the forum!

I experienced the no appetite, fatigue, anxiety and nausea.  These are all symptoms of thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency.  Blood tests for Thiamine are not always accurate.  

Gluten containing flours are required to be enriched with vitamins and minerals, however gluten free facsimile foods are not required to be enriched.  Removing gluten from your diet also removes that source of vitamins.  

Supplementing while your intestines are healing is beneficial.  Talk to your doctor about supplementing vitamins and minerals so you can heal faster and begin feeling better sooner.  

Look into the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  It helps the intestines heal, too.  

Hope you feel better soon.

Edited October 19, 2022 by knitty kitty
Typo

[Kristin441]

@trents

Definitely, but I though that the transition would be easier than it actually is.. Thank you for your valuable insights! 

@Scott Adams

Thank your for your support, even though 2 years sounds like a tons of time, I hope it will past by as fast as possible. 

@knitty kitty

Thanks for all suggestions, I already bought the vitamins! 

 

 

[trents]

Kristin, most of us go through this to one degree or another. Part of the solution is trying different gluten-free products until you find ones that taste good. There are a lot more options out there than there were 20+yr. ago when I was diagnosed. For some foods there is no good gluten-free facsimile available yet but for many there are. Another part is just getting used to some things tasting different until it becomes the new norm. There are still many mainstream foods you can eat that are naturally gluten-free. Focus on fresh meats, fresh veggies and fresh fruit. Cook simple and fresh. The hardest area to emulate is baked goods. I hope you aren't offended by this question but are you a carb junky?