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Emotional Impact Of celiac disease

JerryK

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JerryK Community Regular
JerryK
Posted

First of all I'm going to confess I've been on a low dose of an Anti-Depressant for several years now.

In my early 40s, I started feeling low..without any apparent reason...and to make a long story

short, I finally ended up on an AD. Now at this point my mood is fine, except for when I try to stop

taking the AD...

Be that as it may, I'm curious about the emotional impact of celiac disease on folks? Could it be that my

depression was caused by celiac disease? Could it be an effect of the celiac disease? Could it be a co-incidence?

Anyone believe they were inaccurately diagnosed with depression and have those problems

go away when Gluten Free?

Thanks for your stories. Jerry

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Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

Hi Jerry. Yes, depression is quite often a trait of Celiac Disease. My thoughts on it is, because we are so sick and can't figure out what's causing it and the doctors look at us as if we are just wasting the medical system and our families figure because the doctor can't find anything wrong that we are "playing" at being sick ...etc. It does improve on a gluten free diet, however, it may show up again when we are faced with big food related celebrations...and we feel very left out etc. It may also show up with cross contamination issues. It's a tough disease ;)

I find that going out walking with the dog helps, also finding an interest that is very time consuming and fun. This takes the mind off both food and depression.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Celiac Disease causes malabsorption. When you aren't absorbing the proper nutrients, your body is lacking in all sorts of areas. B vitamin deficiencies are common among celiacs and B vitamin deficiency can cause depression, mood disorders, etc. So, I would say that Celiac absolutely can cause depression.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I have read (and I wish I could remember where) that depression and anemia were two of the most common symptoms of Celiac. I had both--and also anxiety. For all of the reasons that both Shirley and Julia stated. My personal decision was not to go on a medication--at least not yet. I have improved on the gluten-free diet (1 year), and the depression is mostly gone. The anxiety comes back when I get glutened. I also still have the anxiety sort of right under the surface--if that makes any sense. But it's a bit easier to control now.

jennyj Collaborator
jennyj
Posted

I don't think mine is so much depression, I do get sad alot, but my main problem is I worry about EVERYTHING. I am not on any prescribed meds and do not know if I should be but it seems like the second I lie down at night I start thinking about things and then that leads to worry and that to no sleep. I took the suggestion to try Benadryl to help me sleep since I take Tylenol Arthritis for knee pain. I am severely anemic also. My last iron infusion was in May. I do miss foods I used to eat, well enough rambling.

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

I take St. John's Wort for depression. I think depression is deeper than just the feelings we have. I think it's more a physiological problem, but the feelings certainly contribute. I was just at the grocery store a little while ago and almost started crying when they didn't have gluten-free soy sauce. Fortunately, I got home and my daughter had just finished making a plate of gluten-free brownies, but I'm recoving from an incident last Friday and am pretty discouraged that it's taking so long to get out of this fog bank.

I have been suffering from denial, but not to the point that I'll eat gluten. I just think that I can't possible really have this and I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. Of course, when I'm feeling this bad, the denial leaves and the sadness comes.

I think the depression is caused by the malabsorption and I've seen it listed as a symptom. I also think that after diagnosis, it's difficult to go through the process of acceptance.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

Another completely unsubstantiated thought of mine: if you can't absorb nutrients, wouldn't you have trouble making serotonin to combat depression and anxiety? Makes sense to me.

I get flat-out tantrums when I'm eating gluten. Yesterday for example - my jeans were tight (I've gained 10 lbs) and I had a tantrum. I couldn't stop crying for half an hour. It's like having a bad trip - I go from stoned to depressed to crazy. I can't complete sentences. Seriously, I'll be in the middle of a sentence and I'll suddenly be unable to complete the thought. I can hear in my head what I need to say, but I can't get it out. It's really obnoxious.

I have the same doubts and thoughts that Carla does, which probably explains my current gluten-filled persuit of a more "concrete" diagnosis. Actually, enterolab is looking pretty good right now.

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CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Yea, Enterolab is good. I used it ... denial is a part of accepting anything serious though, so it still didn't help with the denial. The interesting thing with the denial is that I don't deny it enough to eat gluten!!!!

jlr Apprentice
jlr
Posted

I completely agree with all of you - over the years I have battled with bouts of depression and anxiety too. I definitely see the connection now - physically and emotionally this is tough to deal with on a day to day basis. I try my best to count my blessings - I have many - and I try to stay active knowing that with each day that I am eating gluten free I am getting better!

Question - what is this Entrolab that some of you have mentioned?

Janet

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

Check out www.enterolab.com

They test stool samples for gluten intolerance, casein intolerance and soy intolerance. They also do genetic testing. It's something you do from your home.

AndreaB Contributor
AndreaB
Posted

I don't know if we have celiac or just gluten sensitivity. I remember going shopping with the whole family and getting depressed because I couldn't buy any treats. Now that the whole family is going gluten free we can all be depressed about it. We always would buy cookies or muffins (Wild Oats store).

We just got our results back from enterolab and found out we all have genes that predispose to celiac or gluten sensitivity and all but my husband have active sensitivity. Can't recommend them enough. They can catch this much sooner than blood tests and before major damage has been done. My oldest son has minor malabsorption which surprised me. He's 3 3/4 years old.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
First of all I'm going to confess I've been on a low dose of an Anti-Depressant for several years now.

In my early 40s, I started feeling low..without any apparent reason...and to make a long story

short, I finally ended up on an AD. Now at this point my mood is fine, except for when I try to stop

taking the AD...

Be that as it may, I'm curious about the emotional impact of celiac disease on folks? Could it be that my

depression was caused by celiac disease? Could it be an effect of the celiac disease? Could it be a co-incidence?

Anyone believe they were inaccurately diagnosed with depression and have those problems

go away when Gluten Free?

Thanks for your stories. Jerry

In my families experience the depression and anxiety are directly related to gluten. Both were present along with brain fog for years before the typical GI problems appeared. I suffered debilitating depressive episodes from a young age, when the first one hit shortly after surgery on my legs at 11 I attempted suicide and came very close to succeeding. Saw the white light and they were able to shock me back. After coming out of my coma (a miracle the doctors said) they sent me to therapy. The doctor got very frustrated because I couldn't tell him what was wrong. Well nothing was. The depression can be like a drug. It is in fact the brains reaction to the poison it is dealing with. Both of my children also suffered from depression at a young age, the medications they gave my DD made her worse. She almost committed suicide but thank God asked for help. All suicidal ideation stopped when the meds were stopped. For our family the illness of celiac did not 'make us' depressed, it was an actual chemical manifestation of the disease. It also caused seizure activity for which I was given some very toxic meds. The only time we now have depression is when we are glutened, it hits about 12 hours after injestion and last about 2 days. It's miserable when it happens but knowing what caused it and that it is a limited effect helps.

aikiducky Apprentice
aikiducky
Posted

With me depression and anxiety are very clear symptoms of a glutening, and I'm pretty much never depressed or anxious if I haven't been glutened, even when stuff happens that could be depressing. So it's not a depression about celiac or not being able to eat stuff or whatever, but a chemical reaction in my case.

It's funny, I've been having a really bad cold and some digestion problems for the last weeks, and I'm actually not at all 100% healthy, but if anyone asks, I say I'm fine... because I'm not in a gluten fog, and as long as I'm clear headed I'm fine, however sick I might be otherwise.

Pauliina

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

My depression is like what you describe, not about having celiac, but a chemical depression. It's the depression that makes me sad about having it because when I'm not glutened and not depressed it doesn't bother me much.

I agree with your comments on being sick. I've been in a fog bank for five days and am miserable.

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