Still Trying To Convince Myself This Is Real....

[JerryK]

This morning I decided to have a huge handful of wheat thins with my eggs. Going to eat a ton of

gluten again, to see if I get the massive runs and stomach cramping again.

I swear to God, two hours later I feel groggy, loopy, and mildly anxious. Now I'm not

sitting here thinking, I just ate wheat thins, what's going to happen? Just out of the blue

I realized I feel pretty bad(no pun intended).

Is this groggy, loopy, anxious feeling an effect of gluten? How in the world can that be?

What does it do that actually effects your mental facilties within a couple hours. This is

too weird.

How many other of you are effected by Gluten in this manner?

I may have just made a major life changing discovery.....

Thanks, Jerry

[penguin]

*raising hand*

As I eat a bunch of gluteny pretzels...

I'm loopy, foggy, and have mood swings like you can't believe. I also get muscle aches. And I have trouble completing thoughts. And I throw tantrums like a 2 year old, I have trouble controlling those.

I'm a very nice person off gluten

I think it's because your body is so busy reacting to the gluten that it doesn't feed your brain much to function, or something like that. I'm sure someone else who knows much more than me will chime in.

[Nantzie]

Yep. I'm the same way. I rarely get the digestive issues anymore when I'm glutened. It's the mood swings, anxiety attacks, nightmares, etc that keep me on the straight and narrow when it comes to staying gluten-free.

I've been wondering why gluten does that to a lot of us too. I think Chelse's idea that our bodies are using so much energy fighting off gluten in other areas, that there's no energy left for the brain makes a lot of sense.

Nancy

[Ursa Major]

Well, I am another one who is effected like that. I also get terrible tantrums, forgetfulness, grogginess, achy muscles and joints, backache, fatigue, besides the awful stomach ache and bowel problems.

I heard that it is because in people who are intolerant to gluten, it registers in the brain much the same way that street drugs do................meaning, you're in a drugged state right now, Jerry.

C'mon, by now you must realize that you really, truly are intolerant to gluten. Admit it!

[CarlaB]

When I eat gluten, my brain is so disgusted with me it goes on vacation and doesn't come back for five days leaving me with no intelligence to get through simple day to day tasks. I get so stupid, I can't read anything longer than a paragraph or two (sometimes a sentence or two). I joke that I don't need illegal drugs, I can eat a dinner roll and be stoned for five days. Someone would think that was a good thing, but I like having my wits. I'd rather the digestive problems than the brain fog. Last time I ate wheat thins I had a bad hangover, at least that's what it felt like.

[JerryK]

Well, I am another one who is effected like that. I also get terrible tantrums, forgetfulness, grogginess, achy muscles and joints, backache, fatigue, besides the awful stomach ache and bowel problems.

I heard that it is because in people who are intolerant to gluten, it registers in the brain much the same way that street drugs do................meaning, you're in a drugged state right now, Jerry.

C'mon, by now you must realize that you really, truly are intolerant to gluten. Admit it!

What's boggling my mind is that I've been treated for 5 years with an anti-depressant when there seems to be a clear dietary reason for my symptoms. Pardon me if I take a little time to "digest" this because it's

quite a mind blowing connection to make. This is the second time I've noticed the wheat thin feeling crappy connection, the first time I thought it was a fluke. Now I am really starting to believe I may be

intolerant to gluten. Whether or not it's true Celiac is of little importance. I will get myself tested as soon

as I return from my cruise.

[tiffjake]

What's boggling my mind is that I've been treated for 5 years with an anti-depressant when there seems to be a clear dietary reason for my symptoms. Pardon me if I take a little time to "digest" this because it's

quite a mind blowing connection to make. This is the second time I've noticed the wheat thin feeling crappy connection, the first time I thought it was a fluke. Now I am really starting to believe I may be

intolerant to gluten. Whether or not it's true Celiac is of little importance. I will get myself tested as soon

as I return from my cruise.

Yeah, I am in the same boat. I was on Lexapro, Celexa, Ativan, Xanax, Welbutrin, and the list goes on, of meds that my doc tried to help with the depression and mood swings. 6 mos gluten free and I am off of all meds! I actually started having manic episodes on the meds because I was at a "normal" level when I was gluten free. So he had me wean off of them, and now I don't need them. I still get depressed (my hubby is in Iraq) but it isn't the clinical-two-week-long depression. It is for an hour or two, and then my mind gets over itself.

I hope you are feeling better soon. There are a lot of gluten symptoms for different people. I get dizzy and light headed (and lately, when I get some cc or a small "hidden" amount, I get an asthma-like attack and have to use my inhlr). Anyway, you will read lots of different stories on this board of different reactions. If you can isolate those reactions to after eating gluten, then that is your answer!

[tarnalberry]

There is some evidence, in peer-reviewed published journals, that some of the physchological effects of gluten in celiac patients may be due, in part, to the fact that the undigested gluten, after it escapes the gut due to the damage to the intestines, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an opiate in the brain. If you believe that opiates can affect your mental state, and believe the research that gluten peptides can act as opiates in the brain, then you've got your answer. :-)

[CarlaB]

There is some evidence, in peer-reviewed published journals, that some of the physchological effects of gluten in celiac patients may be due, in part, to the fact that the undigested gluten, after it escapes the gut due to the damage to the intestines, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an opiate in the brain. If you believe that opiates can affect your mental state, and believe the research that gluten peptides can act as opiates in the brain, then you've got your answer. :-)

Wow, no wonder I feel I'm on drugs when I eat gluten. Don't think I'd enjoy Opium!!

[dryspot]

IS THIS WHAT'S WRONG WITH US???

All 3 of us feel like we're falling apart...

Both my younger sisters (in their early to mid-thirties) have muscular and joint pains so severe that they are disabled. I have had pain and sore muscles in my neck and/or back almost daily for many years. My muscles become tight and painful from activities inconsistently; for example, I can run today and be fine, but next week if I just walk I'll be terribly sore. We all have significant digestive disorders, insomnia, skin sensitivities and depression as well. Our father died with an autoimmune disease.

Since we all appear to have some sort of inflammatory issue, I am looking for a disorder that may be autosomal dominant and/or would have strong inheritance patterns. One sister says she had blood tests for celiac disease and she was told she "did not have it," but it is my understanding that the tests aren't completely accurate. Her doctor probably thinks she's something of a hypocondriac (she can be quite demanding!) and may have told her anything to "shut her up." Since celiac disease appears to be at least not rare in the northern european population, I'm looking @ trying to go gluten-free to see if it helps. It won't be easy, because I LOVE to eat. But when you get to the point that you think dying wouldn't be that bad because you wouldn't hurt anymore, even someone in denial like me has to step up to the plate and try SOMETHING.

There is some evidence, in peer-reviewed published journals, that some of the physchological effects of gluten in celiac patients may be due, in part, to the fact that the undigested gluten, after it escapes the gut due to the damage to the intestines, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an opiate in the brain. If you believe that opiates can affect your mental state, and believe the research that gluten peptides can act as opiates in the brain, then you've got your answer. :-)

Re : muscle aches.. Maybe I actually need MORE gluten! (jk!)

[elonwy]

My mother has been on disability for years, and if she continues progressing at the rate she is, may be off it in a year. She tested negative for Celiac, but I've got it, and gluten free has changed her life completely.

I used to be a B@itch. I used to be cranky and paranoid and have trouble speaking. Now I'm none of those things. I used to have crazy joint and muscle pains, leg cramps and jitters, all kinds of random wierdness.

I was told I was depressed, that it was all stress, that I needed antidepressants, which every time I took them made me crazy, 9 hour crying jags that kinda thing. It's amazing what one little protien can do.

Elonwy

[penguin]

There is some evidence, in peer-reviewed published journals, that some of the physchological effects of gluten in celiac patients may be due, in part, to the fact that the undigested gluten, after it escapes the gut due to the damage to the intestines, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an opiate in the brain. If you believe that opiates can affect your mental state, and believe the research that gluten peptides can act as opiates in the brain, then you've got your answer. :-)

That makes a lot of sense. No wonder hydrocodone and other narcotics never made me feel loopy, I was already there! And right now, I'm totally there. Makes me nervous about driving home, feels like I need to sober up

[queenofhearts]

Yeah, it is absolutely fascinating how many bizarrely unlikely symptoms cluster around Celiac. When I was diagnosed the doctor went down only part of the list & I felt chills down my spine-- I had almost all of them! Nobody had connected the dots before. And when I came to this site I realized even more of my fun little collection of problems came from this. Brain fog definitely, mood swings, check! It was absolutely eerie. I'm 50 years old, have had most of the symptoms for most of my life, & only because my liver enzymes were high for no identifiable reason, I was finally sent to a really good Gastro & boom, all is explained. I'm ecstatic at the thought of getting better, & yes, just a little mad that it took this long to be diagnosed.

Two weeks gluten free since my endoscopy, I can't say I feel better yet, but I just found out my vitamin c had gluten & I suspect there's other sneaky stuff I'm missing. Anyway the prospect of health after a lifetime feeling like a wimp just blows me away.

Wild, isn't it? It almost seems too good to be true. And I say that even though I LOVE wheat. Wheat Thins yum, Triscuits even moreso, & Whole Foods harvest grain bread was one of my favorite foods in the world. Also I'm a baking fanatic. You should see my house at Christmas-- cookies by the million. But wow, if being gluten free is all it takes to feel like a normal human, GOOD-BYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!

Welcome to gluten-free world!

Leah

[jerseyangel]

Leah--I'm your age, having just been diagnosed last year after years of odd symptoms and illnesses. I had the exact same reaction as you did when I found out about Celiac and the many symptoms. It was like at that moment I had a reason for it all and I was not crazy.

[queenofhearts]

Leah--I'm your age, having just been diagnosed last year after years of odd symptoms and illnesses. I had the exact same reaction as you did when I found out about Celiac and the many symptoms. It was like at that moment I had a reason for it all and I was not crazy.

Just this moment I was following a thread about varicose veins. WHAT, THAT TOO!?! (Copper deficiency it seems.) Had some since my teens, which struck me as strange even then. (I was quite thin & a runner so none of the usual causes applied...) It really boggles the mind. I still sometimes wonder if this whole experience is only a dream-- it just doesn't seem POSSIBLE for everything to connect so neatly after all these years!

It reminds me of the end of an Agatha Christie novel when the conclusion just seems TOO clever & perfect! I guess I must still be a little cynical. But reading this forum it really seems there's finally hope!

When are the non-specialist doctors going to catch on? I even went to a gastro years ago & got the good old IBS line. He gave me a drug that made me feel I was walking through molasses all day, it was worse than the diarrhea! I quit taking it after 2 days. But it never even occurred to me to mention to the gastro my migraines, joint pain, period troubles &c. Of course if I'd known they were connected I'd have known what I had!

It's all so wonderful & weird.

Leah

[mouse]

After being bedridden before I finally got my diagnosis, I was so happy to finally have exoneration that I was not a nut case, not bulemic, etc. I fought almost 40 years for someone to hear me and all they would really address was when I had pneumonia or an upper respiratory infection. They had me on so many meds, I could have started my own pharmacy. Now, I am on very few and that is because of all the new auto-immune diseases that have been diagnosed because of the lenghty time of malabsoption. As far as the brain fog, I do get that when I get glutened or CC. But, my IQ went in the dumpster by the time I finally got a diagnosis. My husband jokes that for the first time in our married life (43 years) his vocabulary is bigger then mine. I joke back, that it was a good thing that mine was so high, otherwise I would be walking around sucking my thumb. We have a sick sense of humor in this house

[ianm]

Good old brain fog. I almost lost everything because of it. I turn into a useless zombie when glutened.

[Lister]

yeah gluten is my new drug of choice. well not really but i meen it really can be to us

ianm same way i almost lost my job and my girlfriend because i got so spacey for a while

[penguin]

My mom doesn't believe me about the brain fog/wheat high thing . She says I wasn't like that before, but I was. It's certainly worse now. Oh well

[Guest Robbin]

When I finally figured out the gluten connection, I was at first so excited to finally have the chance to be well, but then a little depressed because of all the wasted years, humiliation by drs., pain, and the worst of all -the lost time with my kids because "mom was too sick". I have a lot of anger I guess at the medical establishment not only for myself, but for the countless stories I read on here. I read some of your posts and I can't believe there are so many people like me out there who were labled hypochondriacs or dim-wits. My thinking is so much clearer and my emotional state is calm since going gluten-free. I think the brain fog is causing a lot of people unbearable pain and the doctors are dishing out the antidepressants because they are so clueless.

[gfp]

There is some evidence, in peer-reviewed published journals, that some of the physchological effects of gluten in celiac patients may be due, in part, to the fact that the undigested gluten, after it escapes the gut due to the damage to the intestines, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an opiate in the brain. If you believe that opiates can affect your mental state, and believe the research that gluten peptides can act as opiates in the brain, then you've got your answer. :-)

It goes one step further.

The endorphin receptors that opiates attach to can be damaged by the gluten because it doesn't fit properly hence the bodies own mood regulators, the endorphins cannot attach.

My mom doesn't believe me about the brain fog/wheat high thing unsure.gif . She says I wasn't like that before, but I was. It's certainly worse now. Oh well

When you were eating gluten all the time the effect creeps up over years so it feels normal ... whereas when someone has been gluten free and then gets gluten they still remember how they felt the day before.

Putting the two together the long term effect on the body is that we have to produce excess endorphins to keep our mood normal and when we go gluten-free this reduces so when we are glutened the body doesn't produce enough.

[CarlaB]

When you were eating gluten all the time the effect creeps up over years so it feels normal ... whereas when someone has been gluten free and then gets gluten they still remember how they felt the day before.

This is exactly it. A frog if placed in cold water that is heated to a boil will just stay there and die, but a frog dropped into boiling water will try to get out.

I didn't even know I had brain fog before, but now when I get glutened, I remember how I used to feel all the time. It didnt' bother me before because I thought it was normal. Now that I know what normal feels like, I can't stand the fog. That makes it nearly impossible for someone to take you seriously because if you used to feel like that all the time, their logic would tell them it must not have been that bad.

[DingoGirl]

*raising hand*

As I eat a bunch of gluteny pretzels...

Chelsea, are you still eating whatever gluten you want? what's up with THAT? I was thinking about doing an entire gluten day, eating whatever I want....wonder how long I'd be sick and crazy....

[penguin]

Chelsea, are you still eating whatever gluten you want? what's up with THAT? I was thinking about doing an entire gluten day, eating whatever I want....wonder how long I'd be sick and crazy....

Eating gluten for more testing. 3 weeks down, 9 more to go