Whoooooaaahh -- Panic Attacks And Bloating Whenever I Eat

[eleep]

I actually doubt I'm going to start smoking again -- it's been my dearest wish for years to quit smoking for good and the major celiac-related symptoms were part of what kept pulling me back in every time I quit. I was also spending a lot of time among people who do smoke and I honestly don't feel that will be an issue any longer either.

I was less of a social smoker than an anxiety-related smoker -- and, despite these panic attacks right now, the anxiety had a lot to do with gluten. Now that I know this, it's just a lot easier to control and deal with things overall.

I'm actually looking into getting acupuncture as well -- have been getting recommendations from friends. I think it's time to get my body back into balance and I've been doing as much as I can on my own. I kind of feel like I've got a new start brewing and I'd like to do as much as I can to begin with a clear and healthy body.

[CarlaB]

Yea, I was just thinking about it for your symptoms, you come across as sure you're giving it up for good! I'm feeling somewhat better today, but still very low energy, but it was only one session. He also warned me that I would probably be tired from it.

I'll be interested to hearing more about your "new brew" Is it still brewing? I'll pm you later, I've gotta run across the street to get the kids signed up to ride the bus this year.

[eleep]

I always feel extra-tired after massage or any kind of energy-clearing bodywork, so I'm not surprised you feel that way after acupuncture. If I go home and nap and drink lots of water I always feel like I'm walking about a foot above the ground for a good week or so afterwards!

The only thing I've got brewing right now is trying to get comfortable with writing as a slow marathon-like process! Oh, and I'm trying to talk a very shy male friend into taking latin dance classes with me -- he's having trouble asking out a girl he really likes, and I'm trying to get him used to just being out with a woman.

[Mayflowers]

I always feel extra-tired after massage or any kind of energy-clearing bodywork, so I'm not surprised you feel that way after acupuncture. If I go home and nap and drink lots of water I always feel like I'm walking about a foot above the ground for a good week or so afterwards!

The only thing I've got brewing right now is trying to get comfortable with writing as a slow marathon-like process! Oh, and I'm trying to talk a very shy male friend into taking latin dance classes with me -- he's having trouble asking out a girl he really likes, and I'm trying to get him used to just being out with a woman.

Told you it was the caffeine. Probably also since you're going through withdrawals. I hear ya. I'm an ex smoker too. I smoked a pack and a half, sometimes 2 packs a day.... It's all well and fine to try accupuncture and massage but that only handles it temporarily. The attacking anxiety course helps you to control and stop the panic attacks and anxiety before they start. If you are educated on what it is you have, you can control it not rely on some temporary method.

[eleep]

Just a quick update because I finally had to call a doctor (and my therapist) on this one -- they think I have been having prolonged anxiety because of using the patch to quit smoking -- essentially, each time I've "stepped down" a patch, I've gone into another bout of withdrawal -- which includes anxiety irritability and crying jags -- was made worse by that glutening two weeks ago. Essentially, I ripped off the patch for good on Thursday night and I'm only just now starting to feel normal -- apparently nicotine cessation also can make people extremely sensitive to caffeine.

This past weekend has been pretty ugly, actually -- the doctor told me to give it 72 hours with _no_ nicotine and see what happens. Just got back from a party with some good friends and I'm feeling fine.

I have honestly never experienced anything like this when quitting smoking -- I can think of a lot of reasons why this experience has been so intense, but perhaps it also has to do with the fact that I'm a lot more aware of stuff in my body now that I'm gluten-free -- my therapist also points out that this is a bit of delayed grief -- as he thinks I'd have experienced had I reacted to the breakup by going on drinking binges or something like that -- any numbing activity doesn't really take care of the grief, but just suppresses it for a while making it more surprising and intense when it does pop up.

[utdan]

A great treatment for depression/sadness is serving others, maybe go volunteer a little time at a center for handicapped children.

A good product is -- Peter Gillhams' "CalMag Plus" supplement. It is a 3:1 magnesium-calicium ratio powder that is dissolved in hot water. It supports having calm nerves.

[edited]

[tsomo]

Gluten contamination gives me anxiety and bloating. I think youre being contaminated but you would have to review everything youve eaten to find the culprit. Do you keep a food journal?

Tsomo

[eleep]

I was glutened through CC about two weeks ago -- I'd been using the patch for a few weeks after quitting smoking. After about a week of clear gastro-aftermath from the glutening (surprisingly, not much anxiety), I stepped down to the next lower patch -- that was when the panic attacks started to hit (because I was going through withdrawal). I think the bloating was leftover from the earlier glutening -- I was just linking it more clearly to the anxiety because my anxiety levels were way up in general from withdrawal.

The bloating went away after a couple of days -- the panic attacks did not. The panic has been coming from nicotine withdrawal -- which was prolonged because I didn't just do it all at once. Since the weekend, however, I've been a whole lot better and I think my brain chemistry is starting to normalize and settle down -- I'm still taking Ativan in the morning, but generally don't need the other two doses during the rest of the day.

One of the problems was just that I was uneducated and unprepared for the intensity of the withdrawal -- the first couple of days I really just had to gut things out in the house by myself since many of my non-smoking friends were unavailable and my family technically doesn't know that I smoke, so I didn't want to call them for support.

Also, some really nasty news hit over the weekend (it made the nationals -- there's an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education) about cuts they're making to my department (the entire College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in fact), and I was dealing with some colleagues who were freaking out as well as trying not to panic about my own situation. So -- my available friends this weekend were either 1) smokers who wanted to party or 2) nonsmokers who wanted to obsess about the end of professorships as a viable job option. Hence the fact that I was kind of, um, alone for a while. Things got a lot better on Sunday when I went for a hike with a friend who's in neither of those camps -- then I went to a party where a bunch of grownups got silly over "Dance, Dance Revolution" and a bunch of card and trivia games -- which made everything a whole lot better. I'm still a mean competitor even when I'm in withdrawal!

I should add that a lot of hiking, running, yoga and water have helped as well.

[Discovery]

I get severe anxiety attacks from gluten exposure. It was one of my major symptoms prior to Dx. It feels like you're dying or going to pass out, so I can understand your frustration and why you're scared.

As mentioned, smoking withdrawal and stress don't make things any better.

I understand that you don't want to rely on pharmaceuticals to make you feel better. But that is what they are designed to do. As long as they are used appropriately in moderation and only short term when needed, go for it. Don't feel guilty. Right now you need to get over this hump, and without suffering as much as possible.

Another option when you feel an attack coming on is to lay down, and/or try Lamaze breathing. Yes, you will look (and sound!) ridiculous, but it works.

Avoid caffeine and any other stimulants.

Try to remember that the feeling will pass, and that your body is trying to heal.

Some people find Pepto Bismal helps coat their stomach (anti-inflammatory and pain relief). I assume some of it manages to make it's way into the small intestine too.

HELLO Doll THANKS LOADS for bringing up the anxiety attacks and gluten. It feels like I've landed in the right place. I have been receiving psychiatric treatment for YEARS. Now I realize I have been being treated backwards, not being treated for the core disease, Celiac. I noticed the anxiety was associated with eating, too. Your response makes me feel sane.

I especially have high anxiety right before and after a bowel movement. Then thanks to your posting I now realize that it only happens when I have inadvertently eaten gluten (something usually discover after eating cross-contamination). Thanks to your posting, I have been able to put those two pieces of my puzzle together. Now when that happens, I dig around and am able to find out the gluten source. I can't thank you enough. All this time I just thought I was crazy.

I can't thank you enough.

I am still looking for the Web medical finding about how Immodium and Lomitil exacerbate Celiac symptoms....I can't remember the particulars, just that it was a red flag for me to discontinue. Also, I now take 25 mg of Xanax after b. m. anxiety attack. Amazingingly good - stops all anxiety in its track.

[Discovery]

Does anyone know how best to take the Ativan so I don't overdo it and risk becoming dependant? I've kind of been under-estimating what I needed because I'm concerned about that -- today I finally took the 1/2 tablet after two earlier panic attacks which I dealt with by napping/meditating and going for a run. I knuckled under because I just HAD to get some work done!

Should I continue with the 1/2 dose? How long do these last?

Hello eleep: sure identify about the Ativan. Immediately after I began it, ALL gas, bloating, anxiety went away. Was on it for 2 years, very small dose in a.m., so that I could have a somewhat "normal" morning. For the past 2 months have been reducing dose (under psychiatrist's watch) and it has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. The good news is, if you find yourself in this position - quitting can be done, just gotta stick with all the awful withdrawal. Now I have more empathy for those in similar boats.

I was only able to stop Ativan once I discovered I had Celiac disease. I went to a lot of doctors and no one diagnosed....went on the Web and found I had 95% of the symptoms, started the diet, had lots of errors because of unknows, e.g., cross-contamination and failure to disclose on labels....but am truly amazed at how much anxiety and gluten are related. I can totally understand my poor body screaming out for help because it I was being poisoned by gluten. What's a body to do?

Thank you for this wonderful chat, it has helped me a lot.

[Discovery]

Gluten contamination gives me anxiety and bloating. I think youre being contaminated but you would have to review everything youve eaten to find the culprit. Do you keep a food journal?

Tsomo

Thank you for this information....I never thought, duh, of keeping a journal. I will start today.

[theglutengirl]

P)art of the reason ur stomach be be inflamed is because immodium has gluten in it.

high amounts of stress can also set off a gluten like reaction

try to calm down and get ur life in order (easier said then done)

reach out to those close to you, and try to make urself happy, or at least calm.

maybe you need to consider therapy and possibly phyciatric medication.

this is all so much to go through at once, its okay to admit that u might not be able to do it alone.

I hope that ur life gets easier, and i wish you the absolute best of luck