Physiological Vs. Psychological

[LindseyLC]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, so please forgive my level of understanding of Celiac Disease. I have a wonderful boyfriend who has had celiac disease for two years. I have never before heard of or dealt with the disease and am trying my very best to be supportive. I am very frustrated, however, about certain symptoms he displays. He's very disciplined with his diet and avoids anything with flour in it, no eggs, milk (lactose intolerant), sugar, the list goes on and on. Basically he can only eat meat, potatoes, and some vegetables. He still has symptoms, sometimes for unexplainable reasons. The physical symptoms include bloating, constipation, gas, being hot, extremely thirsty, swollen tongue, urinating very often and several others. These I can somewhat understand. It's the psychological symptoms I find difficult to believe. He says certain foods make him quiet, angry or irritable. I have no problem with most foods, but many things give me gas or make me feel bloated. Eggs, grits, cucumbers, etc. give me the physical symptoms he describes, but do not affect my overall "mood" as bad foods do with him. I feel guilty when I question his food-related moods, but it just seems so strange and hard to believe. Do other people with celiac disease suffer from these random mood swings based on food? Thank you in advance.

[tarnalberry]

Have you ever felt angry/mean due to a hormonal fluctuation? It's much the same. Gluten makes me feel b%$@#y for a week. (Not as b%$@#y as a real hormone change, but similar...)

[lbaroosh]

I am a celiac and many foods affect my mood. I am still trying to sort them out.

One thing that helped was thyroid medication. Many celiacs are hypothyroid and cannot metablozie certain foods properly. Has he had his thyroid checked?

My husband gets impatient with me with my food/moods. But he says the thyroid meds have made a big difference.

Good luck and try to be patient.

Lisa

[kvogt]

If I poison myself, I go through several symptoms including attention/difficulty with concentration (quiet), short term memory problems and iritability up to and fly-off-the-handle rage.

[byuiemily]

Eating gluten definitely brings back the depression that I dealt with for many years, and still deal with when I don't stick to my diet. I will become fidgeting, quiet, extremely moody, or disinterested in just about anything that is going on around me (tying back to depression) so yes, I do believe there are psychological changes that occur when gluten is ingested by someone with celiac disease. While that can be hard to deal with (I have a Mom and 4 of my 5 siblings with celiac disease so i know what it's like to deal with someone who is being moody because of eating gluten) someone in that situation, it's so helpful when those around you are understanding, or at least not judgemental about your sudden change in behavior. It'd be interesting to know what is causing your boyfriend to still have these symptoms. Perhaps he is having problems with cross contamination? I wish you and your boyfriend the best of luck

[celiac3270]

Before I started the diet, five months ago, I was constantly sick and I felt really depressed (not technically/medically depressed, but felt down all the time). In addition, I was noticing an increasing irritability -- I'd snap at people for no reason. Since starting the diet I'm a lot less irritable and sad....even though I still have symptoms....so I think it's the gluten that got me mad and sad, even if I didn't know it at the time.

-celiac3270

[LindseyLC]

Thank you for responding so candidly to my concern. It's somehow better knowing my boyfriend's symptoms aren't unique. I will continue to be patient and we are researching this disease together, looking for new treatment options and possibilities. Good luck to you all!

[debmidge]

Lindsey

As the wife of a newly diagnosed celiac man I have to agree that the gluten causes a chemical reaction which takes a very long time to leave the body. This chemical reaction does affect the neurological system which in turn can affect the brain and thinking. He's not making this up.

If he's a good guy and you love each other, it'll work out.

[Mballerina]

Hello everyone, this is my first post, so please forgive my level of understanding of Celiac Disease. I have a wonderful boyfriend who has had celiac disease for two years. I have never before heard of or dealt with the disease and am trying my very best to be supportive. I am very frustrated, however, about certain symptoms he displays. He's very disciplined with his diet and avoids anything with flour in it, no eggs, milk (lactose intolerant), sugar, the list goes on and on. Basically he can only eat meat, potatoes, and some vegetables. He still has symptoms, sometimes for unexplainable reasons. The physical symptoms include bloating, constipation, gas, being hot, extremely thirsty, swollen tongue, urinating very often and several others. These I can somewhat understand. It's the psychological symptoms I find difficult to believe. He says certain foods make him quiet, angry or irritable. I have no problem with most foods, but many things give me gas or make me feel bloated. Eggs, grits, cucumbers, etc. give me the physical symptoms he describes, but do not affect my overall "mood" as bad foods do with him. I feel guilty when I question his food-related moods, but it just seems so strange and hard to believe. Do other people with celiac disease suffer from these random mood swings based on food? Thank you in advance.

Hi,

The parallel you may want to make between your own feelings and those of a person with celiac disease is this;

Imagine if you had the most horrible PMS you have ever had.

Then add to that some of the symptoms of the flu.

Add some of the symtpoms of a severe allergy like congestion and tickling.

Then wrap it all up with a major hangover and what seems like 2 hours of sleep and then tell me if you would not be IRRITABLE, DEPRESSED, and completely APATHETIC?

I hope that helps you get a perspective on it and not take it personally,

Magdalena, ON, CANADA

[GEF]

Lindsey,

I think it's great that you're so supportive of your boyfriend and seeking answers and educating yourself. I means a lot to him, I'm sure of that. And it says a lot of you.

Even those of us who have a problem, don't always at times understand what's going on... so it get's hard on our loved one's, I'm sure.

You're welcome to post anytime you'd like and we'll do the best we can to help you out.

Gretchen

[flagbabyds]

I get so annoying and in really bad moods when I get guten , I hit my sisters and just scream at them, he's not unique in this diesease, almost all of us get like this.

[tarnalberry]

I know I alread replied, but I got glutened from some toothpaste and am smack in the middle of a cranky episode because of it. I might as well hang a "don't mess with me" sign around my neck for my husband's benefit at this point.

[celiacfreeman]

try mega does of b12 at least for the moodiness

check envelopes, and stamp for gluten.

[YankeeDB]

Lindsey, some of those symptoms sound like diabetes which sometimes accompanies celiac disease. Check this out:

Open Original Shared Link

"Some diabetes symptoms include:

Frequent urination

Excessive thirst

Extreme hunger

Unusual weight loss

Increased fatigue

Irritability

Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away. You can also take our Online Diabetes Risk Test <Open Original Shared Link to find out if you are at risk for diabetes. "

[Sharon C.]

Yankee, I was going to say the same thing. Sounds like diabetes, which is linked with celiac.

[plantime]

I agree, sounds like diabetes, too. It is definitely worth having the blood sugar and insulin levels checked!

[DrLeonard]

Hi

I'm a clinical psychologist and I was diagnosed with celiac disease about four years ago. I now work with others who are having emotional problems secondary to celiac disease. I'd definitely back up all the advice of having your boyfriend go through a thorough work-up to rule out medical conditions, but it's not unusual for people with celiac disease to have emotional problems that aren't directly due to medical disorders. Those things are "real", too---whether you're depressed because of diabetes or depressed because you're not happy about having celiac disease, it's all depression.

I may be biased but I'm a big believer in the "mind-body" connection. If your boyfriend gets cleared by the physicians and is still having emotional problems, you might want to look into support groups, counseling, or psychotherapy. Sometimes the psychotropic meds (antidepressants and such) can also help. These things may not be for everybody, but they made a huge difference for me and some others I know.

It's really cool to hear about non-celiac disease partners who are so concerned and supportive of their partners with celiac disease. I'm sure that goes a long way for your boyfriend, and I hope for the best for both of you.