Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Can Your Blunted Villi Make Your A/d Not Work?

mflanders

By mflanders
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

mflanders Newbie
mflanders
Posted

I have been suffering from major depression. In Feb., I went to a partial hospitalization program. Getting some therapy in a group and indivdual setting has been great. But, none of the meds seem to do anything except create side effects. I have tried many meds in the last 4 years. Ironically, I was dx with celiac at the same time symptoms started and did not go gluten-free until recently (several attempts but nothing too long).

I read the post that it could take up to 2 years to feel better. That is what it took my mom too (she and my sister both have celiac and my mom was very sick).

So, besides going strictly gluten-free, is there anything else that is recommended? What is your take on homepathic type things (fish oil, etc.). Just looking to speed up the process. I have been out of work because of the depression and treatment since the end of Feb and hope to go back on Tuesday.

Missy

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

yes, damaged intestines can cause malabsorption of medication as well as food. celiac can cause depression all on its own as well, so that's a complicating factor.

besides pharmacological methods (even the homeophathic ones), a well balanced diet (not too high on the carbohydrates, but seriously balanced), exercise, plenty of sunlight, and a regular sleep schedule can help. oh, yes, I know that those things are next to impossible when you're dealing with depression (sigh... headshake... I wish it were easier...), but if you can get anyone to help you with it, or do anything to push you that way, it definitely can hellp.

UNCHeel Rookie
UNCHeel
Posted

I think I read that 75% of your seratonin is produced in your GI tract so hopefully the longer you are gluten-free the more "access" you will have to your Seratonin and everything will improve. I was undiagnosed ADD I know and I have so much more focus even without ever having taken meds since I went gluten-free in Feb. It's absolutely amazing the difference. Hang in there.

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted
I have been suffering from major depression. In Feb., I went to a partial hospitalization program. Getting some therapy in a group and indivdual setting has been great. But, none of the meds seem to do anything except create side effects. I have tried many meds in the last 4 years. Ironically, I was dx with celiac at the same time symptoms started and did not go gluten-free until recently (several attempts but nothing too long).

I read the post that it could take up to 2 years to feel better. That is what it took my mom too (she and my sister both have celiac and my mom was very sick).

So, besides going strictly gluten-free, is there anything else that is recommended? What is your take on homepathic type things (fish oil, etc.). Just looking to speed up the process. I have been out of work because of the depression and treatment since the end of Feb and hope to go back on Tuesday.

Missy

Missy,

Realizing everyone is different, I can only say that for me there has really been no problem with prescription medicines that I can tell. Pre-celiac, post-celiac all the same medicine wise. And I was diagnosed with severely damaged villa via biopsy.

Don't quite understand, you were diagnosed celiac four years ago but only recently went gluten-free. What's up with that? Seems pretty simple to me. Your sick. You find out what's wrong with you. Celiac. You go gluten-free. You get better. I started feeling better immediately, like a miracle. Of course it took a little while to get back to normal. But I have no doubt I would still be sick if I hadn't gone gluten-free.

I wouldn't worry how long it took your Mom or others to get better. Every single person is different. Just like everyones symptoms are different. I wouldn't bother with homeopathics, they're just extremely watered down medicines, too weak to be effective. Take good vitamins. Read the posts on vitamins B12 (the methylcobalamin form), Magnesium (the chelated non-oxide forms, asparate, citrate etc.) Calcium, Vitamin D, Potassium etc. I've noticed a distinct improvement since I switched over. You speed up the process by being extremely careful not to ingest any gluten. That's really all you have to do. If you do that, and still don't get better, then you might have other issues. But I'm sorry, "not very long attempts" aren't going to cut it.

No more attempts, just make the decision to do it and then do it. I can always tell when people are just fooling themselves about quitting smoking. They say "I'm quitting when I turn 40", or "I'm quitting after the first of the year", or "I'm quitting next month". Either they put it off or it lasts a week. If they were really serious about quitting they would just do it - now! That's what I did when I quit, after smoking for 31 years. Haven't had a smoke in 10 years. Never missed it. Haven't had a bite of gluten in 4 months. Yes miss it very much, but don't want to be sick either.

best regards, lm

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Missy, gluten can really mess with your brain. It can cause severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, ADD, autism and other interesting things.

I would not bother with the antidepressants at this point, but just go 100% gluten-free, as that is all you may need.

Cod liver oil is a great idea, as it will provide you with Omega 3 fatty acids (very important for your whole body, but especially for the brain), vitamin D and vitamin A (which you are likely deficient in).

Fish oil has nothing to do with homeopathic medicines, as it is a supplement, not a medicine. But I disagree that homeopathic medicines don't work, they worked well for me whenever I needed them, without side effects like 'normal' medications.

You seriously need to have your levels of essential nutrients checked, as it is likely that you are deficient in a lot of them. Ask your doctor to test your levels of ferritin (iron), hemoglobin, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and B12, , calcium, magnesium, vitamin K and potassium. Then you know which ones need supplementation, and which ones you are seriously deficient in.

Also, have a bone density scan done, to make sure you don't have osteoporosis already (even children with celiac disease can have it).

elye Community Regular
elye
Posted

Great advice so far, and I only have one thing to add: you may want to start taking digestive enzymes, or probiotics. Easily googled! :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. MichaelDG
      - MichaelDG posted a topic in Board/Forum Technical Help
      0

      celiac.com support

      How do I contact someone at celiac.com concerning the cessation of my weekly e-newsletter? I had been receiving it regularly for years. When I tried to sign-up on the website, my email was not accepted. I tried again with a new email address and that was rejected as well. Thank you in advance!
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,327
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    dnamutant
    Newest Member
    dnamutant
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • MichaelDG
      celiac.com support

      By MichaelDG · Posted

      How do I contact someone at celiac.com concerning the cessation of my weekly e-newsletter? I had been receiving it regularly for years. When I tried to sign-up on the website, my email was not accepted. I tried again with a new email address and that was rejected as well. Thank you in advance!
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.