Can Anyone Relate To This?

[strommsa]

Hello everyone,

I am a 27 year-old female and this is my first time posting on this forum.

I recently read an article about Celiac Disease in Woman's Day magazine. As I read through the descriptions, I realized many of the symptoms described echoed numerous seemingly random, unexplained physical symptoms I have dealt with for a number of years (probably about four years now).

At any rate, while none of my symptoms are severe enough to indicate an obvious physical problem (no vomiting, for example) they are annoying, if generally mild, and seem to come and go.

My primary symptom seems to be fatigue. I'm always run down. I feel like I'm about 80 years old. I also look tired. I have dark circles under my eyes, and my whole face appears 'drawn.' Even though I sleep, and dream, I never truly feel well rested in the morning. I have no appetite, energy, or sex drive. I feel listless.

Over the last number of years, I've had allergies that seemed to come out of nowhere. I get congested and sneeze after being with my cat or if I'm around dust. I haven't been officially tested for any of these things, but I do notice these reactions. Yet, when I'm in, say, a location with central air, or at work, I don't have any congestion problems.

All of these wierd symptoms started four years ago, after the death of my grandmother (she died of pancreatic cancer in her home-myself and some of my other family members were there with her). Even though it was not unexpected, I took it really hard. I tend to 'internalize' my emotions and feelings, so in a way, I'm not surprised I'm dealing with odd symptoms.

Shortly thereafter, I started a really stressful job as a newspaper reporter/editor for my small, hometown paper. At about this time, I had a strange stress reaction involving food, where I became concerned about choking on food, so I mashed everything up before I ate it. A few times, when I thought I hadn't sufficiently mashed something up, I would have a small panic attack sort of reaction. Since that time, the job has become easier but I'm always "on edge;" further, I'm able to eat more normally, but still find I am cautious.

I'm naturally quite thin (I am about 5'6" and weigh about 110 pounds). I've always been a small, thin person and have a very high metabolism. I also seem to have a lot of nervous energy.

In the meantime, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, and I've been on the SSRI drug Lexapro for about a month so far. After having a rather strong physical reaction to my inital 10 mg dosage, I cut down to 5 mg with viritally no reaction, and recently moved back up to 10 mg. with no obvious reactions. If anything, it's taken the edge off of my anxiety and eased my nerve-related physical symptoms.

Even so, I can't help but wonder if the fatigue-depression-anxiety symptoms are perhaps due to an underlying food-related disorder, as digestive symptoms continue. Primarily, I am aware of somewhat more strong reactions to coffee drinks (such as mochas, which are made with milk) and pizza. I have avoided bread as much as possible for a number of years without really understanding why. Fried foods also cause an adverse reaction in me. My stools are loose and smell rather bad at times (though I don't generally have diarreah). Sometimes I feel like I have to do the "number 2" numerous times throughout the day, and they are always what are termed "floaters." This seems to happen especially when I am under stress. Sometimes they seem rather normal, however. But the fact that they are variable indicates, as far as I can tell, that I am not digesting something correctly.

Also, I am aware of more gas than what seems usual and occasionally have contractions in my stomach-intestinal area after eating, as though my body is 'rebelling' against something I've ingested.

I also have occasional pains in the soles of my feet, especially at night. I have general tenderness at different points in my body, particularly around my neck and upper back muscles, though I would not describe this as "pain."

On the plus side, I recently had a general blood test done (before I got on the meds) and my doctor said all my numbers were normal (this was before I really thought about the digestive

problem as separate from the mental issues, however). I seem to be getting some nutrition (for example, my nails look healthy, my hair is shiny, my color is good). This seems very much like a 'phantom illness' in some ways; causing general malaise inwardly, even though I "look" healthy.

As far as I know, no one in my family has celiac disease, though my mother has rather severe lactose intolerance. Yet she has immediate physical reactions to eating dairy products, yet I tend to have reactions days after eating, most of the time and have yet to tell whether my reaction is to dairy or to wheat (or to both).

I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with similiar symptoms. As of today, I plan to elminate both dairy and gluten from my diet to see if I notice any changes. I've just spent more time and money than I wanted at the doctor's chasing what the doctor seems to think is primarily a mental health issue with physical symptoms. I would of course be willing to explore the notion of food allergies (and testing) if need be, but I would also like to try what I can on my own first to see if I feel any better. I guess I'm just looking for support, to see if anyone here has had a similiar experience, or has any advice, or can relate.

Thanks for reading.

[dbuhl79]

I wouldn't rule out being gluten or wheat intolerant. But initially reading your post, my first reaction is to think you possibly have IBS (irritable bowel). Now I know a lot ofpeople here have been tossed around by their doctors and given that generic label for their digestive issues. Even I have. Its true that IBS may really just be a label for issues that doctors cant' seem to find any other problem causing that reaction.

But IBS, is very often onset with STRESS or ANXIETY. And you see to have mentioned several connections to your symptoms when you are stressed or have a higher anxiety level. I would see your general doctor or a GI specialist to determine further possibilities. And trying to go gluten-free for awhile to see if ti improves your symptoms is a good idea too.

Good luck!

[darlindeb25]

well--i myself, do not feel that IBS is a real thing--i feel it is something doctors tell you when they have no idea what is the problem--if i was you, i would be tested for celiacs, if you have the resources to so, if not--then it cant hurt you to go gluten free, but if you do, then you have to be totally gluten-free to be sure--i too had panic attacks and i took 40 mg of paxil to just get by and usually they start you out on 10 mg of it too--i weaned myself from paxil after being gluten-free for a few months--i have never been diagnosed as celiac, but there is o doubt in my mind that i am--my sister was diagnosed and we have both been gluten-free for over 3 yrs now and my dad was just told to go gluten-free too--i do believe it may help you--deb

[Tasha2004]

This sounds just like me, except for the allergy part.

I wonder if you have checked into fibromyalgia or other autoimmune illnesses because they can cause the same kinds of things.

Also I gather they checked your thyroid when they did your blood test?

I go through the very same things, but my Celiac situation remains inconclusive for now.

I do know I am very stressed and my stomach pays a huge price for it.

But to be declared IBS, you need to go through other measures first to make sure it isnt something else.

[Canadian Karen]

Hi!

Welcome to the forum, we always try to help whenever possible....

My first thought reading your post was if you have had your thyroid checked..

Regarding your anxiety and panic attacks, I was wondering if you have a racing heart and palpitations when you have these. If so, I would check out Mitral Valve Prolapse, you may find the symptoms very familiar....

Here is a link:

Open Original Shared Link

and another:

Open Original Shared Link

Of course, the gluten may also be your problem.... Trying the diet is one way of finding that out - but make sure you investigate everything thoroughly that you don't get hidden sources of gluten, i.e. medications, toothpaste, lotions, shampoos, vitamins, lipstick, etc.

Have a great day!

Karen

[mommida]

Do you have an enlarged thyroid? Blood tests need to be specific and I would get to an endocronologist.

If you are planning on getting and endoscopy, you need to be on a GLUTEN DIET. Do the test before you try the gluten free diet. I would try the entro lab test, before I would trust just the antibodies tests.

The gluten free diet is reccomended for a variety of other ailments. If those test are done with no conclusive results, give it a try because I don't think gluten is that much to lose.

Laura

[strommsa]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your advise! Regarding the thyroid question: I have for years had my thyroid levels checked once per year. This started in high school, when my school nurse worried that I was too thin, and wanted me to get it checked out. (Yet I'm genetically predisposed to being thin, my mom weighed 105 Ibs., and was 5'6" when she graduated from high school-and so was I). Every year the test has come back within normal range..except once, a few years ago, when I was particularly stressed, it came back slightly elevated. I went to an endocrinlogist shortly thereafter, and he felt my neck, did the usual tests, and pronounced me healthy-but had me take one more blood test for it just in case. That test, taken just a few days after the first one, came back normal.

My regular doctor said that stress could perhaps elevate my levels slightly, yet the numbers weren't significantly elevated enough to cause worry.

So, perhaps my ever-present stress (due mostly to my work environment) or perhaps, more accurately, the way I handle stress (not well) causes these numbers to flucuate slightly, thus causing many of these symptoms. I don't feel "ill" as much as "off" or "run down."

Thankfully, though, the Lexapro, which I have been on for only three weeks, already has taken away the "nervous edge" and I feel much more calm, if still tired.

[stef-the-kicking-cuty]

Wow this sounds like me. Well, when you already got some informations about the celiac disease, you probably already know, that if you have it, you have it all your life. That means, from birth until you die. You can't just get it, when you're 20 or so. But a lot of people do not have any symptoms until a certain point in life and then suddenly pain and other symptoms start. What i want to say actually is, that in some cases celiac needs to be triggered. And two of these already known triggers is 1. stress or 2. surgery (which causes stress for sure, too). You said, you had such stress, when your grandmother died. If you have celiac disease, this could have been the trigger. With me it was a tooth surgery at a normal dentist office!! No big thing actually, but that was the trigger for me!!! I think the stress, when a loved one dies is much bigger...

If I were you I would get a biopsy. But you have to eat gluten a few month before the biopsy. Otherwise your results can be falsified. My blood tests were negative, too. And i didn't have the biopsy. But i started the diet and felt better, so that's what worked for me. The doctor thought i have IBS, too. And i was very nervous all the time, i even had heart problems at the end. The heart problems were so bad, that i was afraid, i have a problem with the heart and it just stops beating or so. I was really in panic. But MY heart problems were related to the celiac. It's gone now. I also had the floating of nr. 2. That's pretty much gone now. Well, i had a glutenaccident with beer (Amstel light) couple of weeks ago and it started floating again. But now it's almost back to normal. So you see being nervous or having heart problems doesn't necessarily have anything to do with a heart disease or IBS. But it could though. With me it was only celiac. Either way, you should get a complete check of everything it could be.

I hope you get better soon, Stef