I Hate Everything...

[Dennis wayne]

As I read through this, it keeps making more and more sense....A couple hours after eating gluten the mental symptoms are as follows: social anxiety, slight dizziness, "down" feeling, both wired and tired at the same time, my inner critic gets really super loud...

I tested negative for celiac disease but was dx gluten intolerant and told to eliminate it. I've tested as having extremely low neurotransmitter levels, and have been on high levels of St. John's Wort (herbal serotonin booster) and amino acids to address the deficiency, for over a year. I know this was caused by gluten, because when I go off of gluten, it is like taking a happy pill; in about two days I start to feel "normal" again. And then after about 4 to 5 days I feel like the sun is shining and I finally know what it is like to actually be happy--and not in a constant self-berating, groggy funk. I liken this effect to a garden hose with a kink in it--you remove the gluten, you take the kink out of the hose, and everything flows as it should.

It was a relief to get to stop gluten (I was eating it in anticipation of a possible biopsy and I was totally miserable).

I can identify with every single mental/emotional symptom described here. And I used to be a total wheat freak. It was all or nothing for me. I'd go off of it for a few months, and then a day would come along when I would say, a little bit won't hurt. Sooner or later I had to have it every morning to feel "up." On some level I knew it was making me unwell, mentally.

And you know what I think? I'm no doctor, but for what it is worth: just because medicine doesn't have a test to measure the damage gluten does in some people's brains, does not mean that it isn't every bit as serious as celiac disease. It just happens to manifest in some people as one, or the other, or both.

So, as I understand it from reading the articles I'm linking to below, the theory is that the peptide chains in gluten don't break down in the gut. These large opioid peptides go into the brain, and jam into one's opiate receptors. Much like the toxins in our environment that mimic hormones in our bodies and jam themselves rudely into our hormone receptors, the key fits, but not quite. It is like jamming a square peg into a round hole. This places the "kink in the hose." Gluten comes in, and your own endorphins can't go into your receptors, so maybe your poor little natural endorphins give up and go home or something....And eventually the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis gets out of whack, and that's when physical effects of all sorts may ensue. Like adrenal fatigue, PMS, sleep problems, so-called emotional problems.

Anyway, here are the articles I found a while ago when I was googling this topic. If you've already seen them, I apologize; if not, I hope they are helpful for someone. I hope there is someday a test to see who has this "brain allergy" (an overly mild term, in my opinion) so that they can avoid all the confusion I had for years.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[Dennis wayne]

it straight up f$#%s me up... i apologize for being so brash, but the gluten has been making my brain dance like a cat on a hot tin roof for years. some day they will know more about the total overall effects on the brain. i think you are on the right track. you do a lot of soul searchin when 1+2 doesn't equal 3...it has been a large part of defining who i am. now i ( being recently diagnosed ) am looking forward to finding out who i really am. and i think i'm pretty cool...

[GFinDC]

"I Hate Everything" Well, that pretty much narrows it down! : Just kidding!

These are interesting theories about gluten and milk proteins affecting the brain chemistry. I know my mental state has changed for the better since going gluten-free, and I know I am negatively affected by slip-ups with gluten. I am starting to wonder about milk too after reading some of the comments and links. Guess I picked a bad week to buy a block of velveeta! But for me 10 years of struggling to cope with "stuff" has been pretty much cleared up by going gluten-free. So maybe I will take the next step and go CF also.

Thanks for the info people, very helpful!

[Glutina]

Hi!

I DEFINITELY get like this after eating gluten!!!!

And if I have some, I go into withdrawal-ish behaviours (moodiness, irritability, obsessing about having "bad" foods) and then into a depressed kind of state. Weeeeiiiird! I never knew other people experienced this as well!

Also, it seems to be triple the severity if I have glutened candy, ot those with modified corn starch....gummies seem to produce a"high" effect on me. Then, if the candy contains gluten on top of it...I am a mess!

Just thought I would share

-Glutina

[huevo-no-bueno]

Dennis Wayne,

I know exactly what you mean. Exactly.....but I can't believe how sometimes it takes hours for me to realize that I've been glutened and it isn't "just me." It isn't me at all. I'm learning that when a packaged rice cracker says, "produced in a facility that also produces wheat.." I can't eat that...

[Britt-ME]

I know I shouldn't/can't eat gluten. I've known for 14 yrs. But how do I stop? I restarted the gluten-free diet last week and the cravings are driving me crazy. I am the only one in my family with this problem, and my mom is unwiling/ hesitant to eat gluten free foods that I can make with gluten. It is frustating and having to modify supper to feed two ways of eating and annoying. But mostly I know my mental and physical well-being are linked to being gluten-free/SF. I just really want those doritoes.

[babysteps]

I know I shouldn't/can't eat gluten. I've known for 14 yrs. But how do I stop? I restarted the gluten-free diet last week and the cravings are driving me crazy. I am the only one in my family with this problem, and my mom is unwiling/ hesitant to eat gluten free foods that I can make with gluten. It is frustating and having to modify supper to feed two ways of eating and annoying. But mostly I know my mental and physical well-being are linked to being gluten-free/SF. I just really want those doritoes.

stopping can be tough

worthwhile! but tough

it can be even more tough if you're living with someone who isn't 100% supportive (makes it more tough both physically - how to avoid cc? - and mentally)

but stopping gluten *can* be done!

consider making your own meals - not sure how old you are, but I'm assuming at least 14

If cooking every day is not easy, you can choose recipes that are good in large batches, cook 1x/week and freeze in single servings, then just reheat to eat with everyone else. After a few weeks you'll have a lovely selection!

If you are lucky, you will start to feel better right away and that is big motivation to stay gluten-free.

Whatever the logistics, you have to decide (or convince yourself) that your health is important enough to take the effort to fight the cravings. If you're not convinced of this, no one else around you will be, either.

I was lucky, most of my food cravings went away once I eliminated gluten. Hopefully that will be the case for you, too. If not, make your own doritos - get gluten-free corn chips, and put a little oil & seasoning on them. voila, gluten-free doritos

good luck

[adhdwarrior]

Wow! I have read through many of these posts and I have to add my story to the list! My 10 year old son has been suffereing from a PROFOUND case of ADHD and GAD for YEARS! His shrinks all agreed that he was one of the worst cases they'd ever seen and one of them is a FORENSIC psychiatrist! He had also been diagnosed as growth hormone deficient and, later IGF-1 hormone deficient and has always been extremely small for his age..... fast forward a bit.... he had to stop taking psychiostimulant meds for ADHD because #1. He stopped growing--completely. #2. He has a possible congenital heart defect.

Desperate, I researched alternative treatments for ADHD, because anyone who knew my son, knew he would end up institutionalized without SOMETHING for his ADHD! I found many articles on chiropractic, so I took him to a chiropractor and he began treatment. The adjustments alone helped tremendously, but we still had major ups and downs---and I wanted more consistency.... so the chiropractor discussed food allergy testing with me and I reluctantly agreed to have it done. I didn't understand what food allergies could have to do with ADHD, and thought it would be a waste of time and money BUT....my son is gluten intolerant and is allergic to wheat, milk, and eggs! I was devastated at first because those are in ALL of his favorite foods! But I got over it, found the gluten-free mall and started ordering things for him to try (we have no stores nearby that sell gluten-free). We made the transition as quickly as possible and OMG! He is a different child! He started getting good notes from school for the first time in his LIFE (which is kind of sad b/c he is in 4th grade)! He has started having a growth spurt (almost and inch and a half in a few months when he hasn't grown a fraction in the 2 YEARS prior)! He has not been diagnosed with celiac disorder yet..but I'll bet that would answer his lack of growth--- he hadn't been able to absorb the right nutrients!

Looking back, I could see a pattern...he was always having "mystery" fevers and stomach "viruses" (vomitting/diarrhea) that I can now see were b/c of all the gluten, etc. PLUS his behavior always seemed at its worse on pizza or lasagna days while the steak and potato days were his "good" days...It all fits and it all makes perfect sense now!

Man, I wish I had done this a long time ago! The proof actually came this morning. My son had not been glutened for 2 solid weeks and felt great-- never once complaining of a tummy ache and virtually no sign of ADHD..then last night my dear hubby decided to get some arby's roast beef (which is gluten free btw) BUT he didn't specify "NO BUN!" SO he thought he'd just take the meat off the bun and give it to our son.... big mistake for 2 reasons.... BUTTER (milk allergy) from the toasted bun and close contact with wheat! Our son had to come home from school today because of vomitting and tummy ache-- lesson learned!

Ever since I can remember, I have suffered with constipation, bloating, and just feeling YUCKY. I also have been diagnosed with ADHD--and I really feel that my son has been "cured" of his ADHD and other ailments by simply eliminating this CRAP from his diet....so I am thinking of just going gluten and dairy free myself and also making my toddler gluten and dairy free so we won't have these same problems later with him!

[huevo-no-bueno]

Thank you for these responses, they're helpful. I think the overall feeling for about half a day after I consume gluten is melancholy, and when I'm due for my next gluten fix (gotta love those opioid peptides) I get this feeling of restless frustration. I have to do something, but I feel literally incapable of doing anything. And I hate everything. Good times.

It is such a relief to unplug from that cycle. I look at it this way. There are people who genetically cannot tolerate alcohol. There are other people who genetically cannot tolerate gluten. When I found out the first time several years ago with the IgA test, I went off gluten and had horrendous withdrawal symptoms, like my brain was screaming out for something. Physically, digestively, I felt much better...mentally I went back and forth between brilliant clear-headedness and horrible cravings. It took a second test and the gradual return of all the fatigue, irritable bowel, and dark brain fog for me to really be able to commit to my health. It may take a while for your brain to figure out how to make its own endorphins again!

[geokozmo]

Yeah, I also have similar bad feelings if accidentally glutenized. My main relief is that I stop having unwanted sexually compulsive fantasies. For this alone I wd do this diet, even thouzgh I do not want to test myself because for that I shd eat some bread. And I dont want that. Geokozmo

[CuriousOne]

Yeah, I also have similar bad feelings if accidentally glutenized. My main relief is that I stop having unwanted sexually compulsive fantasies. For this alone I wd do this diet, even thouzgh I do not want to test myself because for that I shd eat some bread. And I dont want that. Geokozmo

Maybe u have those feelings to sort of try to pep you up out of the zombiefied state you are in when glutened...?

[petitpied]

Here here!

I have been gluten free now for 10 months, and the last 2 months have developed a quite uncomfortable intolerance to lactose. For me, there is definantly a connection between being 'glutened' and my mood and behaviour. After eating gluten I become tired, lathargic, irritable and depressed. Alot of that is also due to that annoying fact of this disease and how easy it can be to unintentionally make a mistake, or have someone make a mistake on you.

I find I am continually paranoid about eating out, and when my eating becomes somewhat of a 'hassle' to other people I withdraw into myself and don't want to eat.

I think the depression also comes from the constant sick feeling, and since finding out about my temporary lactose intolerance it definantly took its toll on me. I find the strain of constantly feeling sick, especially managing it after moving out of home. I just find the whole thing depressing. Good to hear so many of you out there have kept a positive attitude!

[Presto]

I hate everything. I hate everything right now. Yes.

Something got me. I don't know for sure what. Maybe I got CC'd.

I also suspect I have an allergy to eggs now. Or reaction, or sensitivity.

This weekend I made an egg and cheese scramble. And I sneezed a lot while cooking. And then glurble groan said my stomach after I had eaten. Damnit!

And I've felt mentally like poop for days now. Since the eggs.

We also had a turkey that weekend and DH has glutiny gravy and laid the gravy spoon on the turkey. Damnit! He picked apart the turkey and reserved the side that didn't have the gravy spoon on it for me in its own tupperware. I've been eating that all week.

Maybe the CC turkey, maybe the eggs.

I hate everything.

My stomach is mostly back to normal now, except PMS is also joining in. It's mostly mental. It is actually in waves. Like, the tide goes out for a minute and I feel clear and normal, but then in surges this wave of HATE and irritation, and everything is hateable and annoying.

I hate eating. I hate my brain. I hate everything.

[Presto]

It's funny how when I'm all pissed off and hating everything that a part of me wonders if I just have an anger management problem. And then the anger-fog lifts, and I am over getting whacked off whatever I ate that was wrong and poison to me. Who the hell was that person that wrote the above entry? It is part of me, and I don't like it, yet when I am that way I almost don't know anything different, as if things are always that aggravating.

Damn food. No eggs for me for a month. Then I will have some egg yolks and see how I feel. If that is fine I will try whole eggs again and see if it was eggs that did me in. If not, then I slipped up somewhere else.

I gave a vial of blood for gene testing through GHC. Wouldn't they have needed a cheek swab? I'm confused, and I suspect they will only test for the outright Celiac genes, not for any sensitivity genes. That was Wednesday. I'll post again when I get results.

[noucha]

It's funny how when I'm all pissed off and hating everything that a part of me wonders if I just have an anger management problem. And then the anger-fog lifts, and I am over getting whacked off whatever I ate that was wrong and poison to me. Who the hell was that person that wrote the above entry? It is part of me, and I don't like it, yet when I am that way I almost don't know anything different, as if things are always that aggravating.

Damn food. No eggs for me for a month. Then I will have some egg yolks and see how I feel. If that is fine I will try whole eggs again and see if it was eggs that did me in. If not, then I slipped up somewhere else.

I gave a vial of blood for gene testing through GHC. Wouldn't they have needed a cheek swab? I'm confused, and I suspect they will only test for the outright Celiac genes, not for any sensitivity genes. That was Wednesday. I'll post again when I get results.

hahahahahahahaha your last two posts are hilarious. For the fact that it sounds so much like stuff i would say. i know exactly how you feel about the anger problem but it is just the fact that your body is in so much stress over being sick that your emotions feel it an you take it out on other people and yourself. i know what its like to just want to not eat anything for the fact that even the 'safe products' seem to make you feel sick.

Petipied , i read that you just said you moved out, have you found it easier or harder to control your gluten-free diet this way?i know what u mean about stressing out about the fact of eating out etc . i have definetly pissed alotta my mates off with my paranoia that usually just have a drink while theyre eating dinner now ,no matter where we go.i also withdraw from things and become a bit of an introvert as its just easier then explaining to people as they never really understand.