Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • 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

Wondering If...

tmc

Recommended Posts

tmc Rookie
tmc
Posted

I might have celiac disease?

I'm a very nervous person. I have been most of my life. I'm wondering if there is an anxiety/ celiac disease connection.

My symptoms include: anxiety

nervousness

afraid of public places

weight loss(35 lbs. since July '04) just from nervousness and diarrhea

middle and lower back pain(so painful that I have to lie on hard floor just to get some relief)

stomach cramps and diarrhea

pimply, fluid filled bumpy rash on hands and bottoms of feet

discolored and thick toenails

low energy level

I feel plagued just trying to do simple tasks such as standing to do dishes( so it's nearly impossible to get a job outside the home)

I was diagnosed with IBS over 3 yrs. ago and had a colonoscopy but it was still decided that I had IBS. I take an anti- anxiety drug that seems to help some with the nervousness but I still get the other symptoms.

Could I have celiac disease???

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jaimek Enthusiast
jaimek
Posted

I would definitely suggest getting a blood test for Celiac and/or an endoscopy. You definitely have some of the common symptoms and it can't hurt to just make sure. The endoscopy isn't bad at all and if it turns out positive, you can just follow the diet and get rid of all of those unfavorable symptoms.

celiac3270 Collaborator
celiac3270
Posted

Anyone can have celiac disease-- it affects 1 in 150, most of whom are undiagnosed. You can have celiac without having ANY symptoms and the symptom list is so varied, which is why I think everyone would be better off if everyone got checked since it's so common.

I'm a very nervous person. I have been most of my life. I'm wondering if there is an anxiety/ celiac disease connection.

My symptoms include: anxiety

nervousness

afraid of public places

weight loss(35 lbs. since July '04) just from nervousness and diarrhea

middle and lower back pain(so painful that I have to lie on hard floor just to get some relief)

stomach cramps and diarrhea

pimply, fluid filled bumpy rash on hands and bottoms of feet

discolored and thick toenails

low energy level

I feel plagued just trying to do simple tasks such as standing to do dishes( so it's nearly impossible to get a job outside the home)

I was diagnosed with IBS over 3 yrs. ago and had a colonoscopy but it was still decided that I had IBS. I take an anti- anxiety drug that seems to help some with the nervousness but I still get the other symptoms.

Addressing your symptoms: anxiety is very common as is low weight or weight closs. Diarrhea is probably the most common symptom and I have the stomach cramps symptom that you have. I'm not an expert on this, but Dermatitis Herpetiformis is a skin condition (resulting in rashes) that can accompany celiac. Perhaps the bumpy, pimply rash you have is that. Low energy level sounds very common in celiac. Finally, IBS is, in the eyes of many, just a label doctors put on gastric problems when they can't figure out what it is. Many people here were first diagnosed with IBS. Your symptoms seem to tie in SOOOOO strongly with celiac disease that I would be genuinely shocked if you didn't have it.

Definitely get some bloodwork performed and then if you want further verification, an endoscopy. Keep us posted and welcome to the board :D

Carriefaith Enthusiast
Carriefaith
Posted

Hi!

Could I have celiac disease???

Just by reading your symptoms it is very possible that you have celiac disease. I would ask your doctor for a celiac blood test(s) (There's more than one that will help detect celiac, it's probabaly better to get multiple tests done). Hope you feel better soon and I hope you figure out what's wrong.

tmc Rookie
tmc
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your responses.

The endoscopy seems a little scary. Is it? My Dad and sister had this done and it made me anxious just hearing them talk about it. I read about it in a book last night and I thought I was going to faint.

I wish I could start a gluten free diet now. We won't have any health insurance for about 2 mo. yet so I won't be getting the tests done right now because we can't afford it. I was wondering if I just cut down my gluten intake, would the tests still possibly show up positive?

celiac3270 Collaborator
celiac3270
Posted
The endoscopy seems a little scary. Is it? My Dad and sister had this done and it made me anxious just hearing them talk about it. I read about it in a book last night and I thought I was going to faint.

I wish I could start a gluten free diet now. We won't have any health insurance for about 2 mo. yet so I won't be getting the tests done right now because we can't afford it. I was wondering if I just cut down my gluten intake, would the tests still possibly show up positive?

Unless you're planning on Enterolab testing, which most doctors will not accept, you shouldn't cut back on gluten. There's nothing wrong with experimenting with gluten-free foods and such so you will already have found some good ones before you really have to start the diet, but you shouldn't cut back since you want to get accurate results.

Try not to worry too much about the endoscopy. First off, you don't even need to do it--you can just get bloodwork done. Second, I'm only 14, I've had two performed already, and it's seriously not that bad. Also, both of my experiences were different, since they were at different hospitals with different doctors, so I'll give you both of them. One more thing, I'd advise you not to read too many articles and descriptions of the endoscopy. I did before my first and it got me really scared--it wasn't bad at all.

ENDO #1 -- The first time I was put out completely. Basically, once you're in your garb and in the room (which I should warn you, looks very intimidating when you first walk in), they put these pads all over your chest to monitor stuff. Then they just put the needle in and my eyes got really heavy--I didn't even realize I was falling asleep--I just went out, then when I woke up, I felt fine--developed a slight sore throat later, which I only had a day or two. I was pretty hungry...and I started the gluten-free diet right there with rice cakes...lol. BTW, this endo. was for diagnosis

ENDO #2 -- Hurt a little more because the doctor was more invasive. Checking for a lot, making sure intestines had healed, etc. This was a couple months ago--maybe 4-6. This time they used gas--they basically put a mask over your face like the ones you'd see firemen wearing or whatever and it smells funny and then you feel like your head is spinning. If I opened my eyes, I saw the nurse and my mom looking at me and spinning. And eventually they closed and it was really weird cause I kept hearing my mom going "Love you, sweetheart" and then my brother's evil laugh (and he wasn't even there). It was really freaky cause it was like a broken record...then I felt like I was flying through an endless tunnel before I completely fell asleep from anysthesia that they gave me (through a needle). It wasn't that bad, though. Anyway, after it was done, I had a stomach ache, which the doctor said was from all the air that got into my stomach and intestines--so it was like gas pains i guess in my stomach. But I lived :lol: ...lol. A little sore throat, again, from the tube, but I brought tootsie pops to suck on (gluten-free), so I was fine :)

Try not to fret and don't read up on the scientific explanations until you've completed the procedure. Good luck in getting a diagnosis.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,188
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Leeila
    Newest Member
    Leeila
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Ginger38
      Food Allergies

      By Ginger38 · Posted

      So I recently had allergy testing for IGE antibodies in response to foods. My test results came back positive to corn, white potatoes, egg whites. Tomatoes, almonds and peanuts to name a few.  I have had obvious reactions to a few of these - particularly tomatoes and corn- both GI issues. I don’t really understand all this allergy versus celiac stuff. If the food allergies are mild do I have to avoid these foods entirely? I don’t know what I will eat if I can’t  have corn based gluten free products 
    • Kris2093u4
      Bread choice for a newbie

      By Kris2093u4 · Posted

      Geography makes a difference.  I'm in the West and Trader Joe's gluten-free bread tastes great and is a better price than most gluten-free breads sold elsewhere in my area.  
    • JForman
      7yo struggling!

      By JForman · Posted

      We have four children (7-14 yo), and our 7 year old was diagnosed with NCGS (though all Celiac labs were positive, her scope at 4 years old was negative so docs in the US won't call it celiac). We have started her on a Gluten Free diet after 3 years of major digestive issues and ruling out just about everything under the sun. Our home and kitchen and myself are all gluten-free. But I have not asked my husband/her dad or her other siblings to go completely gluten-free with us. They are at home, but not out of the home. This has led to situations when we are eating out where she has to consistently see others eating things she can't have and she has begun to say "Well, I can't have <fill in the blank>...stupid gluten."  How have you supported your gluten-free kiddos in the mental health space of this journey, especially young ones like her. I know it's hard for me as an adult sometimes to miss out, so I can't imagine being 7 and dealing with it! Any tips or ideas to help with this? 
    • Jane878
      My mo,ther married a bread making when I was 4

      By Jane878 · Posted

      By the time I was 5 I had my first auto0immune disorder, Migraine headaches, with auras to blind me, and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. I was 5 years old, and my stepfather would have pizza night, milling his own flour, making thick cheesy gluten pizza, that I would eat and the next day, I would have serious migraines, and my mother & stepfather did nothing about my medical problems. When I was 17 in my first year at college, I was diagnosed with my 2nd known auto-immune disorder, Meniere's disease. I was a elite athlete, a swimmer, and soccer player. And once again my parents didn't think anything of understanding why I had a disorder only older people get. Now after my mother passed from Alzheimer's disease she also suffered with living with gluten. She had a rash for 30 years that nobody could diagnose. She was itchy for 45 years total. My brother had a encapsulated virus explodes in his spleen and when this happened his entire intestines were covered with adhesions, scar tissue and he almost lost his life. He has 5 daughters, and when I finally was diagnosed after being pregnant and my body went into a cytokine storm, I lost my chance to have children, I ended up having Hashimoto's disease, Degenerative Disc disease, and my body started to shut down during my first trimester. I am 6ft tall and got down to 119lbs. My husband and I went to a special immunologist in Terrace, California. They took 17 vials of blood as we flew there for a day and returned home that evening. In 3 weeks, we had the answer, I have Celiac disease. Once this was known, only my father and husband made efforts to change their way of feeding me. At the family cabin, my stepfather & mother were more worried that I would ruin Thanksgiving Dinner. It wasn't until one of my cousins was diagnosed with Celiac disease. They finally looked into getting Gluten Free flour and taking measures to limit "gluten" in meals. He did nothing but ask for me to pay for my own food and wi-fi when I came to the cabin to stay after our house burned down. When he informed my mother, they proceeding to get into a physical fight and she ended up with a black eye. The is just more trauma for me. Sam had no interest in telling the truth about what he wanted. He lied to my mother that he had asked my husband if I could pay for "food" when he asked Geoffrey if I had money to pay for my wi-fi. My mother hates when he spends so much time on the computer so he lied and said I could pay for my own food. I will remind you I weighed 119lbs at this time. (At 6ft) that is a very sick looking person. Neither parent was worried about my weight, they just fought about how cheap my stepfather was. As my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014. He had her sign over the will to a trust and added his children. He had no testimonial capacity at the time, so she signed without proper papers. Making this Trust null and void. When I gave my brother my childhood home, my mother stated I would be getting an equal part of inheritance to the house on Race. It currently worth 2.0 million $. I got nothing, and my stepfather has since disowned me b/c of my claim and he knows that my mother would never have left it uneven between my biological brother and myself. She sat me and my husband down, as we lived at the Race Street house and treated and took care of it as our own. My brother took over b/c he was going through a horrific divorce and needed a home so he could get a better custody deal with his soon to be ex-wife who was a Assist DA for Denver. She used the girls against him, and he & I were the primary caregivers. We, Judd and I spent the most time with them pre the divorce. Once Judd moved into the house, he threw all of my mother, grandmother and my family heirlooms out to the Goodwill. Nobody told my mother about this as she was going through cancer treatment and had Alzheimer's disease in her mother and her sister. My stepfather and biological brother took advantage of this matter, as I called a "family council" that my brother just never could make it to at the last moment. All of the furnishing, kitchen ware, everything was in the house my brother just moved into. He had had 2 weddings, I chose to elope b/c my stepfather ruined my brother's first wedding by talking about his relationship with my brother in front of my dad and his entire family, insulting him and having my grandfather leave the ceremony. It was a disaster. My stepfather just plays dumb and blames my father for the slight. I was the only child not to have a wedding. So, my mother and stepfather never had to pay for a thing. My mother had had an agreement with my father he'd pay for college and all medical issues with their kids, myself and Judd. So truly my mother never had to pay for anything big for me in her entire life. I am looking for anyone that has had a similar story, where they grew up in a household that had a baker that regularly milled flour and ate gluten. What happened to you? DId you suffer from different auto-immune diseases b/c of living with a baker using "gluten" Please let me know. I have been looking into legal ways to get my stepfather to give me what my mother had promised, and he erased. Thank you for listening to my story. Jane Donnelly  
    • trents
      Blood results

      By trents · Posted

      Possibly gluten withdrawal. Lot's of info on the internet about it. Somewhat controversial but apparently gluten plugs into the same neuro sensors as opiates do and some people get a similar type withdrawal as they do when quitting opiates. Another issue is that gluten-free facsimile flours are not fortified with vitamins and minerals as is wheat flour (in the U.S. at least) so when the switch is made to gluten-free facsimile foods, especially if a lot of processed gluten-free foods are being used as substitutes, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can result. There is also the possibility that she has picked up a virus or some but that is totally unrelated to going gluten-free.
×
×
  • Create New...