Wondering If...

[tmc]

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???

[jaimek]

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]

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

[Carriefaith]

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]

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]

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. 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.