Could Undiagnosed Celiac Lead To Rage/mood Swings?

[ItchyMeredith]

My father's bloodtest was negative but he went gluten-free/CF 6 months ago to hopefully help his reflux, rage, and mood swings. I have celiac, my son has celiac, and I am sure that his mother (my grandma) had it as well. His reflux did not improve at all but he has been much more psychologically stable (according to my mother and people he works with). According to my father nothing has changed. Well- my parents are planing a trip to South America and my father has decided that gluten has not made a difference in his life and he is going back on it to make the trip easier. He has been on gluten for a week and my mother said that he is being awful. He has been making everyone in the house miserable and can't get out of this rut. Can gluten cause neurological issues so quickly? Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks for the help!

Meredith

[jerseyangel]

Yes it can, Meredith. I suffered from depression and anxiety before being diagnosed and even now after 3 years gluten-free, I still get anxiety and mood swings when accidently glutened. It's actually the first sign now--I feel tense and begin to worry non-stop. It's absolutely exhausting, and I feel for your dad.

He may have tested negative, (did they do the correct panel, and was he gluten-free beforehand?) but with your family history and the fact that he showed so much improvement on the diet--it sounds to me like he is Celiac.

I hope for his sake he listens to you and decides not to discontinue the diet. The reflux may be another food intolerance, since they affect some of us as well. I got complete resolution of my reflux when I cut out legumes. My reflux was so bad that I went through cardiac testing to make sure it wasn't my heart.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yes it can have effects like that. Negative blood tests are worthless because they do miss up to 30%. I hope he goes back to being strictly gluten free soon. Also please insure that your Mom has a safe place within her home and a cell phone. The rage attacks can be severe in some cases and her health and safety is very important also. Sometimes the folks on the outside looking in can see improvement in these issues better than the person who is suffering them. There is also an addictive nature to gluten with neuro effects that can make it hard for folks to deal with. In addition if he doesn't think it is really a problem or if he doesn't want to seem different he can be continuing practices that have him remaining in a constant state of withdrawl. All that being said you can't make him be gluten free. Only he can do that.

I do hope you can get him to come here and visit and read a bit. Make sure he takes a look at the main page there is a lot about traveling with celiac there. It is not impossible to do and would make for a much less stressful trip.

[ItchyMeredith]

Wow- it does sound like gluten is the reason. Thankfully, he has never been physically abusive- but his ups and downs have been severe enough in the past to be diagnosed as bipolar. Since he doesn't believe in psychiatry though- he dismisses the diagnosis and any treatment. I was hopeful that he was going to stick with the diet. He is very self-disciplined and was doing very well- but I guess he wasn't seeing enough of a change to stick to it. I will grant him that his diet was very complicated- mostly by choice. For the last 6 months he has been an organic gluten-free vegan.

I'll have a chat with him- maybe he will listen to reason.

[AliB]

My hubby has accompanied me on the gluten-free diet for no other reason than he hates being left out!

For years he has suffered with Osteo-A, Fibromyalgia and Spondylosis and can be pretty miserable and irritable. Before gluten-free he would have to spend at least 3 or 4 days out of every 2 weeks, bed-bound.

Since properly adopting the gluten-free diet I have a new husband. It's wonderful. He is clear-headed, focused, concentrates much better, knows where we are going when we are out instead of me having to navigate all the time and keep prompting him. He is happier, and much more amiable. When our grandsons were with us for the school break he was up and about with us, playing with the boys, out with us all day on the days we went out, rather than spending most of the week in bed as normal. It's fantastic. The pain and discomfort is still an issue but it is still early days. Generally though, it is much improved even after just a few weeks gluten-free.

3 weeks ago he fell off the wagon. He didn't really believe the diet was making that much difference. During the week he had several bits of gluten, the last in a curry when we went out for a meal Sunday evening.

On the Monday morning he woke up in the deepest pit. In dreadful pain with his Fibro, deeply depressed, frustrated, annoyed with everything, argumentative, irritable, you name it - you could almost see the brain-fog around his head! I was convinced it was the gluten. He wasn't having it - it's just the fibro, it does this, etc., etc.

I got him straight back on the wagon. Within a week I had my new husband back. Now he's back into his 'other' brain, he can see the benefit of gluten-free and recognises its effect on him. When I think of all those years of trying to deal with his unreasonableness, I could weep, and for my kids having to cope with it all, too. Damn this evil stuff!!! The irony is that he would never have gone gluten-free if I hadn't had to do it, and we might never have known the difference!

I really hope you can get through to your Dad. I know how hard it can be.

PS. The reason his gut issues haven't resolved is probably due to dairy - it is very common for those with gluten intolerance to also have issues with dairy. The gut damage prevents the production of Lactase to digest the Lactose. I get bad bloating, gas and constipation if I accidentally have dairy.

[Lan]

I was a Celiac Mental Patient! You aren't alone!

My father's bloodtest was negative but he went gluten-free/CF 6 months ago to hopefully help his reflux, rage, and mood swings. I have celiac, my son has celiac, and I am sure that his mother (my grandma) had it as well. His reflux did not improve at all but he has been much more psychologically stable (according to my mother and people he works with). According to my father nothing has changed. Well- my parents are planing a trip to South America and my father has decided that gluten has not made a difference in his life and he is going back on it to make the trip easier. He has been on gluten for a week and my mother said that he is being awful. He has been making everyone in the house miserable and can't get out of this rut. Can gluten cause neurological issues so quickly? Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks for the help!

Meredith

Dear Meredith,

What you see and what he sees are two different things.

I can trace the Celiac through my grandfather and mother. But it effects people differently. For most of my adult life, my life was an emotional roller coaster. All my life people have said I was a loving, reasonable, caring and intelligent man. That is, when they were not saying I was a raging lunatic that would get angry for no reason at all!

Does this sound like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide? Dr. Banner and the Hulk? I have actually wondered if the potions that Mr. Hide and the Hulk drank were mostly gluten! Could someone with Celiac have been the inspiration?

Picture this, a lovely fishing / camping trip with grandpa and two of his grandchildren - cousins! A nice fish cooking the kids had caught, breaded with flour and cornmeal and cornbread (made with wheat flour) and butter. In an almost empty campground where a camper at the other end is playing music a little louder than they should. What should my grandpa do? Perhaps go ask them to turn the music down a little so we all could hear the music of nature? What did my grandpa do about 4-5 hours after eating a load of gluten and corn...

He took a 45 pistol and stuck it in the guy's face and told him if he didn't turn off the d____ music that he would first put a bullet in the guys head and then one in the radio!

Wisely they packed up and left, we slept under the stars and by morning grandpa was "sorta normal" but complaining of stomach pains. Lest you think otherwise, my grandfather was really a great man and respected for all the good he did in the community.

Road Rage! Have you ever seen someone on purpose bump another vehicle in front of them? - I have! My grandpa - 3-4 hours after loading up on gluten and corn based goodies at Christmas!

Did he have Celiac, likely.

Do I? Based on a strict elimination diet survey - yes. I am also allergic to processed corn, milk and soy.

Would I ever have road rage! Yes! Would I bump people? Yes! Would I smash doors and windows and other things that "got me mad"? Well, not today! But I have (very sad to say that - I only hope this gives hope to others!).

Some research shows that 3% of Schizophrenics can be treated by a gluten free diet and a further 1% by removing processed corn (corn starch & corn grits, corn syrup, HFCS) - due to an autoimmune allergy.

My wife says that small amounts of corn syrup or HFCS or larger amounts of corn grits or corn starch make me "upset" (read that paranoid or depressed). Gluten, according to her, makes me angry. Together gluten and corn - and something is going to get broken! Gluten + Corn = Rage!

Since I have been gluten free - I have not yelled in anger or broken anything! Since I have been grain free my wife and her sister (who lives with us) agree that I have become a "sweet guy" ALL the time! No more "hulking out" - no more "Road Rage" - no more replacing doors, windows, lamps and no holes to patch in concrete walls - we have a quite and peaceful life!

If all this sounds scary, I though I was ok!

I think the time that got to me the most was when my wife realized that she made a mistake and gave me some gluten (with corn, because I was still eating corn then). It takes hours (3.5-4) for it to work through my intestines to the blood and to cross the blood / brain barrier. When she realized it and told me, I was still happy and fine, but my wife predicted I would be angry in a couple hours. Of course I decided to prove her wrong and to remain peaceful and calm. So I lit candles, started the scented oils, took a bath and went to bed to peacefully watch a funny movie! Life is sweet, right?

While thinking about how calm I needed to remain, I yelled a number of times and threw something out the bedroom door, over the guardrail, smashed into the wall and it dropped down the flight of stairs raining pieces all over the place! (Everyone hid!) Another "for-no-reason-at-all-rage!" But my wife already KNEW the reason... I was drugged. (It makes you think about road rage!).

Most of the good things in my roller coaster life have ended with "for-no-reason-at-all-rage!"

I spent more than a year locked away and diagnosed with Schizophrenia - for the protection of others - taking daily doses of gluten filled Psycho pills! I was also diagnosed and treated as bipolar!

Alone, homeless and rejected by everybody but the VA Psycho ward, I stayed for a time with some nice people who were "health nuts" and ate "Living Food" (Raw Food). I didn't like the taste (I liked pizza, pasta and bread then!). But my health improved all the while I was there! So did my attitude and the fog began to pass. It was the first time I made a connection with food. It took 22 more years before I knew I had Celiac Disease at age 53! Looking back with a clear mind, a gluten filled Big Mac and a gluten and corn starch filled Apple Pie ended that relationship with a "for-no-reason-at-all-rage" a few hours later.

I know today I do not sound like an angry Mr. Hide or seriously schizophrenic - I believe it is because I strictly control my diet (about 99% raw food). No gluten is allowed in our house, ever, and I avoid like the plague any food I am not sure is safe. I do not stand near a bakery in the mall.

I am now totally off Meds, blood pressure, reflux, rage, and mood swing problems are all gone, diabetes tests are all within normal. Being on raw food, I have lost weight without even trying!

Gluten, corn, meat (mostly fed with corn or wheat) and milk really set off my reflux - also I avoid eating after dark and within 2 hours of sleeping.

Your Dad may have a milk problem if he drinks it a lot or eats dairy products (cheese was my big downfall!). Likewise watch the carbs. I react in much lesser ways to bananas, rice and potatoes. But sweet potatoes seem to be ok once in a while.

For me, I went STRICT raw food (fruits, veggies and nuts). I now find I can have fish once a week grilled or raw. There is a raw fish Philippine food I like called Kinilao that has coconut vinegar and coconut milk that "cooks" the fish!

I now can eat some eggs too!

Now my wife calls me her "Gluten Free Honeybun!" She says things like she "got a new husband!"

The last couple times I got some gluten (last year) she would say that her "honeybun was a long way away in a dark place" and wouldn't be back for a while. Her seeing the gluten/corn/carb connection and saying the man she loved was a long way away really helped me see this as something that I can fight.

It is not easy, but I love my wife and family so that gives me strength.

My kids tell me that when I am Gluten Free that I am their HERO! Honestly, I eat it up - try it with your dad. If you have celiac disease/DF ask him to be your Hero and be gluten free. When he is, give him some praise. I don't know where they got it, but I have a "Best Gluten Free Papa!" Plaque!

"Real Heroes Are Gluten Free!"

Let your dad know that you want him to be your gluten free hero!

My wife says it takes me 4 good gluten free / corn free days to stop being angry and roughly 42 days of Raw Food to recover my un-depressing mental state.

I do not believe I am a Schizophrenic, nor do I believe I am Bipolar! I do not even believe I have mental depression. I have a number of autoimmune system diseases that are all gut related and if I treat them (including Celiac) I have a normal, healthy, well balanced life.

Don't give up Meredith, let your dad know that there are other people who are like him, and they do not see it either. Don't think that just because your dad wasn't as bad as me or that because no one has locked him up that his problem isn't the same. The problem is the gluten and corn and soy and milk. It is just that simple!

The fact that your dad is reacting is obvious. Everyone around him sees it. The degree that he reacts is just a symptom. The treatment is the same - stay away from Gluten and the other things he reacts to.

I love my family so I listen to what they tell me.

God Bless,

Lan

PS: the US Government says the population is about 305 million. 1.1% have Schizophrenia, or 3,355,000 Americans. 3% of those are caused by Celiac and can be treated with a gluten free diet. That means nearly 101,000 people suffer from disabling Schizophrenia, most locked away in hospitals, that could be treated by avoiding gluten - and most people will not even run the tests!

How many more suffer from depression and autoimmune Rage or Celiac Road Rage?

You may find some of these helpful...

Schizophrenia / Mental Problems and Celiac Disease

Their findings a significant even though cats are not gluten eating animals. There is increasing evidence that components from food can indeed cause serious psychiatric (9-12) and neurological (13-16) diseases.

Schizophrenia Linked to Celiac Disease and Other Autoimmune Diseases

Danish researchers have found yet another link between celiac disease and schizophrenia.

The Association between Schizophrenia, Celiac Disease and the Gluten-Free Diet

After a review of the medical literature, researchers have concluded that many cases of schizophrenia are related to celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and can be successfully treated using a gluten-free diet.

False Negative Serological Results Increase with Less Severe Villous Atrophy

A Negative blood test is Wrong about 1/3 of the time!

[FoxersArtist]

Gluten has been known to affect lots of people who suffer from mood disorders, especially things like bipolar disorder and sever depression. I'm willing to bet that the gluten free really helped your father but he has other food allergies which contribute to the reflux and other physical issues. I would beg and plead with him to stick to the diet. I can relate with how hard it is to have a family member who acts that way and is often unaware of their impact.

-Anna

My father's bloodtest was negative but he went gluten-free/CF 6 months ago to hopefully help his reflux, rage, and mood swings. I have celiac, my son has celiac, and I am sure that his mother (my grandma) had it as well. His reflux did not improve at all but he has been much more psychologically stable (according to my mother and people he works with). According to my father nothing has changed. Well- my parents are planing a trip to South America and my father has decided that gluten has not made a difference in his life and he is going back on it to make the trip easier. He has been on gluten for a week and my mother said that he is being awful. He has been making everyone in the house miserable and can't get out of this rut. Can gluten cause neurological issues so quickly? Has anyone heard of this?

Thanks for the help!

Meredith

[Calicoe]

Yes, one of the most surprising yet helpful things in my discovery of celiac disease and intolerances, was the knowledge that it neurological and chemical symptoms of the brain. In addition to all the gastro and other obvious stuff, I had noticed years ago a type of "chemical" reaction that I felt in my brain and mood, but couldn't explain. I would become moody, terse, and generally impatient with people. I could feel some kind of "switch" that seemed to go off in my system. Now I know that "switch" was wheat. The weird thing is that I am adopted, but met biological family on both sides who also have fibromyalgia (sp), hypothyroid, bi-polar disorder, and heard a story of one uncle whose symptoms sounded like schizophrenia. I am nervous about so many issues regarding this affliction, but I am the most nervous about intestinal cancers or losing my mind to mental illness or alzheimer-like symptoms.