Undiagnosed Celiac On Gluten-free Diet

[bchrisc]

Hello. My mom was diagnosed with Celiac Disease two years ago and has been on a gluten-free diet ever since. I joined her on the diet about a year ago, because of chronic stomach troubles and severe depression. I was never formally diagnosed and, while my stomach troubles seem to have gone away, I still am experiencing severe depression. Should I leave the diet and go through the formal testing process? Or is the cessation of my stomach issues a sign that I am, indeed, a Celiac? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I also hope this is the right forum for my question.

Thanks!

Brian

[mushroom]

Hello. My mom was diagnosed with Celiac Disease two years ago and has been on a gluten-free diet ever since. I joined her on the diet about a year ago, because of chronic stomach troubles and severe depression. I was never formally diagnosed and, while my stomach troubles seem to have gone away, I still am experiencing severe depression. Should I leave the diet and go through the formal testing process? Or is the cessation of my stomach issues a sign that I am, indeed, a Celiac? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I also hope this is the right forum for my question.

Thanks!

Brian

Hi Brian, and welcome.

The disappearance of your symptoms would seem to implicate gluten as the culprit for your stomach troubles, whether gluten intolerance or celiac. Could the depression be a separate issue for you, or did the two seem to go hand in hand for you, if you remember?

[bchrisc]

Hi Brian, and welcome.

The disappearance of your symptoms would seem to implicate gluten as the culprit for your stomach troubles, whether gluten intolerance or celiac. Could the depression be a separate issue for you, or did the two seem to go hand in hand for you, if you remember?

I think you may be right. The stomach troubles were around for most of my life, whereas the depression is relatively (past 5-6 years) recent. I just got a full blood panel done, and am hoping it's just something that hasn't quite caught up yet. Thanks so much for the quick response. It means a lot to me. :-)

-Brian

[Jestgar]

It seems to me, if you feel better not eating gluten, then there's no point in getting a formal diagnosis. Your diet is entirely up to you.

[gfb1]

I think you may be right. The stomach troubles were around for most of my life, whereas the depression is relatively (past 5-6 years) recent. I just got a full blood panel done, and am hoping it's just something that hasn't quite caught up yet. Thanks so much for the quick response. It means a lot to me. :-)

-Brian

if you've been gluten-free for a year, and your 'blood panel' is looking for celiac markers... then don't be surprised if the tests are negative. after one year; the celiac panel of tests would definitely be negative EVEN IF YOU ARE A CELIAC.

as for depression; that's one of the worst (and insidious) problems a person can have. get to your primary care doc and talk about it; get some decent meds. the meds these days are MUCH better than the old -- here's some valium -- scripts from my youth. it may take a while to get the proper med and proper dosage; BUT, your quality of life will be much improved. if you don't like the idea of taking pills/meds, then go talk to somebody -- ask around for a reference for a decent psychologist. there isn't the stigma that there used to be; and some are VERY good... to badly mangle robert.zimmerman 'it may be your preacher and it may be your doc; but, you gotta talk to somebody...'

i echo jestgar's comments... if you feel better being gluten free; just do it. while noone i know has done a formal analysis; being gluten free has other added benefits. being an analretentivescientisttype, i have years of dietary intake spreadsheets from my wife's gluten-free diet. in general, her diet is slightly higher in protein (more eggs for breakfast, legumes 2xweek), higher in fiber (legumes, oatmeal, rice bran and more fresh veggies) and, strangely enough, lower in fat. overall its about 10-15% lower in calories than our previous diet -- its not just replacing the gluten; but the associated awareness and behavioural changes that have accompanied it.

[gfb1]

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