Could I Be Celiac? Please Help

[blue102]

I'm a 25-year old female. I don't have any major issues at the moment, but I have had lots of little issues all my life, and I'm obsessed with trying to figure out what is wrong with me. Maybe I'm a hypochondriac...but I know something's not quite right.

First of all, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety around age 14, but that started around age 12. I was put on antidepressants, and have been on and off them ever since. I always end up having a breakdown and going back on them. I have also been diagnosed with PMDD.

I had many emotional problems in high school, and looking back, I was almost schizotypal: believed that God was speaking to me through signs and music, severe paranoia (thinking people were spying on me, thinking I was being talked about, etc.), severe social anxiety, low motivation and energy, thinking that I was being given profound insight from some higher power, etc. Yeah, crazy! That all stopped when I went on the antidepressants.

I have recently been reading a lot of psychology and I think I may have a few autistic traits, including a tendency to become absorbed in an interest, incessant skin-picking (insert EWW here), and some distractibility, among other things. I recently visited a psychiatrist to see if I might be ADD, but he determined I'm not. So why is it that I have two college degrees and can't keep a job? I've had 7 jobs in the last year. Psych says I get bored too easily, which may be the case. But I think there is an issue with focus somewhere.

Sometimes when I'm stressed my mind shuts off. When I meet someone new, it's a stressful experience for me because I'm shy, and I've been known to stutter, garble my words, and blank out on many an occasion.

I also have Vocal Cord Dysfunction, and I get attacks sometimes where I can't breathe. This isn't asthma. It's related to anxiety, supposedly. Funny, I don't feel anxious when it happens.

So in my search to find what the name for my wierdness is, I've crossed several things off the list: Asperger's, ADD...god...even personality disorders. Nothing is wrong with me. I've been told that I'm just gifted and have a hard time relating to people. But that wouldn't explain the blank-outs and concentration problems.

I keep coming across this "gluten allergy" stuff on the net. I would be happy to give up wheat if it would end these silly issues of mine. It would be nice to know that it's something as simple as that, and not some brain disorder that I need meds for.

I could be completely off base, but I was wondering if this could be the culprit. I have heard that celiac disease can cause symptoms like these. On another note, my sister has ulcerative colitis. Am I on the right track here?

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!!!

Edit: I'm going to add also that I've had severely chapped lips all my life. It doesn't seem to ever improve much, and it's getting worse...?

[ianm]

I had many of the problems you just described before going gluten-free. I had VERY low energy and could not focus on anything for any length of time. I had very severe social difficulties. It was difficult for me to speak, put two sentences together and engage in a coherent conversation. In the time that I have been gluten-free all of that has gone. I have lots of energy and am clear headed. The social anxiety is much better now. I am 37 and the problems I still have are more habits than gluten induced. I work at it everyday and it gets better a little each day. I am not the person I used to be a year ago and that is a GOOD thing. You have nothing to lose by trying a gluten free diet. The changes won't happen overnight, it will be a good 2-3 months on average before you notice any difference but it is worth it to try.

[KaitiUSA]

For the chapped lips thing-that is the first sign of dehydration and you should drink more water.

I think you should in fact be tested. What your sister has is something that celiac disease is often mistaken for. Also the symptoms you are having can be associated with celiac disease. Some people don't even have any symptoms with it. I would get these tests done:

-Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

-Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

-Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

-Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

-Total Serum IgA

I would also get the gene test done to see if you carry a celiac gene.

Good luck and if you have any questions you came to the right place this is a great place for support and info.

[blue102]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I plan on having the tests done sometime in the future (finances allowing). I've printed out the list you gave me, Kaiti, thanks. I think I will try the gluten-free diet until then, and see if it helps.

[KaitiUSA]

If you are getting further testing do not go gluten free yet. This will mess with the accuracy of the tests. They need you on gluten heavily for a good 3 months to get accurate results. Just keep that in mind

[Lesliean]

I was told I had vocal chord dysfunction when I really had vocal chord inflamation due to gluten ingestion. It took 6 doctors to finally diagnose it correctly and then it was my discovery that it was gluten that was causing the symptoms. Now that I am gluten free my breathing is completely normal. I wish for you the same!

Good luck,

Leslie