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Celiac Misdiagnosed As Depression?

Mi55-E

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Mi55-E Newbie
Mi55-E
Posted

9 months ago I beganfeeling "off".. I became EXTREEMLY tired.. I could hardly get out of bed. At the same time my appatite increased and I never ever ever felt full. I gained 10 pounds in a month because I was contstantly shoving food in my mouth because of this insane hunger. Most of the time, after eating I would feel hungrier than I was before I ate!

I started suspecting that it was something i was eating... I kept a lof of what i was eating and realized that it seemed like any time I had carbs (cereal, bread, etc...) was when I felt worse.

My head was filled with fog, I could not concentrate at work, I felt like I was living in a "dream" world.. I felt like a zombie.. all I wanted to do was eat and sleep.

Other symptoms I had:

-Yellow ring around my mouth (I had blood work done for liver function, etc and that came back normal)

-My nails became brittal

-Irritability

-Fatigue and weakness (stopped being able to excersise)

-Jointpain

-Itchy rash (I developed this rash 10 years ago when I worked at a fast food place.. I had seen my doctor numerous times, and he constantly prescribed me different creams and nothing worked to get rid of it.) The rash went away on its own and seemed to have just disapered miracously! Not it's back.. I have it on my hands, elbows and my left knee. It is blistery, burns at times (especially after a workout)

-DH

-Abdominal cramping and pain

-Have not had my period in 8 months

-Rapid weight gain (6 pounds overnight!)

-I feel "crawlies" under my skin after eating certain things

-Rapid heart rate after eating certain foods

-depression

-crying for no reason

I went to the doctor and advised him of my suspicions that it was something I was eating.. he diagnosed me as being depressed and suspected I had an eating disorder...

I was offended at first, but decided to keep an opened mind (from what I read depression can have physical symptoms, and all I wanted in the world was to feel better!) So I took the Zoloft.. it seemed to help me feel a little happier, but things still were not right. I went back to the doctor and he assured me it was just depression and upped my dose...

That lead me to start trying to figure it out on my own.. I started googling my symptoms and immedietly had a huntch that it was a food sensitivity. Once I came accross Celiac diesease I had incredible suspicions that it was this (especially due to my mysterious rash).

I have cut gluten out for one week.. I immedietly started to feel better! My rash has cleared slightly, I can think clearly.. but I am still a bit fatigued and feel weak. My hunger seems more manageable, and my joint pain has improved termendously!

I'd appreciate any input you may have! :) Thanks

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shendler Rookie
shendler
Posted

I was on anti depressants when I was at my sickest from having celiac. I was told that it was just depression that was making me feel so sick. I knew I could be depressed but that was not the only thing that was going on.

I could sleep until 3pm daily and never feel rested. I was soo hungry that everyone around me suggested I get tested for a tape worm. I was going to the bathroom 5x a day and also throwing up. I was anemic, vitamin d defecient. I could never think properly and was always in a fog. I knew it had to be more than depression.

You know your body the best. If you still feel something is going on after being on anti depressants try a gluten free diet to see if you feel better.

Hope it works out!

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

Me too, first Xanax, then Paxil, for years. It was misdiagnosed all the time, getting better though. People died because of misdiagnosing, and no one knows how many. People will be diagnosed, then they will remember someone in the family who died, and now they are sure that person was celiac too.

glutenfreeinaz Newbie
glutenfreeinaz
Posted

A few months back I was suffering wild mood swings. I went to the endocrinologist (at the request of family, friends and coworkers) for the usual PCOS panel... not only had my rapidly shrinking DHEA sulfate levels barely budged, I hadn't gotten my period in 10 months...

She looked at me like I'm crazy and told me to go to my GP for anti-depressants.

I got in my car and began sobbing. There is no reason, at 25 years of age working out regularly and eating healthy I should be SO BROKEN. So I went home and did the math and realized the healthiest I've ever been was when I had consistently gone without wheat for several weeks last summer. I lost weight, felt great, and was happier than ever. Since then, I've kept little to none in my diet and am starting to feel better. My mood is back to the normal optimistic and driven standard. I even formed a support group for people in my area of town. Truth be told, I think it is the cause of the PCOS.

So... I recommend skipping the anti-Ds and going straight for the gluten-free diet but I'm not a doctor so take the recommendation as you like. Good luck!!

Shauna

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

wait. in your list, you had DH. you mean you've been diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis? if so, then you are celiac; no additional testing needed.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
wait. in your list, you had DH. you mean you've been diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis? if so, then you are celiac; no additional testing needed.

I noticed that also. The descrition of the rash sounded so much like DH that I was going to suggest she get it biopsied until I saw that.

As stated a diagnosis of DH is a diagnosis of celiac.

As for depression, I think many of us have had antidepressants tossed at us repeatedly over the years. That is not to say I never had issues with clinical depression, I have, but the pills only made me worse. Once I was finally diagnosed the depressive episodes disappeared, unless I get glutened. Then they return full force for 24hrs and then lift. I just wish the other gluten symptoms went away that quickly after a gluten 'accident'.

siligurl Rookie
siligurl
Posted
I got in my car and began sobbing. There is no reason, at 25 years of age working out regularly and eating healthy I should be SO BROKEN.

Shauna, I feel the same way... I'm 35 and would absolutely bore you to tears with all the crap that's wrong with me, and now it seems I've developed early onset of thoracic disc degeneration and cervical stenosis. And there is an undiagnosed but devastatingly debilitating problem in my right hip and L4/L5 area. I am being forced to practically live on the sofa because of the pain.

I'm so depressed... and wish that I could just find the culprit as to why.

Best, Jennifer

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