Gluten Free For A Month With Extreme Anxiety

[George206]

First of all, thank you all for helping me discover that my bad peripheral neuropathy (low B12 related) and sore muscles were the result of a bad gluten intolerance (likely for 15+ years). If it wasn't for you guys I'd probably still be poisoning myself!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I have been taking b12 (occasional shots and sublingual) for about 2 months and have been off gluten for about a month. While my peripheral neuropathy and sore muscles are much better, I have started experiencing extreme (debilitating) anxiety on a daily basis (for about 6 hours a day for the past 4 days). I know this is being triggered by several anxiety inducing events. My business partner and good friend died a week ago, my second child is due in two weeks, I have antibodies to gluten and Intrinsic Factor, and I am extremely anxious about my health.

I'm currently walking about an hour a day and taking a tincture that my ND gave me. While this seems to help, I am missing work and can hardly interact with my poor wife and daughter. Honestly, I feel like I'm going nuts!

Any suggestions? Is this normal? Will it go away?

Thank you in advance!

[MySuicidalTurtle]

After my symptoms went away, I had bad anxiety. I found therapy helped a lot. It takes major adjusting to go from being so ill to being so well. Good luck!

[George206]

After my symptoms went away, I had bad anxiety. I found therapy helped a lot. It takes major adjusting to go from being so ill to being so well. Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll give it a try this week.

What about a medication like xanax for the short term. Would that be reasonable for a few weeks (until after the baby is born).

I'm really grasping, this is awful!

[ravenwoodglass]

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll give it a try this week.

What about a medication like xanax for the short term. Would that be reasonable for a few weeks (until after the baby is born).

I'm really grasping, this is awful!

That is a question only your OB can answer. I hope you have also asked him before taking the tinture. He needs to know and approve any thing you are taking right now even supplements. This is especially true since you are close to term and some herbals can effect your system and effect any drugs they may need to give you in delivery. I also hope you have checked to be certain that the tincture is gluten free. You would not be normal if you weren't experiencing some anxiety right now. I agree counseling may help a bit.

To help deal with the anxiety try to distract yourself as much as you can. Take walks, listen to pleasent music, watch movies that are lighthearted. Get some nice bath salts or soaps that have calming herbs like lavender or chamomile and a small sleep pillow with lavender flowers stuffed in can help you relax a bit also.

[George206]

That is a question only your OB can answer. I hope you have also asked him before taking the tinture. He needs to know and approve any thing you are taking right now even supplements. This is especially true since you are close to term and some herbals can effect your system and effect any drugs they may need to give you in delivery. I also hope you have checked to be certain that the tincture is gluten free. You would not be normal if you weren't experiencing some anxiety right now. I agree counseling may help a bit.

To help deal with the anxiety try to distract yourself as much as you can. Take walks, listen to pleasent music, watch movies that are lighthearted. Get some nice bath salts or soaps that have calming herbs like lavender or chamomile and a small sleep pillow with lavender flowers stuffed in can help you relax a bit also.

Thanks for the reply and the suggestions to help me relax. Sorry for the confusion, I'm actually the father of the baby to be. I certainly understand your concern about a pregnant woman taking any herbal medications. The tincture that I'm taking was prescribed by my Naturopathic Doctor.

[George206]

I forgot to mention that I received a 1 hour long professional body massage just before the anxiety really kicked in. Could releasing toxins (i.e. gluten) in my muscles as a result of the massage cause this kind of anxiety?

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Anti-anxiety medication is good, too, but I found it worked best with therapy. It took me a long time to not be so scared and anxious of the symptoms returning. Then, I felt crazy for feeling that and that made me more anxious. When you are sick so long it is hard to believe that you truly can live a normal life. Add in the fact of worrying about being glutened- oi!

It will take awhile but if you are active in trying to control the anxiety it can decrease and go away! At least that is how it went with me.

[George206]

Thanks for you support and insight. I feel much better today and I think I am coming out of that terrible feeling!

[RiceGuy]

I forgot to mention that I received a 1 hour long professional body massage just before the anxiety really kicked in. Could releasing toxins (i.e. gluten) in my muscles as a result of the massage cause this kind of anxiety?

My first thought is I wonder what was in any massage oils they might have used. Even if they're gluten-free, you might have a sensitivity to something else in them.

Have you tried magnesium? It is known as the calming mineral, and it strengthens the blood/brain barrier too. Some recent posts mentioned epsom salt baths (epsom salt is magnesium sulfate).

[ang1e0251]

I was going to mention magnesium too. It is very calming. It relaxes your muscles and blood vessels. With all the stress in your life, you may be running on low. Dr. Carolyn Dean recommends about 600 mg's a day for a normal sized adult. Start at a low dose and build up to the 600 mg's or you can suffer D.

[ravenwoodglass]

Another contributing factor could be withdrawl also since you haven't been gluten free for very long. I am glad to hear you are feeling better.

If you do go with Xanax or another antianxiety med be very sure they check to see if it is gluten free. The name brand Xanax isn't gluten-free last I checked. There are generic brands of it (alprazolam) with some that are safe. I take it and Sandoz was the maker at my last refill. When I called to double check the rep I spoke with said to call each time I refill as they often change binders. That applies to pretty much all generics.

[George206]

Thank you for the magnesium suggestion. I'll ask my ND about it when I see her tomorrow. I felt great this morning, but unfortunately, I'm experiencing another anxiety attack as I write this. It started about 5-6 hours ago! Its really awful!

I forgot to mention that I also got a B12 and B complex shot from my ND just before these anxiety attacks got bad. I'v had several B12 shots in the past and felt fine. Could it be the B complex messing me up?

[RESO]

George,

I highly recommend acupuncture for anxiety treatment (unless you have any needle phobias, of course). Also, it took many months for my anxiety to dissipate after going gluten free - although I am now realizing I probably got glutened unknowingly many times. so I also suggest you review your diet - If you did not prepare it yourself from fresh ingredients, you should ask - write the restaurant/company, look on their website, call them, etc. Also there are certain ingredients to watch out for such as "natural flavors", etc. Others on this forum are more knowledgeable than I about this stuff and they will help you.

Again, I highly recommend acupuncture for anxiety, it helps a lot. Also meditation (whatever that is for you, whether it's praying, or just sitting quietly, or watching the ocean/trees, the idea is to clear your mind and relax)

I hope you feel better soon.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thank you for the magnesium suggestion. I'll ask my ND about it when I see her tomorrow. I felt great this morning, but unfortunately, I'm experiencing another anxiety attack as I write this. It started about 5-6 hours ago! Its really awful!

I forgot to mention that I also got a B12 and B complex shot from my ND just before these anxiety attacks got bad. I'v had several B12 shots in the past and felt fine. Could it be the B complex messing me up?

Here is a link to overdose symptoms for the B vitamins. Take a look over them and see if perhaps you are getting too much. This is a possibility if you are getting the shots and your body is now absorbing them from food and or you are also taking oral supplements. How often is your ND checking your levels? Hopefully the doctor is checking frequently since once your stores are built up and you have healed a bit you might not need the megadoses.

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[Korwyn]

Thank you for the magnesium suggestion. I'll ask my ND about it when I see her tomorrow. I felt great this morning, but unfortunately, I'm experiencing another anxiety attack as I write this. It started about 5-6 hours ago! Its really awful!

I forgot to mention that I also got a B12 and B complex shot from my ND just before these anxiety attacks got bad. I'v had several B12 shots in the past and felt fine. Could it be the B complex messing me up?

George, have you replace wheat/dairy with soy? Soy actually turned out to be the primary trigger for my panic attacks and anxiety. And we have tested it (inadvertantly) several times with blind ingestion of hidden soy. Soy triggers several neurological, psychological and CNS issues for me.

[George206]

Wow! Thank you all for the great information.

I had a rough night last night. Overwhelmed with anxiety and slept only 3 hours.

Now that I think about it, I could be overdosing on B12! I've been taking 10,000 to 15,000 mcg of sublingual B12 a day for the past month and a half with no B12 shots (because I though I wasn't absorbing it). I received a B12 shot last Thursday (I requested it). The panic/anxiety attacks started the next morning and I have continued to take the same daily sublingual dose since I got the shot (no one told me to stop). The panic attacks have been daily and severe since I received the B12 shot last Thursday.

Also, I stopped dairy about 5 days ago. I'll quite soy and see if that helps.

This is crazy!

Hello to the person in Aberdeen. I live in Seattle.

[Korwyn]

Wow! Thank you all for the great information.

I had a rough night last night. Overwhelmed with anxiety and slept only 3 hours.

Now that I think about it, I could be overdosing on B12! I've been taking 10,000 to 15,000 mcg of sublingual B12 a day for the past month and a half with no B12 shots (because I though I wasn't absorbing it). I received a B12 shot last Thursday (I requested it). The panic/anxiety attacks started the next morning and I have continued to take the same daily sublingual dose since I got the shot (no one told me to stop). The panic attacks have been daily and severe since I received the B12 shot last Thursday.

Also, I stopped dairy about 5 days ago. I'll quite soy and see if that helps.

This is crazy!

Hello to the person in Aberdeen. I live in Seattle.

Have you had your various vitamin and nutrient levels checked? D, A, E, B, Iron, Thyroid, etc?

[Korwyn]

Have you had your various vitamin and nutrient levels checked? D, A, E, B, Iron, Thyroid, etc?

Also take a look at this thread: https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=61774

[George206]

Thanks Koryn,

I had my nutrients and Thyroid checked and except for a B12 deficiently, I looked OK. Right now, in addition to the B12, I am taking Vitamin D and fish oil (a tablespoon a day), a probiotic, and GI-Revive.

The soy thread is interesting. While I have never reacted to it in the past, I did have some home-made gluten free (San J) chicken teriyaki a couple of nights ago. However, I felt good after eating it. I also made some about 2 weeks ago and felt fine after eating it.

[ravenwoodglass]

Wow! Thank you all for the great information.

I had a rough night last night. Overwhelmed with anxiety and slept only 3 hours.

Now that I think about it, I could be overdosing on B12! I've been taking 10,000 to 15,000 mcg of sublingual B12 a day for the past month and a half with no B12 shots (because I though I wasn't absorbing it). I received a B12 shot last Thursday (I requested it). The panic/anxiety attacks started the next morning and I have continued to take the same daily sublingual dose since I got the shot (no one told me to stop). The panic attacks have been daily and severe since I received the B12 shot last Thursday.

Also, I stopped dairy about 5 days ago. I'll quite soy and see if that helps.

This is crazy!

Hello to the person in Aberdeen. I live in Seattle.

I would call your doctor and let them know about the reaction from the B12 shots. Since the anxiety became more severe after the shot the shot may have been the reason for it. Can't say for sure but I would suggest you inquire about it before another one. Perhaps you could down the B12 sublingual dose or stop it altogether for a bit and see if the panic attacks stop. You have been taking very high doses and the whole reason for the sublingual is to bypass the gut and it is absorbed into your bloodstream through the mucous membranes in your mouth. One tablet is generally all you need a day if you are deficient.

[George206]

Update. Just got back from the ND. It looks like I was a victim of a little bit too much b12 and b complex (coupled with a lack of food and major life stress). I'm starting to feel better after laying off the B12 and getting some food in my stomach. I still plan on staying off dairy and soy and may give magnesium a try.

I really appreciate everyones help! You guys great!

[ravenwoodglass]

Update. Just got back from the ND. It looks like I was a victim of a little bit too much b12 and b complex (coupled with a lack of food and major life stress). I'm starting to feel better after laying off the B12 and getting some food in my stomach. I still plan on staying off dairy and soy and may give magnesium a try.

I really appreciate everyones help! You guys great!

I am glad they were able to figure it out. I hope you continue to improve. I know how hard it is to eat when the stress levels get too high but it is important that you do. I also have been under major stress lately and I try to keep a few healthy gluten-free snacky things on hand so I can just nibble a little bit throughout the day. gluten-free pretzels, nuts and fruit on hand help for me as cooking is the last thing I feel like doing when the day has been hectic. Anything to keep some nutrition and calories in you will help.

[txplowgirl]

Hi George, I am glad you found out about the b-12.

Soy affects me like gluten, so i would definitly cut is out for a while. Also try keeping a food journal and put down everything you eat and drink for a few days. I have found that helps a lot. You do know about cross contamination right? Has your whole household gone gluten free? If not, then you need to get another toaster, collander and different cooking pans, etc. I hope this helps.

[George206]

Hi txplowgirl,

I was aware that cross contamination could be an issue but haven't paid too much attention to it. Cross contamination could certainty explain some of my "unexplained" bad days. I guess I get to do a little shopping this weekend.