Another Newbie

[Cinnamongirl]

Hi-

I've been gluten-free about 6 mos now after testing positive for gluten antibodies (igA?) in December '09. I've noted definite improvement in symptoms overall, but I'm still not where I'd like to be yet. I have had unexplained anemia (idiopathic), ITP, bloating, constipation and lots of neurological symptoms (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, adrenal fatigue, low motivation) for years. Would go to the doctor and complain and have lots of bloodwork done, upper GI, anti-depressants, etc, but no one ever suspected celiac. When I read the list of celiac symptoms last year, they seemed to fit my experience like a glove. I was tested through enterolabs, by the way. I also run small (5' tall, 102 lbs) and have trouble gaining weight. I suspect I was malnourished for many years.

My bloating has definitely improved, but I still have trouble with anxiety/depression. I tend to avoid social situation so it has been difficult making friends. I am married with children by the way and so fortunately I do have support from family. I would like to be more involved in the community/church/school, but just haven't felt up to it. I know I am probably viewed as "lazy" or "aloof". Has anyone else had social anxiety and found improvement after being gluten-free? How long did it take to recover? I'm considering removing dairy as well to see if that helps.

[rdunbar]

Hi-

I've been gluten-free about 6 mos now after testing positive for gluten antibodies (igA?) in December '09. I've noted definite improvement in symptoms overall, but I'm still not where I'd like to be yet. I have had unexplained anemia (idiopathic), ITP, bloating, constipation and lots of neurological symptoms (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, adrenal fatigue, low motivation) for years. Would go to the doctor and complain and have lots of bloodwork done, upper GI, anti-depressants, etc, but no one ever suspected celiac. When I read the list of celiac symptoms last year, they seemed to fit my experience like a glove. I was tested through enterolabs, by the way. I also run small (5' tall, 102 lbs) and have trouble gaining weight. I suspect I was malnourished for many years.

My bloating has definitely improved, but I still have trouble with anxiety/depression. I tend to avoid social situation so it has been difficult making friends. I am married with children by the way and so fortunately I do have support from family. I would like to be more involved in the community/church/school, but just haven't felt up to it. I know I am probably viewed as "lazy" or "aloof". Has anyone else had social anxiety and found improvement after being gluten-free? How long did it take to recover? I'm considering removing dairy as well to see if that helps.

[rdunbar]

Hi! I'm totally familiar with having huge social anxiety, depression,constant crying spells,attacks of trembling and shaking, ect... being chronically unmotivated. Also a host of other symptoms too many to mention here. I stopped eating wheat over 2 years ago, and corn about a year ago, and some improvement but not really; I found out that I had to stop dairy (and also being careless about getting gluten cross contamination), and when I did about 2 months ago I felt horrible for about 2 weeks, the bloating and gut pain and fatigue actually got worse, like a withdrawl effect, but now I swear, i feel like a totally different person. It's really exciting, i've never felt like this; i'm starting to realize that I never knew what it was like to feel 'normal' my whole life. I'm still too new to this to give you a lot of details, but so far I'm handling things much better emotionally than usual and am way more upbeat.I'm starting to view other people as something other than a threat or someone to be uncomfortable around. Not having that 'i'm just not at ease' feeling looming around is like a miracle, i just figured being constantly on edge was who I was! If i knew a long time ago that i could do this by just cooking at home and eating well, and being very vigilant about coming into any contact with gluten and casien,I would have jumped at the chance. I still feel like i have a ways to go, but if I do have a spell of anxiety, it's much much less intense, and long lasting, like 10 minutes instead of 2 days!

give dropping the dairy a try, i was just putting a little in my tea daily, but apparantly that was enough to keep the reaction going. i knew it was bad but thought I could 'get away with a little' . when I would break down and have ice cream I would feel just terrible the next day, and my DH would totally flare up so I knew what it was, but remained stubborn about my half and half. now I don't miss it at all, and am really enjoying how i'm eating, eating only unprocessed, unpackaged veggies, fruit and meat, and taking fish oil, calcium/magnesium, vitimins D3 and sublingual B12, probiotics, and papaya enzymes! weeeee!

[Korwyn]

My anxiety, panic attacks, and depression were mostly soy induced, though the fatigue and brain fog from the gluten caused/contributed significantly as well. I have talked to and met people who get similar effects from casein however.

[Looking for answers]

Yes, mine have greatly improved. I did also have to eliminate soy, all refined sugar and processed foods, dairy and nuts as well. I've also chosen not to eat other grains and corn to keep my blood sugar nicely balanced. Also, I got on a isotonic vitamin (liquid and easily absorbed), sublingual vitamin B, selenium, fish oil, etc.. Once all my vitamins and minerals were balanced, I started feeling much better. I did spend two years taking capsules and tablets, spending hundreds if not thousands on supplements I was not absorbing. I highly recommend getting a good holistic doctor to help you. I'm sure once your body is balanced, your mind will follow, plus with extra energy, you'll probably be more willing to be social.

[Skylark]

Yes, mine have greatly improved. I did also have to eliminate soy, all refined sugar and processed foods, dairy and nuts as well. I've also chosen not to eat other grains and corn to keep my blood sugar nicely balanced. Also, I got on a isotonic vitamin (liquid and easily absorbed), sublingual vitamin B, selenium, fish oil, etc.. Once all my vitamins and minerals were balanced, I started feeling much better. I did spend two years taking capsules and tablets, spending hundreds if not thousands on supplements I was not absorbing. I highly recommend getting a good holistic doctor to help you. I'm sure once your body is balanced, your mind will follow, plus with extra energy, you'll probably be more willing to be social.

It took vitamins and fish oil for me to overcome the anxiety and depression too. I take an amino acid chelated supplement called EMPowerPlus from Open Original Shared Link It's very much like the supplements they add to animal feed. Farmers have known for years that you have to chelate vitamins to get them into an animal! EMPowerPlus is expensive but I know I'm absorbing it because it makes such an amazing difference in my mood.

[Cinnamongirl]

Thanks for the responses to my post. I wasn't getting e-mail notifications and just discovered the responses today. I had only half-heartedly eliminated dairy (switched to rice and almond milk, but still consumed cheese, butter), so maybe that was why I wasn't improving as much as I liked. I've kept a food diary for several months and note what I eat and how I feel physically and emotionally and then I rate the day. I like to look back at it to see how I am progressing. I've noticed an improvement by adding brown rice powder and Bragg's aminos. The amino acids seem to help my brain chemistry. I've also noted a positive effect from drinking a cup of green tea a day...seems to calm me even though it does have some caffeine.

I haven't been taking a multivitamin, but am going to go back to it. I do regularly take calcium/magnesium (which is helpful) and sometimes sublingual B-12, B-6 and folic acid. When I first starting taking the sublingual B-12, I noticed a big effect in the way I felt, but it has lessened over time. I also noticed an effect when I first started taking spirulina, but the effect has lessened over time as well. Maybe that's a good thing and means my body has built up some reserves?