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I Had A Miracle

conniebky

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conniebky Collaborator
conniebky
Posted

Ok, go back 10 years. I was engaged (not to George, rest his Soul) but to this bozo dude. Well, you know the honeymoon when you first start dating someone and everything's wonderful cuz no one is showing all their sides yet?

Well, it was that time for us. I was so in love, we had just that week exchanged I love yous. I was happy happy comfy dandy. One Saturday night, we were going to Churchill Downs (my favorite) and then out for supper. That bozo, he took me on the BEST dates EVER! :D

So, it's like an hour before he's supposed to pick me up. From out of NOWHERE AT ALL, I wanted to get in my bed and be left alone. I called him, he was so concerned, I talked him into that I had a tummy ache and I'd be fine in the morning. I crawled in my bed and it felt so wonderful. No tv, no lights, that's all I wanted. That's when the depression set in. When it wouldn't go away, I went to a dr who dx'd it as clinical depression and some other word because I had no reason to be depresseed.

About a week after that, we were sitting on a bench in a beautiful field outside of our church. I said, "it's funny for grown men twins to dress alike". You guessed it, there was only one of them. Double vision. Then I start having panic attacks at work which I attributed to all the testing for MS and brain tumors. All negative. I've had double vision for ten years. Been to every expert they all say "you better get an MRI". I've had so many, I oughta buy stock in them. All negative. Had a spinal tab, negative.

It's worse on left lateral glance and when I'm laying down. For ten years, I have worn a pair of sunglasses while driving with black electrical tape over the left lens just so I can see, because it is, quite frankly, like driving drunk - can't change lanes, don't even try to.

It occurred to me this morning that I haven't had those glasses on for about a month and my double vision is gone. It's still there about 70% on left lateral, and worse every now and then (probably when I eat macaroni salad (stupid one, there) or drink beer (even a little).

Do you all think the gluten could have been causing all this? I mean, double vision???? It just occurred to me today that I can SEE when I drive, and I feel kind of that I haven't been grateful for this, because I haven't noticed it. Just today driving to work, it hit me. The last ten years of my life, I haven't dated, haven't wanted to, have to be dragged out of the house, I just haven't been me at all.....for TEN years! Ok, to break it all the way down, I ended up in a hospital on locked down suicide ward, that was about 8 years ago. Since then, I think I had just gotten used to it.

Surely to Goodness that can't all be attributed to a little grain of wheat !? But why is my double vision gone? I'm scared of even typing this, for fear it will come back. I'm also extremely OCD about some really goofy things.

Wheat? Seriously? What do you all think?

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kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I'm scared of even typing this, for fear it will come back.

Knock on Wood. :P

Seriously, Connie. There are people on here who were diagnosed with MS and when they went gluten-free it went away. Lots of people have a neurological reaction. No more questioning if a gluten-free diet is needed. If something as simple as what you eat or don't eat helps, thank God that its that simple.

Stuff from your intestines (food, antibodies, whatever) goes into your blood stream and travels all over your body. That stuff, good and bad, effects all parts of you.

lucia Enthusiast
lucia
Posted

Also bipolar. And, also epilepsy.

txplowgirl Enthusiast
txplowgirl
Posted

Connie, i've had depression and anxiety most of my life since I was 7 to 8. My head always felt like it had mud in it. That's the only way I can describe it. I could move my head and it would feel like something was sloshing around inside. My vision at times would fade in and out, see spots or bright lights and sometimes I felt like I was moving in slow motion. There were days I couldn't talk right at all. My cousins would sometime poke fun at me because they thought I was drunk. I have hardly any equilibrium at all. I've always said that if a cop ever pulled me over and wanted me to walk heel to toe they would arrest me for suspicion of DUI. It wasn't until I got rid of the gluten that I started feeling different in my head. All of that is gone now except for the equillibrium. I still have a problem with my balance but all the other stuff is gone. I've wondered if I had known about gluten when I was in school if I would have been able to graduate. I dropped out in 10th grade because I just could not handle the stress because I was so lousy. My best grades in school were C-minuses. Since gluten free I have been able to understand stuff that I couldn't before.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I narrowly missed landing in a suicide ward from my bipolar. After ten days of not sleeping my doctor gave me Seroquel and I settled back down. Heck yes going off gluten can fix all those things.

Welcome back from the rabbit-hole of gluten intolerance, Alice. It's a scary place down there.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

I had blurred vision off and on pretty bad for a few years pre-diagnosis. I thought I was just getting older. I was sure I would need a new prescription for my glasses, but I didn't have eye insurance or the money for an eye exam (let alone new glasses) for a few years, so I kept putting it off. Finally got eye insurance in January, went to the eye doctor three months into my gluten free diet. Eye doctor says my eyes are very healthy and my prescription didn't change at all. That was when I realized I had not had blurred vision since before going gluten free. I get it a little if glutened now. It's like a visual migraine. I also lost my dry eyes by going gluten free. I was able to go back to wearing contacts after not wearing them for three years due to chronic dry eye. So, yes I believe very much gluten can affect the eyes. This discovery is like a miracle to me as well. I have my life back in SO MANY WAYS they can't be listed in just one post.

vbecton Explorer
vbecton
Posted

Ok, go back 10 years. I was engaged (not to George, rest his Soul) but to this bozo dude. Well, you know the honeymoon when you first start dating someone and everything's wonderful cuz no one is showing all their sides yet?

Well, it was that time for us. I was so in love, we had just that week exchanged I love yous. I was happy happy comfy dandy. One Saturday night, we were going to Churchill Downs (my favorite) and then out for supper. That bozo, he took me on the BEST dates EVER! :D

So, it's like an hour before he's supposed to pick me up. From out of NOWHERE AT ALL, I wanted to get in my bed and be left alone. I called him, he was so concerned, I talked him into that I had a tummy ache and I'd be fine in the morning. I crawled in my bed and it felt so wonderful. No tv, no lights, that's all I wanted. That's when the depression set in. When it wouldn't go away, I went to a dr who dx'd it as clinical depression and some other word because I had no reason to be depresseed.

About a week after that, we were sitting on a bench in a beautiful field outside of our church. I said, "it's funny for grown men twins to dress alike". You guessed it, there was only one of them. Double vision. Then I start having panic attacks at work which I attributed to all the testing for MS and brain tumors. All negative. I've had double vision for ten years. Been to every expert they all say "you better get an MRI". I've had so many, I oughta buy stock in them. All negative. Had a spinal tab, negative.

It's worse on left lateral glance and when I'm laying down. For ten years, I have worn a pair of sunglasses while driving with black electrical tape over the left lens just so I can see, because it is, quite frankly, like driving drunk - can't change lanes, don't even try to.

It occurred to me this morning that I haven't had those glasses on for about a month and my double vision is gone. It's still there about 70% on left lateral, and worse every now and then (probably when I eat macaroni salad (stupid one, there) or drink beer (even a little).

Do you all think the gluten could have been causing all this? I mean, double vision???? It just occurred to me today that I can SEE when I drive, and I feel kind of that I haven't been grateful for this, because I haven't noticed it. Just today driving to work, it hit me. The last ten years of my life, I haven't dated, haven't wanted to, have to be dragged out of the house, I just haven't been me at all.....for TEN years! Ok, to break it all the way down, I ended up in a hospital on locked down suicide ward, that was about 8 years ago. Since then, I think I had just gotten used to it.

Surely to Goodness that can't all be attributed to a little grain of wheat !? But why is my double vision gone? I'm scared of even typing this, for fear it will come back. I'm also extremely OCD about some really goofy things.

Wheat? Seriously? What do you all think?

My mother and my son were both diagnosed with Epilepsy. It was Celiac the whole time. My mother refuses to get tested, so she's still on anti-seizure meds, but my son is happily enjoying a seizure-free life now. Before I got my Celiac diagnosis, I would have never guessed my son's issue was all because of gluten. NEVER. My diagnosis shed major light on what was causing my son's issues. Wheat is whack!

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LauraBeth Rookie
LauraBeth
Posted

TxPlowGirl, can you tell me how long after going gluten free before those symptoms started to go away? Or when you realized it? It sounds very similar to how I have been feeling these last couple of years and I have been gluten free just short of 2 weeks and still feel just the same. Thank you! This board is wonderful.

shacon-bacon Apprentice
shacon-bacon
Posted

b12 deficiency can cause vision problems, celiac or gluten intolerance can cause b12 deficiency!!!

sue1234 Rookie
sue1234
Posted

That is great! It must be something to find the real "you" after all this time. I know when i had to go into the hospital for a 3-day fast to check on why I get hypoglycemia all the time, my body was weak and whacky after those 3 days, but my mind was so CLEAR and I felt so HAPPY on the drive home! I don't have depression, but I just feel like I have a "neutral" mood all the time. So, whatever I wasn't putting into my body for 3 days sure let some of the old "me" come out, for a little while anyway.

I haven't yet gone gluten free, but will soon.

Looking for answers Contributor
Looking for answers
Posted

Not the same ballpark, but before going gluten-free my eyes were SUPER sensitive to bright light. It was so bad, I remember being in someone's office one time at work and I was facing her window (with blinds mind you). My eyes began to water and then were forced shut. I was so embarrased, but I could not open my eyes back up. Every time I tried they would just roll back and start to water again. That was a common occurance for me...thank god it's gone now. Now I just have normal sensitivity and have to wear sunglasses when the sun in shining in full force. B)

Smarts Rookie
Smarts
Posted

Surely to Goodness that can't all be attributed to a little grain of wheat !? But why is my double vision gone? I'm scared of even typing this, for fear it will come back. I'm also extremely OCD about some really goofy things.

Wheat? Seriously? What do you all think?

I'm hearing you Connie loud and clear - I'm at the very start of my discovery of that evil little protein!! I haven't had the double vision - but I've had a lot of other things. Missed most of high school because of mysterious illnesses where I couldn't get out of bed. My early 20's feel like a blackout. One significant thing I remember from then that hasn't come back would be when I would put something down, go to pick it up but it wasn't there. I'd look so hard for it, even sweep my hand over the empty table top. Then later it would just reappear in the same spot on that table. Or I would move my arm and jump because I didn't recognise my own arm. I was really suicidal (not that anyone cared) and my love life was non existent. 20 years on I'm married with kids, was diagnosed with clinical depression (finally) during pregnancy and recently was given a diagnosis of Bipolar II.

I'm finding it really hard to believe (after a doctor just discovered villious atrophy in my small intestines) that all of the above, including mouth ulcers and big nasty bruises, eczema, chronic fatigue, cough and colds and aches and pains, and grumbly embarrassing smelly bowels and burps and retching - all come down to one little thing...

Makes you wanna scream......

  • 2 weeks later...
txplowgirl Enthusiast
txplowgirl
Posted

Connie, I just seen this post. I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to you.

The stomach problems were almost instantly, but the head problems didn't start to improve until almost 6 months in. Very slowly, gradually. Here it is almost a year and a half later with a clear head. One morning I woke up and the sloshy, mud like feeling was gone. It stays gone unless I accidently get gluten in my system.

Hope you're stating to feel better.

Vicky

Marz Enthusiast
Marz
Posted

That's fantastic news, Connie! I think gluten can cause any neuro issue you can think of - if it can get into your blood, and affect nerves, it can do anything. 0.o

Marz Enthusiast
Marz
Posted

Or I would move my arm and jump because I didn't recognise my own arm.

Holy cow, that's interesting neuro damage right there... Have you heard of Open Original Shared Link (and that's caused by neuro damage by the way), sounds like something similar, though to a much, much smaller degree of course.

I really hope that going gluten free will be the answer (or already has been the answer) for you for the depression and neurological damage.

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    • trents
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

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      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
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