Celiac And Anxiety

[applegirl03]

I find myself in the past month or so struggling with anxiety and mood swings. I have been very careful to stay gluten-free and to the best of my knowledge I have been doing so for several months. I am anxious to go anywhere alone with my 2 small children(they are 5 and 2) because I am afraid I am going to get sick in the middle of a store(trust me its happened more than once). So now I'm not going anywhere alone. I am trying to tough it out since it isnt everyday, but my Mother has suggested I get on an anti-anxiety medication. With the Celiac and bad reactions I tend to have to medications I am really hesitant to take any kind of drug. I was wondering if anyone else was having these types of problems and what they took/did to stop them? I used to take Effexor about 5 years ago after I started having severe Post Partum Depression after my son was born. Took that for about a year, and titrated off under Doc supervision, but still had a hard time coming off of it...also have severe endometriosis and severe bowel problems still, and dont know if maybe that is the cause of this yucky/anxious feeling. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[txplowgirl]

After I went gluten free my anxiety eased somewhat but it was when I took out both soy and dairy also my anxiety totally went away. I had depression and social anxiety disorder since I was 7 years old. I am off my all my meds now and depression and anxiety dosen't come come back unless, i get glutened, soyed or dairied. Have gone caffine free and it's brought it back some from the withdrawals but gettin better by the day. Just a thought. Hang in there and hugs.

[ravenwoodglass]

Get as strict as you can with the diet. For many that will help. There can be a sort of PTSD reaction if you have been sick for a while and have had accidents. If you have gotten to that point it might be helpful to see a counselor who can help you cope with the anxiety reactions. Sometimes medication can be helpful.

[GlutenFreeManna]

How strict have you been about being gluten free? Like Txplowgirl, my anxiety went away after a few months of a gluten free, soy free and dairy free diet. However I mostly notice the anxiety comes back when I get some accidental gluten. If you have been really strict and don't think you are getting little bits of gluten somewhere, then I would see a counselor and possibly look into meds if you really need them.

[applegirl03]

I am very strict with the gluten. I do notice that it is worse after I accidently gluten myself. Put I think I am just nervous because of how fast it hits me and getting sick in public. I had to go in to the hospital today for severe stomach pain. My doc did an emergency cat scan and blood work. Everything was normal, or "okay"...what the heck "okay" means is debatable...I also notice the anxiety is at its worst the more constipated I get, so I think there may be something there...idk. I also have bad reactions to almost all medications, so I am really weary about going on anything...thanks for the support guys, I really do appreciate it...

[Skylark]

I had bipolar, insomnia, and some anxiety attacks that hung around after I went gluten-free for quite a while. What helped me was a high-dose, strong vitamin supplement with plenty of B complex, minerals, and trace elements, plus some fish oil. The supplement I take is in my signature and profile and it's fairly expensive but works really well for me. My nervous system seemed well behind the rest of my body as far as recovery and when I'm low on B vitamins, it hits my mind first with anxiety and insomnia.

[Dixiebell]

I agree with the B-complex and fish oil.

[plantime]

B complex and Lexapro for me. My messed up intestinal tract does not produce enough serotin, so an SSRI is needed.

[WheatChef]

Benzodiazapenes are pretty fun drugs but they're not too good for you, are severely habit forming and very sedating. SSRI's are some of the worst things you can do to your brain and I still hold a grudge against every doctor of mine who prescribed me yet another one of those terrible things. Gluten-free doesn't automatically equal a healthy diet. Get yourself tested for nutritional deficiencies, many of which can take a very long time to correct without specific intervention. Additionally if you're having anxiety problems the #1 best thing you can do is to cut carbs asap.

[T.H.]

I also have bad reactions to almost all medications, so I am really weary about going on anything...thanks for the support guys, I really do appreciate it...

That's actually not uncommon in celiacs. My GI doctor told me that we should remember that foods aren't the only things we digest poorly. Medications are, too. But he said we can absorb less of parts of a med, and MORE of parts of them, due to leaky gut, and so on.

I'd always wondered why meds either didn't seem to work, or I got nasty reactions to them and just wanted to keel over. That explanation made sense to me.

[cap6]

I have tried going off my anti-depressants but it didn't work and now I am back on them full strength. grrr.

[applegirl03]

Well after several visits to several totally clueless doctors, I think i may have an answer. It turns out I have a massive Fungal infection in my gut and my doc told me that that kind of severe yeast infection in the body can cause severe anxiety, due to the endotoxins being released as the fungi die...apparently its called the "die off effect". Now my doc has put me on Diflucan for 1 month and its supposed to cure me of all my symptoms....I guess I can keep everyone posted to see how it goes...

[Kim69]

How did it go?

Also, how was the fungal infection diagnosed?