Believe I Am Now Celiac :(

[bestman30]

My story is a little embarrassing but I really would like some help and info. Ok so back in July of 2010 I took an std test and tested positive for chlamydia. About four days later I started a cycle of antibiotics (Doxycycline Hyclate). Let me say that this is some strong stuff and I was not ready for how powerful it was. I'm a very active person and this did the total opposite. I was depressed I had tons of anxiety a weird sense of balance, brain fog and just a dream like state. Just a bad situation over all. Now you ask were does celiac fall into the equation. Well every since that day my life has not been the same, I am a bodybuilder and was so use to eating and drinking what I feel. Now every since I took those antibiotics I don't even know what I can even put into my body because if I eat or drink the wrong thing I get fatigued, anxiety and I'm in a dream like state. At times it has been very scary. Even to the point where I'm seriously questioning my sanity. I have educated my self of on my symptoms but I'm not a doctor. In my eyes I've had candida been anemic and now celiac. I went to the ER but they just gave me benedryl

And charged me $1000 for the visit. I am a personal trainer by profession so I am not that worried about the body even though I know it it is very importaint to get this situation under control. As I am more worried about my mind and my thought process. I've read so many articles of what could be wrong and they contradict each other. I don't know if I need B12, gluten free diet, certain type of medicine or what this even is. I will have insurance to go see a doc in a month so think if I went this long I can hold off. I would appreciate any advice or info to help. Thx

[mushroom]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

A bout of candida can certainly be set off by a course of strong antibiotics, and this was a course I followed too, after a six-month (various) antiobiotic treatment course. I had both candida and a c.diff bacterial overgrowth which an alternative practitioner cured me of. But it was after that that that what I now label my celiac symptoms started, although I did not recognize them as such. I became lactose intolerant, gave up pasta because it bothered me, had lots of "IBS" and "psychiatric" doctors visits because the doctor labelled me a headcase.

So now you have gone wonky since your antibiotic course, believe you've had candida and anemia, have fatigue and anxiety, a fugue like state. I have not been one to experience what others on the board refer to as "brain fog" and have not experienced the anxiety that so many express, but they are obviously neurological rather than GI expressions of gluten intolerance and you have probably come to the right place. If you can hold off until you can afford the celiac testing (a blood panel which, if positive, is followed by an endoscopy with biopsy), then continue eating a normal gluten diet because this is necessary to keep the antibodies in the blood stream. A sublingual B12 may help you and will not affect the testing any. You might also take 2-3000 iu of Vitamin D, and a good multimineral and B complex tablet. Do schedule an appointment for the blood testing as soon as your insurance comes on line.

[rosetapper23]

Hmmm...yours is an unusual case. You could actually be suffering from any number of things. I'm not sure that celiac is your problem, but hopefully the testing will settle that issue. Your symptoms, however, sound more like gluten sensitivity. Also, believe me, you're not losing your mind even if it might feel like that is happening to you.

Here is an article from celiac.com that might shed some light on your symptoms:

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/Schizophrenia-%7B47%7D-Mental-Problems-and-Celiac-Disease/

Maybe someone else has some advice for you....but I hope you find out what's ailing you.

[Katie B]

As mentioned by mushroom the antibiotics can cause c. diff - this is what I had during the summer and believe me I thought I was going crazy. Kept going to the Dr. and kept getting a diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and kept getting various antibiotics. Had the infection for 2 months until it got really serious. It can cause colitis and can cause iron anemia, fever etc. etc. Please get tested for this - especially since your troubles started after taking antibiotics.

In the past I've been B12 deficient and that causes everything to go wonky - I now get shots for this because I can't absorb it (very easy to get the shots).

It might just be a cause and effect thing - you may be celiac and that is causing damage which in turn is causing your symptoms or you may have something else which is causing damage which is causing your symptoms. Either way you'll have difficulty digesting things that you once used to eat - I've mentioned this a lot before but look into the low FODMAP diet if all of your testing comes back negative.

Good luck - just hang in there and you'll get to the bottom of it. If you think you have c. diff. you might want to get tested sooner - even if the Dr. is skeptical it's definitely a possibility.

[Looking for answers]

Check out Renew Life Super Critical Intensive 7-day probiotic treatment. It's meant to counteract the side effects of antibiotics, which can really wreak havoc on your digestive system. While under treatment, it would probably be a good idea to follow an anti-candida diet as well. Google it and you'll find recommendations.

[cassP]

sounds like you've researched and really have a grasp on all the information. and you've come to the right place- all the posts above are quite valuable.

also wanted to throw it out there- that i have read in the past several months- that Candida has a similar structure to gluten or WGA (cant remember)... and that it can "trigger" Celiac.

hope you get some accurate testing soon- make sure to get a complete panel done.. because some parts of the testing could be negative- and you'll need to see everything to get a better picture (TTG Iga AND Igg, Antigliadin Iga AND Igg, Total Iga Serum, Endomysial Antibody)