Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Finals Week W/ Celiac: Help!

rnb2114

Recommended Posts

rnb2114 Newbie
rnb2114
Posted

Hi there! I'm new here, and I am excited to find people who really understand what I'm going through.

I've been gluten-free since January...sort of. Since March I've accidentally had gluten as much as once a week -- I just keep messing up! I have had problems with depression, anxiety, and ADHD long before I had any celiac symptoms, but they got unbearable when I got sick. Things started to get better on the gluten-free diet -- I was finally feeling hopeful. But now I'm in finals week at an Ivy League college and I'm melting. I can't stay awake, focus, or remember anything. I can't get my work done and I'm embarrassed about going to my professors because I should have told them about celiac long ago. I'm worried I'm going to fail, and I can't stop crying! It feels kind of like pulling multiple all-nighters. My friends think I'm being a drama queen. Even my sorority sisters with celiac (there are 4 celiacs in my chapter!) don't really get it because they've been gluten-free for so long -- they act like I'm making too big a deal about it.

Anyone have any ideas about how to get through the week? I take Wellbutrin daily and Ativan as needed (hopefully these are gluten-free -- I looked up all the ingredients online and they seemed fine), but it's not enough to overcome the evil celiac symptoms. Just 6 more days until I'm home...but I feel like I won't make it!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

As I think you have realized being 'sort of' gluten free isn't enough. Even at this late date you should let your professors know what is going on. I did the same thing last summer. I got hit with a glutening right before my finals. One of my professors gave me the option of skipping the final and going with my grades in the semester, taking the final as scheduled or he offered to give me the final the next week when I would have some relief from the symptoms. I chose to take the final and did much better than I thought I would.

One thing you really need to do is get clean with your diet over semester break and stay that way when you go back. Right now you could try taking some B12 sublingually and see if it helps. You also really need to check on those meds and I don't know how long you have been on them but if you started them in the last couple of months let your doctor know that your symptoms are getting worse. For some celiacs antidepressants can make us worse and you want to make sure that is not happening with you. There are also times when doctors think we are depressed but the bigger problem is anxiety. That was the case with me and once they realized that and treated the anxiety and dropped the meds for depression I improved a great deal.

L Ceezy Newbie
L Ceezy
Posted

Hi there! I'm new here, and I am excited to find people who really understand what I'm going through.

I've been gluten-free since January...sort of. Since March I've accidentally had gluten as much as once a week -- I just keep messing up! I have had problems with depression, anxiety, and ADHD long before I had any celiac symptoms, but they got unbearable when I got sick. Things started to get better on the gluten-free diet -- I was finally feeling hopeful. But now I'm in finals week at an Ivy League college and I'm melting. I can't stay awake, focus, or remember anything. I can't get my work done and I'm embarrassed about going to my professors because I should have told them about celiac long ago. I'm worried I'm going to fail, and I can't stop crying! It feels kind of like pulling multiple all-nighters. My friends think I'm being a drama queen. Even my sorority sisters with celiac (there are 4 celiacs in my chapter!) don't really get it because they've been gluten-free for so long -- they act like I'm making too big a deal about it.

Anyone have any ideas about how to get through the week? I take Wellbutrin daily and Ativan as needed (hopefully these are gluten-free -- I looked up all the ingredients online and they seemed fine), but it's not enough to overcome the evil celiac symptoms. Just 6 more days until I'm home...but I feel like I won't make it!

I know how frustrating this is. That we have a disease, and yet it's still not treated as a real disease many times, even by us! We try to downplay what we are going through because we're used to doing it before we knew and people would say we're just depressed and/or being a hypochondriac.

There are definitely a lot of changes I would suggest making after finals, but right now you only have 6 days to get through this and that's the pressing issue. First I would immediately go to your doctor. If you can't stay awake, you can't stay awake and it's a problem that there are drugs out there for a short term solution. I don't know what your situation is with your doctor at school or home though. I fully understand that you feel like you can't go to your professors at this point, I would feel the same way. I had a problem with that too.

At the very least I'd say cut back on the Ativan and drink lots of Red Bull for the next 6 days. But don't go crazy! It's only one semester. And you haven't known long at all! It takes time and we have to be easy with ourselves. I can't believe other Celiacs are saying you're making too big a deal about your symptoms, that are supposed to be your friends! I know you're not. Even if you do fail, you can get help from the school to have it not count or something. I failed a lot of classes because of Celiac when I didn't know I had it, a lot. And I'm really smart, so I know how devastating that is. But now I finally know about it at 28, I am ready to go back to school for nutrition, yay! I'm the happiest I've ever been or could really imagine, so I know it gets better.

Then after finals come back on here, and we'll help get you all set up and healthy and happy for the fall! :)

shadowicewolf Proficient
shadowicewolf
Posted

You are not alone, i assure you. I am in the same boat (luckly i only have two more finals left).

I just... don't have the energy for it either. My professors and the disability office at my school (as this is considered a disability in terms of education due to accomadation and such (for example not being able to walk across campus because you are in pain, you could have a security member come and pick you up and drive you to your class)).

All i can say is just to trudge on through it. I notice if i don't have a snack or something (something small cheese (chedder) or an apple) it helps.

You can do it :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,017
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sjcucinotta
    Newest Member
    Sjcucinotta
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • sleuth
      Nicotine Gum For Gluten Symptoms.. Am I Crazy?

      By sleuth · Posted

      Thanks for your response.  Everything you mentioned he is and has been doing.  Tobacco is not the same as nicotine.  Nicotine, in the form of a patch, does not cause gastrointestinal irritation.  Smoking does. He is not smoking.  Please do your research before stating false information. Dr. Paul Newhouse has been doing research on nicotine the last 40 years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  
    • Jmartes71
      Fighting for a name

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Im so frustrated and still getting the run around trying to reprove my celiac disease which my past primary ignored for 25 years.I understand that theres a ray of medical that doctors are limited too but not listening and telling the patient ( me) that im not as sensitive as I think and NOT celiac!Correction Mr white coat its not what I think but for cause and affect and past test that are not sticking in my medical records.I get sick violently with foods consumed, not eating the foods will show Im fabulous. After many blood draws and going through doctors I have the HLA- DQ2 positive which I read in a study that Iran conducted that the severity in celiac is in that gene.Im glutenfree and dealing with related issues which core issue of celiac isn't addressed. My skin, right eye, left leg diagestive issues affected. I have high blood pressure because im in pain.Im waisting my time on trying to reprove that Im celiac which is not a disease I want, but unfortunately have.It  has taken over my life personally and professionally. How do I stop getting medically gaslight and get the help needed to bounce back if I ever do bounce back to normal? I thought I was in good care with " celiac specialist " but in her eyes Im good.Im NOT.Sibo positive, IBS, Chronic Fatigue just to name a few and its all related to what I like to call a ghost disease ( celiac) since doctors don't seem to take it seriously. 
    • trents
      Celiac getting dentures

      By trents · Posted

      @Martha Mitchell, your reaction to the lens implant with gluten sounds like it could be an allergic reaction rather than a celiac reaction. It is possible for a celiac to be also allergic to gluten as it is a protein component in wheat, barley and rye.
    • JoJo0611
      Chances of being coeliac

      By JoJo0611 · Posted

      Thank you all. 
    • Martha Mitchell
      Celiac getting dentures

      By Martha Mitchell · Posted

      Scott I also have different symptoms than most people. It affects me bad. Stomach ache, headache, nauseous, heart racing, whole body shaking, can't walk then my throat starts to close. It attacks my nervous system. The only thing that saves me is a 1/2 of Xanax...it calms down my nervous system 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.