Celiacs & Stress: Is Recovery Possible?

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I was diagnosed with Celiacs about 2 years ago after suffering for a few years with severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, muscle weakness, brain fog, dizziness, skin problems and a number of other symptoms. I have faithfully adhered to the gluten-free diet to the best of my knowledge and don't battle with the stomach pain and nausea 24/7 as I used to, but I do still constantly struggle with fatigue and muscle weakness to the point that I can barely walk and have to hold on to walls and walk extremely slow to get around. At times I'm even nervous to drive as a result.

This seems to be my normal for over a year or more. I'll have about 2-3 good days followed by 3-4 days of feeling extremely weak, and back around this cycle over and over. It gets worse when I work long hours and long work weeks.

I heard that stress is often a trigger for celiacs. What if one's job has a tendancy to be very stressful...how is one to recover and find a heathly balance with celiacs? I tend to still battle with extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, brain fog, and skin problems more days than not which is really affecting my productivity and overall outlook. I'm even worried about it affecting my current or future employment oppotunitites. The doctors' only solution to all this is to put me on an anti-depressant; however I disagree.

Does anyone else deal with stress still triggering celiac symptoms while on a gluten-free diet? Any advice on how to cope in a stressful environment and still regain full health and vitality without anti-depressants? Could I be making any common mistakes somewhere that could also be triggering these symptoms?

Help...I've pretty much given up on doctors at this point.

[mamaw]

Stress can present all kinds of issues...As I'm sure you already know when one gets an autoimmune disorder then others can crop up... Have you had bloodwork to address other causes? B-12, iron, thyroid,glucose,adrenal fatigue,CFS.These are just a few things I would check out ...A good routine physical also...

[Takala]

.... "muscle weakness.... brain fog.... skin problems"

You may want to start by getting another doctor, as anti- depressants will NOT fix your celiac symptoms, but may further alter the function of your gut in a negative way. Your symptoms are those of classic auto immune disease attacks. To suggest a mood altering drug with side effects for this is incompetence. You are either getting cross contaminated with gluten, and/or you have something else going on, such as auto - immune thyroid disease, which regular thyroid hormone test levels won't pick up - you have to get the test for the thyroid antibodies, which some doctors will not do, and then tell you your test results were "normal."

I have sero negative arthritis in addition to the gluten intolerance, and have had that up and down cycle most of my life, I have to force myself to do PT exercises for going on 2 decades now to maintain what appears to be normal function, because I also have c- spine damage from bone loss - but I "look" normal and my body is actually athletic, so I get blown off all the time by doctors unless I carry documentation - and I've even had more than one doctor ignore that, and tell me they couldn't "do a thing for me" when I was having horrible symptoms and needed surgery or emergency care (which is why I will not willingly go into an HMO system again so some dimwhit at the bottom of his class can tell me to "live a healthy lifestyle.")

If I get glutened I get ataxia, (loss of balance) which is a very big motivation for me to not get glutened because it is a sign of ongoing possible brain and nerve damage. I have worked too hard and regained too much to screw myself up deliberately.

You may also want to start looking for another job now, while you are employed, which makes you much more hire- able, which has less stress, if you feel like you cannot handle the long hours of this one.

Also, whatever you do, be sure to 1) wash your hands before eating, with a safe soap, and rinse well, and 2) don't eat common cafeteria food !

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Thank you mamaw and Takala for your advice.

I have had blood work done, iron checked several times, and just had my physical/blood work. I've received conflicting information from different doctors...some saying I'm anemic and others saying my iron is normal. I'm also already on a low thyroid med as well as a low hormone replacement...and again another doctor disagreeing with that too. I don't know what doctor to actually go to any more...PCP, GI, OBGYN, Dietician, Naturalist, Hemotologist, endocronologist, etc. I've been to all of them and think I may have to start playing "ring around the rosy" with all specialists again. ;(

I don't know if I have had my adrenals checked...should I do that through a PCP or GI? I've also been asking for specific tests to be done as the doctors don't seem to openly offer them. Only through research and talking with my mom (who is a nurse) have I discovered some of the tests to ask for. Have you run into this issue too?

After reading your responses I probably do need to take simple extra precautions like washing my hands more and such, so I will concentrate on those efforts more.

As far as my employment...I feel like my condition may appear as "mellow dramatic," but it's definitely very real. I also get so frustrated with myself because I'm used to being highly energetic and an extreme multitasker...yet I now struggle with focusing on how to do the simplest tasks. Is this also related to celiacs? It strongly hinders me from trying and wanting to pursue new things.

Thanks for listening and offering your advice...I really appreciate it.

[pricklypear1971]

1) an additional food intolerance or unknowingly having gluten exposure

2) you need a different thyroid med and someone to address the full circle of thyroid - supplaments, meds, adrenals, hormones

3) another ai disease?

4) you need a good functional medicine doctor like an ND. A good one. They're hard hard to find. Check the licensing board in your state. Then talk to people, read about them, find one that specializes in endocrinology.

[mamaw]

If you are planning on having your adrenals checked I suggest going through the Canary Club for there test. Mainstream doctors just don't get the full adrenal test...This one checks four times am, noon, pm, night... I'm not sure but I don't think insurance will pay for it...

Thyroid is aother problem as again maiinstream doctors(endos) only treat with T-4 or the majority...Yahoo has several sites that give wonderful info about the thyroid. Thyroidless group, Iodine group, & phoenix (sp?)

[mamaw]

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[Skylark]

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Good one. Also Open Original Shared Link

[AVR1962]

Yes, I too was doing that 2 steps fwd, 1 step back. I too had the fatigue, muscle weakness, off-balance, brain fog. Definately get the thyroid checked but also really make sure of your diet.....no gluten in anything. I had to really do a thorough clean up with my kitchen and all the products I was using. My balance came back when I really cleaned up my gluten diet and my kitchen. Strength came back slowly, I really had to work on the nutrition. I was having alot of aches in my bones and joints, took some extra D for a short term but put actual boiled chicken broth in about everything I ate to get more gelatin for the joints it made a diffeence for me, I know that sounds strange but there is alot to be said about actual chicken broth (not just bought).

In my case, eventhough I was feeling better I was still having issues that would rise and docs could not give me answers. I finally went to a no grain, no sugar diet and well, that was the answer for me. Something to think about. Raw foods, leans meats and nuts. I can eat aged cheese without issues but I take in no dairy products.

Do make sure of your vits, very important!

[India]

Regarding stress and work - my advice would be to remember that you come first and your health is more important than your job. It's also crucial to make sure you have a good work/life balance - you need those hours away from work to recover and recharge. And try to find ways to leave the stress behind when you leave at the end of the day.

Good advice but hard to follow, I know - I struggle with the same problems. But stress does make my coeliac disease worse and I know it's important to try to give life as much priority as work.

[RGB]

Thank you all so much for your advice.

I actually went to see a new GI a couple days ago and walked out in tears. For some reason some doctors (not all as there are some GREAT doctors out there) have a way of making a patient feel so stupid and illiterate regarding their symptoms, as well as marginalizing the realization and seriousness of their symptoms. SO FRUSTRATING!!! I'm debating if I even want to try an Endocrinologist at this point, or just throw in the towel on healthcare system.

I just received information on a good ND near me that I will contact for a consultation. My friends are going to him regularily and experiencing some great results (though they are not celiacs). Hopefully he can help me regain my strength & energy again.

Thanks again for all the advice. I've been checking out the web links and trying the suggestions you've made.