Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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):
    GliadinX



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):
    GliadinX


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

Depression


joolsjewels

Recommended Posts

joolsjewels Newbie

I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2009 and immediately went Gluten-Free. Looking back, i most likely had this problem all my life, but the damage was already done. At 13 i was extremely depressed. I now realize that gluten affects teens in a particularlly harsh way. However, all the research i have done says that you should recover after going Gluten-Free. I have not. Does anyone else have this problem? Right now i am going through a rough patch and do not know if its another problem or if its something i will have to live with for the rest of my life.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Little Northern Bakehouse
Daura Damm



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):
Little Northern Bakehouse


alex11602 Collaborator

I'm right there with you, still depressed (have been since I was about 10 to the point that I cut myself for 12 years to try and feel better) and after going gluten free 20 months ago I started getting panic attacks that got so bad I can really go out of the house. Started on paxil about 2 months ago but the meds are almost gone and all it seems to have done is make it so I don't snap at people so easily.

Fingers crossed that we figure out the problem soon enough.

ravenwoodglass Mentor

I also suffered from depression from early childhood and later developed anxiety.

I find I have to be super strict with the diet because even a small amount of gluten will send the depression roaring back full force. Being gluten free didn't have any effect on my anxiety issues though. I hope things improve for you soon.

AfterAll Apprentice

Sorry you are having such a rough time. My story is a little different because I was diagnosed several months after giving birth... so we were not sure if it was just the Celiacs, or post partum depression. I am still in the early stages, as I was only diagnosed in May. I never went on an anti depressant though... good luck, I hope you find something that works for you soon!

MitziG Enthusiast

Gluten can certainly cause depression, but it isn't the only cause by any means. Some things to look at:

Have your thyroid checked, a full panel, not just tsh

Have them check Vit D, E, A, K B12 and iron/ ferritin. Deficiencies are common amongst celiacs (and those who are gluten sensitive as well) and can cause depression

You may have additional food issues. Casein is similar in structure to gliadin, and can cause problems for people who are gluten sensitive. Trying a gluten free and casein free diet may bring relief

Hormonal causes are also accountable for depression. Are you on birth control pills? Consider having your hormone levels checked as well.

Lastly...sometimes you can't find the cause. And sometimes you know the cause (for instance, gluten) but the damage may have already been done and is not reversible.

For me, celiac definitely caused depression. At 18 mos gluten and now casein free as well, it has gotten better...but it is still there. I still require antidepressants to control it. Maybe I will heal eventually, maybe not.

For you, investigate every possible cause and solution before resigning yourself to a life of depression. Many times relief can be gained from simple measures.

joolsjewels Newbie

MitziG, thanks for the advice about the vit deficiencies and horomonal levels. I have not had these checked in a long time. I made an appt with my gp for thurs. I already take prozac, but something else is going on as i adhere to a strict Gluten-Free diet. The depression has been going on so since June and i have rarely left the house. I am exhausted all the time and i just want to stay in bed. I guess i will see what the dr says.

ravenwoodglass Mentor

MitziG, thanks for the advice about the vit deficiencies and horomonal levels. I have not had these checked in a long time. I made an appt with my gp for thurs. I already take prozac, but something else is going on as i adhere to a strict Gluten-Free diet. The depression has been going on so since June and i have rarely left the house. I am exhausted all the time and i just want to stay in bed. I guess i will see what the dr says.

Glad to hear you have an appointment with your GP. Hope he will be checking for other issues that can cause depressive symptoms. You have gotten good advice from others on what he should be checking. If all that checks out good perhaps your doctor could try a different antidepressant. In my families experience Prozac wasn't helpful at all and actually made things worse. You may want to consult a psychiatrist as they will be more knowledgeable about psychotropic drugs than a GP. Hope you feel better soon.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):
Tierra Farm


joolsjewels Newbie

I tried wellbutrin before and let me tell you i will never do that again. I had every side effect you can name. I am going to ask my GP for a couple names for psychiatrists when i go in.

joolsjewels Newbie

My dr did change my med to pristiq and take labs. So time will only tell if this works and what outcome there is from the blood work. In the long run, i just need to work up the courage to get some counselling.

frieze Community Regular

I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2009 and immediately went Gluten-Free. Looking back, i most likely had this problem all my life, but the damage was already done. At 13 i was extremely depressed. I now realize that gluten affects teens in a particularlly harsh way. However, all the research i have done says that you should recover after going Gluten-Free. I have not. Does anyone else have this problem? Right now i am going through a rough patch and do not know if its another problem or if its something i will have to live with for the rest of my life.

do you live in a mixed household? have you checked out your personal care products? If you are in a relationship, is your partner maintaining gluten free in his/her contact with you? pet food? house remodeling? hobbies?

GFinDC Veteran

HI,

It could be a different food causing your symptoms also. Celiacs tend to develop food intolerances beyond gluten. Have you tried an elimination diet? And eating no processed foods for a while? It might be good to try that as you never know for sure unless you do. It could be a simple food diet change would help.

You can check on medicines side effects by looking them up on Open Original Shared Link

Meanwhile, have a nice day! :)

joolsjewels Newbie

I found out from my lab work that my iron is low. Dr wants me to take 325 mg/day. My vit D is low. I need to take 1000 IU/day. Finally, my A1C is being run and i need to go back in a week to get my kidney function retested as it is running a bit high.

To the other questions, i am very strict about using Gluten-Free hba products and meds. My husband, not Gluten-Free, does help me keep the kitchen as clean as possible. Any meals eaten together are Gluten-Free. He does use as many Gluten-Free hba products as possible. Our pets are rabbits and do not require baths. Their cages contain pine chips. I have had allergy scratch tests. I am allergic to many things, but not rabbits or their foods. Will start allergy shots for the other things soon. I have eliminated other allergens from my diet and never noticed any difference.

joolsjewels Newbie

Oh forgot, someone asked about hobbies. That made me smile. I cross stitch. I think that is gluten free;)

frieze Community Regular

Oh forgot, someone asked about hobbies. That made me smile. I cross stitch. I think that is gluten free;)

Probably! I did just try looking up fabric sizing, didn't find what it was made of.....

  • 2 weeks later...
joolsjewels Newbie

I just got back some more bloodwork. My creatinine which was originally mildly elevated came back normal this time. Yeah no kidney probs. I have had stones in the past, but nothing since 2005. However, my cholesterol is extremely high. Starting cholesterol meds asap. I also have a stress test wed. Then another sleep study later on. Crazy things have been happening lately. Hope to get something figured out soon.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

Good news on your kidneys :)

Hope you start to get some answers from all of this x

Chiana Apprentice

My biggest complaint was depression before I went gluten-free. It took about a year to completely resolve, but I am free and clear and don't need medications, like I used to. I will say, though, that I get a bout of depression whenever I get sick. If I get a really bad cold or the flu, I feel horribly depressed for the duration. Also, if I don't eat healthy foods or get enough light or exercise, it causes problems.

If your iron and vitamin D are low, that could definitely cause you to feel depressed. My mother used to take supplements for the exact same configuration of deficiencies. If you don't mind my asking, are you overweight? Your body utilizes vitamin D differently if you are overweight, often resulting in a deficiency.

joolsjewels Newbie

Feeling like crud today. I can not decide if its just pms or i am just having one of "those" days. I am still having problems sleeping. I went to sleep at 8 pm then woke at 11pm. I tried to go to sleep at 2am, but emotions got the better of me. Now who knows if i will sleep and who knows what this is really about. Maybe i am just exhausted and overwhealmed. Next week i have more dr appts and more tests. I am beginning to hate it. I know they are run some tests and the tests are going to come back negative. What really got me down tonight concerns my parent's flighty support in my life. I get blamed for the most insignificant things or dumped on with everyone's problems. Then when i need support and their faith in me, i get ripped to shreds. I am sorry for venting, but with it being 3am there is no one with which to comiserate.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

Hang in there.

And hang out here.

We know it is all real stuff, and many of us have been there. Not sleeping makes everything harder. Is it your sleep study this week?

Sorry your family is not supportive.

Maybe get out and get some fresh air today? I always find it helps.

joolsjewels Newbie

Hopefully, the sleep study will be this week. I think i am going batty. What probably compounds the problem is that we only have one car. My husband uses it for work and is working alot. So he gets done with a job, calls me to see if i need anything from the store, picks up a few groceries, and like tonight got home at 8:15. This is pretty normal so i am stuck in the house except for dr appts. I hear you about getting out for some sunshine.

I do have an appt with my dr concerning my fibromyalgia. I hope to bring up some different things with her and talk about different treatments other than meds.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

That's tough. I spent 5 months of pregnancy housebound except medical appts and I definitely went a bit bats.

It does sound like you have pushed hard to get to the right people to help. Make sure you let us know how it all goes.

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular

Fingers crossed for you for this week x

gnna Newbie

I identify with you about the depression. I am maybe two months gluten free and when I accidently ingest it, the last symptom and longest symptom is depression. It doesn't seem to exit my system for days. If I stay away from it I don't get it...I will have normal 'bad days.' Also, if I limit my caffeine intake to just tea I do better as well. I believe I have been suffering from a gluten intolerance since I was a kid, and it can definetely explain the physical comfort issues I had. Lots of bloating...I think the kind of bloat I get is not a normal kind, it sticks, it feels yucky. I was a very depressed teenager. I'm starting to believe that feeling physically horrible brings you down, like a mind - body connection. Gluten in our bodies either does damage or causess uncomfortable symptoms, so it makes sense that depression goes along with it.

rustycat Rookie

I'm another celiac who has had severe depression in the past. It has taken a lot of trial and error to figure out my triggers, although gluten is a major one.

I've found that I'm very sensitive and I feel so much better off all grains, including rice. I'm still working on staying rice free, though, because that means yet another major diet change and I've found that I adapt better when I incorporate changes slowly (except gluten free, which was "cold turkey").

Once you're able to find your major triggers, life will be so much easier. Please keep trying.

Take care.

joolsjewels Newbie

I have an appt with my fibro dr tomorrow. I have several questions for her. Maybe i can make some headway as well as an upcoming sleep study.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
    Little Northern Bakehouse



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      129,756
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Higley
    Newest Member
    Higley
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
    Authentic Foods


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.2k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
    GliadinX




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
    Daura Damm



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • MagsM
      Thank you so much for this in depth analysis. I am currently taking Vit D3/K2 5000IU daily.i started taking a flushing Niacin but foolishly took a 500mg tab and nearly passed out! I have just ordered a gut microbiome genome test and it will be interesting to see what my current balance of microbes are. After I finish diagnosis I will definitely go gluten free. Diagnosis will inform exactly how strict I’ll need to be regarding cross contamination etc. my focus will be on healing the gut. I have also been focusing on the oral microbiome - cutting out FL and using more natural products as well as daily oil pulling. I read from some of your other forum entries about Benfothiamine and I’ll definitely order that. I’ll make sure my doc orders more detailed vitamin and mineral panel plus total IGA as well as the DGP-IGA and DGP-IGG tests. We will see if I can get the endoscopic biopsy done. Do you think I should request Vitamin B shots to get me started?  My daily vitamin protocol will likely be VitD/K2 5000IU, Benfothiamin 300x2, Niacin (flushing) 50mg working up to 300mg. I also take a EPA/DHA as well as some vascular support (Arterosil HP and Vascanox HP) as well as Magnesium at night. Which B complex brand do you like? I will see what the gut microbiome test comes back with. I’m sure they will try to sell me pre/probiotics and maybe some digestive enzymes. What are you thought on those? I’m curious if you managed to go into full remission from your Ménière’s disease? Thank you so much for your thoughtful insight. I know that building back up my gut health and immune health will help in so many ways as well as protecting me from many other major diseases as I go into my 60s and beyond. 
    • Scott Adams
      You are right! The logo the have on their packages got me confused--it looks like they are less than 20ppm, not certified GF. Thanks for catching that! My brain also zeroed in on this "less than 10ppm" but I should have seen the rest...
    • Wheatwacked
      Zinc glyconate lozenges (Cold Eeze) helps fight off viral respiratory infections by coating the mucous membrane cells to protect them from virus.  Zinc is an antiviral essential mineral. Choline deficieicy can be the cause of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.  It is estimated by some experts that less than 10% eat the minimum RDA of around 450 mg.  It has also been connected to gallbladder disease.  Brain fog and high homosystein blood level is an independant indicator of cardiovascular disease. Eggs and red meat are the primary sources.  Three eggs or 10 cups of cooked brocolli a day.  Low vitamin D is a common denominator of autoimmune disease.  Is it a contributing factor or a result? I think that low vitamin D is maybe the main contributing factor.  Low vitamin D allows the immune system to run amuck. I would like to point out the many diagnosed with Celiac Disease went through several misdiagnoses, like gall bladder disease, and were repeatedly tested negative and then one day tested positive. Regardless of your diagnosis, you should avoid gluten, you mention it in your first post : "When I eat gluten I get a lot of mucus with my stool and most of the times it’s quite thin. As soon as I take gluten away from my diet my stool becomes normal". It can take six months to several years to heal completely.  How long I believe is directly related to how quickly you identify deficiencies and correct. Essential to my recovery:  Thiamine, 10,000 IU vitamin D3 a day, maintaining 25(OH)D at 80 ng/dl (200 nmole/L), 600 mcg Liquid Iodine, Phosphatidyl Choline.  And of course: Gluten Free.
    • RMJ
      Not all of King Arthur’s gluten free flours and baking mixes are certified gluten free. This bread flour is not. 
    • knitty kitty
      Bump up your thiamine dose!  You can take more if you don't feel anything after the first one.  Must needs getting to that 500mg. We need more thiamine when we're fighting an infection.  Zinc will help fight infections, too, as well as Vitamin C. They all work together. Hope you feel better!
×
×
  • Create New...