Depression...is It Normal?does It Get Better?

[tsgillen]

My wife was diagnosed over 2 years ago with Celiac, yet still will go for extended periods without eating because "there's nothing to eat".She has lost a considerable amount of weight and seems to be tired a lot and prone to many other ailements. She seems to be in a funk that she cannot climb out of. I think I have been very supportive, visiting various Health food stores and preparing special meals and appetizers that I know she can eat. I've done most of the research and am more informed as to the disease than she is. She doesn't even take the intiiative to look for new recipes, but seems happier complaining about not being able to eat what everyone else eats. We have found some very suitable replacements for items that she enjoys and are always looking for more, but it seems to me she just can't accept her diagnosis and cannot move on. Anyone else in the same predicament?

[Lisa]

I am certainly not an expert in any avenue of this disease. I do think that your wife is unable to help herself. If she is not eating, has ongoing symptom of celiac disease, she most likely is not getting the nutrients that she needs through malabsorbtion, with many mineral diffencies, those including iron, calcium-D, B-12 and most likey many more.

These diffencies can cause many of the symptoms that your wife may have.

I would encourage you to get a complete blood work-up and have it reviewed by a DR that will know what to look for. With the proper suppliments, she may return to her old self and get the energy back to take things into control on her own.

Your help is very admirable, but the cure is in her hands.

This is not a disease that is fatal in any means ---we determine our fate unlike a cancer. WE CAN MANNAGE THIS, and not depend on drugs, radiation, or surgery.

Someone once told me that "The power is with us". This is not an easy disease, but, I would choose this over the alternative.

Good luck to you and your wife. Twelve stars to you for your caring and consideration for the wife you must love greatly.

Let us know. Lisa B.

[Rachel--24]

Has your wife been 100% gluten free? I have depression and lack of motivation when I have gluten in my system. She may have sensitivities to other foods as well. Has her thyroid been checked? Thyroid problems are common with celiac and can also cause depression.

[Carriefaith]

Depression is a symptom of celiac, and she may feel like this, if she is getting gluten. The best thing to do is continue what you are doing and be very supportive. One thing I suggest, is to help her make cooking very easy and less stressfull. It is hard sometimes for me to get motivated to cook. My reason is because my family is not all gluten free and I have to inspect everything for gluten and wipe everything down and play food cop when people are in the kitchen. It can be quite stressfull

[KaitiUSA]

She may have another problem going on however has she been 100% gluten free with no cheating? Has she changed cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, hairsprays and things like that to be gluten free? Even that little bit can cause many problems. Make sure you have eliminated any way of gluten getting in. Are you careful before kissing her after eating gluten?

It sounds to me like she may be getting gluten in some where and that is her reaction to it...either that or maybe another problem in addition to celiac. Has she had a followup test to check the levels that were once high to see if they are normal now?

[Merika]

If she is NOT getting any gluten, and not eating and losing weight, the simple fact of not getting enough nutrients and calories can lead to apathy and depression. Add in that if her gut was severely damaged, even after two years of gluten-free, her intestines may not be completely healed and she therefore may not be absorbing all the the small number of calories she is consuming.

Encourage her gently to eat, remind her that it will make her feel better. It can feel at times like there is nothing in the world to eat, especially when you are hungry and tired and look in the fridge and there is an ocean of stuff in there that's "forbidden" or "unhealthy" for you. A supportive dh can help tremendously with this.

Of course, a doc visit may be in order too, to rule out anything else. And allergy tests (food allergies) may help her pinpoint other additional foods that may being making her feel bad. The results can be depressing (I should warn you...) but ultimately worthwhile.

I found that acupuncture helped keep me physically and mentally balanced. You may want to consider that for your wife.

Best wishes,

Merika

[tarnalberry]

I'm going to suggest she talk to a counselor. Depression is a serious thing, and related to gluten or not, needs all the resources that can be thrown at it. She may have an underlying tendency towards depression (regardless of celiac), it could be vitamin/mineral levels, it could be that she's still getting glutened, it could be that she's mourning a difficult loss, or any of a number of other things. To me, it sounds like she's unable to deal with the loss that she's faced with, and even if it only seems like a food item that you can replace, she may have trouble seeing that.

[GClrdsprn]

Open Original Shared Link Depressed it could be much worse. I am not depressed about the Celiac Disease not when there is so much more to be depressed about. lol lol But I can see how it could get you down. I loved to eat before this Celiac Disease took over my life. That is where the depression comes in forget the before this disease and make it a challange to see what you really like to eat and mine is watermellon and cottage cheese and did you know that you can eat corn pops cereal only be careful it does have a small amount of wheat starch in it. It has not bothered me and maybe it will not bother you. Were you depressed before you found out that you had Celiac Disease?? If so maybe some anti- depressants will help you. Don't like to take pills?!! Well maybe the depression will let up some and you can go to some meetings and talk with others that are depressed about the disease. Don't like meetings?? I don't like to go to meeting either but that may help. Don't sit, walk, and work with Celiac Disease on your mind all day that would make me depressed. I was in the hospital for a month to get my gallbladder out overnight stay my foot. I developed a blood clot in my lung now that is depressing and no health insurance I have received two bills from the hospital so far one was 47,000 and the other was 48,000 now that is depressing. I do hope that this helps you being depressed is worse then the disease. Please don't hesatate to write me and if you don't want to that is ok too.

[Rachel--24]

did you know that you can eat corn pops cereal only be careful it does have a small amount of wheat starch in it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You should NOT be eating corn pops.

Just because you are not experiencing symptoms does not mean that you are not causing damage to your body. If I were you I'd definately stop eating Corn Pops and stick with the gluten free cereals. Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles are gluten-free.

[Carriefaith]

Corn pops are not gluten free, please don't eat them

[KaitiUSA]

Corn pops are most definitely NOT gluten free. Just because you do not get symptoms from a small amount means nothing...it still causes damage even in very small amounts.

Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles by Post are gluten free though.

[Kasey'sMom]

I think this is whats happened to me. Our house went gluten-free about 5 months ago when we found my dd was gluten intolerant. I stopped eating all the obvious gluten items. I was eating out once or twice a week and I was taking a supplement with wheat grass.

I started getting really sick again so I went in for the Celiac panel. My anti-gliadin anti-bodies weren't too high but my ttg and EMA was high. Even the small amounts of gluten I was getting was preventing my intestines from healing. I'm so thankful to finally know why I felt so bad. Needless to say, no more wheatgrass!!

I can tell when I have injested gluten or dairy pretty quickly now. I feel my patience levels is really low and I just want to scream sometimes when I've eaten gluten. I'm waiting on my YORK test results to arrive. I'm excited to get the results because I feel I have other food issues that are standing in my way. However, I'm really thankful to know that I need to eliminate all gluten for a healthy life!!

My dd also has a drastic change in emtions when she eats gluten, dairy, soy, egg etc. Recently she's been eating lables, coloring books, stickers.....anything she can get her hands on. We've taken everything we can think of away but things keep appearing Her jackyl and Hyde emotions we're one of the first clues we had that she was sick.

I hope you can find out what's going on. My dh has been so patient and I'm very greatful.

[debmidge]

My husband has had undiagnosed/misdiagnosed celiac disease since 1997 to 2003. Could not take anti depressants due to neurological side effects. His depression was suicidal it was so deep. Late 2003 he went 100% gluten-free all the time. The depression lifted, however it still remains at a low level and he has his ups and down.

My thinking is that his body has had a high level of dangerous gluten levels for all those years that maybe (one or more of these):

1) his brain chemistry needs more time to clear it all out

2) he has been feeling so ill all these years and now he has to re-learn how to cope (he still isn't feeling well all the way & this is from years of damage)

3) Maybe the brain chemistry will never change from all those years

4) maybe he's depressed because he lost so many years to this disease and lost his overall good health to this disease. (he had very, very bad symptoms and was almost a worst case scenario of misdiagnosed celiac disease).

[debmidge]

P.S. Additionally all the suggestions given to you by the other posters are all valid and should be looked into.

[Guest JKJ]

You should NOT be eating corn pops. 

Just because you are not experiencing symptoms does not mean that you are not causing damage to your body. If I were you I'd definately stop eating Corn Pops and stick with the gluten free cereals. Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles are gluten-free.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Presidents choice Organic CRUNCHY CORN cereal IS gluten and wheat free!

Looks the same as Corn pops!