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Gastroenterology Psychiatrist?

Celiac and Discouraged

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Celiac and Discouraged Newbie
Celiac and Discouraged
Posted

Preparing for a doctor's appointment with a Gastro Psychiatrist this coming week. I am a celiac but doctor's are convinced that there is more going on. Had a time when I quit work and wasn't very active where I started feeing a little better. So started back to work and added more jobs and other responsibilities and have progressively been getting worse.

Can anyone shed some light on their experience with the Psychological connection to Celiac and if anyone has visited with this type of doctor and what your results were? Were you placed on a type of mood enhancer or psychological med that has helped you?

Your input is greatly appreciated as I seem to be digressing in many ways and could really use some support from other Celiacs. Thanks.

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gatita Enthusiast
gatita
Posted

Dang, I did not know that such an occupation even existed! But welcome, by the way, although I am pretty much a newbie here too. :)

I'd sure like to hear if others have experience good/bad with that type of therapy.... I feel a bit skeptical because it seems "It's in your head," is the most common thing some doctors say. Not ruling it out though, but like you, I'd just like to hear from someone who went through this.

I certainly sympathize with you ((hugs)), my doctor has just more or less given up on my continuing problems after deciding gluten was the cause. And of course many people in this forum tell me that it can take 1-2 years to heal, so I'm working on being patient!

How long has it been since your diagnosis?

Celiac and Discouraged Newbie
Celiac and Discouraged
Posted
  • Author

Dang, I did not know that such an occupation even existed! But welcome, by the way, although I am pretty much a newbie here too. :)

I'd sure like to hear if others have experience good/bad with that type of therapy.... I feel a bit skeptical because it seems "It's in your head," is the most common thing some doctors say. Not ruling it out though, but like you, I'd just like to hear from someone who went through this.

I certainly sympathize with you ((hugs)), my doctor has just more or less given up on my continuing problems after deciding gluten was the cause. And of course many people in this forum tell me that it can take 1-2 years to heal, so I'm working on being patient!

How long has it been since your diagnosis?

Yes, well my Gastroenterologists recommended this doctor because she was a Gastroenterologists and then went back to school to become a Gastro Psychiatrist because she is so convinced of the connection of brain and gut and knowing that it doesn't mean it's all "in your head". She truly understands it's NOT and that's why I'm praying that she can help me steer me in a better direction. I was unofficially diagnosed a year ago, but even though my blood tests just recently came back normal it is so evident that I am a celiac. I've been gluten free for almost a year now and just can't seem to get a step forward! I will keep you posted on how it goes and whether it will be beneficial to look into for other celiacs. Thanks for your {{hugs}} - they are much appreciated right now as I need other celiacs to help me get through this really hard place right now. It's amazing to me that doctor's don't know what to do with celiac. I know Jennifer Esposito (Jennifer's Way.org) has a specialist doctor that she sees regularly in NY for her treatment for Sever Celiac. There have got to be more Celiac specialist out there and we just need to find them. I also considering a Nutritionist to help me with my eating because I'm allergic to so much and lately everything I eat makes me feel badly. Here's hoping for relief for us both!!!

New Community Member Explorer
New Community Member
Posted

What I understand regarding the nervous system and the GI system, is that they are interrelated. When one is not working, the other is not working and vice versa. Our guts produce more serotonin (the feel-good hormone) than our brains. (About 80% of the serotonin in our body is in the gut!!) So, naturally, it seems to make sense that when we are not feeling well it affects us mentally/emotionally. For me, I am much happier on days I am feeling best and symptoms are controlled. Are you still experiencing symptoms? If you are, perhaps when you have celiac is under control the psychological aspects will subside.

Celiac and Discouraged Newbie
Celiac and Discouraged
Posted
  • Author

Well, my symptoms got better after I detoxed but now they are getting worse and it seems like everything I eat has a negative effect. i am meeting with a specialist and having a colonoscopy this week as i have been having severe pain around my colon and other problems (sparing you the details). I would love to see things get back under control. Some days it is hard to keep pushing myself through my responsibilities. But I am going to keep fighting and hope for some help!

New Community Member Explorer
New Community Member
Posted

So sorry to hear :( Yes, I agree. It's worth the fight back to health. I'm still working on my own, but I can't wait to feel better again. Whatever it takes!!! Keep pressing on!!!

Well, my symptoms got better after I detoxed but now they are getting worse and it seems like everything I eat has a negative effect. i am meeting with a specialist and having a colonoscopy this week as i have been having severe pain around my colon and other problems (sparing you the details). I would love to see things get back under control. Some days it is hard to keep pushing myself through my responsibilities. But I am going to keep fighting and hope for some help!

Madagascar Rookie
Madagascar
Posted

we have a local nurse who is a celiac - she left her position as an emergency room doc and started a job educating people about gluten and helping people get through it. she speaks internationally on the topic, so i think she really knows her stuff. i went to her talk last week and have talked to her on the phone. she says that the antibody that a body forms in response to gluten is one of the few things that can cross the blood-brain barrier.

i have a cousin with schizophrenia so talked to her for quite a while about the mental health connection. she said she has seen people improve mentally - dramatically - when they went gluten-free (if they are celiacs.) so i went looking online and found a number of articles on the national institute of health's med library on the connection between mental health and gluten antibodies.

not sure if that helps you, but i hope it lets you know that it's not "just in your head" but might be coming from your small intestine. no idea, but i wonder if it says that you still have gluten coming from somewhere. another thing the nurse told me is that there are quality problems in having labs read tests - enough that she had me send my blood sample to Prometheus labs. The univ of chicago celiac center site recommends the prometheus labs and the mayo clinic. makes me wonder if your labs came back negative, i wonder if it was read by someone who knew what to look for. i hope you get some help from the doc!

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GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

If you were gluten-free for a year your tests should have come back as normal, ie not celiac. The antibodies drop off when you stop eating gluten.

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

I have never heard of this type of Doc but I think it's an Excellent idea. I would go if I knew of one in my area.

Not only are gluten issues related to depression but just having a disease can cause depression.

Wishing you well,

Colleen

  • 5 years later...
emontgomery Newbie
emontgomery
Posted

Can anyone recommend any Gastroenterology Psychiatrist?

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    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
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    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
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