Source
r/Celiac•
NotSoSus

Question regarding symptoms

I was diagnosed with celiac disease around 7 years ago and am pretty careful with my diet. I am in college and I do the best I can, but I believe I was “glutened” within he past few days. Most of my symptoms have returned and I am wondering if my insomnia and depression have anything to do with being glutened. Both have gotten worse the past few days and I am wondering if anyone has any similar experiences or advice for me. Thank you!

Posted Mar 28, 2018, 4:22 AM UTC

413
throwaway17498509859•

Yes, I do. Before my diagnosis and GF diet, I used to have terrible anxiety, insomnia, and depression to the point where some docs thought that I was manic and/or chronically depressed.

It turns out that 90% of the body's serotonin is located in the small intestine. Serotonin regulates sleep and moods. This is why many celiacs experience mood swings, depression, insomnia, and anxiety when they get "glutened."

7
NotSoSusOPCeliac Disease•

Is there any reason insomnia and depression would persist while still on a gluten free diet? I usually still have insomnia on my gluten free diet.

2
Pinkluvtaco•

Definitely recommend getting your thyroid checked. Get TSH, Free T3, Free T4 plus a full thyroid antibodies panel to check for Hashimotos. Hashimotos and celiac can commonly run together. Hashimotos can cause both insomnia, depression, fatigue and a hole host of other symptoms.

4
throwaway17498509859•

If you got glutened, then you may experience a temporary "flare-up." Otherwise, things like vitamin deficiencies and co-morbid autoimmune disorders could have an effect. How long has it been since you've had full blood work done? If your insomnia has been chronic, then I'd check in with your doctor and get a work up.

There's also an unfortunate reality that some of us don't heal completely. One thing I keep seeing, even here, is that a gluten-free diet will resolve all problems related to celiac disease. Doctors and researchers are finding, however, that this is not always the case and there's no way to predict who will be "non-responsive" or semi "non-responsive."

3
huruma•

Wow, this sub is almost like I'm posting from alt accounts with amnesia today!

I had mental issues my whole life and my mother early on ascribed them to supposed bipolar, because she has supposed bipolar. But she and I both have celiac. Depression never felt like 'me' and that and the mania faded away when I ceased gluten intake, and they come back when I get poisoned by it.

2
throwaway17498509859•

Same here. My mother's family has anxiety issues; they're also the celiacs.

1
EmotionalMasterpieceGluten-Free Relative•

Try supplementing with magnesium glycinate and vitamin D. That combination helps my family member (still recovering from anxiety & depression we think were/are substantially due to longtime undiagnosed celiac), plus melatonin to help with sleep.

If you go to glutendude’s blog and search the comments, you’ll see lots on anecdotes from fellow celiacs who suffer mood symptoms when glutened. You’re not alone, and this too shall pass.

5
GreatMolokoCeliac Disease•

I've definitely noticed a correlation. I can't say for sure that gluten directly causes it, but I get depressed for being an idiot and slipping up and I develop insomnia from being awoken by my stomach and being in pain.

2
drunkmerlin•

Insomnia and exhaustion were one of my main symptoms before diagnosis. Generally run down, dead on my feet in the morning and couldn't sleep at night. Months of blood tests couldn't figure it out, went to the Dr one morning and he noticed my heart was thumping and ear drums swollen. Blood test showed very high adrenaline, this was what was keeping me from sleeping. Low adrenaline in he morning was making me feel dead in the mornings. Symptoms went away and was never tested for celiac disease during this time. It came back a few times and I was given sleeping pills by the doctor assuming it was stress. It was associated with flare ups of my chronic celiac synptoms and have only had it once since. I was sharing a house with people and was being contaminated a lot.

I have heard similar symptoms from a friend who gets migraine after a glutening. If she is being exposed to low amounts she can't sleep and gets super depressed. Her migraine meds help her out.

2
trashaccount_12321•

I think some people are quick to blame gluten for everything... yes it has been associated with the symptoms you are experiencing (serotonin in your gut has not been hypothesized, we really don't know why).. it has been shown you can experience these even on a gf diet... the best advice is to get a workup from your doctor.

1
morncuppacoffee•

This. Also as someone who is a licensed social worker, I've seen posts on this sub (especially the more severe mental health related ones) where I suspect there's a lot more going on besides gluten. It is fairly common for people to have more than one medical diagnosis besides Celiacs in their lifetime.

As an aside, I find that almost every single time I eat things like GF pizza dough, I get the same reactions as if I ate gluten. I think it's the chemicals they use that are in the dough.

Also eating out can be a major crapshoot (no pun intended) because of the risk of cross-contamination.

1
NotSoSusOPCeliac Disease•

I appreciate the response. I was just wondering if others had similar experiences. I’m definitely going to ask my doctor about this.

1
EmotionalMasterpieceGluten-Free Relative•

Be prepared for your doctor to have no clue; we’ve experienced that several times.

1
huruma•

I can observe this as a direct reaction to gluten. Also, statistics say that a significantly higher number of celiac sufferers report these symptoms.

1