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[Verno]

Hi all. New to these forums, old to depression, going on 12 years, some years better, some years worse.

I just want to say basically what I said in the title.

I fully understand depression is a real medical thing with real consequences and I acknowledge that it exists outside of known medical reasons.
That said, I have finally received a diagnosis which can explains my depression as a symptom. 6 months ago I was diagnosed as a celiac. Celiac disease, as some of you will know, is an auto-immune disorder where my body attacks a protein in wheat and other wheat-like grains called gluten. My body also decides to destroy my own intestines' villi while doing so, so that I am malnourished because I don't have what I need to absorb as many nutrients as a healthy body needs. From reading personal stories and research papers, celiac disease has been implicated in all sorts of other mental problems that are likely not only due to nutrient deficiencies but also leaky gut problems from it as well: depression, schizophrenia, possibly autism, visual disturbances, concentraion problems, etc.

Although I will never know, I strongly suspect the start of my depression and my fatigue during my last year of highschool was the beginning of my celiac disease showing symptoms. Only a few years ago when I finally was getting pain in my stomach and tingling in my fingers did I really think I had someone wrong with me that was more far-reaching than mental problems. Having no family doctor I could never get a walk-in clinic to get a complete history (I'm Canadian), and the test for celiac disease was one I myself asked some random doctor to do for me. Luckily he agreed to test me for it and a couple of other things, and I was actually pretty surprised when the blood work came back positive.

I am still depressed and tired, but ever since the diagnosis, I actually am hopeful (hope, there's a word I thought I'd never use for myself outside of hopeless again...) that over time, if the celiac disease gets under control, that I can perhaps once again feel like a 'normal' person.

I just think that it's very important to fully examine anything that might medically explain your depression, because you never know!

If anyone else has any stories about your own medical explanations for depression, where depression is/was a part of the diagnosis, not the end diagnosis, share it here!

Edited by Verno, 03 August 2012 - 09:11 AM.

[Trace]

Hi Verno

There are so many illness's that can cause depression or that depression is a symptom of. There are many others here with celiacs as well. I have Lupus, which is also an auto immune illness. Take a look through this room, you may find a ton of interesting information.

Trace

[Nat85]

Hi Verno,
I have severe obstructive sleep apnea basically I stop breathing while I sleep or spend most of the night suffocating without even knowing. This causes many health problems including depression due to sleep deprivation . unfortunately it took doctors 4 years to figure out what was wrong with me. Its only been a month since I started treatment for this my depression has gotten better and I'm not as tired . Like you said I have hope now that things will only start to get better.

[Epictetus]

Hi Verno,

I developed an allergy to wheat as the result of a bout of serious food poisoning. I learned from my GI doctor who also is an internist that wheat gluten contains psychoactive substances. These are neutralized in the guts of normal people but can be neurotoxic for those with celiac, food allergies or any malabsorption disorders. He said that in this group of individuals, wheat gluten can cause the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other brain illnesses. I do not have celiac disease. It can be difficult to determine this since the current tests involve many false postives and false negatives. But I do have an allergy to wheat now and it aggravates my depression and anxiety. So I have to stay away from it completely. Hope this helps a bit. Best to you!!!