Newbie with depression, anemia, low thyroid and sooo tired!

[feelingbetter]

Hi- I am just waiting for my entero lab results. I am 45 and have struggled with depression, fatigue and anemia my entire life.
I lost my real estate career 6 years ago as I was too ill to work. I have been on psychotropic meds for depression the last 14 years continously. I have been steadily getting weaker and sicker. I was diagnosed bipolar in 2004 and put on a mood stabilizer. The fatigue just kept getting worse and worse.

I thought maybe the psyc meds were the cause of my fatigue so I went off all meds in Oct, 2007. I started taking Truehope vitamins and minerals. The good news is that most of the depression and anxiety are gone. I still couldn't figure out why the fatigue and body pain were getting worse. I was cold all the time and always constipated. I stopped going to my GP a few years ago because he attributed all of my symptoms to the bipolar disorder. Incidentally all of my mania was induced by ssri's and wellbutrin. I was blessed to find an alternative doctor 3 weeks ago who listened to me.

This wonderful man tested my blood for many things. Then he sent all of the results to Health Equations Online for a detailed report. I am anemic, low thyroid, gallbladder and liver are very stressed. I take an electrolyte solution and told to eat more sea salt. I take B12 shots and an adrenal supplement. I also take a liver detox tablet. He told me I have a very high toxic load probably due to constipation. He strongly suspects that I have celiac disease. I am still taking high dosages of vitamins and minerals.

I stopped eating gluten from the moment I left his office. Or I should say that I haven't intentionally eaten gluten. I must say the body pain is almost all gone but the fatigue is still really brutal. I would love to work again and return to the gym. It has been a really long and painful journey. I spend lots of my time reading old posts and learning all that I can. I am so grateful that you are all here.

I know this is not going to be a quick fix. I have been sick for sooo long.

[aklap]

Hi FB,

Welcome to the board! Sorry to hear that this has affected your life to this extent. Sadly, this happens more than it should. Mainstream medical tends to be behind the curve on the atypical symptoms of celiac disease/gluten sensitivity. Gluten can and does have neurological implications - this includes depression! This is almost ignored completely!!

One thing to consider...if you really have CD...you may not be absorbing all this supplements that you are taking due to the villi damage.

It will be interesting to see what your EnteroLab tests shows. Do you have plans of getting a gold standard diagnosis [biopsy of the small intestine showing villi damage]? If you do have plans of further testing, you will need to be consuming gluten. If you have no plans of further testing - you're good to go!

As for your symptoms resolution, it may take months [maybe even a year or more] to recover from this. I have seen several people's depression issues improve drastically once gluten [and other offending foods] have been removed from their diet.

Glad to hear that you're learning lots here! I've always said..."Knowledge is Health". Keep reading, keep learning! Please don't be afraid to ask questions!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[mrsppmrxky]

Welcome to the board! SOrry that you have had such a long battle to get here. Sometimes that battle seems to last forever and sadly can have terrible treatments in the process.

I see that you mentioned that you hae thyroid issues. Are you take a hormone replacement? If you have no RX for that, you can try this home test to see how low your thyroid is.

Paint your thigh or abdomen about the size of a 50 cent piece with iodine. The stain should stay on your body for 24 hours. If it goes away before that time, then you know your iodine is low. (For a time, my dr. told me ot just keep painting daily until it started staying for 24 hours.) When I first started, the stain would be gone within 3 hours.

I hope that you soon return to health and get out and about without being so exhausted.

Are you being tested to see if your anemia is pernicious anemia? If it is, you will have to have monthly injections of B12 to help your blood.
_________________

[feelingbetter]

Thanks Al and Mrs P.

I have no plans for a biopsy. I don't think I could handle eating lots of gluten again. I think if the entero lab suggests celiac that will be good enough for me. I am being tested for the gene. I suspect that at least two of my children may be as well. My husband also wants to get tested as he has his own battles with a rash, big d and fatigue. Then we will start testing our children. I do not want them to suffer as I have all my life.

I will try the iodine test. I am also taking kelp and I think the electrolyte solution is for thyroid. My TSH was 3. I guess that is the low side of normal he told me. I am suppose to see him again in 6 weeks so will see how all of these additional supplements are working.

I have decided to follow the eat right for your blood type diet. Interesting that it suggests I avoid all forms of gluten. So one day at a time I guess.

Brenda

[aklap]

Good luck Brenda! Please, keep us updated on your progress.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Fifi]

I know exactly how you feel. I have only been diagnosed for 2 months now, I am still on anti-depressants. I am always tired. I can still work, but housework . I have been gluten free and my intestinal problems are better, but the depression and fatigue are still here. I am not very patient, but I know it will take time. Hang in there It has to get better!

[feelingbetter]

Thanks Fifi- The depression is much better now that I have been taking the empower from truehope. I am just left with this fatigue. Today was a really good day. I find I still get glutened and it takes a good 2 days for it to clear. I am just so grateful to be here finally.
I wish I would have found this new doc 10 years ago. Well, heres to good health to all of us.

Brenda

[kimcat]

Can you please tell me more about the kind of alternative healer who gave you the test/what kind of test it was? My boyfriend has had difficulty getting a diagnosis also, but matches a lot of your symptoms.

[feelingbetter]

Hi Kimcat- I am in Ontario Canada. The doctor I see is a medical doctor who prescribes natural supplements and diet. He is partially covered by OHIP but charges me directly for his services. He promotes testing through enterolab and sends bloodwork analysis to Health Equations Online. Sometimes you can find out who is good in your area through your health food store. They can often recommend a naturopath or alternative m.d.
I wish you good luck in your search. Life can be so hard when a person is sick.

Brenda