Depression

kimcat · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Hi, I have a boyfriend who is celiac (but is not always strict - likes icecream!) As well as suffering bad fatigue, "fuzzy" thinking and poor memory, he has ongoing issues with depression. Is that likely to be linked to the gluten intolerance, or is it more likely a side issue? Anyone found that diet change has helped with depression?

undfined · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

http://www.celiac.com/articles/21547/1/The-Celiac-Disease---Depression-Connection/Page1.html

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8335 Location: WI, USA

Hi Kimcat,

Welcome to the board.

I have seen people that have had great improvements with their depression issues once they've removed gluten. You might checkout the links in The Gluten File:Depression, Anxiety, Panic.

In order for him to see more improvement, he's going to have to get serious about his gluten intake. Just like "There's no crying" in baseball, there's no cheating when it comes to Celiac Disease. Every time he cheats, he keeps going backward.

Depending on the icecream...it maybe GF. Wink

_________________
Al

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

kimcat · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Wow, thank you both so much. That is both helpful and encouraging. He was given Vitamin B12 shots at one stage but had a very rare reaction to them (basically crashed big-time), so is unable to have them. Have you heard of this happening? Is taking Vitamin B orally.

celiacmaine-iac · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Maine

FWIW, I've fought quite a battle with depression for many years. About 2 months after going GF my depression improved a lot. Now at 5 months GF I am going to ask my doc when I see her in May if we can experiment with getting me off the meds. I feel better mentally than I ever remember feeling in my life. I don't know how it will go, and if I end up needing the meds, then I'll continue taking them.

I second what Al said, though. To improve you have to be 100% compliant. It's bad enough that you are going to get gluten occasionally by accident, so why would you intentionally hurt yourself?

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8335 Location: WI, USA

I have never heard of anyone reacting to B12 shots. Orally is fine. He wants to make sure it's Methylcobalamin B12 instead of Cyanocobalamin. Since cayno must be converted first, you're better of starting out with the Methyl.

Also, he might consider getting a sublingual [under the tongue] type. It's absorbed directly into the blood stream there. If he's swallowing it, it must be absorbed by the intestines. If his intestines are not completely healed [due to cheating]...guess what...he's not getting all the B12.

http://www.doctormurray.com/newsletter/1-11-2003.htm
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/b12deficiency

I might also mention that he needs to check any meds and supps for gluten too. It's easy to forget about them Wink

_________________
Al

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

Long2Play · Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 170 Location: Colorado

Have his doctor check his Testosterone levels. If it is low, it can cause a ton of those symptoms. Low testosterone will make a guy depressed as all get out!

I would also suggest that he might not be getting enough deep sleep. I have battled basically the same issues and both testosterone and getting sleep has improved those symptoms for me.

He has got to get strict with the GF diet. There are GF ice creams in this world!

Cool

_________________
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - YOGI BERRA