Posted by Thrud on October 31, 2001, at 1:15:19
In reply to Celiac Disease?, posted by Mr. Scott on October 30, 2001, at 23:45:42
> What is Celiac Disease????
Hi Mr Scott.
Go to www.celiac.com
It is quite a comprehensive site on the topic. Celiac disease is not really a "disease" but rather an immune response to eating certain proteins, usually gluten and/or casein found in grains and dairy foods, respectively. It is becoming more well known as "gluten intolerance", although this is a rather simplistic description.It seems that the symptoms vary depending upon whether it is juvenile or adult onset, and US PCPs are only familiar with the juvenile symptoms (and only vaguely at that) and adult victims are almost universally misdiagnosed (I read that for every diagnosed celiac in the US there are 20-100 mis- or undiagnosed). This is not surprising since the adult symptoms are usually some sort of IBS-like discomfort and *psychiatric symptoms* usually anxiety, depression or schizophrenia.
In celiac disease, the IBS symptoms are caused by the immune system damaging the small intestine after ingesting gluten and/or casein, while the psychiatric symptoms are caused by the subsequent improper digestion, leading to malnutrition in certain materials and the accumulation of opiate-like chemicals in the bloodstream which then cross to the brain.
Since just about everybody who has mental illness has IBS as well it is hardly surprising that celiac disease is almost never diagnosed amongst adults. I actually diagnosed myself by pure chance when I noticed one of the possible symptoms were peculiar problems with tooth enamel which I happened to have. I then demanded blood tests from an indifferent PCP. I knew I was right when I got the call to come back to see him....(BTW if you are overweight like me, don't let the doc use that as a reason that you can't have celiac disease since I reminded him that every AD or benzo I've ever been on makes me overweight)Thank God for the internet and Google search. Do a google search for celiac + depression and see how many returns you get. You will see how strongly they can be related.
The road back from celiac is not easy: a very strict diet must be followed for life. For me, if this means recovery or even significant improvement in my condition it will be well, well worth it.ADs for an immuno-digestive problem? Hasn't worked for me. I hope it hasn't been undiagnosed for so long that any permanent neurological damage has occured; I've had that dental problem (and depression, PD) for over ten years.
I hope I've helped you some.
Thrud
poster:Thrud
thread:82248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82729.html