Newly diagnosed with blood tests, afraid to eat

[PammaDawn]

So all four of my blood tests came back HIGH and the likely diagnosis is celiac. When I had my tests done I had already eliminated carbs for two weeks on a diet though I was probably still eating hidden gluten.  I am being referred to a gastroenterologist and see her in March....  But I know its celiac because the test results highly indicate it and from what I can tell by research are very accurate. Plus I know from my DNA testing I had done through 23 and me, I carry one of the genes.

I feel somewhat better though I know its gonna take a long time to heal. I am 47 and I've had noticeable gut issues for several years. I also have sinus issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, etc that I think may be related.

However, I think I might be getting an eating disorder. I am TERRIFIED to eat.  I have already removed as much gluten from my house as possible. I have to keep some here as I won't take away my teen sons comfort foods. But I am paranoid to eat.  Eating still hurts my stomach - I did read that we can have other sensitivities due to the damage and I'm pretty sure I do.  Now that I'm hyper aware of the damage and been away from gluten mostly since Jan 1st but fully in the last week and a half, I do NOT want to go back to all the stomach problems I was having.  But I am TERRIFIED TO EAT.  I eat like a rabbit.  Like barely anything. I am paranoid about checking labels on everything and I am eating very little which I know is not sustainable but when I think about how food can make me feel, the damage done, and potential further damage it makes me not want to eat.

Anyone else go through this when newly diagnosed? I'm thinking maybe doing a food journal and maybe speaking to a gluten free nutritionalist for advice.  
 

Just wanted to know if anyone else has been or is going through this, and what helped.

Thanks

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, PammaDawn!

As you indicate, you are already aware that celiacs often develop other food sensitivities. Chief among them are dairy and oats. Soy and eggs are also common food sensitivity villains. Some medications such as NSAIDs can also damage the SB villi. And any med or supplement that contains wheat starch as a filler would be a culprit for ongoing gut issues after trying to adjust your diet so as to eat gluten free.

I would suggest eliminating all processed foods for now and stick to simple, fresh foods like meat and veggies. Be careful of cross contamination with cooking utensils pots, pans and counters when preparing your son's gluten things.

[RMJ]

Does eating everything hurt your stomach?  Or just some things? Smaller, more frequent meals might help.

You can minimize the chances of accidentally getting gluten by concentrating on whole foods that don’t have labels to read - meat, fresh fruits and vegetables (maybe cooked so easier to digest). Rice is inherently gluten free if there are no flavorings added.  

Stopping gluten now may make it more difficult to get a definitive diagnosis from the gastroenterologist if he wants to do a biopsy. But he may be willing to diagnose you based on very high antibody levels. Luckily you can put yourself on a gluten free diet without a doctor’s prescription.

[knitty kitty]

Welcome to the forum! 

I found the AutoImmune Protocol diet by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne (a Celiac mom herself) very helpful. It's very conducive to healing.

I found having a pot of stew of grass fed meat and fresh veggies very easy and handy to have on a back burner.  Eating small frequent meals will help with digestion and keeping your energy up.  Knowing what is going into my meals gives me reassurance.  I don't have to worry if I don't eat processed foods. 

Find foods that are your friends by keeping a journal.  A consultation with a Celiac savvy nutritionist is a great idea.  Don't forget your sons need to be screened for Celiac Disease, too, since it is inherited.  

And be sure to get checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies which is proper follow up care.  Discuss supplementing with a B Complex vitamin and Vitamin D with your health care provider.  You need the eight B vitamins to heal and repair the damage, and Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system.  

Hope this helps!

[PammaDawn]

7 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

Welcome to the forum! 

I found the AutoImmune Protocol diet by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne (a Celiac mom herself) very helpful. It's very conducive to healing.

I found having a pot of stew of grass fed meat and fresh veggies very easy and handy to have on a back burner.  Eating small frequent meals will help with digestion and keeping your energy up.  Knowing what is going into my meals gives me reassurance.  I don't have to worry if I don't eat processed foods. 

Find foods that are your friends by keeping a journal.  A consultation with a Celiac savvy nutritionist is a great idea.  Don't forget your sons need to be screened for Celiac Disease, too, since it is inherited.  

And be sure to get checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies which is proper follow up care.  Discuss supplementing with a B Complex vitamin and Vitamin D with your health care provider.  You need the eight B vitamins to heal and repair the damage, and Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system.  

Hope this helps!

My D levels are fine as I’ve been taking a supplement for about 3 years. I take all the other vitamins too and have for years as without I had zero energy (I imagine I may not be absorbing like I should). My son doesn’t have celiac - he doesn’t carry the genes and they tested him for it last year. He does have a slight gluten allergy though. We monitor it.  Thank you for all the tips.  This journey is a scary one.  I’ll look for simple easy recipes to make (I hate to cook but it sounds like I need to now)

[knitty kitty]

@PammaDawn,

It's a big adjustment in how one thinks about food, absolutely!  It can be scary, but you'll catch on quickly.  

I liked one pot meals when I was learning.  Meat and veggies baked in the oven or stewed in a crock pot were my basics.  Pretty boring, but easy, nutritious and gut friendly.  

Do check out the recipe section on our forum! 

Keep us posted on your progress! 

 

 

[Wheatwacked]

Always remember that having Celiac Disease and needing to avoid certain foods is not your fault. It is not just in your head any more than a bee sting or peanut allergy is in their heads. It is just a fact of your life. Personally, I believe that Karen Carpenter and Elvis Presley had Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity, but I am probably alone in that belief.

Perhaps your son would agree to only eating gluten containing foods not at home. For at home find new gluten free comfort food. How is it a comfort food if it causes stress at home? During season I eat a pound of watermelon daily.  Full of nutrients and good for hydration.  Happy Tummy. For breakfast in strawberry season 8 ounces every morning. I get a half-flat (about 5 pounds) for $16. Soak them in tap water to clean and hydrate them, remove the leaves and store in airtight containers lined with paper or cotton towel. Mine last about two weeks in the fridge.

I understand your fear of food. Sometimes it takes me a couple of hours to decide what I want to eat. I get stuck between what I want and what is good for me, so I eat nothing. Watermelon and strawberries are always a good choice. I still get anorexic on a cyclical basis.

Grass fed vs not: grass fed milk and meat has more omega 3 so is better for inflammation.

http://nutrientlog.doodlesnotes.net/   This is the link to my food log. Quantities, nutrient values, RDA and upper limit RDA for most vitamins and minerals. And daily totals. It might give you some ideas.

These are the vitamins I take. Geritol Multivitamins is the most complete at reasonable price, but I prefer to avoid folic acid, synthetic vitamins E and A.   If you eat few eggs and red meat you will be deficient in Choline and Choline is important for processing fat through the liver.  Lithium is gotten mostly through ground water and everyone drinks bottled nowadays. A study in Texas linked lithium deficiency to crime and drugs. I found it tempered my need for immediate satisfaction.  At 71 years old my Dhea is 20% that of a 20-year-old and I found it helped. They say they can predict age just by measuring Dhea level. The DV on the food labels for potassium in the US is 4700 mg and I found that if I reach that number, most of the others are close to or exceed the minimum 100% RDA.

B12; B complex; B5 1000 mg; Phosphotidyl Choline 840 mg; 200 Selenium; Lithium 5 mg; Dhea 100 mg; vitamin C 1000 mg; Calcium 1000 mg; vitamin D3 250 mcg (10,000 IU); 15 ml Cod Liver Oil (vitamin A); 3 sheets "One Organic" Nori (RDA iodine).  It is a pain taking so many pills but being sick is worse. My doctor is good with that.  My vitamin D plasma is steady at 80 ng/ml after 8 years of 10,000 IU a day.  Some research indicates that higher D plasma levels mitigate the autoimmune genes.

 

[trents]

Wheatwhacked, why do you believe Elvis had celiac? Karen Carpenter I can see. But Elvis?

[PammaDawn]

8 hours ago, Wheatwacked said:

Always remember that having Celiac Disease and needing to avoid certain foods is not your fault. It is not just in your head any more than a bee sting or peanut allergy is in their heads. It is just a fact of your life. Personally, I believe that Karen Carpenter and Elvis Presley had Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity, but I am probably alone in that belief.

Perhaps your son would agree to only eating gluten containing foods not at home. For at home find new gluten free comfort food. How is it a comfort food if it causes stress at home? During season I eat a pound of watermelon daily.  Full of nutrients and good for hydration.  Happy Tummy. For breakfast in strawberry season 8 ounces every morning. I get a half-flat (about 5 pounds) for $16. Soak them in tap water to clean and hydrate them, remove the leaves and store in airtight containers lined with paper or cotton towel. Mine last about two weeks in the fridge.

I understand your fear of food. Sometimes it takes me a couple of hours to decide what I want to eat. I get stuck between what I want and what is good for me, so I eat nothing. Watermelon and strawberries are always a good choice. I still get anorexic on a cyclical basis.

Grass fed vs not: grass fed milk and meat has more omega 3 so is better for inflammation.

http://nutrientlog.doodlesnotes.net/   This is the link to my food log. Quantities, nutrient values, RDA and upper limit RDA for most vitamins and minerals. And daily totals. It might give you some ideas.

These are the vitamins I take. Geritol Multivitamins is the most complete at reasonable price, but I prefer to avoid folic acid, synthetic vitamins E and A.   If you eat few eggs and red meat you will be deficient in Choline and Choline is important for processing fat through the liver.  Lithium is gotten mostly through ground water and everyone drinks bottled nowadays. A study in Texas linked lithium deficiency to crime and drugs. I found it tempered my need for immediate satisfaction.  At 71 years old my Dhea is 20% that of a 20-year-old and I found it helped. They say they can predict age just by measuring Dhea level. The DV on the food labels for potassium in the US is 4700 mg and I found that if I reach that number, most of the others are close to or exceed the minimum 100% RDA.

B12; B complex; B5 1000 mg; Phosphotidyl Choline 840 mg; 200 Selenium; Lithium 5 mg; Dhea 100 mg; vitamin C 1000 mg; Calcium 1000 mg; vitamin D3 250 mcg (10,000 IU); 15 ml Cod Liver Oil (vitamin A); 3 sheets "One Organic" Nori (RDA iodine).  It is a pain taking so many pills but being sick is worse. My doctor is good with that.  My vitamin D plasma is steady at 80 ng/ml after 8 years of 10,000 IU a day.  Some research indicates that higher D plasma levels mitigate the autoimmune genes.

 

I won’t take away his comfort foods.  He has enough issues in his life so I won’t force him to not eat gluten at home. He knows we are gonna go as gluten-free as possible but I still won’t take away things from him.  

[trents]

PammaDawn, are you still eating out?

[PammaDawn]

I haven’t been but we are also isolating prior to a surgery for my son. Eating out does worry me 

[Wheatwacked]

2 hours ago, trents said:

Elvis had celiac?

At the least NGWS. Metabolic syndrome, shopping doctors for prescription pain meds for a fibromyalgia-like pain, his colon was six inches longer than normal, leaky gut, heart disease. There was a Discovery Channel show that reviewed his autopsy. Many of his symptoms were similar to mine that resolved, including alcoholism and excepting metabolic syndrome, on GFD alone. Coincidently, both my father and older brother died of septicemia after requiring follow up colostomy after intestinal surgery. Both cases the surgeons said their intestines were like lace and not to worry they had an extra six inches in their colons. Father had previously had a massive heart attack and was on pacemaker with defibrillator. Brother previously had a triple bypass and one lung removed for cancer and a tenth of his other removed 15 years later in a biopsy that turned out to be a wood chip. Really just a gut feeling 🤔. Too many coincidences. 

[Wheatwacked]

34 minutes ago, Wheatwacked said:

NGWS

Sorry correct that to NCGS or NCWS. typo.

[amanda miller]

On 1/27/2022 at 4:58 PM, PammaDawn said:

So all four of my blood tests came back HIGH and the likely diagnosis is celiac. When I had my tests done I had already eliminated carbs for two weeks on a diet though I was probably still eating hidden gluten.  I am being referred to a gastroenterologist and see her in March....  But I know its celiac because the test results highly indicate it and from what I can tell by research are very accurate. Plus I know from my DNA testing I had done through 23 and me, I carry one of the genes.

I feel somewhat better though I know its gonna take a long time to heal. I am 47 and I've had noticeable gut issues for several years. I also have sinus issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, etc that I think may be related.

However, I think I might be getting an eating disorder. I am TERRIFIED to eat.  I have already removed as much gluten from my house as possible. I have to keep some here as I won't take away my teen sons comfort foods. But I am paranoid to eat.  Eating still hurts my stomach - I did read that we can have other sensitivities due to the damage and I'm pretty sure I do.  Now that I'm hyper aware of the damage and been away from gluten mostly since Jan 1st but fully in the last week and a half, I do NOT want to go back to all the stomach problems I was having.  But I am TERRIFIED TO EAT.  I eat like a rabbit.  Like barely anything. I am paranoid about checking labels on everything and I am eating very little which I know is not sustainable but when I think about how food can make me feel, the damage done, and potential further damage it makes me not want to eat.

Anyone else go through this when newly diagnosed? I'm thinking maybe doing a food journal and maybe speaking to a gluten free nutritionalist for advice.  
 

Just wanted to know if anyone else has been or is going through this, and what helped.

Thanks

I had blood test last summer, positive for Celiac. I completely cut out gluten. Fast forward to finally getting into GI doc a few months ago.. wants to set me up for endoscopy BUT the doctor is wanting me to consume gluten 10 days prior to biopsy. I am down for several days if I get cross contamination at this point. Severe fatigue like I sleep almost all day for 2-3 days. Brain fog is crazy! Joint & bone pain. I’m a home health nurse & was just glutened Monday, well guess what!! I need a Dr excuse so after calling and leaving messages for the past two days I’m at a standstill waiting to get an ok for the doctor 😭

[littleMrs]

I went through the same thing when I was first diagnosed. I had a relapse into anorexia from the fear and overwhelm. One of the symptoms of not eating enough consistently is nausea and pain when you do eat regardless of what it is. I saw a registered dietitian who helped me find food options and balance what I was eating and could safely eat. Breakfast was the hardest for me. I don’t tolerate sugar or dairy either. I’d stand in the store and my kitchen baffled trying to figure out what I could have.

Rice was my best friend! A rice cooker makes it almost fool proof. Hard boiled eggs were an easy, safe choice. Steamed veggies… the microwave ones without seasonings are a good choice. 
 

It’s a hard transition, but doable. I’d get in to see a dietitian sooner than later for help getting started. Hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[Scott Adams]

18 hours ago, amanda miller said:

I had blood test last summer, positive for Celiac. I completely cut out gluten. Fast forward to finally getting into GI doc a few months ago.. wants to set me up for endoscopy BUT the doctor is wanting me to consume gluten 10 days prior to biopsy. I am down for several days if I get cross contamination at this point. Severe fatigue like I sleep almost all day for 2-3 days. Brain fog is crazy! Joint & bone pain. I’m a home health nurse & was just glutened Monday, well guess what!! I need a Dr excuse so after calling and leaving messages for the past two days I’m at a standstill waiting to get an ok for the doctor 😭

I think you need to ask yourself whether or not you would need a formal diagnosis in order to stay on a gluten-free diet for life. To me it sounds like you wouldn’t, and getting the diagnosis comes with some drawbacks like more expensive private health and life insurance…for life.

[Onegiantcrunchie]

On 1/27/2022 at 10:58 PM, PammaDawn said:

So all four of my blood tests came back HIGH and the likely diagnosis is celiac. When I had my tests done I had already eliminated carbs for two weeks on a diet though I was probably still eating hidden gluten.  I am being referred to a gastroenterologist and see her in March....  But I know its celiac because the test results highly indicate it and from what I can tell by research are very accurate. Plus I know from my DNA testing I had done through 23 and me, I carry one of the genes.

I feel somewhat better though I know its gonna take a long time to heal. I am 47 and I've had noticeable gut issues for several years. I also have sinus issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, etc that I think may be related.

However, I think I might be getting an eating disorder. I am TERRIFIED to eat.  I have already removed as much gluten from my house as possible. I have to keep some here as I won't take away my teen sons comfort foods. But I am paranoid to eat.  Eating still hurts my stomach - I did read that we can have other sensitivities due to the damage and I'm pretty sure I do.  Now that I'm hyper aware of the damage and been away from gluten mostly since Jan 1st but fully in the last week and a half, I do NOT want to go back to all the stomach problems I was having.  But I am TERRIFIED TO EAT.  I eat like a rabbit.  Like barely anything. I am paranoid about checking labels on everything and I am eating very little which I know is not sustainable but when I think about how food can make me feel, the damage done, and potential further damage it makes me not want to eat.

Anyone else go through this when newly diagnosed? I'm thinking maybe doing a food journal and maybe speaking to a gluten free nutritionalist for advice.  
 

Just wanted to know if anyone else has been or is going through this, and what helped.

Thanks

Sorry to hear that you feel this way. It can be very stressful worrying about hidden gluten in products. When you feel like this probably the best thing to do is to just stick to simple homemade food, fish and veggies, chicken, yogurt, baked potatoes etc. That way you know there's NOTHING hidden in it.

Also make some homemade soups and casseroles that you can freeze in batches so you have these on hand. It's important to eat now more than ever because active coeliac leads to malnutrition and you need to build your stores back up.

If I could make a recommendation, it would be bone broth and liver/spleen supplements. You can get them both on Amazon and they're full of nutrition, and you can find them both gluten free.

I hope you feel better!!

[Wheatwacked]

3 hours ago, Onegiantcrunchie said:

I eat like a rabbit.

Actually, wild rabbits have a pretty healthy diet and they never read labels; you just have to adjust for size🐇😃. Look into Dr Fuhrman's "Six Week Plan". He was one of the first to identify the failure of what he called the MAD diet (Modern American Diet). Lots of links about it, but here is one. https://hellonutritarian.com/dr-fuhrmans-aggressive-weight-loss-plan/. His book Eat to Live may be why I am alive, even though most of my life I was underweight and weight loss was the least of my worries. I categorically reject most advice, but his nutritional information was enlightening.

3 hours ago, Onegiantcrunchie said:

bone broth and liver

The best sources of choline. 100% DV is 550 mg. Upper limit RDA 3500 mg. Effects of too much not usually seen until 7000 mg a day and the main symptoms of Choline hypervitaminosis are fishy body odor and lowered blood pressure.

[Sweetsoonergirl]

On 1/27/2022 at 4:58 PM, PammaDawn said:

So all four of my blood tests came back HIGH and the likely diagnosis is celiac. When I had my tests done I had already eliminated carbs for two weeks on a diet though I was probably still eating hidden gluten.  I am being referred to a gastroenterologist and see her in March....  But I know its celiac because the test results highly indicate it and from what I can tell by research are very accurate. Plus I know from my DNA testing I had done through 23 and me, I carry one of the genes.

I feel somewhat better though I know its gonna take a long time to heal. I am 47 and I've had noticeable gut issues for several years. I also have sinus issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, etc that I think may be related.

However, I think I might be getting an eating disorder. I am TERRIFIED to eat.  I have already removed as much gluten from my house as possible. I have to keep some here as I won't take away my teen sons comfort foods. But I am paranoid to eat.  Eating still hurts my stomach - I did read that we can have other sensitivities due to the damage and I'm pretty sure I do.  Now that I'm hyper aware of the damage and been away from gluten mostly since Jan 1st but fully in the last week and a half, I do NOT want to go back to all the stomach problems I was having.  But I am TERRIFIED TO EAT.  I eat like a rabbit.  Like barely anything. I am paranoid about checking labels on everything and I am eating very little which I know is not sustainable but when I think about how food can make me feel, the damage done, and potential further damage it makes me not want to eat.

Anyone else go through this when newly diagnosed? I'm thinking maybe doing a food journal and maybe speaking to a gluten free nutritionalist for advice.  
 

Just wanted to know if anyone else has been or is going through this, and what helped.

Thanks

Hi PammaDawn,

I get being afraid to eat. I was diagnosed in December and it was quite challenging with all the holiday goodies. Fortunately, I had already been established with a registered dietician because I was having other health issues (elevated  LDL cholesterol and weight gain). I learned that my dietician has celiac disease also so she was able to give me some pointers on how to manage my food after my diagnosis.

Yes, the label reading can be tedious. I occasionally miss a food for gluten contamination (such as trail mix that "might" have wheat). Trail mix made of nuts, cranberries and dark chocolate should NOT have gluten. Right!?!

I also come from years of dieting on and off since age 12. Before getting diagnosed with celiac, I thought I was finally at a neutral place (mentally) with food. I didn't have the noticeable typical GI symptoms of celiac. Looking back now, I have had bloating, excessive gas and constipation. But I thought all of that was "just" related to stress, working in healthcare during a pandemic and my mom almost dying last year from a stroke. Ya know, stress affects our gut health too. 

Had I not had questionable blood work such as elevated platelets and C-reactive protein, I wouldn't have been referred to a hematologist. Had I not been referred to a hematologist, I wouldn't have seen a GI specialist who scoped me top and bottom with some biopsies of my small intestine. 

I was NOT expecting a celiac diagnosis. I knew I hadn't been eating the best foods in general as I had been coping with processed foods, esp in 2020. It's been a grieving process realizing that I can never return to eating gluten like my past self. 

I have been seeking out resources including this forum. I watched a documentary on YouTube called "Food as Medicine." Several people talk about their health issues including heart disease and autoimmune diseases such as celiac. They also address the mental struggle and grieving process that occurs when we must radically change up what we've been used to eating all our lives. Furthermore, they discuss how American culture isn't very supportive of a truly healthy lifestyle. The documentary is free to watch. 

I think it would be great to seek help from a dietician, especially one who is specialzed in celiac disease (just ask when requesting appointment). Physicians have maybe 2 hours of nutrition education in their medical schooling. So I personally think it's wise to seek out a registered dietician who is a degreed expert on nutrition. 

With all your GI upset, it may help to cut out dairy for a while, at least until your intestine heals up. When the aveoli is damaged (or non-existent from inflammation), we can become lactose intolerant too (hopefully temporary while healing). But definitely seek wisdom from a dietician. 

Stay hydrated in the meantime and drink lots of water. Vegetables and fruits are likely your safe bets. Anything that is naturally gluten free including meat, beans and rice should be safe. Continue to listen to your body. Hope you find relief soon. 

[Sabaarya]

On 1/27/2022 at 2:58 PM, PammaDawn said:

So all four of my blood tests came back HIGH and the likely diagnosis is celiac. When I had my tests done I had already eliminated carbs for two weeks on a diet though I was probably still eating hidden gluten.  I am being referred to a gastroenterologist and see her in March....  But I know its celiac because the test results highly indicate it and from what I can tell by research are very accurate. Plus I know from my DNA testing I had done through 23 and me, I carry one of the genes.

I feel somewhat better though I know its gonna take a long time to heal. I am 47 and I've had noticeable gut issues for several years. I also have sinus issues, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, etc that I think may be related.

However, I think I might be getting an eating disorder. I am TERRIFIED to eat.  I have already removed as much gluten from my house as possible. I have to keep some here as I won't take away my teen sons comfort foods. But I am paranoid to eat.  Eating still hurts my stomach - I did read that we can have other sensitivities due to the damage and I'm pretty sure I do.  Now that I'm hyper aware of the damage and been away from gluten mostly since Jan 1st but fully in the last week and a half, I do NOT want to go back to all the stomach problems I was having.  But I am TERRIFIED TO EAT.  I eat like a rabbit.  Like barely anything. I am paranoid about checking labels on everything and I am eating very little which I know is not sustainable but when I think about how food can make me feel, the damage done, and potential further damage it makes me not want to eat.

Anyone else go through this when newly diagnosed? I'm thinking maybe doing a food journal and maybe speaking to a gluten free nutritionalist for advice.  
 

Just wanted to know if anyone else has been or is going through this, and what helped.

Thanks

Hi Pamma. I feel you like 100%. I was diagnosed in August and couple of people here know me very well,cause for the last 4 months I was extremely anxious and was posting every single days about how scared anxious and panicked I was. It was to the point that I got depression and last month my GI made me to start Lexapro which is antidepressant. Because my anxiety caused IBS, I was having  frequent bowel movements,I was afraid of eating, I was thinking that I have other food allergies. All my symptoms were caused by my nervous system,my anxiety took extreme control over my health and life.It’s been exactly a month since I’ve started Lexapro and I’m feeling much better now. I do eat everything gluten-free and don’t have any symptoms. My GI kept telling me that my celiac damage was so mild but I was resisting to take any antidepressants. He kept telling me that my anxiety cause IBS. I started with low fodmap diet and started to see improvement right away.My point is that our nervous system causes a lot of problems and sometimes you taking it as worsening symptoms of disease and it makes you feel even worse. I’m not telling you to take antidepressants what I suggest is that first relax,take a deep breath,everything is gonna be fine. You can ask a lot of people here how paranoiac I was. It’s a big shock at the beginning but you get used to that and learn how to avoid any cross contaminations or what you can eat. First I was arguing with every single member of my family, I was so tired of explaining everything about gluten or cross contamination now I’m more relaxed. I even understood that it’s kind of not fair to them for asking them not eating gluten or make life like a nightmare for them.I just changed everything for myself and super careful. I do wash all dishes in dishwasher I do clean all kitchen before I cook anything,I got new toaster for myself. My work at home got doubled after my diagnose,I’m super picky,cleaning whole kitchen couple of times during the day,of course its lot of hustle but it is what it is. I do take my vitamins,iron and started to eat gluten free chocolates,cookies ,crackers,fruits,cheeses,salads,veggies,fish,meat,chicken. I even got gluten free teas from The Republic of Tea and feel much better. 4 months ago when I just got diagnosed I was not eating a lot and was getting even worse symptoms after got on gluten-free diet. I felt so depressed and exhausted. I was crying all day. I was panicking because would get loose stool after eating veggies and gluten free diet. Now I understand that it was related to my anxiety. Now anxiety is under control and I feel much better and enjoying eating again:)) and of course everything gluten free. Just try not to eat repeat food in row or gluten free breads every day because there are a lot of additives in gluten-free breads and it will take time for your body to adjust. I got 2 different cooking books with gluten free recipes,books about celiac disease but nothing helped until I got calm down and understood that it’s not the end of the world,you just need time to adjust to your new life and new diet and everything will sort out. Sorry for such a long reply,just wanted to let you know that I do understand your feelings and fears but I promise that you gonna be ok:)