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Hallucinations, Visions, Torments After Breaking Gluten Free Diet Due To Celiac Disease. Recommend
Hello,
My husband has been diagnosed with a celiac disease some 4 years ago. He was doing good on a gluten free diet until this spring.
He joined a Catholic Church during Easter celebration and even though our Church offers gluten free host, he would be going to other churches during the week and would receive a regular gluten host there. He was doing that for about 2 months once a week and then he would go to Church every day for 3 weeks and receive gluten every day except on Sundays. He became more spiritual than ever during that time.
About a week and a half ago he started having visions and torments. First five days were terrible. He says God works on him and now all he can do is to wait for an answer.....
He had to stop working obviously.
We all believe (family and priests) that he's having hallucinations due to messing up with gluten.
Could that be right? What should we do and where should we take him? It's heartbreaking to watch him standing and looking up to the sky or mirror.
Please help!
Thank you for your time.
Anna Williams
My husband has been diagnosed with a celiac disease some 4 years ago. He was doing good on a gluten free diet until this spring.
He joined a Catholic Church during Easter celebration and even though our Church offers gluten free host, he would be going to other churches during the week and would receive a regular gluten host there. He was doing that for about 2 months once a week and then he would go to Church every day for 3 weeks and receive gluten every day except on Sundays. He became more spiritual than ever during that time.
About a week and a half ago he started having visions and torments. First five days were terrible. He says God works on him and now all he can do is to wait for an answer.....
He had to stop working obviously.
We all believe (family and priests) that he's having hallucinations due to messing up with gluten.
Could that be right? What should we do and where should we take him? It's heartbreaking to watch him standing and looking up to the sky or mirror.
Please help!
Thank you for your time.
Anna Williams
Mon, 15 Jul 2013
Hi Anna,
Gluten was initially believed to be a disorder of the gastrointestinal symptoms but recent research has shown its effect on the nervous system and the mind as well. It may be possible that gluten sensitivity is causing hallucinations or delusions but it is hard to establish it. Putting him back on his gluten free diet may help but may be difficult at this point since he has a poor insight into his illness.
For the time being, consult a psychiatrist as he/she may need to start him on antipsychotics. Gluten free diet will remain the long term plan.
Hope this helps,
Wishing your husband the best of health,
Dr A Rao
Gluten was initially believed to be a disorder of the gastrointestinal symptoms but recent research has shown its effect on the nervous system and the mind as well. It may be possible that gluten sensitivity is causing hallucinations or delusions but it is hard to establish it. Putting him back on his gluten free diet may help but may be difficult at this point since he has a poor insight into his illness.
For the time being, consult a psychiatrist as he/she may need to start him on antipsychotics. Gluten free diet will remain the long term plan.
Hope this helps,
Wishing your husband the best of health,
Dr A Rao
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