Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Brain Fog


Irishjoe

Recommended Posts

Irishjoe Newbie

Hello,

I just registered as a member.

I'm battling, daily, problems with my cognitive processes. It's getting worst. I can't think straight; hate to have coversations because I have difficulty making eye contact, making any sense, and I just don't seem like I can pull myself together to express myself and to have fun and talk about things that normally move me. This is not me! I love sports, intelligent people, and I am passionate about my work. I am behind closed doors in my office and my staff think I am crazy or in a bad mood, and consequently they stay away. I am unproductive and need to get things done.

For several years now, I've noticed when I put myself on a carb-free diet, which of course is gluten free by virtue of eliminating breads and cereals, I am ok. Each time I go on a carb or gluten free-diet and then go back to gluten my symtpoms seem to be more intense. This weekend I thought it would be ok to have some chocolate and candy with my daughter. I had a few other things that could contain gluten, such as coffee creamer, a couple of cookies (definitely has gluten) and I don't even want to go home because it is a chore to look my wife and kids in the eyes (that eye contact thing)!

I've heard about Celiac disease and gluten causing problems, so I've decided to look into it. I do not have the intestinal problems, but, wiht out a doubt my negative cognitive process is related to the carbs and/or gluten that I consume. Is it common to have these neurological symptoms without the gastro troubles?

I'm just hoping to get some of my thoughts validated.

Irishjoe

P.S. How do I use those cool Smilies?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



jerseyangel Proficient

It is definately possible to have Celiac and not experience gastro. problems. Since you seem to do better when you cut down on wheat, it may be something to look into. If you're thinking about being tested, be sure not to go off gluten at all. That will skew the results. Another approach is to try eliminating gluten yourself for a few weeks and see how you feel. A lot of people have used this diet challange and found that they need to be gluten free. As for brain fog--I was the Queen of it!!! I felt like I was walking around with a bag over my head. Didn't make eye contact either. Had some anxiety--it was like a vicious circle--the good news is that being gluten free now for 6 months, the brain fog is long gone. Good luck with whatever you deceide to do. Oh, and welcome :) . (The smiles are at the left as you post. Just click on the one you want)

CarolynB Newbie

Hello

My husband has celiac. He had terrible intestinal problems and almost died befor he was diagnosed.

After checking into the disease I realized that was what was wrong with my daughter as a baby.

She did not have any intestinal problems but she has terrible brain fog. Since she is glutin free that has cleared up.

So gluten very well could be your problem.

CarolynB.

Rachel--24 Collaborator

One of my main symptoms was brain fog. I was completely unable to focus to the point that I sometimes couldn't drive. I also never looked people in the eye during that time...I always looked down. I still dont quite understand that part but it all cleared up on the diet. I had only mild gastro symptoms. I never even mentioned them to my doc since my other symptoms were far more severe.

Nantzie Collaborator

Yep, you're definitely barking up the right tree. Brain fog, memory and concentration problems. Avoiding people because you either have to look them in the eye, or have a conversation that you might not be able to concentrate on, or both. Sometimes, if I have a lot of gluten, I start noticing that I can't quite control my tongue and start slurring a little. Like my tongue has gotten too wide. I also have insomnia, and get anxiety dreams/nightmares from gluten.

When I first heard about celiac and gluten sensitivity, I found it because I was researching my gastro symptoms. I had never heard anything about gluten causing neuro or psych problems. Now that I know how much gluten can effect all of that, I'd actually say that my symptoms are 80% neuro/psych and only 20% gastro.

So I'm glad you found us here. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Nancy

nettiebeads Apprentice

Hey Joe!! It sounds like yes, you do have definite gluten related issues. You could stay on gluten, keep a food journal and go through drs to have you officially dx'd. Or you could realize that you have had a positive diet challenge for gluten when you went on the low-no carb diet. I was dx'd just with the diet. It was enough for my dr. But the problem is that I was stubborn and continued to consume gluten in the form of malt (flavorings for cold cereals and in coolers). I didn't understand just what that was and didn't have any overt symptoms like I had with wheat, so I thought I was okay. But it was all I could do to get through the week (and I'm a desk jockey) and was terribly unproductive. Then I started getting neurapathies - mornings I would get out of bed and felt like I was walking on stumps! And the brain fog. One Monday I went back to work and it was all I could do to remember how to run my software accounting program - and it was the same program I had used for 4 years!!!!! But thanks to this forum (and Scott who should be nominated for sainthood) I learned what I was doing to my body. I'm totally gluten-free now and am feeling great and am so much more productive at work. Try the gluten-free diet - what have you got to lose, and look and what you could gain!!!

Annette

darkangel Rookie

My brain fog involves not being able to concentrate. I find myself unwilling to read long passages of text - and I love to read - feels kinda like ADHD... I can't stay focused. But the biggest mental thing that bugs me is short-term memory loss. I struggle to remember something that happened or something I said a day or two ago. And I blank out on the names of people I know well. It's frustrating and scary at the same time.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ianm Apprentice

You sound just like me. The brain fog was crippling and I almost lost everything because of it. I did not have any real gut issues either. I think you have already answered your questions. The low carb diets worked so stick with them.

VydorScope Proficient
My brain fog involves not being able to concentrate. I find myself unwilling to read long passages of text - and I love to read - feels kinda like ADHD... I can't stay focused. But the biggest mental thing that bugs me is short-term memory loss. I struggle to remember something that happened or something I said a day or two ago. And I blank out on the names of people I know well. It's frustrating and scary at the same time.

Yes exactly!!!!!!!!

Irishjoe Newbie
Hello

My husband has celiac. He had terrible intestinal problems and almost died befor he was diagnosed.

After checking into the disease I realized that was what was wrong with my daughter as a baby.

She did not have any intestinal problems but she has terrible brain fog. Since she is glutin free that has cleared up.

So gluten very well could be your problem.

CarolynB.

Thanks everyone for the validation. 2 days now gluten free and I am actually feeling better already. I think I'll stick with the gluten free diet and get back to life. Does anybody know where I can go to find a list of prescription drugs to avoid in this situation, or are drugs even an issue when it comes to staying gluten free?

nettiebeads Apprentice
Thanks everyone for the validation. 2 days now gluten free and I am actually feeling better already. I think I'll stick with the gluten free diet and get back to life. Does anybody know where I can go to find a list of prescription drugs to avoid in this situation, or are drugs even an issue when it comes to staying gluten free?

That's the wonderful thing about celiac. No prescriptions. That's one of the reasons I think that drs underdiagnose it. You stay gluten-free by carefully watching what you ingest, watch for cross-contamination, and always be on the lookout for hidden gluten sources - hand lotions and such that contain oat and wheat germ oil. Be very careful when dining out. If you do dine out regularly, the Triumph dining cards are highly recommended (I have a set. Don't leave home w/o them :P )I also take selenium (gluten-free of course) which helps me with my concentration. You will become a seasoned label reader in no time. And at first it seems intimidating, but like anything else, after awhile it will be second nature. Good Luck!!!

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Does anybody know where I can go to find a list of prescription drugs to avoid in this situation, or are drugs even an issue when it comes to staying gluten free?

Yes you do have to check your meds to make sure they're gluten-free. The delphi list has a list of drugs which are gluten-free but it always best to call the manufacturer and double-check.

i canary Rookie

Just in case you need prescription drugs for other things there is a website that has a list of gluten free drugs - always double check with your doctor, pharmacy and/or the drug manufacture itself. www.glutenfreedrugs.com.

:D

Thanks everyone for the validation. 2 days now gluten free and I am actually feeling better already. I think I'll stick with the gluten free diet and get back to life. Does anybody know where I can go to find a list of prescription drugs to avoid in this situation, or are drugs even an issue when it comes to staying gluten free?
VydorScope Proficient

I just want to add.. Umm...err... what were we talking about agian?

Nantzie Collaborator
I just want to add.. Umm...err... what were we talking about agian?

:lol:

darkangel Rookie
I just want to add.. Umm...err... what were we talking about agian?

Perfect! :lol:

jerseyangel Proficient

HaHaHa :D

ianm Apprentice
I just want to add.. Umm...err... what were we talking about agian?

:lol: Sums it all right up. It has been a long time since I have had to say that.

DonnaD Apprentice
One of my main symptoms was brain fog. I was completely unable to focus to the point that I sometimes couldn't drive. I also never looked people in the eye during that time...I always looked down. I still dont quite understand that part but it all cleared up on the diet. I had only mild gastro symptoms. I never even mentioned them to my doc since my other symptoms were far more severe.

Hi Rachel

Wow, I discover a new symptom every day on this board! :D

This is really odd, I also have a problem looking people in the eye, I always look down or over their shoulder into space behind them, I'm famous for it! Does anyone know what causes this??? ??

I seem to remember that It wasn't so bad when I was doing 'Atkins' for a year or so, (almost all my other symptoms also cleared up then and came back as my diet went down hill!)

I too have the most terrible brain fog and memory problems .I had totally forgotten I am supposed to meeting my sister for lunch today until she rang to remind me. On several occasions I have forgotten to collect my kids from after school activities. Or I go out in the car and then forget where I'm going and why!!

I also can't do mental maths anymore, I can't even remember my times tables... This was a terrible problem at work, I'm a book-keeper! - :o

Donna

darlindeb25 Collaborator

:unsure: Sometimes I wonder if I am getting gluten hidden in something. I have brain fog so often, but I cant figure where I am getting it. Then again, maybe its alzihimers :blink: . A few weeks ago I told my sweetie that had just hidden something from myself and he says, "What do you mean you hid it?" I explained that when I put something away I might as well realize that it is hidden until I run across it, because the minute it is out of my sight, it's lost. I always put my computer glasses on the keyboard and my bifocals on the dresser because I will never remember where they are otherwise. The only place I could be getting hidden gluten is my vitamins--meds are so hard to read!!!!! <_< Deb

jerseyangel Proficient

Hi Deb! Haven't talked to you in a while! I don't have the same level of brain fog as I did pre gluten-free, but I think I may have like a permanent low level of it. When I get some gluten, it comes back accutely, but even when I have no other symptoms and am doing fine, I still have to "reach" for words, forget why I'm in a particular room for a few seconds, and I have to remind myself to look people in the eye. I rarely looked people in the eye before, and until reading here that others have the same problem, would never have linked it to Celiac. Does anyone know why this happens?

VydorScope Proficient
Hi Deb! Haven't talked to you in a while! I don't have the same level of brain fog as I did pre gluten-free, but I think I may have like a permanent low level of it. When I get some gluten, it comes back accutely, but even when I have no other symptoms and am doing fine, I still have to "reach" for words, forget why I'm in a particular room for a few seconds, and I have to remind myself to look people in the eye. I rarely looked people in the eye before, and until reading here that others have the same problem, would never have linked it to Celiac. Does anyone know why this happens?

Maybe you know alot of ugly ppl? :lol::lol::lol:

(sorry could not resist)

jerseyangel Proficient

Ya know--I never thought of it that way! Its not me, its them! :D

ianm Apprentice

Ugly people, That's IT! Maybe we can see something that others can't? It is funny I used to have an eye contact problem. Maybe the brain fog just makes it too hard to focus on the non-verbal aspects of communication.

Nantzie Collaborator

I've been wondering about that no eye contact thing a little more. I wonder if there's any connection to that same behavior in autism (which I know may have some connection with celiac and other food problems)? Like maybe people with celiac and people with autism have a problem with the same area of the brain. I know they say that with autism they can become overstimulated and withdraw. I wonder if it's the same process?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,549
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Blough
    Newest Member
    Blough
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.