Cognitive Issues

[Sinenox]

I've been gluten free for only a few months, and I think there is something else in my diet that needs eliminating, but I'm fairly sure I'm not consuming it on a regular basis accidentally. However I am still experiencing some of the worst brain fog of my life and I'm unable to correlate it to anything directly, which is problematic. The bigger problem is that I'm regularly required to do complicated tasks that require a lot of concentration and manual dexterity for my research, and I'm having a hard time managing even the menial ones. The fog comes and goes, almost entirely unpredictable, but once it's on me there's nothing I can do to stem it. I lose almost all of my vocabulary, I lose my train of thought nearly constantly, literally stopping midsentence. I couldn't even log in to this website just now. It took me many tries to even realize that I'd typed my email address wrong. I'm afraid to drive. I have no memory. Anyway, it's debilitating and embarassing and people notice quickly, including my professors and peers. My question is: How do people usually deal with this? I need to end this as soon as possible. Does anyone know what could be wrong, or have any advice for quick or long-term fixes? I'd be most appreciative. Fear is a great motivator on this one.

[wowzer]

I admit I don't have as good a memory as I used to. I did notice a lot of the brain fog lifted when I first went gluten free the beginning of the year. For some reason I feel really dopey when I first wake up. This has just been happening the last few weeks. Sometimes I think our brains go on overload when we get stressed. Going gluten free has relieved a lot of symtoms for me, but I also seem more sensitive to it. I know I'm somehow missing something. I think we expect to just keep getting better. I still feel much better now, but I know I have a ways to go. I'm 52 so a lot of years. My blood test came out negative. I do believe it's in my genes, my little sister is a celiac. I hope things get better for you.

[Nancym]

Wow, that's pretty bad. Have you tried a strict paleo diet or something like SCD? I've also been supplementing B12, folic acid and taking a B50 complex because deficiencies in B vitamins can lead to cognitive failure. Another supplement that might be helping me is D3. If you don't get better soon, you might want to consult a neurologist, that is pretty worrying.

[aikiducky]

One more idea - for me, dairy gives more or less the same kind of brain fog as gluten. If you're still consuming dairy, you could try cutting it out.

Pauliina

[ArtGirl]

If it's other foods that are triggering these symtoms, then you'll need to eliminate many of the typical culprits immediately. Dairy, soy, eggs, corn, nightshades (peppers, tomato, eggplant(?) and see if your fog goes away. Also, sulfites and sulfates can cause problems, too (grapes, wine, sulfated fruits and deli meats.)

Just eat fresh foods like meats, veggies and fruit and rice or quinoa. Then after a few weeks you can introduce one food at a time and watch for symptoms.

I sympathize with your problems. I get sort of like what you describe when I'm on the computer too long (sensitivity to EMFs). It's like your brain goes away. Very scarry.

[Slackermommy]

I have been having some issues now myself, and have been gluten free for almost 6 months. I have started checking through my beauty products, and you know what? Most of them contain whaet or oats, I just got rid of them, so I don't know if that is the issue or not. You might want to make sure all your beauty/health products are gluten free.

I am also doing a cleanse through my naturopathic doctor. I think I need to eliminate dairy for awhile, so...a cleanse is the best way to eliminate all suspect foods, then reintroduce one at a time to see which one gives you the symptoms.

Good luck, I hope you find the answer.

[VioletBlue]

I have been having some issues now myself, and have been gluten free for almost 6 months. I have started checking through my beauty products, and you know what? Most of them contain whaet or oats, I just got rid of them, so I don't know if that is the issue or not. You might want to make sure all your beauty/health products are gluten free.

I am also doing a cleanse through my naturopathic doctor. I think I need to eliminate dairy for awhile, so...a cleanse is the best way to eliminate all suspect foods, then reintroduce one at a time to see which one gives you the symptoms.

Good luck, I hope you find the answer.

I'm an office manager. I seal a lot of envelopes in a week. I found once I got a moistener for the big envelopes and self sealing #10's the remaining symptoms I had went away. The glue in the envelopes I was licking were a problem. I'm told many of the glues they use for that contain glutens. It's like detective work I swear

Violet

[Katydid]

My husband is the celiac at our house; and he gets that horrible debiltating brain fog if he accidently consumes anything with MSG or TBHQ, which are additives in a lot of foods. He said its just like someone turned his switch off.

I couldn't believe it the other day when he said he read on the internet that 'frozen fish' contains the highest amounts allowable by the FDA of TBHQ. Who would think it? The label certainly doesn't tell you. It just says, salmon or walleye or whatever.

Like someone said previously, its a detective job to stay clean. Hope you find out what it is for you.

Kay

[chick2ba]

Hey-- I TOTALLY feel your pain.. I'm working in two labs this semester. It sucks to know you are suppost to be alert and quick, but feel stuffy, dizzy and slow.

I misplace vocabulary quite often.. people I work with just laugh and wait for me to find the illusive word. I've found people who know me don't care too much, especially since they understand my condition and are not bothered by me stopping to collect my thoughts (besides, no engineer I know really speaks that fluidly!). Anyone who doesn't know me, and thinks I'm stupid, can really just chill out. I try to keep my cool, slow down, and keep going.

However, when I get bad brain fog, like with bad, bad headaches and vertigo (after some cross-contamination) I can't push through it. I, too, get scared to drive, work with delicate systems, do hard homework, etc...

So when that happens, I just push my work aside, find a comfy chair or table to lie my head on, and take a short 15-30 minute nap. It normally clears up my head and seems to really rejuvenate me. I try to keep a flexible work schedule and start homework early so I will have time to "pass out" when my body tells me to. I communicate with my profs and "co-workers" alot. If I'm just too sick, or dangerous, to come in to the lab, I tell them what's up and normally they are perfectly fine with that.

If you are still feeling sick off of gluten, I agree with what others said: you are probably still getting it in somewhere. It took me FOREVER to finally figure out the ONE source of 'weekly' contamination, even though I was super careful... talk about frustrating. You might have to call a bunch of companies or search products on the web. Once I switched over to a totally gluten-free apartment, my health really improved.

Good luck with your research and finding some relief!!

[Lisa]

One more idea - for me, dairy gives more or less the same kind of brain fog as gluten. If you're still consuming dairy, you could try cutting it out.

Pauliina

I have been gluten free for over a year and a half and have seen a considerable improvement. But recently, I have not been getting better, nor worse. I just don't feel well. Brain fog is an issue, speech and some motor skills just aren't what they used to be.

I thought I would do a dairy test. I ate two Yoplait Whips each day for three days. Guess what? The dreaded acid diareah has returned. I haven't seen that in a very long time.

So, off on a new quest. After learning to read labels and call on products, gluten free was not all that difficult to adjust to. I expect dairy will be much harder. Dairy will be mourned much more than gluten. Pitts

I just thought I would "share" and perhaps dairy may be your demon.

Lisa

[singingserena]

I know exactly how you feel. I've been gluten-free forever, and recently I feel like i have brain fog as well....maybe its because my course load is too heavy...but still....i don't know what it could be...i think it might be my environment...i live in a large city...ie lots of pollution, my apartment sux, and i am constantly commuting to school....lack of sleep, blah blah....any ideas of what to do

[Slackermommy]

I feel for you Momma Goose, and all the others that have to be dairy free on top of gluten free...

I must admit, I am so hoping that dairy is not my problem.

[DebbieInCanada]

Hi. After I had been gluten-free for 8 to 10 months, my worst brain fog kicked in. All the symptoms mentioned by others - vertigo, lack of focus (dialling a phone number could be too difficult). I know what you mean about logging in - I hate when I get locked out of my bank account because I entered the wrong password too many times!

At that time I realized that corn was also bothering me. I had cut out most of the things that I KNEW were made of corn, so I went on the hunt for the unknown things ("back then" there weren't as many resources to find this information quickly). I discovered that most commercially sweetened things with "glucose-fructose" are sweetened with corn syrup. Once I found those last few ingredients, my fog cleared up.

I still have occasional incidents when I'm contaminated from an unknown source, or if I let my guard down. I just find that I have to rest for a while. I also find that an allergy medicine or decongestant helps a lot (Claratin Clear!).

Hang in there. I hope you find the culprit!

Debbie