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Recovery And Mental Clarity

mhb

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mhb Apprentice
mhb
Posted

I was wondering if others noticed increasing mental clarity after going off gluten, and did it keep improving over a certain period of time. It just seems like I'm a better reader and my memory is better and I have much more interest in gaining knowledge and confidence that I can remember it and it's worth paying attention. It's not that I walked around without a thinking brain or a working memory all my life, but compared with some other people I know it just seems like my brain would glaze over about simple things that I should know, like who drafted the Declaration of Independence. Now I will read something like and feel a connection click into place in my brain. Of course other variables like sleep and allergies play a part at times.

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mamaesq Rookie
mamaesq
Posted

I've been gluten-free for 4 weeks now, and I have noticed over the last week that I am much more focused at work. It's insane how much more productive I've been over the last week or so. I still completely blank sometimes in the middle of a conversation, but even that's improving greatly.

ang1e0251 Contributor
ang1e0251
Posted

Increased mental clarity? You Bet!! I am better and better as time goes on. I can really tell if I'm accidentally glutened, I feel so stupid. It's like a bad head cold where you are so stopped up that your reflexes are all slow motion. Before I went gluten-free, I was really hazy, couldn't recall names, words sometimes wouldn't come. Now if I draw a blank, I can usually have recall in a few seconds. Big difference for me...I'm so grateful to finally have the answer. I don't care how inconvenient it is. I'm healthy and clear headed again. It's all worth it for me.

SillyBoo Newbie
SillyBoo
Posted

Going off of gluten does, indeed, lessen the "brain fog" and increase mental clarity. Before I was diagnosed 2 years ago, I had a job that required very high-level critical thinking skills, and got to a point where I really couldn't do my job very well. Over time, my mental skills have mostly recovered. On good days, I really am back on top of my game. There are still some foggy days, but the fog isn't nearly as thick as it used to be, and I can mostly function. Going off of gluten really was similar to having the sun shine brightly in a clear blue sky after years of cloudy, stormy weather.

roxnhead Rookie
roxnhead
Posted

I've only been gluten-free a couple of weeks but I can't believe the difference. Brain "fog" "haze" "goofy-drunk" absolutely unable to think- is how gluten-casein affected me. I still am in a fog, but each day I am getting better. It amazes me how bad it was and how calm-reserved I was in response. I definetly feel that a sort of apathy-is part of the disease. Since my symptoms have been mainly nuero- I'm wondering if I lost more than I will be able to gain back?(specifically brain power).

P.S. I used to be an excellent speller/now I look at words and question? brain sprain!

toadfool Newbie
toadfool
Posted

i have just been diagnosed coeliac (on thursday! at 42 years of age) and have started a gluten free diet. i had NO obvious symptoms. my question is this - for the last year to year and a half my short term memory has worsened noticably. i have a degree and a professional job, and some days i can't remember what day it is. Is there any chance this is related to being coeliac, and that it might improve on the diet?

SillyBoo Newbie
SillyBoo
Posted

Yes, it is quite likely related to the celiac. I went through something very similar (at age 51!), as the worst of my symptoms were neuro. My memory was horrible, forgetting things like the day of the week, hesitating when I introduced myself to someone (because I had to remember my name), and all sorts of work-related and family-related details. After 2 years gluten-free, my memory is MUCH better. Interestingly, things that happened during the last year or so before my diagnosis are still fuzzy to me. But short-term and long-term memories are clearer than they have been in a very long time.

Hang in there, it does get better over time! And be VERY strict about excluding all gluten.

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Amber M Explorer
Amber M
Posted
I was wondering if others noticed increasing mental clarity after going off gluten, and did it keep improving over a certain period of time. It just seems like I'm a better reader and my memory is better and I have much more interest in gaining knowledge and confidence that I can remember it and it's worth paying attention. It's not that I walked around without a thinking brain or a working memory all my life, but compared with some other people I know it just seems like my brain would glaze over about simple things that I should know, like who drafted the Declaration of Independence. Now I will read something like and feel a connection click into place in my brain. Of course other variables like sleep and allergies play a part at times.

I have been gluten free for about 4 months, and YES, there is a big diff. I had many neuro symptoms, and still some. I have slipped and eaten gluten a few times and I swear I could be a "gluten detector" because it creeps over me like a black cloud in a short period of time. My focus has improved greatly and I don't walk in circles wondering what I am doing anymore. It is so amazing to me. I was sure I was geting senile at 51. Pretty scary!! My memory is much better and I can have a conversation now without becoming dizzy and agitated. You will notice many, many changes.

kschauer Rookie
kschauer
Posted

Yes!

At the height of my symptoms I had just moved from the states to London and I had serious brain fog! I went for months and months thinking how I had jet lag I just couldn't shake. At that time I needed to be able to think clearly to prepare for the work I am doing now. Now I look at what I did then and just kick myself, I missed so many things and my life now is much harder.

Hopefully you will continue to improve even more!

mhb Apprentice
mhb
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for all the confirmation. My good days are soooo good, but since I'm in perimenopause, I get a lot of nights with poor sleep, and migraines, and frequent hunger attacks during PMS, all of which really throw me off track. So I'm trying to balance all the gluten-free lifestyle (so much more thinking going into eating and food prep!) with all that. I feel like it's about 1 good day for every 3 bad ones, but I'm clear about what's causing what. May have to give up my 2 cups caffeine a day (tea). I'm rebelling vs. that because I've given up so much else (gluten, dairy, soy). Oh, and the other things are not from gluten sneaking in. Definitely peri-M. Yuk. There should almost be a separate forum for those of us going through both.

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