Recovery And Mental Clarity

[mhb]

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.

[mamaesq]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Amber M]

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]

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]

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.