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

sherrylynn

Recommended Posts

sherrylynn Contributor
sherrylynn
Posted

I have heard people say they had brain fog before going gluten free. and I was wondering when they say brain fog what do they mean. Is is just being absent minded. Do they feel like they are on drugs or is it like they can't think.

I have very great long term memory, but my short term memory sucks.

I took my grandson to the doctor for his shots about 6 months ago and just about a month ago my daughter wanted to know what they gave him. I honestly can not even remember taking him to the doctor. I have had a lot of memory lapses like that and it scares me. :ph34r:

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mscan91 Newbie
mscan91
Posted

Yea I know where you're coming from.

My boyfriend often gets MRSA boils and needs them surgically removed. The other day I was asking about the scars and when they all happened. He told me the one on his arm was 2 months ago... and I was there. NO memory what so ever.

And my dad told me that a few months ago he had enlisted my help to fish a frog out of our pool and we spent hours doing it. Can't remember it at all.

AlysounRI Contributor
AlysounRI
Posted

Sherry:

"Brain fog" ... it's something you know you had when it's no longer there.

It's a feeling of not not being very sharp, feeling kind of fuzzy, and generally tired.

But you know more what is was when it's no longer there.

sherrylynn Contributor
sherrylynn
Posted
  • Author

I also forget words several times a day. I will be talking to people at work and I can not remeber a word that I want to say. It is usually a common word like cup or stappler but I cannot rememer how to say a word.

People usually have to finish my sentence for me. That is so irritating.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted

Sherry:

"Brain fog" ... it's something you know you had when it's no longer there.

It's a feeling of not not being very sharp, feeling kind of fuzzy, and generally tired.

But you know more what is was when it's no longer there.

For me it was a vague feeling for a long time, but in the year before my diagnosis, it got so bad that I'd struggle with even the most simple things.

For example:

I'd drive to somewhere I'd driven countless times, and I'd forget how to get there.

I'd work on my computer and try to preform a task that was once easy (like downloading onto my iPod), and I'd get so confused that I'd have to have my husband help me.

I'd misplace things far more often than I do now.

Because I'd forget things so easily, my sense of urgency heightened. Things like I'd find myself interrupting people as they spoke so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to say.

It's gone now, thank goodness . . . however, it does creep back a little bit (just a little) if I get glutened.

Crazy.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted

As I sit here remembering, I've remembered a few more symptoms I had:

When I'd type, I'd make TONS MORE typos than what is normal for me. Sometimes I'd even write one completely different word when I'd mean to write another -- instead of writing "I'm going home," maybe I'd write "I'm going town."

Sometimes I'd talk the same way. It was as though I had a mini stroke (which I hadn't).

I'd forget words far more frequently, and often, it was hard to answer questions. If someone asked me "Where are the postage stamps?" I'd have to get up and show them because it was difficult for me to put the answer into words.

I had a very tough time sitting still or focusing on things for prolonged periods. Some of the way I acted mimed Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder -- back then. Now it's gone.

Years ago, I gave up knitting because it was hard for me to focus on it. Now I knit like the wind and have fallen so in love with it. (I still drop stitches, but so does everyone!) :)

It was horrible pre-gluten-free. I blamed it on age. I blamed it on stress. I blamed it on everything but gluten.

It just breaks my heart to think of all the wonderful folks out there who suffer the same way. They are walking around beating themselves up for "falling apart" and thinking they are helpless to do anything about it, when all it takes is a change of diet.

Anyway, I hope this helps clarify brain fog a little more.

scuzy Rookie
scuzy
Posted

Wow, so is it a proven symptom to have a horrible memory? I never even thought of that as a symptom. My memory used to be good, but the past few years, when all my other symptoms started it has gotten bad. I can't even remember when my friend visited me, or when a friend slept over 6 months ago, what I just heard in class.. ect... And I'm only 21...

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted

Wow, so is it a proven symptom to have a horrible memory? I never even thought of that as a symptom. My memory used to be good, but the past few years, when all my other symptoms started it has gotten bad. I can't even remember when my friend visited me, or when a friend slept over 6 months ago, what I just heard in class.. ect... And I'm only 21...

Scuzy,

Brain fog is very common, but with the severity you describe, you might want to ask an expert.

Just wondering: Do you have other neurological symptoms as well? Do you suffer from celiac in addition to gluten-intolerance? Have you gone through testing, etc.?

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted

Scuzy,

PS: I do not have celiac. I am HIGHLY gluten intolerant -- I am told I am more sensitive to gluten than most, including those who suffer from celiac.

I just wanted to add this info because you refer to wondering if you have celiac in your posts.

So, if you are gluten-intolerant, it doesn't necessarily mean you also have celiac disease.

scuzy Rookie
scuzy
Posted

My Celiac test came back negative, but if you read my post: , it explains my situation (to much typing) :). Not sure what other neurological symptoms you might be referring too. I personally always chocked up my horrible memory to having such a traumatic child hood. But then again a friend sleeping over is not traumatic, so in theory my mind should remember it, right? Thanks for your input.

CarolinaKip Community Regular
CarolinaKip
Posted

I also forget words several times a day. I will be talking to people at work and I can not remeber a word that I want to say. It is usually a common word like cup or stappler but I cannot rememer how to say a word.

People usually have to finish my sentence for me. That is so irritating.

I was the same way! I also couldn't think clearly, easy confused. I also would wake up in the morning and could not seem to fully wake up. My mind was "sleepy" until about noon.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,210
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    BJ OConnor
    Newest Member
    BJ OConnor
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By trents · Posted

      NCGS does not cause damage to the small bowel villi so, if indeed you were not skimping on gluten when you had the antibody blood testing done, it is likely you have celiac disease.
    • Scott Adams
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I will assume you did the gluten challenge properly and were eating a lot of gluten daily for 6-8 weeks before your test, but if not, that could be the issue. You can still have celiac disease with negative blood test results, although it's not as common:  Clinical and genetic profile of patients with seronegative coeliac disease: the natural history and response to gluten-free diet: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606118/  Seronegative Celiac Disease - A Challenging Case: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9441776/  Enteropathies with villous atrophy but negative coeliac serology in adults: current issues: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34764141/  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.
    • Xravith
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Xravith · Posted

      I'm very confused... My blood test came out negative, I checked all antibodies. I suppose my Total IgA levels are normal (132 mg/dl), so the test should be reliable. Still, I'm not relieved as I can't tolerate even a single biscuit. I need to talk to my doctor about whether a duodenal biopsy is necessary. But it is really possible to have intestinal damage despite having a seronegative results? I have really strong symptoms, and I don't want to keep skipping university lectures or being bedridden at home.
    • Scott Adams
      CT with contrast.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      They may want to also eliminate other possible causes for your symptoms/issues and are doing additional tests.  Here is info about blood tests for celiac disease--if positive an endoscopy where biopsies of your intestinal villi are taken to confirm is the typical follow up.    
    • Scott Adams
      New labs are now very elevated

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In the Europe the new protocol for making a celiac disease diagnosis in children is if their tTg-IgA (tissue transglutaminase IgA) levels are 10 times or above the positive level for celiac disease--and you are above that level. According to the latest research, if the blood test results are at certain high levels that range between 5-10 times the reference range for a positive celiac disease diagnosis, it may not be necessary to confirm the results using an endoscopy/biopsy: Blood Test Alone Can Diagnose Celiac Disease in Most Children and Adults TGA-IgA at or Above Five Times Normal Limit in Kids Indicates Celiac Disease in Nearly All Cases No More Biopsies to Diagnose Celiac Disease in Children! May I ask why you've had so many past tTg-IgA tests done, and many of them seem to have been done 3 times during short time intervals?    
×
×
  • 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.