Disorientation/temporary Amnesia?

[wasabi092]

Today at work, I was walking down the hallway and suddenly realized I had no idea where I was. This lasted a couple minutes. I just felt like a lost little kid and it took me a bit to figure out where I was at, even though this place was familiar to me. I got severely glutened for the first time this past week and had my first bout of vertigo a couple days before (while driving). Has anyone heard of such bad disorientation as a result of glutening? Is this something worth seeing a physician about?

[GlutenFreeManna]

I think that's serious enough to go see a doctor about! I did not have that problem exactly, but I would have seizures/passing out spells and not remember anything that happened in the minutes before I woke up on the floor. Sometimes I would even be talking to my husband in the minutes before it happened and I would never remember what we were talking about when I woke up. My husband got good at spotting the signs of one coming on and he caught me once before I hit the floor. I saw a neurologist, did sleep studies, MRIs, etc. They never figured it out. It got less frequent about 6 months before I went gluten free and I have not had any seizures for over a year now. I still have memory issues though, but not nearly as bad.

[dilettantesteph]

It's probably worth talking to your physician about. I think that glutening can have that affect on me too. Sometimes I get so that I can't think or make any decisions.

[musicmom2]

Ditto to all that's been said!

I've recently been diagnosed, but for a long time I would have episodes when i was feeling confused, even have difficulty in speaking. I knew what I was trying to say but it wouldn't come out that way. The last episode happened three weeks ago before the diagnosis. I woke up from a nap and seriously couldn't remember where I was for like 5 minutes. Since going gluten-free I feel like the fog has lifted. When I went on a gluten free diet I was thinking it would only clear up my stomach pains, I had no idea all the "other" things that were happening to my body were related but the longer I'm on the diet the more things start to improve.

[sickchick]

  On 9/9/2010 at 4:34 PM, musicmom2 said:

Ditto to all that's been said!

I've recently been diagnosed, but for a long time I would have episodes when i was feeling confused, even have difficulty in speaking. I knew what I was trying to say but it wouldn't come out that way. The last episode happened three weeks ago before the diagnosis. I woke up from a nap and seriously couldn't remember where I was for like 5 minutes. Since going gluten-free I feel like the fog has lifted. When I went on a gluten free diet I was thinking it would only clear up my stomach pains, I had no idea all the "other" things that were happening to my body were related but the longer I'm on the diet the more things start to improve.

How long have you been gluten-free? I used to get that way for like 6 months after I first went gluten-free.

lovelove

sickchick

[brendab]

I get that way when I eat gluten and it's horrible! I just recently went back on gluten so I could maybe get a diagnosis but it looks like I may quit and forget it all because my neurological symptoms are too intense and I cannot function to save my life! Forgetfulness, stuttering, severe chronic fatigue, ADD, OCD, etc. Time lapses and I have NO clue where it went or what I had done the entire time but time just isn't there anymore and it's weird and not OK when I have 6 kids; 4 whom I homeschool so that is NOT meshing!!!!

I feel for ya on this one as I am in the "fog" right now.

[SGWhiskers]

Could be gluten, could be a mini stroke. See the doc asap to rule out the mini stroke. The ER would be the place for that really. They may not be able to figure anything out, but TIA's can be a warning sign of an impending stroke. Yeah, it's probably the gluten, but why mess around with the brain. They don't heal like a muscle strain.

[wasabi092]

Thanks to everyone who replied! I'll probably get a hold of my doctor and see what she thinks about it. Do you see a primary care physician or to you have a specialist who knows about celiac/gluten related stuff? I had a naturopath diagnose me about the gluten (changed my life) but registered negative on the celiac test (what a surprise)so I'm not sure that my family's primary care physician would take me seriously. @sickchick: I've been off gluten for about 9 months so it sounds similar to you.

[wasabi092]

Also, I'm 22 so I'm not necessarily in the demographic most prone to strokes, although, the possibility always exists.

[musicmom2]

  On 9/9/2010 at 5:52 PM, sickchick said:

How long have you been gluten-free? I used to get that way for like 6 months after I first went gluten-free.

lovelove

sickchick

I've only been off Gluten for 3 weeks. And although I feel much clearer in the head I'm prepared by all that I've read that the episodes of Amnesia, Stuttering, confusion etc. could happen for a while yet

[musicmom2]

  On 9/10/2010 at 4:01 PM, wasabi092 said:

Also, I'm 22 so I'm not necessarily in the demographic most prone to strokes, although, the possibility always exists.

I'm 21 and have very similar episodes of disorientation as well as sporadic chest pains, so I thought for sure I was having mini-strokes. But the doctor not finding anything, sent me home and just said I was just "stressed". Of course I was stressed! I'm hurting all over, disoriented and all this came on just 2 years ago without a clue as to why it started. Definately Check with your physician, but talk to a nutritionist that specializes in Celiac, I know there hard to find, but one $100.00 session changed my life.

My heart goes out to you and all you're going through!