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Any Tricks To Ward Off That Brain-Fog?

bridgetm

By bridgetm
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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bridgetm Enthusiast
bridgetm
Posted

My stomach is finally feeling better from the weekend fiasco (the old "my stomach only hurts if I press on it") but I'm having trouble concentrating. It's not so much the fogginess that comes with a cold or other illness (I'll liken that to 'groggy') but I just can't get anything to stick in my short-term memory and when I try to focus I end up a little ADD. I missed my four important classes on Monday and need to catch up.

I was taking notes in Anatomy this morning and realized twenty minutes in that I couldn't remember a single thing I had written on the previous page. And then he quizzed us at the end (not graded, thankfully; just a progress reality-check) on the terms we had gone over during the class period: Name all the bones of the lower extremity and all of their anatomical landmarks. Well, I know the bones, wrote those down, but could only remember two landmarks (patellar groove and tibial tuberosity... They only stood out to me because I've had six knee surgeries).

We have a test on the skeleton next week and I need to get to work on this stuff. I'm eating rice and applesauce to calm my stomach, drinking lots of water (though, admittedly, I could be drinking more). Has anyone found any fuel that will kick-start the brain in gluten recovery???

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srall Contributor
srall
Posted

Oh I wish I knew. Last night I was at a meeting and was in a complete fog. I was actually praying that I was getting sick instead of accidentally glutened. I was relieved that my throat was sore in addition to sore muscles and headache because I was thinking "Oh thank God...I'm just sick not glutened." I couldn't believe that was my thought process. But I kept getting asked to do the simplest things, such as sending out a mass email or checking a supply closet...and I was becoming overwhelmed because it seemed like too much to handle. Thankfully this morning I feel better and my head is clear so I can get it all done. But I know that panicky feeling of questioning how you're going to get through until the fog lifts.

The only advice I can think of is how you'd deal with glutening in general: sleep, sweat it out (exercise), lots and lots of water/green tea. I drink Yogi detox tea....which may have helped me recover from last night. I think some other's here have even more specific remedies for getting through quickly. Good luck to you. This would be so hard to manage as a student.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

You could try some sublingual B12, that may help. Also if you are formally diagnosed talk to the professor and your disability office at school. Explain what is going on when you get glutened. I got glutened right before my Math final this summer and the instructor offered to let me take the exam the next week.

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

You could try some sublingual B12, that may help. Also if you are formally diagnosed talk to the professor and your disability office at school. Explain what is going on when you get glutened. I got glutened right before my Math final this summer and the instructor offered to let me take the exam the next week.

Can you explain what sublingual B12 is and where to buy it? I'm almost out of my B12 supplements and I've seen that come up a lot on this board. I'd like to try it.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Can you explain what sublingual B12 is and where to buy it? I'm almost out of my B12 supplements and I've seen that come up a lot on this board. I'd like to try it.

Sublingual B12 is a small tablet that you put under your tongue. It dissolves and the B12 enters directly into the bloodstream bypassing the gut which can't absorb it when damaged by celiac.

You can find it in the vitamin section of most drug and grocery stores or in a health food store.

srall Contributor
srall
Posted

thx

bridgetm Enthusiast
bridgetm
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for your replies! I'll hit the tea today and I'll probably mention it to my professor at class tomorrow. It's not likely that he'll give me an extension, but he might be able to help. I'll look for sublingual B12 next time I'm at the pharmacy; sounds like a good thing to have around just in case.

Thanks again!

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Thank you for your replies! I'll hit the tea today and I'll probably mention it to my professor at class tomorrow. It's not likely that he'll give me an extension, but he might be able to help. I'll look for sublingual B12 next time I'm at the pharmacy; sounds like a good thing to have around just in case.

Thanks again!

It actually is a good thing to be taking every day for a while until you heal.

BethJ Rookie
BethJ
Posted

Red Bull always helps me with the fog and the grogginess. After reading above about B12, I see why. Red Bull has a lot of B12 and some other B vitamins in it.

rdunbar Explorer
rdunbar
Posted

someone recommended l-glutamine to me on this board to help w/ brain fog. ive been taking @4-5 g a day, not sure how much its helping,? I've been doing a little better lately.

bridgetm Enthusiast
bridgetm
Posted
  • Author

Red Bull always helps me with the fog and the grogginess. After reading above about B12, I see why. Red Bull has a lot of B12 and some other B vitamins in it.

I had to quit drinking energy drinks after my freshman year (I slammed an Amp at least 3 times a week in addition to coffee). I have never been so tempted to drink it again as I am after a glutening, but I know that even while it may help my brain, it will wreak havoc on my stomach. I'll admit to being this close to putting $3 in a vending machine for a shot of 5-Hour Energy the other day. I've been bashing that stuff for years and here I am lusting after it. I'll have to check the label again, but I vaguely remember seeing B12 in Pedialyte. I have about 8 ounces left in my fridge; if it has a decent about of B12 I'll probably pick up some more this weekend before I lock myself away in the library to memorize anatomical landmarks.

Lesx2 Newbie
Lesx2
Posted

A massage helps. Helps break up everything stored in system so you can shed in through sweating, restroom, etc. Drink lot of water after massage

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Thank you for your replies! I'll hit the tea today and I'll probably mention it to my professor at class tomorrow. It's not likely that he'll give me an extension, but he might be able to help. I'll look for sublingual B12 next time I'm at the pharmacy; sounds like a good thing to have around just in case.

Thanks again!

If he is not helpful and you're diagnosed celiac, your campus disability office may be able to help you negotiate an extension.

bridgetm Enthusiast
bridgetm
Posted
  • Author

If he is not helpful and you're diagnosed celiac, your campus disability office may be able to help you negotiate an extension.

I tested negative for Celiac so I'm not sure how much help administration could give me.

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