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

kyga2

Recommended Posts

kyga2 Apprentice
kyga2
Posted

Lately I have had serious trouble remembering things, and not just things like where I left my car keys. For example, the other day someone mentioned a co-worker and I had no idea who they were talking about. None. I clearly was supposed to know who this person was so I puzzled over it a day before I realized who it was, a person I have known for three years and worked with multiple times.

I also have trouble feeling like I'm understanding what's going on. People will say things, and I will not be able to put it together logically. I will have no idea what they are talking about.

My husband says this is normal because I'm 35. However, I feel like I am developing dementia or something and it's scary. I'm trying to figure out if this could be gluten related. I am gluten free but tests were inconclusive on celiac. I admit that I am not hard core about it (share a toaster, etc) so I wonder if this is it.

So if you have 'brain fog' that was helped by going gluten free, what was it like?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


WheatChef Apprentice
WheatChef
Posted

Your brain shouldn't magically start shutting down by the time you're 35. In general 35 is pretty young for our species! Brain fog is a common result of gluten intolerances yet there are additional issues/intolerances/dietary practices/maladies that can cause it obviously.

Brain fog for me lifted quite drastically after going gluten free. Where I once was unable to get through reading a book or paper without inadvertently reading over the same line multiple times before realizing what I was doing I could then easily finish papers and actually retain a lot of the knowledge contained within. This wasn't an automatic improvement however. While there were major gains in cognitive functioning in the first month and a half after going on the diet, these gains are still steadily improving now at the 9 month mark. I actually have a decent chance at remembering someone's name now!

Kay DH Apprentice
Kay DH
Posted

My celiac panel was negative, and my 1 endoscopy biopsy was negative this year, but the tests were also flawed. My celiac symptoms started after the flu a year ago. When I get minor cc, mostly my GI tract purges, but if there is major cc then I also have brain fog, mood, lethargy, other GI problems, and such. It takes 4-5 days after being glutened for my brain fog to go away (once when fogged I forgot to set the parking brake, and my car rolled back and hit another). I am a research scientist, and mostly live in my brain, so the brain fog is irksome. I became a lot more sensitive to gluten when I went completely gluten-free in January; even labeled gluten-free that is "processed in a plant that also processes wheat..." can be enough to nail me. That said, if you want to see if it is gluten that is getting you, then go completely gluten-free for at least a week and see how your brain does. That means no shared cutting boards, toasters, or processed food. Keep track of how you feel, and your symptoms. If the fog lifts one day, then it is probably gluten. Gluten hits everybody differently, for some people more neurologically that others.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Memory loss is NOT normal at 35. Your husband might be trying to make you feel better, which is kind. I had thyroid "brain fog" recently. I was forgetting things, and I couldn't remember names, details about work, or where I was supposed to be when. I had an awful time trying to focus on anything, and I had trouble writing because I couldn't organize my thoughts. It really interfered with my work. Getting on the right dose of thyroid medicine cleared my mind back to normal.

cassP Contributor
cassP
Posted

no, that's not normal for your brain at 35!

my brain is better off gluten- but i am still having issues- most likely to the recent discovery that i have been Hypothyroid for at least 4 years. (you should have your thyroid checked- as gluten can cause thyroid issues).

also- look at vitamin deficiencies, etc.

& last- i just read recently an article about Gluten & Brain issues- how they have actually found TTG antibodies stuck like a "plaque" on brain tissue- gross.

Courtney101 Rookie
Courtney101
Posted

Brain fog for me is one of my worse symptoms. I have a very repetative job, that I should know how to do off by heart. But it has gotten to the stage where I have to concentrate extremely hard to make sure I correctly do tasks which I have probably performed hundreds of times. It's frustrating because I often make simple mistakes that just shouldn't be made.

I too have to read things several times because I just can't take in the information. I have a terrible memory. For example never remembering movies I've watched, or even not remembering I've seen the movie in the first place. My friends told me the other day I had seen a particular movie with them twice, I have no memory of either occassion let alone the actual movie.

I also have really weird episodes every now and then which are difficult to explain, but I'll do my best. It's like I become very sensitive to the light and feel disconnected to everything that's going on in the world. Things appear kind of fuzzy, and sometimes I get a little dizzy. The worst thing though is the disconnected feeling. I feel like an observer, rather than a participant in my own life. It's a scary feeling because I don't feel 100% "with it" and I hate the thought of not being in control. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I assume it's gluten related, just like extreme brain fog or something.

Also, I'm only 20, so there's no way in hell this is normal... :(

flutterby Apprentice
flutterby
Posted

I used to have problems with this all the time, and still do even after going gluten-free. I had thought it was reactive hypoglycemia because it would always happen an hour or two after eating, for example, a breakfast with carbohydrates (read: bread). I would get irritable, confused, unable to think properly, unable to make simple decisions.

This weekend I started a challenge diet, and I only lasted two days as all of those symptoms came back. I started forgetting basic words in Spanish (I'm bilingual), the names of organizations, etc!

Still, if it is a continuing problem it may be worth talking to a neurologist. MS is apparently related to Celiac Disease and it also causes memory problems.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kyga2 Apprentice
kyga2
Posted
  • Author

I too feel weirdly disconnected from the world at times. The way you describe it is not exactly how I have experienced this disconnection, but I was interested to hear about it. I have chronic vertigo; it can't rock in a rocking chair, bounce, or shake my head because I get symptoms. Whether or not this is related to the gluten thing I don't know. I was starting to think I had a social phobia or something, because of this disconnection. There still may be, but after getting really serious about gluten free I will see if any of this improves.

Archived

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

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


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,905
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Croissantl0v3r
    Newest Member
    Croissantl0v3r
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy: and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:    
    • Xravith
      Taking Probiotics but Still Getting Sick After Gluten – Advice?

      By Xravith · Posted

      Yes, you are right. Indeed, I’ve been feeling anemic since the beginning of this week, and today I felt horrible during a lecture at the university, I was trembling a lot and felt all my body incredibly heavy, so I had to come back home. I’ll do a blood test tomorrow, but I’m just worried about the possibility of it coming back negative. I’ve been eating two cookies in the morning as my only source of gluten over the past two weeks—could that affect the final result?
    • trents
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Judy M! Yes, he definitely needs to continue eating gluten until the day of the endoscopy. Not sure why the GI doc advised otherwise but it was a bum steer.  Celiac disease has a genetic component but also an "epigenetic" component. Let me explain. There are two main genes that have been identified as providing the "potential" to develop "active" celiac disease. We know them as HLA-DQ 2.5 (aka, HLA-DQ 2) and HLA-DQ8. Without one or both of these genes it is highly unlikely that a person will develop celiac disease at some point in their life. About 40% of the general population carry one or both of these two genes but only about 1% of the population develops active celiac disease. Thus, possessing the genetic potential for celiac disease is far less than deterministic. Most who have the potential never develop the disease. In order for the potential to develop celiac disease to turn into active celiac disease, some triggering stress event or events must "turn on" the latent genes. This triggering stress event can be a viral infection, some other medical event, or even prolonged psychological/emotional trauma. This part of the equation is difficult to quantify but this is the epigenetic dimension of the disease. Epigenetics has to do with the influence that environmental factors and things not coded into the DNA itself have to do in "turning on" susceptible genes. And this is why celiac disease can develop at any stage of life. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition (not a food allergy) that causes inflammation in the lining of the small bowel. The ingestion of gluten causes the body to attack the cells of this lining which, over time, damages and destroys them, impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients since this is the part of the intestinal track responsible for nutrient absorption and also causing numerous other food sensitivities such as dairy/lactose intolerance. There is another gluten-related disorder known as NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or just, "gluten sensitivity") that is not autoimmune in nature and which does not damage the small bowel lining. However, NCGS shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. It is also much more common than celiac disease. There is no test for NCGS so, because they share common symptoms, celiac disease must first be ruled out through formal testing for celiac disease. This is where your husband is right now. It should also be said that some experts believe NCGS can transition into celiac disease. I hope this helps.
    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
×
×
  • 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.