Brain Fog

[Guest marshlakemom]

Hi All..

I have had this brain fog for years now, and wonder if it is celiac disease related. My head feels like a football most of the time, very spaced out, also feels like I have a ton of bricks on top of it. I feel like I am looking through a haze most of the time, with a very low-grade headache.

I thought at one time it was related to the fact that I was on so many anti-depressants and benzodiazapines, but I have been off completely for 8 months now, and although this is also a symptom of withdrawal from these drugs, I had it before I came off, so am now back to wondering if it is a celiac disease symptom.

I also don't sleep much, and wonder if it could be sleep deprivation damage.

Sound like a winner here, but just would like some other people's opinions on this.

Thanks for listening.

Deborah

[ianm]

For me it felt like my head was in a vise and packed in an airtight box. Nothing could get in or out. It felt like I was half asleep all of the time. I could sleep for 14 hours straight and be even more tired after I woke up. It was the most liberating experience when the fog lifted.

[Guest AmandasMommy]

i have no answer to your question, but i thought id let you know i am in the same boat as you. i feel the same way, i just feel so stupid anymore cause i cant seem to get through the fog. i thought it was cause of my depression.

i also have sleep deprovation, restless less sindrome (RLS) and sleep apnea, so wearing the mask with sleep depro. was not helping, so ambien works wonders. ill wait and watch for the same answer.

[Guest marshlakemom]

Dear Ianm

So your brain fog did lift!!! How wonderful!!! Can you give me an idea of how long it took for you to experience any difference in the brain fog? And yes, the vice grip sensation is exactly how it feels.

I would also be interested in knowing a little about your daily diet. Do you stick to meat, potatoes and veggies, are you able to give me a little bit of an idea of how your daily meal plan might go?

Your welcome to pm me or email me if you would rather talk to me privately.

I'm so desparate to feel better.

Thanks muchly,

Deb

[Canadian Karen]

My brain fog doesn't feel like a vice or anything like that...... Mine feels like a "numbness blanket" is wrapped around my head, and I just can't "feel" anything, or "think" anything...... I am just numb, almost as if I am not even "there"......

Karen

[ianm]

I actually started the gluten-free diet when I tried the Atkins diet. The brain fog lifted within a week and was the first problem to go away. Another way to describe the brain fog was like an out of body experience. I could see and hear what was going on around me but was completely unable to connect with reality.

I eat green vegetables, fruit like berries, grapes and melons. Tree fruits that are high in fructose like apples I avoid because I can only seem to tolerate a small amount of fructose. I can't tolerate citrus fruits or bannanas either. I also eat nuts, buckwheat and flaxseed. I don't drink milk but eat cheese, yogurt and butter. I eat only simply prepared meats. I only eat potatos once and a while because they are high in starch.

I do not eat any kind of processed food at all. I am a firm believer in the low carb diet and stay away from sugary foods. I am a weight gainer Celiac and if I eat high carb foods, even natural ones I can gain a lot of weight very quickly. I used to weigh over 250 pounds and now weigh 165. Drink lots of water too. Keeping the portions small and spread throughout the day helps too. I eat far less than I used to.

I also exercise a lot. That was hard in the beginning but now I get fatigued and fogged up if I don't.

This lifestyle is not as hard to do as you might think and is worth it.

[judy05]

My brain fog started about 6mos before I went gluten free. It didn't stop until I went completely dairy free. Going without gluten helped but I was still bothered in stores, my eyes didn't feel right, I couldn't stand bright lights, my head felt like I was in another place, spacy. It usually occurred after eating but it took me a long time to figure it all out. I haven't had it for over a year, then my GI suggested I could eat wheat because I don't have the Celiac gene. Like a stupid fool I ate a piece of pie and the next day I was so dizzy that I couldn't drive myself to the hospital for a mammogram. That's the last time for me, I'm gluten-free for life!

I think if you keep a food diary then you will find the problem. As for dairy I still can't tolerate it except for cheddar cheese, but no more fog!!!

[steve-o]

I'm sure this sounds like a lame, overly simple answer... but are you getting enough exercise?

I used to have a major problem with brain fog, and the one thing that made the biggest difference for me, was getting daily exercise. You don't have to run a marathon, just taking a 30 minute walk each day will help.

When you feel horrible all the time, it's really hard to start an exercise program...but if you just push yourself to get started, you'll be glad you did, and will soon feel much better.

Also, getting exercise will help you to sleep better.

[jenvan]

For a while now I've been forgetting things--I never did that before. My husband has noticed too. It's weird... I figure that will improve and subside as I am continuing to be gluten-free...

But when I get the bad brain fog-it is usually a head ache coupled with a feeling of loopiness, disorientation, heavy fatigue, lack of concentration...

[Guest marshlakemom]

Hi Ianm

You mentioned that you can't eat bananas...is that because they bring on the brain fog. I ask this because I have a protein shake with orange juice and a banana every morning for breakfast. I may have to drop the banana and go for another fruit of some kind.

I have made up my mind, and it is about time, that I am going to be very diligent about my gluten intake. I can't take this insomnia and brain fog anymore, it is such a drag. I also am a weight gainer Celiac, and never had a problem for years, but in this past couple of years my weight is skyrocketing. At least for me anyway, I was always 110 lb. but now pushing 155. Not a pretty sight. LOL

I am a Canadian, and live in the far North, and have a problem buying gluten-free products here. I am not a bread eater or much of a sweet eater either, so don't worry too much about that. I think I will stick to meat and potatoes and veggies, and fruit.

Now some of you have mentioned that potatoes bother you. In what sense??? I am a famous potatoe eater, my Irish decent coming out I guess. LOL

Does anybody know if Becel (margerine) has gluten in it????????

Any and all suggestions from you guys will be appreciated, I so do want to feel better and have been procrastinating for too many years on being absolutely diligent about my gluten intake and have nobody but myself to blame.

Thanks everybody,

Deb

[ianm]

I don't eat bannanas because they are high in fructose and starch. Potatos are all starch. This irritates my gut and causes me to gain weight. They don't contribute to brain fog. I would stop eating spuds if you want to lose weight. Stick to green veggies and low fructose fruit like berries. Tree fruits like apples, pears, peaches, etc. have too much fructose and that irritates my gut.

[watkinson]

Ianm is right. foods like Potatoes, bananas, peas, carrotts, and white rice are high in starches. The body uses starches as sugar. Maybe you are sensitive to sugar, or to your blood levels spiking up and then crashing. This also can cause brain fog, headaches, ect. Like Ianm said, make sure you eat plenty of green veggies and protein. Take multi vitamins, b-complex, maybe iron if your doctor says you need it.

Also...Potatoes are a nightshade vegetable, as are tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Some people are very sensitive to them. You can Google nightshade veg. and read up on it.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon, Wendy

[Carriefaith]

I get major brain fog when I have gluten. It's really hard to describe but I'll try... It kind of feels like I'm on that stuff that they give you at the hostpital though IV during colonoscopies or endoscopies. I get dizzy, tired, feel really spacy, not mentally with it (lol), and I get an "I don't care" attitude... It's so bad somethimes that I don't drive and get peope to taxi me around. My brain fog went away after going gluten free and I only seem to get it now during accidents.

[carriecraig]

I have a problem with remembering things and staying focused - which is not conducive in an office environment at all! I sometimes try and speak, and I can't think of the right words to say, so I just make something up. Once the commercials came out about Adult ADD - I just figured that's what it was. But, I've been this way my whole life. I really hope that it will go away...