Brain Fog?

[tannilisa]

Hi, my husband has celiac, and he seems to be doing good on the diet, although he does get glutened sometimes and we have to figure out what it was. Last night he had a gluten free supper (or so we thought), rice, vegatables and hamburger without the bun (he hates gluten-free bread) he calls me this morning saying that he had a strange morning and feels weird. He always- since I've known him (16 years)- wraps a towel around himself to go to the shower, well this morning, he gets out of the shower and realizes that he had no towel and had walked to the shower naked, something he's never done before (we live with my father who sleeps in the living room, so walking around naked is out of the question normally lol). He also left the faucet in the bathroom running and went to bed a few weeks ago, good thing I woke up and needed to use the bathroom, or the water would have been on all night. I'm wondering if he's getting a brain fog from getting glutened somehow, is it normal to have brain fog like this from gluten?

Thanks!

Tanya

[KaitiUSA]

Yes, brain fog is a pretty common symptom. I get that when I am glutened too. How long has he been gluten free? Are his products like shampoos, soaps, and all gluten free? Do you hve gluten free lipstick when you kiss him? Pretty much every avenue should be looked at.

Also, there are some good gluten free breads out there he may like. I know alot of brands that are so nasty and taste like cardboard but I found some good brands out there too.

[elonwy]

The brain fog is the thing I hate most about this. When I get it I feel like I'm detached from everything and don't really know what's going on.

Were you eating out? Hamburgers can be made with fillers like bread crumbs, and if they took the bun off, instead of never putting it on in the first place that could be your source. If you're eating at home, then I would check all the stuff Kaiti's talking about. We're still trying to figure out when my bf can kiss me and when he can't. Turning him into a compulsive teeth brusher

Good luck finding the source.

Elonwy

[tannilisa]

Thanks for your replies he has been gluten free only for about 9 or so months, he was diagnosed right before our wedding. We ate at home last night and the burgers are those angus beef ones from our butcher, expensive but worth it, thier really good too It's funny you bring up the kissing thing because I was wondering about that myself with the lipstick, and I'm a real carb junkie too, I like my pasta and bread lol, so I need to remember not to kiss him after munching on those (it's hard though!) another thing I'm wondering about is our utensils, like cutting board, plates, forks, spoons, we're thinking about getting a different set just for his use and a seperate drawer to put them in. We don't have a dishwasher, but I try to soak all the utensils in scalding water. I also wanted to know if I was eating something with gluten in it, and I took a sip of his drink, and him my drink, could it happen that way too? There's so much to learn with this disease, I have pancreatic disease and have to sty away from fats, and now he has to stay away from whaet lol, it gets overwhelming

[KaitiUSA]

I also wanted to know if I was eating something with gluten in it, and I took a sip of his drink, and him my drink, could it happen that way too?

Yep it can happen that way too so have to be careful there

[tannilisa]

Yep it can happen that way too so have to be careful there

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, that's what I figured, I'll definitly be careful

[elonwy]

Yeah we do seperate utensil drawers, lots of tin foil on everything, and we don't share drinks or food when he's eating gluten. The kissing thing is really hard- cause we're a very snuggly couple. My bf is changing his lip balm to gluten-free too ( he doesn't wear lipstick ;P ) to make it easier. I also use a new utensil for everything, just to be super-careful. It's easy to forget when you're in the middle of doing something, and we do more dishes now, but it's better than tummy aches. I got glutened by a knife that had been used to cut bread, so it can happen with the teeniest thing.

HTH

Elonwy

[phakephur]

Choline citrate was recommended to me by a friend with chemical sensitivity (which I also have) as a remedy for brain fog. She said it works wonders after she's been dosed by perfume, etc. I don't know if it works for gluten poisoning, but I thought I would pass it along.

I saw some things on the internet about it causing muscle stiffness if you take too much.

Sarah

[laurelfla]

My bf is changing his lip balm to gluten-free too ( he doesn't wear lipstick ;P ) to make it easier.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Elonwy, do you know the name of his lip balm? i am starting to worry about things i might be using that aren't gluten-free! thanks!

[Jess]

Is there any way that you can still have brain fog although you're on a gluten free diet? I'm pretty sure I have brain fog symptoms and it really bothers me, but I've been on a gluten free diet since the diagnosis 22 years ago. The only reason why I know that there's something wrong with me is because it's not always like that and there were times when it was very rare that I was in this state.

[RiceGuy]

You can have brain fog from nutrient deficiencies. The one that stands out from the reading I've done, is vitamin B12. I'd recommend a Open Original Shared Link, 3 times daily. This is the most effectively assimilated form, and doesn't require the digestive tract to get absorbed. I would avoid ones which have cyanocobalamin, since that actually has cyanide!

[home-based-mom]

Tannilisa, try to think of gluten as dog poop. Anything that comes into direct contact or indirect contact with it is contaminated and will harm your husband.

All of the things you mentioned have the potential to transfer gluten to him. The safest way to protect him is to keep a gluten free kitchen so he will always be safe at home. If you are unwilling or unable to do that for him then yes he needs separate things. The two things that jumped out at me were the cutting board and sharing drinks while you are eating foods that are poisonous to him.

Many hear on the forum have learned to bake better tasting gluten free breads than can be bought in the store. Gluten free pasta is readily available.

It sounds like you have made a lot of progress and just have a few things to go. As you are finding out, there is quite the learning curve!

[AndrewNYC]

You can also get brain fog from enzyme deficiency / fat malasorption. Sometimes people experience improvement or complete reversal of brain fog on the gluten free diet, only to relapse (sometimes years later) because they never addressed the enzyme problem. Furthermore, bloodtests should not be the gold standard for whether or not you are producing enough enzymes. Fat malabsorption test is more accurate.

[sickchick]

Something new I have been taking as a supplement for my Adrenal Fatigue and it's been super during times of "foggage" LOL Gotu Kola

In India it is popularly known by a variety of names: Bemgsag, Brahma manduki, Brahmanduki, Brahmi (North India, West India), Gotu kola, Khulakhudi, Mandukparni, Mandookaparni, Mandukaparni (South India), or Thankuni depending on region. It is often confused with Bacopa monnieri which is the more famous "Brahmi", both have some common therapeutic properties in Vedic texts and both are used for improving memory. However, current research[citation needed] has clearly established the difference in pharmacological activities of these two herbs.

Gotu Kola acts as a powerful "brain food", and is known for its ability to enhance mental ability. It supports and improves comprehension , memory and recollection . It coordinates these three aspects of mind power to develop a more effective level of performance. It has a "Vayasthapana effect", meaning that it helps retard the aging process. It is excellent for both internal and topical application. Gotu Kola nourishes the mind-body connection and enhances the psychoneuro immune (PNI) response. It supports the formation of quality blood , as well as the bone marrow and nerves (wikepedia)

[Jess]

Thanks to everyone that posted. I guess I'll have to try and see what works best for me.

[Calicoe]

Is there any way that you can still have brain fog although you're on a gluten free diet? I'm pretty sure I have brain fog symptoms and it really bothers me, but I've been on a gluten free diet since the diagnosis 22 years ago. The only reason why I know that there's something wrong with me is because it's not always like that and there were times when it was very rare that I was in this state.

You can have brain fog from nutrient deficiencies. The one that stands out from the reading I've done, is vitamin B12. I'd recommend a Open Original Shared Link, 3 times daily. This is the most effectively assimilated form, and doesn't require the digestive tract to get absorbed. I would avoid ones which have cyanocobalamin, since that actually has cyanide!

Yeah, this is an important one for me, because I am still struggling. That was the first, most overwhelming symptom that I needed to address in April, when I started. My intestines were in a terrible state, and I had what seemed like overt Alzheimer-like symptoms. My short term memory was shot, and I was stumbling and mixing up words, or forgetting them altogether. This has been very difficult for me, because during the same changes in my life that led me to figure out that I was ill, I also took myself in a different direction by applying and getting into a PhD program. However, the demands of the entry test and interviews exposed to myself how much I had declined. I have felt humiliated at times, because I seem to have a new tick where I stumble or get stuck on pronouncing words that should never be a problem. It is weird. It happened again yesterday in a job interview. I am taking Pioneer gluten-free vitamins, both the multi and the B vitamins, and I eat walnuts and ground up flax seed everyday. However, I am noticing effects with other foods as well. Corn is one, and coffee is another. I use coffee like a controlled substance. I only drink it when I have a migraine that involves obvious swelling of the brain. It seems to dilate brain cells and gets the blood flowing. However, if I drink it otherwise, it actually causes a headache and brain fog. Right now, this type of brain fog and particularly this stumbling or language tics are a big threat to my work right. It requires that I speak and present well.

[RiceGuy]

I also experienced brain fog symptoms before I figured out the candida issue. Taking care of that was certainly like a fog lifting. As I understand it, the yeast produce toxins which can cause (among other things) all sorts of mental impairment.

[curlyfries]

My short term memory was shot, and I was stumbling and mixing up words, or forgetting them altogether......... I seem to have a new tick where I stumble or get stuck on pronouncing words that should never be a problem.

Been through all of that........much better since going gluten free.

It hadn't occurred to me to attribute it to candida, as I am convinced it is another of my issues. With advice from this board, I feel I am seeing improvement there, also.