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Dealing With Brain Fog

Celtic Queen

By Celtic Queen
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Celtic Queen Explorer
Celtic Queen
Posted

Long story short, I glutened myself last Monday by accident and now I'm dealing with 2 weeks of side effects. For me the gi stuff is pretty easy. I get through it in a day or two. It's the brain fog, apathy, and fatigue that last for about two weeks. Anyone have any good ideas on supplements I can take or anything else I can do to help it go away faster? It's driving me crazy. It's also affecting my work and home life.

We're really busy at work right now and I just can't concentrate or get motivated. And when I get home, I'm so tired I just sit on the couch. I feel like I'm cheating my boss and my coworkers because I'm not working as hard as I could if I felt better. But I can't seem to be able to work any harder because I'm distracted and can't concentrate. And I'm frustated because I'm usually the one who is organized and on top of things. Now I don't have the mental energy to deal with stuff, so then I get overwhelmed.

I'd be grateful for any advice you guys can give me on what has helped you with dealing with brain fog. I just dread feeling this way for another week. But it's definitely motivating me to stick to my diet.

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pondy Contributor
pondy
Posted

I'm really sorry that you're suffering.

I can relate - not only to the brain fog/fatigue/no motivation issues, but to the job stress as well.

What seems to help me is to eliminate sugary foods (including dairy) - these I tend to eat more of when I feel under pressure. In the end, cereal, cookies, ice cream - anything processed really - all make me feel worse.

Getting lots of sleep seems to help. I try to listen to my body. If that means I'm in bed at 7 p.m. than so be it.

I take B12, which I believe is supposed to help.

Fresh air & sunshine do wonders for me - even if it's a 15 minute walk with the dog.

I hope you start feeling better soon!

Celtic Queen Explorer
Celtic Queen
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the kind words Pondy. I'm going to get some B12 today. I've been trying to watch the diet but I think I'm going to have to be even stricter over the next couple of weeks, eliminating anything processed, dairy, soy, etc. I'm definitely going to work on getting some fresh air this weekend.

Leper Messiah Apprentice
Leper Messiah
Posted

Celtic Queen - you sound like you have a similar gluten path to me.

I agree with Pondy on a lot of the points above although B12 did nothing for me personally other than make my tongue really red (I used sub-lingual tabs).

I think fundamentally what it comes down to is taking the strain off your adrenals which are dealing with the ongoing inflammation etc caused by the reaction so lots of sleep, reducing high GI / sugary foods, eating regularly and as healthily as possible, not eating foods to which you are sensitive to, reducing alcohol/nicotine consumption and reducing general stress (where possible).

With your work, it looks like this is difficult but have you told them about your problem? I don't think my work understand fully but they are obliged to help me where possible and it's very reassuring to know that safety net is there and that 'it's out' so to speak and I don't have to hide it / battle through.

Plenty of water and fresh air are perhaps obvious but nevertheless beneficial.

Hope you get through it, incidentally I'm in the middle of a gluten reaction myself...roll on the beginning of November.

glutenfreemamax2 Enthusiast
glutenfreemamax2
Posted

I could have written your exact post. I have a bday present I have needed to mail since last week but don't have motivation.

Hope it gets better soon

Celtic Queen Explorer
Celtic Queen
Posted
  • Author

Leper Messiah - I haven't told work yet. I've told just one coworker, but not even all of it to her. It's not that I'm trying to hide it from them, I just haven't had a good time to do it yet. Usually we meet once a week and I was going to do it then, but lately it's been so crazy that no one's had time to. Plus I find out the results from my Hashimoto's test tomorrow so I was kind of waiting to see if I have to explain 2 diseases to them or just one. :P

My boss is a very type "A" person and while I'm sure he'll feel bad for me, he's one of those "we have to get it done, so let's get it done" kind of people. I work with really great people but I don't think they'll understand the whole brain fog part of it, especially my main boss. It's also a really small office, so if I'm off my game there's not really anyone who can pick up the slack for me. The next time we do meet I do plan to bring up the subject just because I don't really want to be hiding anything from them.

glutenfreemama - I had to laugh when I read your post. I have a birthday present for my sister that I've needed to mail for 3 days and I haven't worked up the energy. Luckily she's laid back and won't really care when she gets it.

GlutenDude Newbie
GlutenDude
Posted

I get fatigue and brain fog like you wouldn't believe. I've tried everything under the sun (including the sun!) and what works best for me, believe it or not, is exercise. I know it's the last thing you feel like doing, but getting moving and getting the endorphins going seems to be a real quick fix for me. Does it last? No...but it's a good short term solution.

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Celtic Queen Explorer
Celtic Queen
Posted
  • Author

Thanks GlutenDude. That's a really good thought. I do probably need to step up the exercise. I've been doing my normal amount, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to do more.

livelifelarge24 Enthusiast
livelifelarge24
Posted

I go through the same thing. I already take b12 every day anyway so I wouldn't knownif that helps. It really is the most frustrating and longest lasting symptom for me and the only thing that helps in my case is having an extremely understanding boyfriend and knowing that EVENTUALLY I'll get back to "normal"

Sarah B Apprentice
Sarah B
Posted

I get fatigue and brain fog like you wouldn't believe. I've tried everything under the sun (including the sun!) and what works best for me, believe it or not, is exercise. I know it's the last thing you feel like doing, but getting moving and getting the endorphins going seems to be a real quick fix for me. Does it last? No...but it's a good short term solution.

same here!

A couple days ago, I was lacking all motivation, I couldn't think, and i was so tired and I was feeling all my glutened side effects. So I went running. Mind you it was close to one of the worst 17 minutes runs I've every done. But I felt much better afterwards and was able to get a little bit done.

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