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Symptoms- Brain Fog?

Kwx525

By Kwx525
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Kwx525 Apprentice
Kwx525
Posted

Good Morning,

Looking for some advice on how to deal with a doctor. I've been going to a doctor that has been overall fairly nice and understanding. I'm dealing with a situation where a need a statement from the gastroenterologist stating that when I have a Celiac/gluten attack or issue there is associated brain fog as one of the symptoms (among other obvious symptoms). I just heard back from the office, and they said brain fog is not related to the gut (GI) and is not a symptom, therefore they could not make this statement. I was kind of shocked at first and didn't really know how to respond. I managed to get the office worker to re-submit the request and just confirm this was the case. Does this seem right to anyone? I feel like if this is the case, I may need to just find another doctor. Appreciate and insight or thoughts those of you may have.

 

Thanks

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RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted

I wonder if your request actually went to the doctor or was just denied by other staff.  

Perhaps some references to scientific articles would help to make your point:

Gluten induced cognitive impairment (brain fog) in coeliac disease

Cognitive impairment in celiac disease…

Celiac Disease and Neurological Manifestations: From Gluten to Neuroinflammation

Kwx525 Apprentice
Kwx525
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for the links to the articles. You would think you wouldn't have to send articles to a GI doctor about these symptoms. I did mention that maybe there was some confusion as to when I have these symptoms. Normally, gluten free, I do not typically have these issues. However, when I get glutened I get the whole array of symptoms that most people get, to include brain fog related issues. I feel like if they come back with the same response I'll have to try and get another opinion, which isn't really ideal.

 

Thanks

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Brain fog in celiac disease is often linked to nutrient deficiencies. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.

 

 

 

knitty kitty Grand Master
knitty kitty
Posted

@Kwx525,

One of my doctors excused my brain fog as a type of migraine.  Not 100% scientifically and technically accurate, but more acceptable to the uneducated masses and doctors clueless about Celiac. 

Do consider supplementing with vitamins and minerals.  Subclinical deficiencies in Thiamine B1 Pyridoxine B 6, and B12 Cobalamine can help clear brain fog and improve migraines both! 

 

Kwx525 Apprentice
Kwx525
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the responses. It’s hard to describe to doctors and people sometimes. I just use brain fog cause that makes sense to me and most people who deal with these issues. This usually happens specifically when glutened. I guess you could use terms like decreased ability to focus and/or concentrate. It has always resembled flu like symptoms to me.

Thanks 

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Here is some more reading on brain fog and celiac disease in case you are interested:

https://www.celiac.com/search/?&q="brain fog"&type=cms_records2&quick=1&search_and_or=and&search_in=titles&sortby=relevancy 

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    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Thank you! That's helpful. My kids eat very little processed food. Tons of fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs and occasional red meat. We do a lot of rice and bean bowls, stir fry, etc.  Do you think with all the fruits and vegetables they need a vitamin supplement? I feel like their diet is pretty healthy and balanced with very limited processed food. The only processed food they eat regularly is a bowl of Cheerios here and there.  Could shaking legs be a symptom of just a one-time gluten exposure? I guess there's no way to know for sure if they're getting absolutely zero exposure because they do go to school a couple times a week. We do homeschool but my son does a shared school 2x a week and my daughter does a morning Pre-K 3 x a week.  At home our entire house is strictly gluten free and it is extremely rare for us to eat out. If we eat at someone else's house I usually just bring their food. When we have play dates we bring all the snacks, etc. I try to be really careful since they're still growing. They also, of course, catch kids viruses all the time so I  want to make sure I know whether they're just sick or they've had gluten. It can be pretty confusing when they're pretty young to even be explaining their symptoms! 
    • Scott Adams
      Anti-endomysial Antibody (EMA) Testing

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      That is interesting, and it's the first time I heard about the umbilical cord beings used for that test. Thanks for sharing!
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @lizzie42, You're being a good mom, seeking answers for your son.  Cheers! Subclinical thiamine deficiency commonly occurs with anemia.  An outright Thiamine deficiency can be precipitated by the consumption of a high carbohydrate meal.   Symptoms of Thiamine deficiency include feeling shakey or wobbly in the legs, muscle weakness or cramps, as well as aggression and irritability, confusion, mood swings and behavior changes.  Thiamine is essential to the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine which keep us calm and rational.   @Jsingh, histamine intolerance is also a symptom of Thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine is needed to prevent mast cells from releasing histamine at the slightest provocation as is seen in histamine intolerance.  Thiamine and the other B vitamins and Vitamin C are needed to clear histamine from the body.  Without sufficient thiamine and other B vitamins to clear it, the histamine builds up.  High histamine levels can change behavior, too.  High histamine levels are found in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.  Thiamine deficiency can also cause extreme hunger or conversely anorexia.   High carbohydrate meals can precipitate thiamine deficiency because additional thiamine is required to process carbohydrates for the body to use as fuel.  The more carbohydrates one eats daily, the more one needs additional thiamine above the RDA.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses. Keep in mind that gluten-free processed foods like cookies and such are not required to be fortified and enriched with vitamins and minerals like their gluten containing counterparts are.  Limit processed gluten-free foods.  They are often full of empty calories and unhealthy saturated fats and additives, and are high in histamine or histamine release triggers.  It's time you bought your own vitamins to supplement what is not being absorbed due to malabsorption of Celiac disease.  Benfotiamine is a form of Thiamine that has been shown to improve intestinal health as well as brain function. Do talk to your doctors and dieticians about supplementing with the essential vitamins and minerals while your children are growing up gluten free.  Serve nutritionally dense foods.  Meats and liver are great sources of B vitamins and minerals. Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!
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      Bob red mill gluten free oats

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