Re: Headaches and brain fog

[Guest guest]

I've been following this headache and brain fog discussion and am

wondering how many people have tried a gluten-free diet as solution for

headaches and brain fog?

I discovered that gluten was a huge issue for me a couple years before

I even had a clue that mold was an issue. There is a tremendous

overlap between the genotypes pre-disposed to mold illnesses

(Shoemaker's research) and those who are intolerant to gluten (Dr.

Fine's research - he's a top GI researcher). I don't think I

would have ever come across Shoemaker's research if I hadn't been

looking for a correlation between my DQ genes (DQ2 and DQ7) and Lyme

disease.

I had regular migraine headaches (for nearly 30 years) until I started

the GF diet. Since going gluten-free, the only headaches I get are

when the weather is changing.

As well, the gluten-free diet is very close to a low amylose diet, thus

it is naturally a fairly anti-inflammatory diet. Since going on the GF

(and CF) diet, if I inadvertently consume gluten, I have the worst

brain fog for several days.

Be well,

B.

[Guest guest]

I still have -ENORMOUS- brain fog issues. I think it is low oxygen to

brain from vasculitis OR toxins causing inflamation in blood vessels.

Dr Rae said that toxins can cause irritation to blood vessels, also

infection. I have been gluten free for more than a year. Not

purposely but due to avoiding grains, following Dr Marinkovich's mold

and mycotoxin free diet, before that just high protein/low carb diet

for two years or more, as soon as I began to believe my problems were

fungal or Candida related which started about 2003.

>

> I've been following this headache and brain fog discussion and am

> wondering how many people have tried a gluten-free diet as solution

for

> headaches and brain fog?

>

[Guest guest]

One thing to be aware of is that gluten is often hidden in

supplements and in the form of natural flavorings in alot of foods,

so it requires extreme diligence to keep all gluten out of your diet -

it took me well over 2 years to totally remove all sources and even

then I was still inadvertently getting hit. The new food labeling

laws enacted in 2006 only require that they denote whether the

product contains wheat (but gluten is also found in rye, oats, and

barley). It won't be until 2008 that the appropriate labeling for

gluten is required. I learned the hard way about the gluten being

hidden in supplements and in prescription medicines (generic Diflucan

is a good example of one that may contain gluten). Also,

manufacturing can result in cross contamination, so even if a product

has no gluten containing ingredients, if it's manufactured in a plant

that also produces gluten containing products, you can get cross

contamination - another one we learned the hard way for my son.

I do agree that the gluten-free diet doesn't totally eliminate the

brain fog, but my experience has been that it reduces it

tremendously, even when I was still living in a home filled with mold

toxins. Also, the blood tests for the antibodies are not known to be

highly accurate, according to Dr. Fine's research. So, gluten can be

an issue for you even though you may not be producing high levels of

antibodies.

> >

> > I've been following this headache and brain fog discussion and am

> > wondering how many people have tried a gluten-free diet as

solution

> for

> > headaches and brain fog?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have never had this brain fog. I have just about everything else

but I never had a difficult time thinking. Of course my husband my

differ.lol

>

> I've been following this headache and brain fog discussion and am

> wondering how many people have tried a gluten-free diet as solution

for

> headaches and brain fog?

>

> I discovered that gluten was a huge issue for me a couple years

before

> I even had a clue that mold was an issue. There is a tremendous

> overlap between the genotypes pre-disposed to mold illnesses

> (Shoemaker's research) and those who are intolerant to gluten (Dr.

> Fine's research - he's a top GI researcher). I don't think

I

> would have ever come across Shoemaker's research if I hadn't been

> looking for a correlation between my DQ genes (DQ2 and DQ7) and

Lyme

> disease.

>

> I had regular migraine headaches (for nearly 30 years) until I

started

> the GF diet. Since going gluten-free, the only headaches I get are

> when the weather is changing.

>

> As well, the gluten-free diet is very close to a low amylose diet,

thus

> it is naturally a fairly anti-inflammatory diet. Since going on

the GF

> (and CF) diet, if I inadvertently consume gluten, I have the worst

> brain fog for several days.

>

> Be well,

> B.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , I don't just avoid wheat, I avoid all grains, since they

are stored and can get moldy so I also avoid rye and barley. I

occasionally have oats but it's rare. I don't take supplements and

really nothing has food coloring in it since I eat only fresh whole

foods...that is basis of Marinkovich diet and other whole foods. If

you eat fresh whole foods, not processed and not stores, you avoid

alot of mold and mycotoxins. Fresh foods don't have food coloring

in them. I should take supplements but I believe eating well is

better source of nutrition. I do take some fish oil when I can

remember to and occasionally try something someone recommends.

Anyway, what would the connection between guten and lack of oxygen?

My brain fog lifts with oxygen, so it has to be something that

affects oxygen level. My blurry vision also lifts with oxygen.

Wheat gluten would have to be causing my vasculitis and narrowing my

blood vessels to cut down on oxygen. That wouldn't make sense since

I have alot of allergies but none one to gluten according to

extensive blood tests and skin testing. I just think that it is

not 'one' thing affecting people's health. I know gluten is a

factor for many people but it's not a problem for everyone. It

would be nice if we could find 'one' thing that could be avoided to

alleviate suffering but I don't think gluten is it. At least not

for me.

>

> One thing to be aware of is that gluten is often hidden in

> supplements and in the form of natural flavorings in alot of

foods,

> so it requires extreme diligence to keep all gluten out of your

diet -

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

I would consider yourself extremely lucky that you can manage without

taking supplements or Rx medicines, as many of us don't digest the

nutrients from the food properly, due to several reasons including

low MSH and low body temperature due to low thyroid. When you have a

low body temperature, the enzymes necessary for digestion don't work

properly. I even have to take digestive enzymes. I would love not

to have to take all these supplements, but I can't even get out of

bed without taking my thyroid Rx. I did try working with an

alternative practitioner, who thought I was taking too many, but I

crashed bigtime and realized that I know what works for me better

than her. Also, do you not need to supplement to get your B vitamins

since you don't consume grains?

The issue with gluten that I'm highlighting isn't about the allergic

sensitivity, just like the mold issue we usually discuss isn't about

the allergic reaction that folks can have to mold. The gluten can

actually act as a neurotoxin in many of our bodies. There is

research showing that the gluten sensitivity can indeed have

neurological impacts, including vasculitis, per this recent research:

http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/72/5/560

There is also research showing the correlation between gluten

sensitivity (celiac disease) and migraine headaches:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=AbstractPlus & list_uids=12650798 & query_hl=2

& itool=pubmed_docsum

I was just trying to highlight that many folks with this illness can

benefit from a gluten free diet, but keeping 100% gluten free can be

difficult. I know many who say they've tried the diet, but unless

you follow it 100%, you can still have the neuro impacts. And, of

course, like the mold toxin impacts, it's not all reversible even

when you are no longer exposed. But, again, I have gotten tremendous

relief from my migraines (and I mean debilitating migraines) by

following a strict GF diet. I honestly didn't realize the impact it

had on brain fog until I inadvertently consume gluten and turn into

an absolute zombie for several days.

I agree 100% that none of us has a single issue - there are many

layers to each of our illnesses. I was only trying to highlight to

folks that hadn't considered this yet, or perhaps been told to follow

a GF diet, but weren't sure how it might impact them, the tremendous

symptom relief that I experience by strictly following a GF diet.

Certainly, YMMV, but again, there is strong science behind the

research of both Dr. Shoemaker and Dr. Fine showing the correlation

between the genotypes for gluten sensitivity and mold sensitivity. It

may well be that since I'm a dreaded genotype AND mold genotype that

I see more of an impact than folks that might only have one of the

genotypes. Although, my oldest son is a mold genotype and low MSH

and he got incredible symptom relief from the GF diet. For my family,

the impact of the GF diet was more noticeable than the impact of

taking the CSM or leaving our mold toxin filled house, both of which

we know helped alot.

Be well,

B.

> >

> > One thing to be aware of is that gluten is often hidden in

> > supplements and in the form of natural flavorings in alot of

> foods,

> > so it requires extreme diligence to keep all gluten out of your

> diet -

> >

>

[Guest guest]

, I was trying to answer your original question of if anyone had

brain fog and tried gluten free diet and my answer was yes. I am on

gluten free diet and have brain fog. Obviously you think it is

because I have overlooked a source of gluten somewhere. Okay, I

will relook at everything but there isn't much to look at, no grains

at all. I did not say I take no Rx. I take a bedtime Rx that I

have been taking for 20 years and I do also have to take digestive

enzymes Rxed for me by Dr Marinkovich which is pancreatic gland

dessicated, Creon, but my alternative doctor also had given me an

over the counter version of same thing. Both of them VERY

EXPENSIVE! I also said I SHOULD be taking supplements, not that I

don't need them. I had cancer and turned down chemo and radiation,

so hardly a healthy person not needing anything. My doctor warns me

I'm not doing enough for my health, but so busy with now my new

apartment that needs cleaning up to be clean enough for me and

making plans for old moldy home. I can't have two homes for very

long, due to impact on my pocketbook so thoughts about my own health

go out the window. I should be taking B's and I HAVE them but they

sit on the shelf. Getting into clean environment has done so much

for me. I feel like I'm doing the most important things and I don't

want to miss a post here. I too took Dr Shoemaker's tests but have

to look at tests to report findings as I cannot remember all these

terms but my results were very bad so I am not lucky at all .

>

> Hi Barb,

>

> I would consider yourself extremely lucky that you can manage

without

> taking supplements or Rx medicines, as many of us don't digest the

> nutrients from the food properly, due to several reasons including

> low MSH and low body temperature due to low thyroid.

[Guest guest]

I have vasculitis, symptoms of congestive heart failure, migraines

(which are easing up a little), had cancer removed surgically from

pelvic area and hopefully is in the past, insomnia and blurry vision

so bad a friend gave me a pair of gold earrings on a 'gold colored

paper backing' and I thought she was handing me a piece of gold

wrapped chocolate, and I'm only in my fifties---which I have to say

as often as possible now since I am getting close to the other

decade. My friend of 15 years said " Are you SERIOUS???!! " to my

question, 'is this chocolate?' to her gift of earrings. I'm so

afraid I'm going to be blind before I'm 65, so don't put me in your

lucky column!

>

> Hi Barb,

>

> I would consider yourself extremely lucky that you can manage

without

> taking supplements or Rx medicines,

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I apologize as I misinterpreted your response, that you felt you

should be able to get all the nutrition you need from food, as being

that you didn't consider supplements necessary. I was trying to be

helpful in highlighting how difficult, but useful, it can be to go

entirely GF. Even consuming oats even rarely resets your system in

terms of the reaction to gluten. Dr. Fine's research shows that only

those that go absolutely 100% GF get the most reduction in symtpoms.

I think it's very similar to those of us that are supersensitive to

mold/mycotoxins - each encounter is more intense and requires even

more stringent avoidance thereafter. I can't count on my doctors to

prescribe Rxes which are gluten free and my alternative doctor was

giving supplements that contain dairy, which also causes me grief. I

always ask the pharmacist to research all my prescriptions to make

sure they're GF/CF and lactose free. I do the same myself for all

supplements and it is extremely difficult.

I am sorry you do seem to have so many other health issues

compounding your sitution.

Peace and Healing,

B

> >

> > Hi Barb,

> >

> > I would consider yourself extremely lucky that you can manage

> without

> > taking supplements or Rx medicines,

>

[Guest guest]

Okay . Thanks for clearing up. I'd like to be more accurate and

say that I have fluid on my heart but no diagnosis of congestive heart

failure. That's my own theory. Doctor can't figure it out. So,

what's new?

>

> Barb,

> I apologize as I misinterpreted your response, that you felt you

> should be able to get all the nutrition you need from food, as being

> that you didn't consider supplements necessary. I was trying to be

> helpful