Brain Fog

[stanski]

As many others my brain stopped working during pregnancy. Forgetfulness, brain fog and all the rest. Prior to this I was always sharp and never had any issues.

It's been 2.5 years now since birth and my brain hasn't recovered yet. In the first few months post birth I discovered some nootropic supplements on amazon which really, really helped. They got discontinued about a year ago and I've tried others but never been back to normal again.

I manage work fine but say if I'm shopping and DH says can you get X Y Z (three things for example) I'll concentrate so much on not forgetting those, that I come back without what I had gone to get for myself. I'm just starting to worry that it's not normal? should it not be back by now my normal brain function?

I don't lack sleep or anything. Anyone had this? Anyone able to suggest something that may work? Thanks in advance.

MN cliche coming up, but have you had your thyroid levels checked?

I haven't no. Funny enough came across thyroid issues last week when I was looking into autoimmune stuff (have PMLE in summer - sun allergy basically) and read about there being a potential connection between under active thyroid and PMLE.
Didn't realise it also affects the brain. Looks like will need to get that checked ASAP then. I can deal with the sun allergy (in a way you kind of learn to live with it - out of the sun) but brain fog is just driving me insane.

Thank you @EssentialHummus that's really helpful and much appreciated

I had it severely before being diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, and continue to have it if my dose is incorrect. Other typical symptoms: hair loss, constipation, weight gain, lethargy. Basically all your systems slow right down.

I've gotten better with energy by sticking to a schedule, but went through last year of always being lethargic. I put it down to having a young kid but maybe that wasn't it. Hair loss have a lot of that but on the brush, if that makes sense. Never had constipation but I've always had a very good digestion since being a kid. Weight has always been on the upper side of what it should be so it could very well be linked.
Last year I briefly met with a nutritionist who got me to do a general health test. The results showed problems with white blood cells. With the tiredness at the time I never looked into it further but I think it's just time to get all of this checked.

Google symptoms for coeliacs, op. Hair loss, brain fog.... Could be

Even the white blood cells. My son has coeliacs and he had some white blood cell issues

Thanks @Prusik that's really helpful. just had a look. Bloating, tiredness and anemia (always been either anaemic or on border) are a yes. I'm not intolerant to gluten (did this few years ago). I am slightly intolerant to wheat and dairy but my only reaction so far is bloating so haven't really tackled it full on.
Is it possible to be coeliac without being intolerant to gluten?

Posted the problem areas from last years test which highlighted white cell, monocytes and neutrophils at high levels and CRP at very high level.

Thank you both. It didn't occur to me until this evening that this may all be connected!

You can be coeliac and not know. Your gut can be suffering damage but trying to cope. Coeliac often goes along with autoimmune thyroid disease.
I agree with getting your thyroid checked, ditto Coeliac. Also vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron.

I have definitely felt a decline in something in my brain after my children (3 over 6 years). I used to be a person that saw any form of puzzle and started working on it. Even stuff I knew was too hard for me. Now I actively avoid looking if I see something like that because I know I won't do it. It's like my brain is a tired muscle or something. Genuinely it feels like I've lost brain fitness somehow without doing anything to cause it. I'm otherwise fit and healthy and active and working but there is a part of me that hasn't got back up to speed since kids and I don't know how to get it back.

arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/pregnancy-brain-means-reductions-in-grey-matter-for-new-mothers/?amp=1

I remember reading about this study above. This is the first article google provided but this isn't where I read about it. Same thing though.

I've just done the online test of the coeliac uk website and result says - you should be tested. It would also explain my bloating which they call - distention.
I do sometimes wake up with normal stomach and half way through the day bloat to the point I've had people asking if I want their seat on the tube ... (clearly thinking I'm pregnant). I can live with most of this as never really had an explanation for it, but the brain fog part is just so dysfunctional.

My gosh you guys this has been such an eye opener! Going to call GP first thing and ask to get tested. Can thank you all enough.

If you have a negative test result that doesn't mean you wouldn't benefit from eliminating gluten from your direct.
I went gluten free after a negative test and my stomach basically recovered. I didn't look pregnant by 7pm every evening.

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Thanks @treegone. This is the type of thing I had in mine when I first opened the thread, but with actual results of the study. This is also very, very interesting. Thanks for this.

Thanks @megletthesecond you have a point yes. I'm also thinking if May have been negative then but doesn't mean I'm not intolerant / reacting to it now, as intolerances change over time.

OK so get appointment with GP to test thyroid and test for coeliac. It says on the coeliac website that for the test to be run correctly you need to be eating gluten in the weeks prior to taking the test, so I'll keep it til then and eliminate it straight after regardless of the result.

From a practical perspective is it a case of pre planning meals - how hard is it to get gluten free food on the go?

I am almost certainly coeliac but stupidly stopped eating gluten before getting tested. Even tiny amounts now make me so ill that I can’t face eating it again for six weeks, as obviously I shouldn’t be eating it anyway, given my reaction.
Coeliac disease is an auto-immune condition, so not the same as an intolerance or allergy. I found that although I had bloating, I was basically ok until I had a gap of not eating gluten, suspecting an intolerance. When I then tried to eat gluten again, after a six week gap, I was violently ill. I have other conditions that are common with coeliac, eg Hashimoto’s and a couple of other minor things.

The blood test is not always conclusive, you can get a false negative, but it is a good starting point. As to food when out and about, the biggest problem is cross contamination, I have been in cafes where they will have a gluten free cake but use the same knife or tongs that they use for the normal cakes. It is astonishing how common this is. Or the same toaster, for GF toast.

It is far easier than it used to be to get things in the major supermarkets though. M&S always have GF sandwiches, although I wish they would make more of their salads GF.

OK I've done thyroid test just had results back and they are normal. Next up will be coeliac.