Terrible brain fog. What dosage of supps to take?

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GrammyLou
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Terrible brain fog. What dosage of supps to take?

Post by GrammyLou »

Two related questions: For whatever reason, I do not have frequent BMs...just puffy poo once a day. For about 2 weeks I have been following the SCD diet, eliminating mostly all carbs and grains, because my pre-LC diet was super high in sugar and I am sure it's the sugar that got me into this mess. My stomach pains and nausea are mostly gone, but I can't shake this brain fog. Sometimes it's worse than others. Yesterday afternoon I decided to add butternut squash to my menu. It was delicious! Just cut up, broiled with olive oil, S&P, until soft. I also had an apple and some blueberries last night. No gut problems at all, but the brain fog last night...and continuing this morning...is really bad!
Do you think it's the sugar in the butternut squash and fruit that's causing the brain fog? Maybe yeast overgrowth? Or I've also been reading about low stomach acid causing brain fog, recommending taking apple cider vinegar?

What supplements help with the brain fog? I just bought some Vitamin Shoppe brand Vitamin D3 (1000 IU) and Calcium citrate (also 1000 MG). I also bought Kirkman Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate (bottle recommends 1 pill 3x/day but I'm concerned about it causing gut problems?) Also bought Thorne Methyl-guard plus. Do I just take 1 per day?

Thanks for any insight/help. I am feeling pretty good at this point, if I could just shake this stinking brain fog!
~Louise
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Pam V
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Post by Pam V »

Hi Lou,

I think that in the beginning, you don't want to vary your diet too much. I'm 6+ months into this journey and my only fruit is banana. I think the skin on the apple, although nutritious, has a lot of fiber. Apples and blueberries are going to have sugar and fiber. I just added squash and broccoli back in within the past two months. In the beginning, it was strictly rice/protein/white potato or sweet potato with overcooked green beans - not even cereal at breakfast (just started having that a few times/week within the past two months).

I know when I bought the Kirkman Magnesium, others in the forum that take it said that it was very safe to take and would not cause D. I don't recall the specifics of what made it better (bisglycinate, maybe...).

I am just coming out of brain fog. I had a good two to three months where I was forgetting words, having to double and triple check my work.....lots of rest and slow recovery have helped things to lift.

I had puffy poo pretty most days for the past year leading up to my diagnosis. Now that I am only eating the foods that are safe for me to eat, things are much better. At the risk of sounding gross, I remember when I had my first normal looking poo, I told my husband that I seriously considered taking a picture of it - it was beautiful. Things are softer than they use to be most days but then there are days when I wipe and the toilet tissue looks clean.

Patience has never been my strong suit and this disease has really forced me to learn to take things slowly. I think that in time, you will see things start to improve. It will be tough with the holidays around the corner but it will be worth it as you feel better.

Pam
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LauraAnn
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Post by LauraAnn »

I agree with Pam re: varying your diet in the the beginning. I still don't eat fruit, with the exception of canned peaches. I used to eat bananas in the beginning, but then oI started to get itchy with them and quit. My diet is pretty much the same after starting this healing. I do treat myself to an occasional treat of Mexican food-- not hot or too spicy, but something like a taco . Am still eating over cooked vegetables like green beans and squash and only red potatoes. It's just going to take time to heal enough to add variety. I forgot, I just recently added a salad now and then to the menu. See, I still have a little brain fog too! :grin:
Laura Turner
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"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in". - Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
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tex
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Post by tex »

Brain fog is a common symptom of MC, apparently associated with the inflammation. As we heal, brain fog and fatigue are usually the two last symptoms to resolve. But that often takes up to two years.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Lou
if you have read through the guidelines to recovery section you will see discussions/information on what supps and what dosage

less is more in the early stages of healing, both with our eating plans AND supplements

first stage of healing it is best to just stick with Vit D3 and magnesium (skip the calcium for now)
if you are worried about oral magnesium causing poop issues then use topical magnesium

Vit D3, minimum of 5000iu - 7000iu is good dose - this is best gauged by actual Vit D3 test results (test kits are available via Vit D council)
Magnesium, minimum of 350mg elemental magnesium (check the fine print of the product label to see how much elemental magnesium there is per dose / and how many tablets are required per dose)
if you are drinking coffee, taking medications that deplete magnesium or severly deficient then you will need higher dose for a couple of months to resolve deficiency.

if you follow the suggested low inflammation gut healing eating plan (low fibre, minimal ingredeints, minimal fruit etc) healing will go well.

as Tex has mentioned, getting rid of symptoms like brain fog, joint pain etc, takes months (not days) for now breathe, be patient and give the body time to adjust to the eating plan and lifestyle changes you are making.
like when you break a bone, it takes 8 weeks of immobilisation for the bone to heal, our gut takes longer.
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
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Gabes-Apg
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

Also
did you read my reply in your question in the Enterlab results section...

it takes a while (3 months or sometimes more) for the body to clear gluten antibodies.
please be patient with the healing journey. sadly there is no quick fix, fast track process.

Things like GLuten, dairy, sugar are highly addictive toxins. your brain and your body is basically clearing this addiction.
that is why things like good Vit D3 and magnesium are helpful, they support the body during this process.
Gabes Ryan

"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
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