Brain fog... can't... think... errrrrr

cdrisc · Post by **cdrisc** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:41 pm

Hi all! It's been a few weeks since I posted. Much is the same, although maybe a little better (8-12 D episodes a day vs. 12-15). This episode was brought on by clindamycin for a root canal, so my doc has checked me for c. diff and SIBO. All tests have come back negative, so it's pointing toward the MC and inflammation being the only issue.

Colestipol helps, but I can only take one pill a day. More than that makes me very bloated and gassy, and my stools are particularly foul-smelling. I've got an upcoming appt. to discuss the next step, so I'm in management-mode until then.

One issue that has gotten worse is brain fog. After I have a D episode, I can feel the cloud drift in: spacey, dizzy, hard to think, and fatigue. I thought I read something about mast cells or histamines possibly being related to this (I'm unsure, because, brain fog). Any thoughts?

ETA... I can't get into my doc until July 18th. Is it budesonide that is being recommended as a first-line treatment for MC? Should I call in and ask for a prescription? Cut back to only eating white rice? Both? I know it's hard to answer these "should" questions, but any experience would be helpful for consideration.

Chris

Post by **tex** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:13 pm

Hi Chris,

Antibiotics are notorious for triggering MC flares. The only antibiotics that don't regularly cause a flare are the fluoroquinolones (including Cipro), but the problem with the fluoroquinolones is that they have a lot of serious side effect risks, so it's tough to win with antibiotics when you have MC.

Check the label on the Colestipol. If it contains a form of lactose that may be the cause of the adverse symptoms.

The brain fog is very common with MC flares. According to research it's associated with gluten sensitivity, but it appears that during a flare, peptides from other partially-digested foods to which we are sensitive can also cross the blood-brain barrier to cause brain fog. It will usually fade away as our gut inflammation resolves and our digestive system begins to heal. As far as I'm aware, that symptom isn't associated with histamine/mast cell problems, at least not directly.

A common cause of brain fog however is magnesium deficiency, and most IBD patients tend to become even more magnesium deficient during a flare because of the dehydration and malabsorption problems. A magnesium deficiency can cause a significant increase in the rate of conversion of histame into histamine, so it's possible that this may be the mechanism by which magnesium causes brain fog, but that has not been documented by medical research, to the best of my knowledge.

Yes, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute recommends budesonide as the first line of treatment for MC. They also now recognize the option of extended use for treating MC. In December, when they issued new guidelines, they included this recommendation:

5. For patients whose symptoms relapse when a budesonide treatment regimen is completed, the guidelines recommend continued treatment with budesonide in order to maintain clinical remission.

Many members here find it necessary to eat a bland recovery diet in order to allow budesonide to work. Everyone is different, but the bottom line is that budesonide seems to work much more effectively in some cases than others. The key to healing though is eating plenty of safe protein. Rice is by far the safest grain.

Tex

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 5:12 pm

Chris
are you taking Vit D3 and magnesium?

what sort of eating plan are you following?

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:10 pm

Chris, I was just thinking the other day how my brain fog has gotten a lot better. I'm 10 months in on my diet and still have a way to go...

I'm really trying to get in my mag oil each day.

cdrisc · Post by **cdrisc** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:49 pm

I take 12000 IU of D3 per day. For Mg, I'm taking 300 mg a day. I just bought some Mg Oil spray, so I'll be upping my dose via the spray. I'm pretty sure it's low given the low back pain and stiff muscles.

I've been gluten free for five years. I'm not following any other specific diet; I've been trying to work into a low FODMAP/low residue diet (limited fruit and veggies, and none of it raw). I was only halfway joking about eating white rice. I was hoping that the low FODMAP/low residue diet would be enough, but I'm thinking the next step is an elimination diet. Tex has a good point about getting in the protein; I'm fatigued enough as it is, I can't cut out protein.

Tex's point about the brain fog typically being related to gluten consumption does get me thinking: I'm on a few medications (generics), and it's possible that the brand has been switch. Perhaps it's time to investigate the fillers used in the meds.

Ultimately, though, I need to get the inflammation in check. We'll see if the doc has a new approach for me.

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:50 pm

Mine has really gotten a lot better also, and when I forget to take my vitamin D or magnesium or B vitamins, it tends to creep back in a little bit.........as long as I am maintaining, things are lots better.

cdrisc · Post by **cdrisc** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 10:05 am

Hey all. Thanks for your responses.

I forgot to mention that I take B vitamins - I take Life Extension Bio Active Complete. Those have DEFINITELY helped with the baseline brain function. With the more acute episodes of brain fog that occur immediately after the D, I think Tex's theory about partially digested food crossing the blood-brain barrier is interesting, and worth looking into for me.

My doc just prescribed uceris (9 mg), so I promptly searched the forums for postings on its use. I'm going to up my magnesium oil usage even more, since it sounds like steroids deplete Mg. Any other experience with steroids that might be helpful?

Keeping my fingers crossed that this helps...

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 10:37 am

The tendency for corticosteroids to deplete magnesium is clearly (IMO) the reason why corticosteroids cause osteoporosis, but doctors don't seem to comprehend that simple observation. Taking B vitamins should help because vitamin B-6 is necessary for transporting magnesium from the blood into muscle cells where it is stored for future use. Magnesium that is not immediately used or stored is purged from the blood by the kidneys and wasted.

Uceris cannot become activated until after it reaches the colon (according to manufacturer claims), so theoretically at least, it should not deplete magnesium or contribute to osteoporosis.

Good luck with your treatment.

Tex