All of those cognitive symptoms, and neurological symptoms... can be caused by B12 deficiency... often found in those with gluten sensitivity.

If you aren't already, I would consider taking mega dose B12 (1000-2000mcg daily), preferably the methylcobalamin type. Along with a multivitamin or B-complex.


Please read these two pages... especially the symptom page. I think I had every symptom you mention. I can totally relate to the brain fog, word finding problems, typo problems (also drives me nuts... still... because I will mix up words that I KNOW BETTER!), numbness... would wake up with entire body numb, ringing, buzzing and clicking sounds in my ears (completely resolved!), and much more!
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com...ciencysymptoms
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/b12deficiency


Now, having said that, gluten sensitivity alone can cause these symptoms, too. But, very often B12 deficiency is part of the problem. Afterall, celiac disease/ gluten sensitivity is a disease of malabsorption. In addition, B12 deficiency can be caused by another autoimmune disease, pernicious anemia.

Have you had a B12 level taken at any point? If you are going to ask to be tested, don't start supplementing until after you have the blood drawn because the blood levels can come up quickly (although it can take months for symptoms to resolve). But, if you don't think you will be tested... I would definitely consider supplementing B12. The B12 deficiency link above confirms the dosage of 1000-2000mcg as standard and safe for treating B12 deficiency.

While in theory, B12 absorption will improve once the gut is healed, many people find they need it for life. Some people do have pernicious anemia and that absolutely requires rest of life treatment. Pernicious anemia is commonly found in those celiac disease, thyroid disease, etc.

As for testing for DQ1... We did do the testing after a year or two on the diet. I thought for sure my family would have the main genes because our medical history read like that of classic celiac disease. But, instead I found my daughter and I both had double copies of DQ1. It was a matter of satisfying a curiousity for me, but was also validating given Dr. Hadjivassiliou's work that shows 20% of his gs neurological patients to have HLA DQ1. It sort of explained why we didn't pass the "celiac disease" tests (and we did seem plagued with neurological symptoms) but it still didn't do too much to help other mainstream doctors buy into our non-celiac gluten sensitivity... at least back then (8 years ago).

If you can afford it and are curious... go ahead and order up the genetic testing. Otherwise, it doesn't change your course of action. You already know you need a gluten free diet.

We did the genetic testing via Enterolab because it doesn't just tell you whether you have the main celiac genes or not... it tells you what HLA type you are.