Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-14-2014, 03:23 PM #1
Laupala Laupala is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 214
10 yr Member
Laupala Laupala is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 214
10 yr Member
Default Gluten-free diet - worthwhile?

A number of sources I've seen suggest that eliminating gluten (and sometimes grains completely) from diet can help reduce brain inflammation and facilitate healing. Has anyone had experience trying this (or researching it further) and gotten results?
Laupala is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 07-14-2014, 03:41 PM #2
SarahSmile0205's Avatar
SarahSmile0205 SarahSmile0205 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 467
10 yr Member
SarahSmile0205 SarahSmile0205 is offline
Member
SarahSmile0205's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 467
10 yr Member
Default

There may be something to it... here is a list of inflammatory foods to eliminate from your diet...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2838643.html

I try to follow this... there is also something out there about increasing ketones in your diet...
__________________
The Start: MVA, t-boned, on 1-12-14 (my sons 5th birthday) and did not think anything of it.. my back hurt on site but everything else seemed ok. Lost about 10-12 hours from about 3 hours after the accident to the next day...Experienced terrible brain fog for over a month, plus intense headaches, nausea, dizziness, cognitive difficulties, disorientation, no short term memory, depression and just an overall hangover feeling daily.

Current Situation: I'm about 7 months in and my local neurologist has waived her white flag and therefore I am headed to Dallas to be seen (I have family there). The headaches are still daily. I have nausea, dizziness as well.

Drugs I have been on- Vicodin (off), Naproxen (off), proanolol (off), topamax (off), cataflam (off), Midrin (off), Flexeril (off) and now Namenda XR (off), Nortrptylin (off), Verapamil (off)

Therapy- Osteopath, Vestibular and balance therapy, fuzion/soft tissue massage, acupuncture

Drs- ER (no help), GP, Chiropractor, Neurologist and Osteopath
SarahSmile0205 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 07-14-2014, 04:12 PM #3
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,418
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,418
15 yr Member
Default

For some, gluten is an issue. For others, it is not. It would not hurt to reduce gluten levels since most gluten grains have excessive amounts of gluten due to modern hybriding for increasing crop yields. Heritage wheats and such have much lower gluten levels that the body is more able to process.

A week or two of a gluten free diet should give you a good idea. It may be tough to eliminate all gluten since it is in many foods.
__________________
Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Mark in Idaho is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 07-14-2014, 04:42 PM #4
berkeleybrain berkeleybrain is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 205
10 yr Member
berkeleybrain berkeleybrain is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 205
10 yr Member
Default

I didn't really associated gluten free with brain fog and anit-inflammatory benefits until my doctor noticed I kept having sinus infections and mentioned I should try it.

I'm glad she did. THe benefits for me were instantaneous. I think gluten free, like head injuries, really are person specific. But having said that, if they are going to work, the benefits will reveal themselves within 6 weeks and are worth it. This is different than those who are suffering from celiac disease, a true allergy to gluten.

There are numerous books, and I worked with an auto-immune paleo book as well as gluten free to maximize my changing diet lifestyle which seemed to help.

My rationale was that by switching to brain boosting fats and minimizing the glutens that slow down the body I would help my body heal as much as possible. I feel better.

But, I am now almost two years since the accident in two weeks. My vision is still problematic, but I can tell my cognition is clearer.

My neurologist and neuro-opthalmologist still have not released me back to work, but I guess my daily life at home is better. I am healthier with my kids and husband.

So in some ways- in balance - I am glad I am on this diet- because my brain feels clearer and my body healthier. There are new "flours" to bake with (I haven't lost my sweet tooth) and coconut oil is awesome.

As with PCS/mtbi-there are new realities out there!
s
__________________
The event: Rear ended on freeway with son when I was at a stop in stop and go traffic July 2012. Lost consciousness.

Post-event: Diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, ptsd, whiplash, peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction and convergence insufficiency. MRI/CT scans fine.

Symptoms: daily headaches, dizziness/vertigo, nausea, cognitive fog, light/noise sensitivities, anxiety/irritability, fatigued, convergence insufficiency, tinnitus and numbness in arms/legs.

Therapies: Now topamax 50mg daily; Propanolol and Tramadol when migraine. Off nortryptiline and trazodone. Accupuncture. Vitamin regime. Prism glasses/vision therapy. Vestibular therapy 3month. Gluten free diet. Dairy free diet. On sick leave from teaching until Sept. 2014.
berkeleybrain is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
Mokey (07-14-2014)
Old 07-14-2014, 11:20 PM #5
Mokey Mokey is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 553
10 yr Member
Mokey Mokey is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: canada
Posts: 553
10 yr Member
Default

I have celiac disease (pre brain injury!) so have been gluten free for over a decade. I hope it helps my brain!

The good news is there are way more choices for gluten free diets than before.

I am looking for a gluten free non alcoholic beer now! I found one from Europe but it is not available in the aMericas yet

A small niche market, I know!
__________________


What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺).

Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky!

Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance.
Mokey is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 07-15-2014, 09:04 AM #6
thedude58 thedude58 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Ontario
Posts: 120
10 yr Member
thedude58 thedude58 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Ontario
Posts: 120
10 yr Member
Default

About a year ago I minimized my wheat and processed sugar intake. I recently stopped the vitamins I'm taking because of the expense and insurance company difficulties. They cover the vitamins, similar to drugs. So, the point is that the brain fog has not returned so much and in that respect my diet change seems to be helping. I try to get 7-9 servings of vegetables and fruit each day and it has made big difference. I've lost over 20 pounds, I feel much better and I'm sleeping better.
__________________
Brain Fog, Short Term Memory, Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Apnea
thedude58 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
SarahSmile0205 (07-15-2014)
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
GF gluten-free diet cazzie Gluten Sensitivity / Celiac Disease 1 01-28-2009 06:50 PM
Who Should Trial a Gluten Free Casein Free Diet jccgf Gluten Sensitivity / Celiac Disease 3 05-06-2008 09:15 PM
Trying Gluten-free and Casein(dairy)-free diet for 4yo son ives6797 Tourette Syndrome 14 04-18-2008 09:57 AM
gluten free diet eileen15565 Autism 1 01-16-2008 07:01 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:38 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.