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Fibro Fog ... how do you explain it?

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Posted 10/8/2008 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am having GREAT difficulty explaining to people exactly how Fibro fog affects me and how serious it is. Most people seem to blow me off when I say it or just laugh and say I'm an airhead. I try to tell them that when it comes on, I feel very out of it, almost as if I'm seeing the world as though I were on cold medicine and can't think clearly. I'm just wondering if anyone in here has had any success at explaining this to people without them thinking you're just off your rocker, lol.
Posted 10/8/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Honey

 

First off welcome to the forum!!  You will find a great bunch of people that will help you tremendously!!

 

Fibrofog for me is not being able to talk right ( getting words mixed up), typing all the wrong letters, not really understanding what people are saying to me, walking in the next room to get something and before you even get there forget what you're going after.  You know how when it is foggy and you can't see 5 feet in front of your car?  That's what it feels like to me.  Like I am in a fog and can't quite see through it.

 

~Missy~

Posted 10/8/2008 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Missy, my fog is like that too. Also I forget what I am saying in the middle of a sentence. But I am getting old enough to blame it on just that, my age. LOL...

I wouldn't even worry about explaining it to people. Let them think you are an air head, it gives you an edge.LOL... I know that it is frustrating, but maybe you could give them something to read, Maybe even copy this thread and let them read other's responses.

Good luck,

Karen
Posted 10/8/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
I just tell people that I have short term memory problems.  That seems to encompass a lot of stuff:  can't remember what we were talking about, can't remember what I went into a room for, lost my train of thought, etc.

 

People seem to understand that better than when I say I have fibro fog. 

 

Or like Karen said, I often just let people think I'm an airhead.  smilewinkgrin

 

Austen

Posted 10/8/2008 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Honey! That term "fibro fog" is completely lost on most people since they have no idea or understanding of what fibromyalgia is. I had never even heard of it until I joined this forum. They would most likely associate it to any number of other conditions and diseases or think that it was just "all in your mind". Missy, Karen and Austen's suggestions are all good ones unless you wish to carry around xeroxed copies of something like a "Fibromyalgia and Fibro-fog 101" primer to hand out at mere mention of "How are you doing"? , "What's wrong with you?" or "You have fibro-WHAT"? (LOL)

Gentlest hugs,
John
Posted 10/9/2008 10:11 AM (GMT 0)
I thought Fibro-Fog was caused by the medications FMS sufferers take. Between the FMS and Bipolar, by the time I strike 40, I probably won't know my own name. It's so frustrating. I'm not taking any medications for FMS because I can't get a definate diagnosis, even though an Ortho-surgeon suggested it many years ago. I did see a Rheumy once who prescribed Bextra. I took them for 6 months until I discovered they were the reason why my eyes were sore all of the time. I haven't taken anything since. That been about 5 years or more ago now. When I get flare ups, I take NSAIDS or when it really gets bad, I get demerol or morphine injections.
Posted 10/9/2008 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed yesterday, and it makes sense now.. the fibro fog.. that happened to me allthe time, and i couldnt figure out why... oh, see, it just happened again.. i had a thought to type and forgot it...but now i can tell people when it happens its a side effect of fibro

Posted 10/9/2008 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
First of all, hi Honeyprincess and Lorraine, and welcome to the forum!  Fibro Fog can be a lot of fun!  shakehead    You have to just laugh at yourself.  I thought I was coming down with Alzheimer's when it hit me.  My doctor reassured me that that wasn't the case. 

 

I don't try to explain it, or fibro for the matter, to anyone.  They don't understand so I don't waste my time.  I just laugh or make a joke when it strikes.  

 

Some examples of my fog are...trying to start the car with the key to my freezer....having to take out my check book and look on my checks to remember my phone number...putting my garlic powder in the refrigerator, etc....DUH!  It used to bother me when I did stuff like that, but I chuckle, now.  You can't do anything about it so you might as well laugh.  turn

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/9/2008 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
It is frustrating when I'm talking and then all of a sudden I can't verbalize what is sitting right there in my head! Or, I will stammer over my words. I have been a public singer/speaker and worked in the office world for many years before being afflicted with this disorder, so needless to say, I hate the fog worse than the pain!

No, Lorraine, it's definitely not from meds (although I have heard some doctors try to explain it away like that) - I hardly ever take any meds except during major flares (or panic attacks), yet the fibro-fog is around all the time.

IF I do have to explain it to someone, I mention that FM is neurological and my brain is not properly communicating with my mouth.

Make today a good day!
~Grace
Posted 10/9/2008 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Sherrine, I don't mean to laugh, but your trying to start your car with the freezer key had me rolling on the floor.  Luckily, mine is taped to the side of the freezer, so I haven't tried that one yet!  smilewinkgrin

 

You're right, you've either gotta laugh or cry about this stuff.  devil

 

Austen

Posted 10/9/2008 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
For me, I think the fibro fog is poor memory, poor concentration, and spacing out a lot.

A lot of times my mother gets angry at me because she told me something that I have absolutely no memory of. Chances are she probably said something to me when I was spaced out. I keep telling her that if I don't respond to what she says, then I probably didn't hear her. Yet even after telling her that several times, she still gets angry if I don't do something she asks and she doesn't really seem to believe me when I tell her I have no memory of ever telling me.

Another thing that happens a lot with me is I get simple things mixed up. I might look for milk in the silverware drawer, or I might wonder why there isn't any cheese in the cabinet and then I realize it's because that's where we keep the cups. More than once I almost accidentally put one of my pet birds in the fridge instead of back in their cages. That one makes me feel so bad and I'm glad I caught myself before I actually did it.
Posted 10/9/2008 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Kythe, I've done things that I have absolutely no recollection of either.  It is frightening but we aren't the only ones that have had that happen.  That's what's great about this forum.  You see you are definitely not alone or losing your mind!  Thank goodness my family just laughs at me.

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/10/2008 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I find that focusing on what I am doing helps take the pain off of my mind, then I am not putting things in the wrong places all of the time.

My main problem is forgetting words in the middle of sentences. And walking in a room and forgetting why I am there.

I think that sometimes if I focus on the pain too much I don't pay attention to what I am doing. So I am always trying to do things to take my mind off of the pain.

The fatigue, now, that is another story.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/10/2008 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
for me its terrible i work in the retail industry and can't always spit out what i am saying... i always take longer to do the job it took me 5 minutes the day before... i just tell them its sometimers.... and laugh.. as long as you know.. thats all that matters
Posted 10/10/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Last Tues I went to Wellness Center, which is attached to hospital, for a massage and chest x-ray. I had the massage which felt great, I was more than half way back home when I remembered the chest x-ray. Oh well, I have to have x-ray of hand too so I will do that on Mon.

 

If I don't keep a list right in front of me of each thing I have to do in a day at least half won't get done. I think I'm going to get a note pad and attach it to the sun visor in the car so it will be right there when I'm out.

 

I got a thing from the library the other day about a book that is a month over due. The book has been laying here in plain site all this time and not once did I think about returning it.

 

Soon I will have sticky notes all over the house with instructions on them on how to perform simple task.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 10/10/2008 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Marlee,

 

I also have to make lists for just about everything.  I make lists for the errands I have to run, the phone calls I have to make, grocery lists, even lists of things I need to do around the house (like dusting, laundry, etc.).

 

I have a dry erase calendar that I keep on the fridge, and I check it several times a day.  Also, I have a little desktop calendar by my computer that I write things on.

 

Most of the time, with all of these reminders, I'm able to get through my day without forgetting anything extremely important.  (notice I said "most of the time") smilewinkgrin

 

Austen

 

Posted 10/10/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I just bought some meat that was on sale and brought it home to vacuum seal and freeze.  The "bags" come on a roll.  You roll out the size you want and then cut it off the roll. Both side are already sealed so you have to seal the third side, put the meat in the bag and vacuum seal that last side.  Foggy me was sealing both sides without putting the meat in.  Ahhhh.....the joys of fibro fog.

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/10/2008 8:27 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you all so much! I'm 28 and my boyfriend is 24 and always teases me about our age difference and he refers to it as "that age difference!" lol My family teases me about it too and they tell me I'm losing my mind. I understand they're joking but sometimes I just get so frustrated with feeling like such a space case! lol

I appreciate you guys soooo much!

Posted 10/14/2008 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Is this really a symptom of FMS? I've been like that long before I was diagnosed. Its always driven me crazy. My mom was always furious with me when I lived with her - I'd never remember to do anything she asked me to do...okay I still don't..sshhhh. I'll be in the middle of a sentence and completely forget what I was about to say. Someone can tell me what I was talking about but the thought will be forever gone - its really frustrating. This is related to FMS??
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