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Posted 1/29/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
I hate it! I am so over it! I forget how to spell things, i forget phone numbers, i forget the words i was about to say. everything is jumbled in my head. I move at a slower speed and have such difficulty with concentration- im a 28yr old High School english teacher who cant concentrate and forgets how to spell. thats just dandy. i forget whole phrases. I can be writing and forget what i was doing half way through. please tell me this is the fibro fog? that i am not alone? it just makes things worse- its bad enough with the phsyical symptoms, the aches, pains etc- but to mess with our heads as well? that sucks.

my vent is over. i hate the 'fog' and what it seems to do. am i alone? im sure im not..

Maz XX

Posted 1/29/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh ... last night my memory was bad and I had trouble following a conversation again.  "The Fog" is one of the things that FMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Lyme patients have in common. 

I think I'll go ahead and post this link.  It's the only thing I've ever found that tries to explain what is causing the fog and fatigue.  It's a little technical but an interesting read.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=7938&t=CFIDS_FM

And exercise intolerance, flu like symptoms .... at least this article offers one explanation for it all.  I happen to have CPn .... but there may be a number of things that have similar effects.

Sometimes .... the dictionary is a constant companion.  And I know I can spell those words sometimes.

Posted 1/29/2009 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
As a fellow teacher (Elementary Art) I know exactly what you're talking about. Before I was diagnosed, I thought I was going crazy, now I'm just plain mad. My students play "fill in the blanks" with me all the time. One of them actually told me once that I was losing my mind! I had to agree with the cute little first grader because I was pointing to a blue piece of paper and calling it red. It's so weird how we lose words all the time. I have also become even more absent minded than before. I think the biggest struggle for me is passwords. I always write them down but I have not yet perfected a system to remember where I wrote them! The other day my mother asked me to grab her a drink from the kitchen five times before I actually made it there. She just laughs now. I think the trick is just to find the humor in it every time we lose the keys and find them in the diaper pail! Sometimes I wear goofy looking striped socks so that when I happen to catch a glimpse of them I find a bit of comic relief. When you forget everything else, try to remind yourself to laugh. If that doesn't work, forget about it...I know you can do that!
Posted 1/29/2009 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Maz!

I'm so sorry this is getting in your way and frustrating you so much. ((((Maz)))) As a fellow teacher it breaks my heart because I know just what you mean. I've done the same thing so many time I just don't count them. A couple of things I learned to do over time were:

first, as mentioned above...laugh!! at yourself. No, this isn't funny at all but if you forget 1/2 of a sentence or thought or just one word the kids are uneasy too and, as you know, they take their direction from you. I know it's hard but try to make lite of it. I would make comments like...the only reason I carry my drivers license is so I can remember my name!...lol Or I inherited my bad memory from my dad...you know...what's-his-name.

The other thing I did on occasion when my fog was pea-soup thick was to have a talk with my students. I was teaching college so their level of understanding was different than elementary kids, but you know the words to communicate to them what you are going through. Don't be shy about telling them you have a 'muscle disorder' and along with it you sometimes have a hard time getting the words in your head to come out of your mouth. Ask them if they've ever experienced it before and I'll bet they'll all have a story. Bring them on board and it will be so much easier.

If you are having an especially bad time one day just excuse yourself and get someone to watch the class for 15 minutes, then return and continue on. Tell them you were on spring break...lol

No, this isn't going to go away. I hate that!! But you can work 'with' it and have a wonderful life. It will take some relearning on your part but you can do it...I know you can! If you can handle teens that are walking hormone bombs then you can handle this!!..smhair

I had several more thoughts and every time I would back up to start over again I would forget them. Believe it or not this is the short version. rolleyes

Hang on <extending hand> and we'll make it together!
Chutzie
Posted 1/29/2009 2:45 PM (GMT 0)

Aww Maz,

I feel your pain and distess!  I held a high position in the community until a couple of months ago, when FMS and anxiety caused me to have a major meltdown, last Nov.  I had to do a lot of public speaking, write articles & press releases for the local media, be "on" 24/7/365.  There was no such thing as a day off or vacation.  I knew I had FMS before I started that job, but I never thought it would get the best of me.  Anyway, the jumbled sentences, Oh yeah.. its fog.  The forgetting how to spell, Yupper.. Fog.  The feeling of moving in slow motion, no doubt about it..Fog!

I hate the fog... give me the pain, but spare me the brain (oooh poetry idea . spacing out for a minute.. lol).  I am trying to learn to laugh off the fog and not let it get to me so much, but it can cause me to feel weird and I don't think I'll ever really get "used to it".

Just know.. dear Maz.. You're not alone! wink

Posted 1/29/2009 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
{{{{{{maz}}}}}}

you've been given some good tips and i don't really have much to add since i don't have a real job at all, much less one where i have to get up in front of high school students and remember what the heck i wanted to say! my goodness, you deserve HUGE kudos for being a high school teacher AT ALL, let alone one with fibro! i definitely admire you for that :-)

i just wanted to say that i do understand how awful the fog is. my family has gotten used to me and my little "quirks" so that helps, but it still is so very frustrating.

hang in there and remember we are here for you whenever you need us!
Posted 1/30/2009 6:38 AM (GMT 0)

smhair  have been in denial for the last 24 hours, the fog ...boy that helps me to hear about that.  I was really in one of thoes yesterday after the doctor told me I have this ...  fibromyalgia...  I asked him if he thought I was crazy and he said no, I think you have joint inflamation. 

I remember he asked me if I wanted some samples of some expensive medication ...I said no, and then he gave me a perscription for some naprosyn..probably spelled that wrong .. I haven't filled it yet.

I am very sorry that I didn't stay and talk to him, I was kinda mad about the diagnosis.  I wanted something I could take something for and recover ....so I guess I will call him.  I  wandered out of the office and came home. 

The more I read this the smarter I think my Dr is.  Glad I found all of you!! 

I am only working part time now- it takes everything I've got.  I can barley make it and feel like I have been white knuckeling it but hate to take medications... 

 Has anybody had any trouble  driving the freeway-- fast in  heavy traffic--?  I mean not that anyone likes it but I was getting  motion sickness--I stopped driving the freeways altogether for a while because of it.  I don't know if this is associated with fibromyalgia or not- 

There is a lot I don't know right now about all this but thanks for talking about the fog...I will keep reading!!


Post Edited (guesswhat) : 1/30/2009 12:06:13 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/30/2009 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Maz. I had something to say but believe it or not, once I started typing it went right out of my head.  So, I guess I will just say, Yes I have a problem with the Fog also.  I can't even imagine having to teach High Schoolers, even if I was absolutely healthy.  Please don't beat yourself up.  You are doing very well, many hugs, Denise
Posted 1/30/2009 7:18 AM (GMT 0)
Guess, I would like to welcome you to the forum.  Your reaction to your dx was absolutely normal.  I had about the same reaction, I wanted to have something I could take a pill & fix.  I had read alot about Fibro before the dx & had talked about it with my Dr but I still wanted something like "Oh, you are low on iron so take this pill & you will be well".  Nope!!  sad   Just hang in there, read all you can about Fibro.  Read the Fibro 101 thread above, at the top, second thread down.  There is a lot of good information there.  I don't like to drive when I am in a heavy "fog" & don't have freeways in my neck of the woods.  Come back often & read, read, read.  It is the only way to get a handle on this illness.  Knowledge is power.  Hugs to you, Denise 
Posted 1/30/2009 7:24 AM (GMT 0)

Thankyou ALL so much. honestly, I dont know how i work full time. ive been sick since i was 14- its all i remember in some ways. but the 'fog' has only recently kicked up a notch and really started interfering with my thought process.. its distressing, confusing and plain awful. add to that the heatwave we are having in australia- i have no air-con at my school and i taught in 40 degrees celcius plus today.. it was horrible.

I ache, and i forget. i wish i could forget the pain and remember what i wanted to say! gaaah!

but THANKYOU so much for showing me im not alone and that im not nuts... you are all fabulous!

Maz XX

Posted 1/30/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Denise,

    Thank you so much for the welcome to the site and for responding to ny question.

I have felt so alone and like I am ok some days and not at all others.  When I am ok I think I'm fine and thus have been dealing with things for years.

I flunked out of school my arms got inflamed and couldn't concentrate...I had a B average...

I thought I had ADD or something and arthritis....have been going to the doctor since November he has taken a long time to decide whats wrong

I have noticed a lot of comforting scripture verses....I think God has really used this site to show me He is here with me and there is hope  and that this is exactly what I am dealing with...I am starting to accept things and feel a little bit better.

Thank you and God Bless,

 Kim

Posted 1/30/2009 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

As soon as I saw the post FOG I went straight to it. I do not have this and have no idea what it is or what can be causing it. I have read many many times many of you mentioning "fog". Of course I realize it is memory issues but wonder if there are others that do NOT have fog and why I escape it!!!

Patsie
Posted 1/30/2009 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
patsie(bows low) you lucky,lucky thing you! The Fog is such a bummer!I used to think it was because I had to much fun in the 80's...lol!

Posted 1/30/2009 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Latest news- My Doctor is not sure if I have Fibro or Lyme disease as of this morning....I am really frustrated by this... he said he wants to wait for tests he sent to Philadelphia... He also stated it could take years to reach a certain dx of fibromyalgia but that he thinks that I do have it...In the meantme
my life is just not working very well, I had hoped that I would get on a treatment and at least get things somewhat under control...I am at my wits end...any suggestions?
Posted 1/30/2009 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow Guess .... if it might by Lyme or Fibro, you are in the Land of Uncertainty.  I'll let the fibro people talk about what I think is a process of elimination for the fibro diagnosis.  But diagnosis of Lyme could take a while and has its own problems.  Many people with Lyme never test positive on a blood test.  It is primarily a clinical diagnosis.  The lab tests are just additional information.  Has your Dr. seen tick borne diseases before?  It sounds like he has since he is considering Lyme.  There are also coinfections that many people get along with Lyme. 

We are used to tests where  it's like .... it came back blue so it's 99% likely I have it.  Lyme testing is not like that.  And there is controversy over what it takes for a Lyme diagnosis if something shows up on the tests.  Rather than overinformation you all at once, let me post this link:

http://igenex.com/Website/

A lot of information from a leading lab for Lyme testing.  If it is Lyme - there is a bacteria involved and you'll want to get it treated to keep it from getting worse.  And there is hope that we'll improve some with treatment.  And if you even think you might have Lyme, please consider having testing done at IgeneX. 

Probably it's best to start adjusting your thinking from days to months. The lab work from Igenex takes a while to get the antibdody response and takes like 4 weeks.  I understand about the life not working well.  As you get into this, please post if you have questions about Lyme and we can try to help.  It's overwhelming.  There is also a really good Lyme forum too that you might check out.

And please be careful with the driving.  At least for the time being I've given it up completely.  Please ask for help from your Dr. or a therapist if you need it.  Anxiety and depression are common visitors to people with Lyme or fibro.

 

Posted 1/30/2009 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a newbie to fibro, but I forget how to write sometimes, and spell, and all kinds of things. Is this related to fibro? I just thought I have lost my mind!!!
Posted 1/31/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Agmaar,
Thanks for the info. I am just going to have to stop thinking about it for now I guess.
My Dr seemed so sure it was FMS and then changed his mind...

meanwhile I was adjusting to the idea of the first and so now I feel kinda confused and somewhat jerked around. I really was kinda releaved to hear I had the fibro because the lyme --I have seen what it can do, another family member has it but she lives far away-- like everyone else in my family....
However I am glad that he is not willing to give me "whatever" just to get rid of me.

I am getting pretty down at this point for sure and can't really deal with all this It takes me 4 hours to go there and back and a long wait there before I get seen, I take the bus... it seems my world is getting so small....

I guess I will go look at the lyme site as you suggested .......I do believe ( all things work together for the good ) Romans 8:28 I'm gonna hold that thought.... Thank you I will ask about the lab....and God Bless you...
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