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Posted 2/18/2011 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone found a way to help combat fibrofog and other cognitive difficulties? I have seen a lot of posts about people doing funny things and laughing at themselves; and posts about people not being able to think like before. But has anyone found a way to increase the ability to think and learn new things?

I am frustrated with my difficulty in reading journal articles and retain newly learned stats material. Fibrofog is an appropriate term because sometimes it feels like I am trying to see and comprehend things that are enveloped in a very thick fog. There have got to be some things I can do to help. Any ideas?

Lately, putting stuff aside and coming back to it has not helped much. My capacity for understanding only lasts a short time before I must rest again.
Sue
Posted 2/19/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Sue,

I had a lot of trouble w/the "fog" when I was first diagnosed. I was afraid I was going to lose my job, because I just couldn't think anymore. My though processes were so, so SLOW. I noticed improvement after I started taking meds. I will say that I
do still have problems w/fibro fog from time to time. When that happens, I look at my stress level, how much sleep I have been getting, and how much pain I am in. If I can control those three factors, my fog seems to lift quite a bit.

Hope this helps,
V
Posted 2/19/2011 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
My fog seems to get slowly, increasingly worse. I think the meds have been adding to it. I've just adapted by using sticky notes, to-do lists, and all sorts of things, to get by. I have a high IQ, but learning is much more difficult for me nowadays.

I find that some types of learning work better for me than others. I have trouble with retaining things that I read, while something I see in real life or on videos (like YouTube instructional videos) will stick with me better. Other people record the info on audio recorders/tapes, because hearing helps them learn better. Experiment, and see what works best for you. :)
Posted 2/19/2011 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue, my fog is strange... there are days I can get in the car, get to the corner and forget where I was going...remember...going grocery shopping...get home, forget to take groceries in and then go sit down and write a few poems without any problems. How does that happen? Yesterday, heated the oven for 350 and a few minutes later
looked at the oven thinking I was looking at the time and was convinced it was 3:50.

I do know my fog is worse when I'm flaring, stressed or overtired.
Taking a muscle relaxer will add to the fog...I won't drive under the influence of cyclobenzaprine.

Reading is difficult when I'm foggy...can't tell you how many times I need to re-read posts, and if their long, I might lose info by the end.

There are other days where my memory is very good, and can remember details that other people might not pick up on.

I googled brain games awhile back thinking if I played a variety of differant type of games it would help with the fog. All I know is when the fog kicks in...IT'S THERE! I use post its and write things on my calendar to help. The days that I'm foggy...I cut back on my activities
or I get too overwhelmed...making too many dumb mistakes.

Wish there was an answer..all I know to do is take time to relax and take a lot of slow deep breaths.

Hugs, Robin turn
Posted 2/19/2011 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Robin about the oven I did the same thing yesterday and remember thinking time was sure going by slowly. lol

I write alot of notes and to do lists to try to stay focused.

Be patient with yourself

Rose
Posted 2/19/2011 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue...

I'm sorry this is bothering you so much and I do understand. The first 'fibro fog' I had was when I returned to college to finish my senior year. I would read something and start at the beginning of a paragraph. By the time I got to the end I had no idea what I read 2-3 sentences before. I was losing the ability to form complete thoughts on a subject. When I was extra tired I couldn't even get through a sentence before I lost my train of thought. Talk about a hard way to go to school...and you know it well also.

I also found it frightening at times. You feel like something more serious has to be wrong but that was before my dx with fibro. One thing I have been doing for the past several years is puzzles. Some crosswords but more like Word Search of all types, Fill in's and logic puzzles. The 'Variety' puzzle books keep me going for a long time with so many different types. It exercises many parts of my brain.

OK, Sue...you know what I just did? I was thinking about something I wanted to look for online so in the middle of this post I did a quick search and forgot to open a new window...and there went my post to you. Except I went back and the page was still in cache waiting for me. What a goofus I feel like at times...lol

Anyway, I would suggest exercising your brain in ways that you feel comfortable. It might help going forward or if not it's still a good thing to do as we age anyway. Use it or loose it!~tongue

Warm hugs,
Chutz
Posted 2/19/2011 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
Ok, relax and be kind to myself and try not to stress about it. Robin, I do crossword puzzles every night, sometimes they are diagramless puzzles. The diagramless ones sound daunting, but crosswords are patterns that can be figured out - or you can look in the back if you get stuck! So thanks for the idea. It makes me feel better like I am doing something right.

Do you think brain pacing would work like physical activity pacing does? A thesaurus helps a lot with writing when all I can only think in four-year-old talk.

When I used to look at stats stuff, I would be happy and excited about it. Now, I get a stab of panic. Maybe self talk? like don't worry or something.

Pos*** and calendar notes are good ideas, too. I cannot survive without my calendar. a white board list, maybe?

Chutz, that is so funny!

Sue
Posted 2/19/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sue, I think when we are experiancing really bad fog, we need to simplify our day...like I said, I really get overwhelmed if there is too much going on. On a bad fog day, I won't cook a complicated meal.
I'll put a couple boneless chicken breasts in a covered casserole with a small jar of Prego tomato sauce, bake @ 350 for an hour...serve with baked potatoes and green beans and call it supper!

I think it is important to stimulate our minds, but if we have too much to focus on when we are foggy, we set ourselves up for some type of unexpected folly...I know I do.

Exercise, especially on fog days feels good to me...maybe just getting more blood to the brain helps. Fog is a mystery to me...it can make me feel like a fool on somedays and that's when I just have to laugh!

Hugs, Robin

PS . Just wondered if while you are reading if you ever tryed doing an outline of important facts, read 2 paragraphs...jot notes.

Rose...great minds think alike...temp gauge = clock turn

Post Edited (crazykitty) : 2/19/2011 9:14:58 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/20/2011 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
I will try the exercise to see if it helps and jotting down notes is a good idea, too. I have some writing to do when family leaves on Monday. Btw: they are exhausting! I love having them here, but it is a LOT of work. High fog and lots of tears today, too.

Another post about malic acid and something nanamonster reminded me: what vitamins do you take that help? These are mine:

prenatal with dha (only because they come in a gelcap), d3, coq10, fish oil, b, c all in the morning with a daytime allergy pill and a mobic.

calcium at night with cholesterol, nighttime allergy, and zanaflex.

Want to order malic acid and one my daughter told me about.

Sue

ps - just damaged my hair with color! Could probably add vitamins for hair too, if anyone has any ideas.

Post Edited (Statgeek) : 2/20/2011 1:18:53 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/20/2011 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
To explain to anyone who does not understand what is wrong with me and the fog I explain it as having lost my short term memory loss. This helps me not feel pressured and at times aso lets me remember what I was doing or where I placed some thing. Foe me this works and everyone around helps me.

Kathy
Fibro,IRB,CRF, plus heaps of others the new gp tells me
Posted 2/21/2011 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have really bad "fibro fog" days and I tried the "writing everything down" route and it didn't help. Now, I just make sure I keep everything, receipts, mail, jotted notes....and go thru it with my hubby once or twice a week and he helps sort it out by date, need, trash.

Another thing I do is make sure to get an appt. card everywhere I go. I write on the card the present date, why I was there, and what I need to take back with me on the next visit.

I also tell people that I have short term memory issues and they usually don't question it.
Posted 2/22/2011 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
I did what one of the other members said..bought a nice size white erase board..it works pretty good if you remember to write down what you need to be reminded of!! and then of course when the grankiddos come they can''t understand why they can't play school on it...I bought my 6 yo grandaughter one for christmas, and she screamed, Nana, you really do love me!! Kids!! best 10 bucks I ever spent!!

Fog, sucks!!! My hubby tells everyone my vocabulary consists of thingy, whatchamacallit, dilly dally..you get the picture..But thank you Lord, he understands every dillydally thingy conversation we have..I love him!!

here is to more fog free days!

Jerrie
Posted 2/23/2011 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Fibro fog is so bad, it makes me feel so stupid at times. And I hate when it happens at work. I could care less if it happens at home, but not at work!!! All of a sudden I can't figure out things with numbers, or I am writing down the wrong directions (left instead of right).

I find if I slow myself down and do things very deliberately I can avoid mistakes at work.

I also found I need to write everything down and be diligent about keeping my planner up to date.

I also discovered my cell phone has a reminder chime, so I have been using that (better than leaving my friend at the restaurant while I sat at home in my pjs!!) And I use my count down timer on my watch to remind me of things.

Best of luck and go easy on yourself. You just have to find the right tools that will work for you.
Posted 2/24/2011 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I am supposed to be writing a section for a chapter. I am flaring today and stat class was canceled, so I came home and napped before starting on it. When I write, I do the research first: keep a page of relevant notes and a references document, then once I have a good foundation of info, start the actual writing.

The kicker: Today when I looked at my notes, I could not remember writing them! Sheesh! So I am focusing on finding more references to use.

Ah well, at least there is that to do.
Sue
Posted 2/24/2011 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
To help w/the fog my husband got me a small notebook fits in my purse as I need to keep notes. I email my hubby through out the day so he knows what I might forget,and post it notes on my computer for fast reference. I always feel stupid when it happens. Still dealing with alot of feelings about it and struggle w/ why can't I forget I forget? I really hate it.
Posted 2/24/2011 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Sue, I am having the same problems as you at school. It is so frustrating!!! I have been handed a algebra quiz and I look at it and it will look like a strange language. I am very good at math so this really bothers me. I explained to my teacher that I have problems with short term memory and she understood. That being said, when I do sit down for a test, I pray over the test and my memory. That has helped me and I am making an A in the class so far. I am also noticing when I write something for English class, I constantly misspell words or leave letters completely out when writing. As soon as I do it, I know it's wrong. It's as if my brain isn't cooperating with my fingers. The other day, I couldn't remember what time one of my classes started. I panicked but realized I still had time to make it to class on time. It's so weird. I actually sat down and thought, "Okay, what is going on?" Once I did that, I realized that I haven't been sleeping well in about 4 days. I've gotten more sleep and my fog is going away. Please take care of yourself. It's an endless cycle with all this. Hope you can get ahead with all your schoolwork and know that you are not alone in this.

Heather
Posted 2/25/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Having meals that consist of 12 or fewer carbohydrates helps to clear my head. Moreover, eating meats with the fat still on and using butter and cream in my foods helps to reduce the brain fog.

My doctor told me that the inability to read is also a sign of depression. Living with fibromyalgia is depressing and it is a small wonder that this occurs.

I attended grad school several years ago and to this day wonder how I ever got through. A big help was my school provided books on tape or CD for studying.

I use a macintosh computer which has vboice over. This means that everything on my screen can be read aloud. Moreover, I used books from The Talking Book and Braille library. You do not ave to be blind to borrow from there.

Another resource is Reading for The Blind and Disabled. Here textbooks are leant in audio format.

To qualify for these services you just have to get a not from your doctor stating you have a disorder that hampers your reading ability.

Donnaeil
Posted 2/25/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Donna! I am going to look into that.
Sue
Posted 2/28/2011 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
I was wondering the same thing. I'm a student, too. I use to have a good memory.

My brain feels broken! The dendrites and synapses aren't connecting. Sometimes it seems like nothings getting in there.

confused
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