Hi Irene,
I'm new to all this too. Only joined today. I'm only in my early 30's and had my life changed forever too at the end of 2010 when i was diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and then the fibro stuck its head up few months after that. Feels like one minute i was dancing and drinking at the club and the next i'm in a wheelchair for life. But....dont worry, no sad story from me. I believe in plodding along and doing the rehab and no matter what they say, i'll dance again! :)
I so very much understand the brain fog. But this might sound silly but because like Chutz I could think 'I need to fill up my water bottle' or even 'I need to get toilet paper next time the grocery run is being done' and all I have to do is get distracted by a noise or pain or like Chutz just change the direction I was moving and the thought is gone! Very annoying. Especially if u need toilet paper hehe.
Now because to make lists with pen and paper would take me forever, cause of the arthritis/fibro I got an iPod touch. (bit pricy, I know, but u would not believe how much it helps me) It's flat and u can put it on a lanyard around your neck. It's not a phone. But u could do the same thing with an iPhone. Anyway, the iPod touch has a little feature, a note pad. So the minute I think of something I need to do or need to tell someone, I pick up my iPod touch which is hanging around my neck, go into my little note pad and type it in using the touch screen. I have little note pad pages set up ready for 'groceries', 'thing I need to look up', today's to do list'. Even things like videos I'd like to watch cause I can think of it one second and two seconds later poof!
It also has a calendar so u can put all your doctor appointments in it and you can set alarms to remind u of them. I use it to note down all my morning meds, midday meds and nighttime meds. You can put all your phone numbers in it. Oh just everything.
Seriously, having something right there around my neck that I can use straight away when I think of something I need or need to check when an appointment is or if im due to take any medication is priceless. Having it has really helped me not to feel so lost and out of control. I can't count how many times it reminds me (by little alarms and alert
s) of things I wanted to do or appointments I'd forgotten about
. It gives me my control back when my brain has gone into 'fog mode'.
Obviously though it doesn't help with slow thinking and talking. if your anything like me it takes 10minutes to say one simple sentence. But having a sense of control in one place sometimes makes it easier when u can't have control in other areas.
I also like herbal teas for the brain fog, white tea is my favorite. I enjoy the process of making it and brewing it, find it relaxing concentrating on doing it.
But trust me, like u I can start an email and seriously 2 hours later I'm still going cause I fall asleep or go off into lala land.
Hopefully I was helpful, I always ask to please excuse me if I ever don't make sense, I do try to be clear but with the fog and the amount of painkillers I'm on I can get a little mixed up. But I hope u are getting lots of good help and advice and like me and my best friend always say....sending u a big 'painless' hug :) U know that's one of the biggest things I miss with having fibro, no one can hug me or me them. But one day! Never give up! Never surrender!
I also wanted to say thank u to all the other people who posted, as a new member myself I got some great insight and information from u all.
Sincerely
Libby
P.s chutz I found your comments very inspiring, thanku