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Fibro fog or depression, how do you explain it?

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Posted 9/19/2013 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
confused  'm trying to decide if what I was having was a fibro fog or severe depression.  I can't begin to explain how different I feel mentally now compared to just over a week ago.  I can't explain it to anyone.  How do you explain / describe a fibro fog? Also, how long can fibro fog last and does it always come back?  I think I need a psychiatrist who can meet me now so he can see me like this (I'd say I'm at 80-85% mentally right now) so he could help me if it ever happens again.
Posted 9/19/2013 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
I tend to experience fibro fog more when I'm flaring. Lack of sleep and the extra pain seems to trigger my fog. My cognitive focus seems to go out of whack making it difficult to concentrate. There are days I won't drive because of this. These episodes do vary in fog intensity...days where I can't remember my zip code, or phone number, days I have difficulty reading a novel, go grocery shopping and forget to take groceries out my car. I feel as though I'm lost in space or a character out of the "Twilight Zone." I've never had fog last days upon days. I'm more apt to have multiple fog moments. I can't tell you the number of times I swiped my library card trying to make a credit card purchase. Just yesterday, I tried using my driver's license. Most of the time, I laugh it off.

There is a big difference between depression and fibro fog. If you are depressed you would probably feel sad, hopeless and would probably lose interest in things that you once enjoyed. I think people who are depressed may have some trouble concentrating. Fog and depression are two different things.

Meds can also play a part in altering our thought process. Hope you can get answers.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 9/19/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Fog to me is sporatic. I can have moments or an all day spell. It's unpredictable for me.
I also have depression and when I'm feeling low I can't concentrate either.

I had a sporatic fibro fog today while driving. I was driving by gps and it was telling me I needed to turn in a little bit. The next thing I know is I'm riding right by the road! That's fog to me.
Posted 9/20/2013 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I too have both and I will say that I feel as if they mirror one another. There are days that I can't listen to anyone talk to me because I simply can NOT follow what they are saying.

I too won't drive somedays because I think that I may not be able to handle it

I walk around looking like I'm stoned half the time because my mind is so (as I like to call it ) Wishy Washy
Posted 9/23/2013 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I got to find a psychiatrist. The more I think about it ...... the more I worry about it happening again. I'm a nurse ....... I'm afraid if I was like this again I could miss something and someone could get hurt. Luckily this happened while I was on light duty due to a surgery. I'm also wondering if I need to report this to my state nursing boards. Anyone know or want to give me advise?
Posted 9/23/2013 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I was a teacher and my memory issues was causing job problem. I had an evaluation done and they determined I had some problems with my processing skills. They had dropped down to the 14% group.

If your job depends on recall and quick thinking you may need to be assessed to be sure you're no danger to your patients.
Posted 9/23/2013 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Stacey,

I wish I could help you, but I'm very foggy most of the time. For me it's not episodes....it's constant. I hate to think what score I'd get, Joy, if I was evaluated the way you were! It's like I can't access the information in my brain at will...I have to go through layer upon layer of junk just to get back to whatever it is I'm trying to remember (or figure out.) It's VERY frustrating.

And it only seems to be getting worse. So I'm trying to accelerate the process of weaning myself off Hydrocodone, hoping that will help. I can't remember (big surprise!) if you're on any meds that could have been contributing to your fog?

Good luck figuring it all out.

Debbie
Posted 9/23/2013 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I can tell when it's depression because I get sadder and don't want to do anything. The fog can make feel dazed, low concentration, forgetful etc.
Posted 9/23/2013 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Fibro Fog: feeling helpless

Depression: feeling hopeless

For example: this weekend I tried my hardest to rest while taking care of some things around the house.  Saturday was just a day of rest so I was couch bound and catching up on Parenthood (shout out!) and didn't feel any remorse in it.  Sunday, as I was trying to fold my third load of laundry and feeling that stupid/slow/mush, I knew it was fog.  By the time my husband came home a few hours later, I couldn't do anything to help myself get the dinner that I had pushed through to make, and crumbled in tears, totally feeling hopeless that I would never be able to feel better again, that nothing I did was good enough and that my marriage was in the toilet when I was just feeling crappy about myself.  And the rest of the night was like that, absolutely anything and everything made me cry - and finding a roll of toilet paper placed ON the roller instead of through it just totally ended me.  I had pushed myself past the fog into hopelessness and therefore found myself depressed. 

Another key that it's depression - absolutely nothing gives you pleasure.  Food, any sort of stimulation, sleep, nothing.  It all feels like blah. And for me, if I am depressed, I cannot sleep.  So......I got five hours last night and am at work basically doing the best I can, working again in fog.  Tonight I will have to go straight to bed so that I am not depressed tomorrow, ignoring the fact that I really need to go grocery shopping.  It's a fine line, but it's there.

I hope you feel better!!

Posted 9/23/2013 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Anna, sorry about your lousy Saturday! Boy, do I know what you're talking about....sometimes making 2 grilled cheese sandwiches, slightly different from eachother, and heating up a can of soup, is a challenge. Very often I'll forget part of the meal in the microwave and not remember it till it's too late...(and not miss it, either...but I'll be upset by, once again, not being able to keep 3 things in my head at the same time!)

Hugs, Debbie
Posted 9/24/2013 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Anna

I can't cry.  My eyes have stopped making tears.  Really.  Don't know why.  Just one more thing they can't explain.

I just wish I (or the lovely doctors who don't mind taking my money while they can't give me an answer) could figure out what's going on.

Thanks to everyone who has responded thus far.  I will continue checking here as long as anyone has thoughts.

Posted 9/25/2013 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
It sound like your under a great deal of stress. Please find some professional help to help you feel better emotionally.

((((((((Gentle hug)))))))
Posted 9/25/2013 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes - fibro fog. I know how that feels. I get it especially when there is a lot of barometric pressure change! Also I am 'chemically sensitive' so it's triggered by strong smells, e.g. perfume or when the cleaner at work sprays windex. I have my coping skills that I use. Sometimes I leave the room or open a window. Most importantly I remind myself to breathe and repeat to myself like a mantra: 'ground yourself'. The most important thing is not to stress yourself and don't be hard on yourself. Observe your thoughts and catch yourself if you start getting down on yourself with negative thoughts. Sometimes just stopping these thoughts can help you to feel better. Be gentle with yourself. By the way - I'm finding that these days a lot of people seem to be in a fog. They may not have fibromyalgia, but are definately in a fog.
Posted 9/25/2013 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with all you'll..
Notice that the fibro fog makes the depression worse
Posted 9/27/2013 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have an appointment with my regular doctor next Tuesday.  Am going to ask her to refer me to a psychiatrist and rheumatologist.  Fingers crossed.
Posted 9/28/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Fog: dazed and confused, unable to focus (and maybe frustrated because of it)
Depression: feeling lousy and worthless
By all means, see if you can find help with your docs, but if they push meds, see them as a stepping stone rather than a long term solution. My docs had me convinced I needed the meds for years, and I felt worse and worse, physically and mentally. With fibro, the meds by you time so you can gather energy to exercise. Also, look for a nutritionist who understands fibromyalgia. Changing what I ate changed so much... but there are so many pieces to the puzzle that is you. Grant yourself the time and patience to figure it out.
Posted 9/29/2013 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have had depression for all my life, but wasn't diagnosed until my first marriage split up, which was right after I had my daughter. In my experience, the depression symptoms are very different than fibro fog. Fog makes me feel out of it, unable to remember my own name some days. It is a daily thing for me now, but not constant. What I mean is that I am not in an all day memory lapse spell, but it comes and goes throughout the day. As in one moment I could be ok, the next I can't figure out the name of an object sitting in front of me. Depression, however, makes me feel as if a heavy weight is on me, and I can't shake it loose. It makes me want to shut myself away from everyone, or jump in my car and drive until the road ends to just get away from it all. It makes me want to cry until there are no tears left.

Hope you get the help you need!!
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