HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

mental fog....

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/1/2008 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering how the mental fog is for everyone? Do you have it everyday or on and off? What does your "fog" feel like?

I hate brain fog!!! sad

Posted 2/1/2008 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ohhh, there's a loaded question, LOL!!!!  What does our brain fog feel like.... Oh man.  For me it feels like I have static going on in my head.  Things just don't connect.  Does that make sense? LOL.  My brain fog also comes with some balance issues.  That might be from the stroke I had in '02, or the arthritis in my neck.  The doctors don't know.  Either way, it's annoying.  I also have WAY more brain fog when my Fibromyalgia is flaring up.  It's brutal!!!!  I need post it notes everywhere.  I forget everything.  I guess it can also feel like you're losing your mind a bit.  Like senility is setting in.  You feel old in the head.

 

NOw I'm curious to see what others will say!

 

Ginny

Posted 2/1/2008 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Ginny, do you feel like this everyday or off and on? Did you have this before your stroke?
Posted 2/2/2008 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I'd say I have the fog everyday but some days it's a lot worse than others. For me, my level of fog usually coincides with how I'm feeling physically. When my lupus is worse, my brain fog is worse. Sometimes I do feel like my brain is in a literal fog and my thoughts are very fuzzy and hard to find. SOmetimes I feel like my brain is one big blank and I can't find any thoughts or words. My memory is awful now too and my forgetfullness goes beyond the normal person's. I also have a lot of trouble finding words. So, yes, I do have fog everyday but it varies in intensity.
Posted 2/2/2008 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi KaAl,

 

No, I don't have the fog every day.  Thank goodness.  I think I'd go mental if it had been constant the past 8 years, LOL.

 

I definitely had it before the stroke.  My stroke was caused by the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).  It's really important to get a simple blood test to see if you have the antibodies for this.  If my blood gets too thick, I absolutely notice the brain fog, cognitive issues being much worse.  That is one of my indicators that I need a higher dose of my blood thinner.  I just feel super "off" in the head. I get clumsy and have no coordination too.  I also get sparkly flashing bullets in my vision too. 

 

Have you been tested for APS?

Posted 2/2/2008 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
When I get tired the fog gets thicker! My friends can tell just from how my verbal skills change that I'm tired -- sometimes even before I know I'm tired. Usually these days it's just when I get too tired, and doesn't happen that often. However, I had it really bad for a while and lost some spatial and temporal sensitivity -- couldn't keep my mind on a conversation and couldn't drive -- hard to even follow a TV show or a book. My rheumy tried Cellcept then and it really helped me get my brain back -- good thing, too, as I was about to go total nuts!!
Posted 2/2/2008 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
My fog cames and go's. If, it get really bad. I feel like I have been out drinking all night. Back in Nov. it was so bad. I was falling over things and there was nothing there. I am better at this time.

Best to All....
Posted 2/2/2008 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
Frank, I was going to say that sometimes I feel drunk!  I didn't want to write that down though.  After reading your post, I got brave enough to say the same thing, hahaha!  It's true.  Somedays, I swear I'm walking around tipsy.... Even talking with a slur. That's when I'm flaring bad though. Or my blood is too thick!

 

Ginny

Posted 2/2/2008 4:49 AM (GMT 0)

 Oh when the fog rolls in heavy for me its time to bunker down and do nothing. I'm useless as far as trying to hold a decent conversation, focus on things I need to do like pay bills, shop, or even make a post here. On those days, I stay away from the forum due to lack of words. There has been a steady flow of fog lately in this old brain.

  At work, I'm always wondering if I did my job right or made any mistakes, which I have been doing lately. Thank goodness I have wonder co-workers and a great boss. Sometimes I worry about saying something stupid to someone without realizing it. I'm glad its not a daily occurance or I would never do anything.

                                                            Babs

Posted 2/2/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
My fog feels like I'm disconnected from the rest of the world. I try to have a conversation but in the middle of a sentence I completely go blank. Than instead of trying to remember what I was saying I'm to busy thinking that the person I'm talking to must think I'm totally nuts. That just makes me more uncomfortable.
I need to learn not to come here when I'm in a fog because I say stuff that sounds completely rediculous. I really feel like people are going to think I'm completely out of my mind.
Somtimes I think even on nights that I think I slept well that I really don't quite reach that rem sleep. I know I have sleep apnea but I don't use one of those breathing things. I've heard so many people that have tried to use them but they just set and collect dust because they can't sleep with them on.
hugs
carol
Posted 2/3/2008 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
My fog is not being able to pull out the words that I know are in my head, not being able to figure simple things out, and being forgetful.  Those are the three most prevelant things that happen to me. 

The word thing happens to me alot...I've learned that when I can't figure out the word, to start explaining it...and usually the person I'm talking to can figure out the word for me.  I've been brutally honest with my family and co-workers...just letting them know what is happening and why...so they don't have that "is she nuts?" reaction...they just jump right in and try to help me figure out what the heck I'm trying to say!

The "not being able to figure things out" is like the day I stood in the kitchen holding a meat fork...and wasn't really sure where I was supposed to put it.  I did eventually figure it out.

As for being forgetful...I have to write everything down.  And, if someone wants me to remember something they said - THEY better write it down for me.  LOL  (I highly recommend investing in a dry erase board!)

Some days it is more frustrating than others.  And, I would agree that the level of fog is directly related to being tired, etc.

~Kim

Posted 2/3/2008 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have had trouble with brain fog for quite awhile. It is almost a relief to know that it is part of the disease process and that I am not going off the deep end!

I also have sleep apnea and have started using a cpap machine. I love it!! It is easy to use, small, and I really like getting a better sleep than I did without it. Okie, why don't you take a trial with one? Most can be rented until purchased and insurance will cover most of it.

I guess that I am finding that many little things will help ease the symptons of my disease cocktail and nothing will bring me back to how I Use to Be. I will keep living each day and finding things to be grateful for.
Posted 2/3/2008 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
I feal like I have the mental fog everyday! Some days it's worse than others, but I have a "off" feeling everyday. My mind does not feel as "sharp" as it used to be.
Sort of like my head is in a cloud.

Do you guys feel like your mind is clear and sharp most days and not so much when only flaring? Or do you have a constant foggy feeling and worse some
days?

Sorry, I hope I'm making sense.
Posted 2/3/2008 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
 My fog is mild most of the time. There are days when it can be a little worse and others days its very thick. On the thick days, I'm always doing or saying something dumb and I always think of the mounds candy song...."Sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you don't"!  Is it mounds or almond joy?? Hmmm...I can't remember.
Posted 2/4/2008 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
I would say a "clear & sharp mind" is not in my vocabulary anymore. And, I would agree that most days it is mild, but noticeable...and on a bad day is worse.

Mom46... LOL I love it.
I think that will be my new theme song!
it is both!
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Almond Joy has nuts, Mounds don't!

~Kim
Posted 2/6/2008 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I think my brain fog is the worst when I'm exhausted, although I have trouble with words (and spelling -- sorry guys) all the time now -- never in the past. My coordination is off most of the time, especially if I'm outdoors walking on uneven ground, I really need a hand then. I've been known to lose my balance for no reason though. I remember someone once saying they could trip over a flower in the rug pattern. I can relate.

My husband is pretty good at translating from fog talk into normal English. He was working on a contract for work the other night and was asking me for feedback. It was for road repaving. I told him to make sure they knew it was necessary to resurface, and that the project wasn't just "eye shadow"! Of course I meant "cosmetic." We always get a good laugh out of my blunders though. A good sense of humor goes a long way with brain fog.

Post Edited (Harmony) : 2/6/2008 10:41:05 AM (GMT-7)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply