Can anyone tell me more about brain fog?

louise47 said...
I really don't know what that means. This is all new to me. I get dizzy spells all the time sometimes lasting for awhile.

Hi Louise,

I have several autoimmune diseases plus fibromyalgia, and brain fog goes hand-in-hand with at least 3 or 4 of my conditions, so I'm an expert on it!

I will explain a bit about brain fog, but I should say that your dizzy spells may be vertigo (I have that too)....you should probably talk to your doctor about it as soon as possible. It can be caused by various medical conditions and also by certain medications.

Brain fog is something that I deal with every day, and it basically means that my brain feels like it's wrapped in a blanket of cotton wool or something....my mind is just not functioning clearly. Mental tasks that used to come easily to me, such as math, for example, can become ridiculously difficult.

I'm good.....no, I was good at math. As a part-time job, I taught college math and physics courses for the past 12 years. Until this semester; last week I turned down my spring contract because I can't even do arithmetic in my head any more.

Anyway, here's an example to help you understand what I'm talking about....just today I was trying to do a little research (I'm a scientist for my full-time job) and I worked on a VERY elementary problem for over an hour that would normally have taken me less than 5 minutes before I got sick! Then, to add insult to injury, I couldn't even figure out how to verify that my answer was correct!! So I spent another hour looking up examples of other people's work until I convinced myself that my answer was right!

I've also been having trouble remembering the right words for things....just typing this post took me SO long! I used to have a great vocabulary, sometimes I feel like an idiot studying to be a moron when I try to carry on a conversation nowadays!

Other examples of brain fog troubles I've seen posted by others include: coming home from the grocery store and putting fresh meat in the pantry and canned food in the fridge; packing a lunch for work, opening it at lunch time and finding socks instead of a sandwich; getting lost in a neighborhood you've lived in all your life....etc., etc.

It does sound funny, and believe me, those of us with really bad brain fog DO laugh at it! But I think that we're laughing because otherwise we'd be crying.

In any case, I REALLY hope that you don't have brain fog and that you never get it!!
Good luck!
JoAnn

wow I'm so sorry you guys have to deal with this. I definatly don't have brain fog. Thank you so much for clearing that up for me. I love!!!! this site oh! Have I said that before?

 

I have enjoyed reading the responses to the question about brain fog.  Helped me out some too.  I can get so frustrated with myself, and in fact did get very frustrated last night.  I was talking with my husband, and I couldn't find the words, or form the sentences to articulate what it was I wanted to say.  I'd try again, having a picture of what I wanted to say in my head, only to fail.  This kept happening over and over, and the thing is, I know that I'm not dumb.  In fact, I'm quite smart.  Also, we were playing crib last night and I too am good at math, always got straight A's in it.  I'm very quick usually with figuring out what to do with my cards, which ones to put in the crib, etc...last night in the middle of the game it was like my brain shut down.  I couldn't do simple math for the life of me.  I felt so frustrated I wanted to cry..I tried laughing anyways, but inside I was crushed.  *sighs*  I'm only 29.  So, this is brain fog eh?  I wondered what was happening to me.

-Ellie

Thanks so much for your hugs Louise, you're very kind :)

For me, brain fog is when my head just doesn't feel clear. Nothing comes easily. Thinking is an effort. Kind of like having a really bad head cold without all the congestion. It really makes me feel dumb. I'm not quick witted, I cannot think of what I was going to do, I can't concentrate on a book i'v already been getting into. I listen to TV but don't necessarily understand what they're saying. Not comprehending it. Like it's way over my head.

Just a few days ago I spent 10 minutes trying to get into what I THOUGHT was my apartment.... No, it definitely wasn't. Was on the wrong floor, wrong side of the building.... I didn't even realize I wasn't at the right door until I called a friend to come help me and she called back to say "you're not in front of your apartment...where are you?"

I'm just glad the residents weren't home!

  I too suffer from brain fog.. Just last week I had to take both my kids to a doc apt then droped off my youngest with my mum to spend some time with her then had to take my oldest to after school program.. I was home working on my laptop and listening to tv when  my phone alarm went off reminding me to get my kids from the bus stop because I cant remember myself.. Anyways I stood out there till the bus came and the bus driver came out and asked me if my son was suposed to ride the bus home because he was NOT on the bus...  It Took me like 10 seconds to realize that he was not at school he was with my mother....

   I made a silly excuse to the bus driver so he wouldnt think I was crazy. Ran back to my house in tears so frusterated with myself... I couldnt even remember where my kids were at.. I myself droped them off only hours ago and eventho I had plenty of time to catch myself waiting for them... I didnt where as before I would have caught it when my reminder went off... It was the worst way brain fog has  affected me reciently..

Somtimes I am not sure which is worse. Having my family watch me completely aware of the fact that I can't remember things. Even if they don't understand they still have be warned of it. Or if it's more painful to have people that I don't know that I have ran into in line in a grocery store and I lose my thought. I feel like they think they need to take their child and abd stand in front of them so the crazy lady doesn't hurt them.! Brain Fog is a theif, It does remind me of alzheimers a tiny bit. At least that is how I first felt when it started. However since I have never had altz. I really couldn't say what it feels like. What I hate the most though is feeling like I am part of whole gang and I "belong". Things are moving right along all is good with the world and then WHAM'. Not only have I lost what I was thinking of but I also forgot what everyone with me was thinking too. Somtimes I feel like a need a baby setter. I have been told a lot of it is the drugs I am on. Of course if you are anything like me you won't want to hear that because the meds make me feel half normal. I actually have considered going into detox for about a month just to see if I could notice any difference.
I do want to mention one very important thing though. Even though things are some times funny I'd like to remind people that ODing on drugs is not a funny. If you want get a box that is filled at leastno more then weekly and you should have someone distribute them to you. There is no shame in that. In fact it's very wise. I am on well over 30 pills a day I take 90 mil. of vicodine, percocet, I take fentyle pain patch. I through on my oxycotin. I take 1.5 mil. of xanax dayly. This is just a drop in the bucket of what I take but they are the strongest. So hey just remember people love you and I am sure that they would rather hand out your peoples then your obituataries.
love ya
carol