Brain Fog, No Energy, Excessive Yawning

I have a few symptoms going on that has gone undiagnosed for a very long time and I am hoping that someone might recognize what the problem might be. I would say for the better part of the last 10 years I have suffered from what I would call a constant state of brain fog or spaced out feeling. It's the feeling you get after you have had a few drinks and your head becomes clouded... except it's not a nice feeling when you have it 24/7. Along with this I also get pressure in my head and lightheadedness which gets worse with exercise, bending over or when I get up from lying or sitting down. The lightheaded part sound like blood pressure and my BP is on the low side of normal but the top number is never really any lower than 100.

Also, over the same time period I believe that I yawn quite excessively compared to the average person and although I don't feel sleepy I do feel completely drained of energy all the time. Some days I don't yawn as much but on average I could yawn 100 times or more in a day.

These symptoms as I mentioned I first noticed about 10 years ago and seem to have gotten worse over the years to the point where it's almost unbearable now.

Some tests that I have had include:

CT Scan and MRI of Head - Came back normal
Lots of blood work - always normal except Testosterone very low... treated but did not help symptoms
Stress test - normal, however my symptoms worsen during the test to the point where I feel like I'm going to black out
Cartoid Artery ultrasound - normal
Ultrasound of heart - said I had a leaky valve (but explained this as being normal)
Lyme disease test through Igenex LAB - negative

I also had a sleep study done which showed moderate sleep apnea... treating with CPAP but has not helped symptoms.

It's very frustrating to have these symptoms and not have any explanation. I've been telling myself over the years that they will get better and I have been positive about it the whole time but it just isn't right. It's really affecting the quality of my life.

Is it possible that I could have a blood oxygen or blood flow problem in the brain that's causing these symptoms or anything else that I should consider? If it were blood flow issue would the MRI not have picked this up?

thanks in advance for your thoughts.

JR

Hey there,

From reading your post you have a lot of issues that may be at the heart of your sx.  Has any Dr. mentioned Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a complex disorder. It's characterized by profound fatigue that lasts six months or longer, that doesn't get better with bed rest and actually can get worse with physical and mental exertion. People with chronic fatigue syndrome often function at a substantially lower level than they did before they developed the condition. People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may also have non-specific symptoms such as: headache, weakness, and muscle pain.  Brain fog is a classic part of chronic fatigue syndrome.

However many medications could also cause your sx and you did not state if you use any medications.

I would strongly advice you to see a neurologist if you continue to experience the sx you are having and suspect it may be a blood vessel issue.

Wish I could be of more help but do remember to be your own best advocate.

Kindly,

Kitt

jr991,
I have also had these symptoms, The yawning symptoms I've had off and on for years. What I found is this is typically due to anxiety. You may not even feel like your anxious but you could be.

I've noticed this more if I'm not sleeping well.

A lack of sleep and anxiety could be the culprit of all of your symptoms.

I would strongly encouraged you to make a concerted effort to start a stress reducing plan (regular exercise, time for having fun, etc). Even counseling can help and you shouldn't rule that out.

Stress and anxiety can do crazy things to us without us even knowing it. I've been through it and thought I was loosing my mind and going to die. Can't say I don't still experience it from time to time but now I am better equipped to deal with it.

Keep us informed and keep your head up!