Fibro Fog

Hi Everyone,
I was just sitting at my desk at work, thinking about I wonder if everyone that has Fibro has the fog to go with it.  If you do; can you please tell me how you deal with it.  This is such a touchy subject for me, because well..................I can't even tell you how it makes me feel.  So if some or all of my fibro friends would please lend a story my way about their way to deal with the Fibro Fog that would be so much appreciated.  thank you.

I have CFIDS and the brain fog can be absolutely horrible!! My husband said I was quite entertaining last Friday...it was like he was speaking another language to me and I could't remember anything at all.

I actually took up cross stitching. Some days it is the only way I can carry on a conversation. It seems to focus my brain enough that I can participate in a real conversation with my hussband. I have a friend who doodles. The drawing seems to help her. Maybe you can come up with a simple activity that will help you focus your brain a little. It can't be too complicated or you won't be able to wrap your brain around the activity never mind the conversation.

Hope this helps

Thank you, it does help.  I just have a real hard time remembering words to use in a sentence, I have to stop think, look away, pause, remember it and continue on with the topic.  It is so frustrating because whom ever I am speaking to they have all ready lost interest in what we are talking about.  I can't find my words fast enough or I forget right in the middle of a sentence what I was saying.  It gets better, I sometimes ( a lot) forget doing tasks and I had just done them.  At first I thought it was the Cymbalta, but I was having that before the meds.  So I can't blame it on meds.  I just feel real slow, like not normal.  I hate it.  I need my daughter to do my thinking for me sometimes on a bad day especially when it is time to change my patch.  Does anyone else have the same problem or am I the only one that has it this bad.  I feel like a freak.  Not always.....................just sometimes.  I am a pretty positive person most of the time, but I do have my days.  thanks for your time.
Kristy

I've been struggling more lately with the fog.  I even have blurry vision at times.  I get so extremely tired that I just can't think, or make a decision.  I get so de-motivated when I have this feeling.  I know I'm not crazy but it really bothers me that one day I can function and the next I can't.  It makes it really hard to make any plans because the day I make them I'm okay and when I am supposed to do what I planned I can't think or am too tired.   Arghh!

Next week I'll be at a conference in Dallas and I'm sharing a room with two other women.  I know I won't get much sleep and will be walking a lot and listening to speeches.  I am so worried that I will break down or come home sick because it is just too hard.  When I scheduled myself to attend I felt fine.  Now I am almost regretting it. 

Now, I am wondering if I even know what fibro fog is!!  I have so many things happening to me, I really don't know if it is memory loss or fog.  What is the difference?  I thought I knew what it was, but reading other people responses makes me wonder, I am experiencing what they are going through.  It is hard to explain.  Help.  thanks a bunch.  See, I don't commit to anything anymore, for just that reason.  I bet you wish you could back out of the conference.  I would.  hehehe
Kristy

Kristy,
  I tried so hard to put mine in words and it was so hard for me because my family gives me bits and pieces and I try to put it all together. I do know I slur my words and can't think of the right ones to use and I am very forgetful. Oh..and I want to do is sleep and I have sleeping issues but in the last 2 months My Dr took me off of my Ambin and I don't even want to tell you the does I was on just to get me to sleep for 4 or less hours. ....I wish I could help you more.....


 Hugs
Maria

Thanks Maria. exactly, by the time I figure out what word to use, the person I am speaking to has lost interest or patience with me.  I anwered a questionairre online CFS/FMS (chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia syndrome and there are about 142 questions and I just wanted to see how many of them I have and I was amazed that all of them I have.  Some old but most of them are new, like judging distance example: when I merge onto the freeway, I can't tell if the car next to me is in my lane or the lane over.  This issue I had mentioned to my husband before I took the test.  I thought it was just me falling apart.  I was absolutely shocked when I read it was from our condition.  Go to www.livingwithillness.com if you want to check it out.  I don't have any plans for the questionairre but it helps me know that I am not falling apart, that it is from this condition.  Kristy

I tried to go to that website and I got some weird stuff.  I found the checklist through a link and on the list was that website.  Sorry.  If I find the link or checklist I will post it.  Sorry again.  K

Fibro Fog. Two words I hate. Of all the symptoms of FM I think it's the worst. And it seems to be somewhat different for everyone. This is what it means to me.

Not being able to concentrate on any one thing for longer than two minutes. Like I have ADD.

It's worse when I'm tired.

I lose words and sentences; like minute amnesia.

It's different everyday and from hour to hour even.

I feel like an idiot when I'm talking to someone and totally forget what I was talking about.

i forget names, places, and lose time. I do things without realizing I've done them.

I also have blurry vision sometimes; especially when I'm tired.

It even affects my reading--makes me stutter and lose my place.

It also affects my driving. I've almost hit other cars because I crossed the yellow line or didn't see the car.

How do I deal with it? It depends on how bad it is. On really bad days I go by the saying: "If all else fails, take a nap." I also make a lot of notes and I journal. If I'm studying I leave the TV on; for some reason I can concentrate better if there is background noise. Maybe bcause it makes meconcentrate harder on what I'm doing. I don't drive unless I absolutely have to.

Not sure if this is what you're looking for. But do know that your not alone. It's a pain in the ptoot.

Take care,
Nettie

Hi everyone...
Fibro fog. Forgetfulness. Dementia. Alzhiemers.  It actually makes you feel as though you have the last 2 items. Forgetting what you're talking about...in the middle of your sentence no less! Losing words...forgetting how to spell certain words. I have a horrible time with would, should and could. I don't know why but when I write those words I have to get the dictionary out and check the spelling. Lists are made and placed all over the house to remind me of what I have to do that day. Going places is a whole lot of fun. I have to make sure I talk to my mother before I go anywhere so I can make sure she knows where I'm going and for what reason. I say that because there are times when I'm told where I'm going and for the life of me I can't remember what I'm getting. Is it frustrating?? Hell yeah. Is it infuriating?? Oh HELL yeah!!! I feel like the stupidest person alive when it hits me....and trust me when I say it hits me like a ton of bricks Like now....it's taken me over half an hour to write these few lines. My prayer goes out to all my fibro family. I hope and pray that we all get a break from this disassociation of our minds from reality!

Jacqui