It’s hard to explain Fibro Fog to someone who has never experienced it, or to someone who has never seen it in action. My office mate at work has seen Fibro Fog do its dirty work on me, and she described it once as if my brain got stuck like a needle on a record.
Repeatedly.
When it happens to me it feels like everything slows down. I’m painfully aware that my word recall is stuck. I’m painfully aware that:
- I’m pausing for too long
- that I’m stammering and it’s annoying to others
- that I’m speaking too slowly in order to use the correct wording and
- so that I don’t stammer
- that my brain to mouth filter sometimes doesn’t kick in
- that I sometimes forget what I’m saying in the middle of saying it
- that I often transpose words and phrases when I speak them or write them
- that sometimes I have to read and reread something for it to look like English
- that sometimes I have to ask people to repeat what they’ve just said because although I heard it and recognized it as English, and know that what they said was likely very simple, I didn’t understand a word they said. And I blame it on not hearing well.
- that I have to write down everything in order to remember it; that math intimidates me and when math is involved it takes me much, much longer to complete a task.
- that I sometimes feel like I have ADD, but I know it’s not.
- that all of these things make me feel anxious, because I feel like I’m missing something important and it’s going to be harmful to someone at work or my children or my husband if I don’t remember what it is.
- that my coordination plummets, and I can’t do simple things like put a key in a keyhole and my balance (which is already shaky) also plummets.
Luckily, this is not every day. It happens during migraines. It happens during very bad pain flare-ups. It happens during extended pain flare-ups. Sometimes it does “just happen” although admittedly, if I sit down and think about it, I can usually trace it back to sleepless nights I had due to severe pain during the night.
It’s not just at work when these things happen. Like sitting with a consumer and trying to listen to an issue they have, and then trying to help them come up with a solution to something and I’m trying to explain my suggestions. Or I’m going over steps in the process of how we’ll be reaching goals.
It happens at home. I could be cooking and step away from stove for a moment because what’s cooking can wait for a few minutes. Except I need to set the timer if it’s not something that can burn or even cook off like a pot of boiling water. Yes, I can burn boiling water. It’s not a joke.
When I’m driving, I sometimes forget to take turns even if it’s a place I go to all the time. I go to the grocery store 3.5 miles away. I once forgot how to get there at all. My dentist is even closer than that, and I’ve forgotten how to get there numerous times. Even though I’ve been going to the same OB/GYN for 20 YEARS I’ve been needing to use my GPS to find her office. I forget important items on a grocery list or when running a specific errand … even when it’s written at the top of the list. And it’s the main reason for the trip in the first place.
What helps me? Sometimes…
- Giving in to a nap. Attempting to get more sleep. Except that doesn’t always help because honestly, the reason I’m in the fog to begin with is a particularly bad flare-up which means sleep will be fitful.
- Heat therapy. A hot shower is relaxing, and can help with sleep and anxiety.
- Yoga. The stretching helps blood flow, and it temporarily helps my mobility. It also helps get the blood to my brain.
- Simple sugars from fruit and veggies. I try to cut down on refined sugars.
- Walking. Movement even when I don’t feel like it. Getting my heart rate up. It’s easiest to exercise if I can go swimming. Feeling the water take the pressure off of my joints helps immensely. It helps relieve pain in a way other things can’t. Of course, after getting out of the water there’s a heaviness that you feel that’s just… well, it feels like you’re being pulled into the ground.
- Getting fresh air. Communing with nature. Stopping to smell the flowers, as long as I don’t have to bend down. Because that hurts. But there’s something to be said for “clearing your head” with some fresh air.
- Prayer. Prayer is like meditation, and helps me focus. I do a daily Bible devotional as often as possible… which means “when I remember.”
- Get as many fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants from natural food sources as much as possible. I Spicalso take some supplements.
- Spices and teas. I find them comforting as well as therapeutic.
- Having gone vegetarian. Well, pescatarian. It’s been nearly a year. I have trouble digesting meat, and I feel full body pain when I do fall off the meat wagon.
- Staying hydrated. Dehydration can lead to a myriad of problems for anyone, and the problems are magnified for the 30+% of Fibro sufferers that get Fibro Fog.
And sometimes nothing helps at all. I can do everything “right” and still get caught in the fog. It’s like it’s night time, it’s pea soup fog, and I have my high beams on. But you know, as I was researching some helpful articles to add to this post I stumbled upon an article that included a link to Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers. I actually found one a couple of towns over from me. I may just have to give them a call, especially since the rheumatology offices around here won’t even call me back to tell me if they’ll take my referrals from my doctor and if they do, they’re not taking new patients. Or they don’t specialize in Fibro.
Cross your fingers and toes, and if you’re the praying type…
Related articles
- Nitty Gritty Fibro Part 3 (Neurological Effects) (littlefallofrain.wordpress.com)
- Source Of Pain (Possibly) Found In Fibro Patients (littlefallofrain.wordpress.com)
- Fibro-Guilt (fibromama.wordpress.com)
- Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.: Brain Fog in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
- Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers — Optimizing Health. Improving Lives..
- Fibromyalgia Health/Wellness Tips from my Mom (craigramsayfitness.wordpress.com)
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- Fibromyalgia Health/Wellness Tips from my Mom (craigramsayfitness.wordpress.com)
I have been experiencing pain in my mid to low back only during the night. It usually only happens when I am lying on my side, however lately it has been when I am lying on my back as well. Usually happens early morning (3am and on). I have a good mattress, so I do not feel this is the problem. We even added a memory foam pad to the bed at one point. Not sure if the problem could be something beyond muscle pain?? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
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I’ve found that the most relief during sleep is on my back with a pillow propping up my knees. I enjoy sleeping on my sides too, so I’ll sleep with a pillow between my legs and it helps immensely. I used to be a stomach sleeper. 🙂 I’ve also found that sleeping with a padded hot water bottle feels wonderful and can help ease the nauseated feeling and aches.
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The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
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Aww, you poor thing. You’re exactly the type of person I try to keep in mind when I’m trying to help others with Fibromyalgia realize that they’re not alone. 🙂 You’re exactly the type of person I try to keep in mind when I’m trying to offer descriptions, explanations, research, and experiences so that people like you might be better able to feel compassion for their friends and family who might be suffering from a chronic pain disorder like Fibromyalgia… and disorder that’s out of one’s control because they have three times the nerves in their skin and those nerves are three times the size of a typical person’s nerves. But you know… I could totally fix that except I’m looking for attention.
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Unless there is moderate to severe organ involvement or if a person must take immunosuppressive/immunomodulating medications that would place the mother at risk, there is no absolute reason why a person with lupus should not get pregnant. You must be aware, however, that there is an increased risk of disease activity either during or three to four weeks after pregnancy and, therefore, all women with lupus who are pregnant must be closely monitored by an obstetrician who is thoroughly familiar with high risk pregnancy as well as their lupus doctor. Statistically, 50% of all lupus pregnancies are completely normal, 25% will deliver normal babies prematurely and the remaining 25% will experience either a miscarriage or a fetal death.
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Good to know. I have Fibromyalgia. I didn’t know I have this when I had my first pregnancy or indeed, any of my pregnancies. I didn’t know that my chronic pain disorder would become seriously exacerbated with each pregnancy or with the physical-ness of child rearing. It wouldn’t have stopped me from raising a family, though. 🙂 I still wouldn’t change anything.
The Lupus stats are interesting. Do you have anything relating to Fibro? I’d be really grateful if you did..
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This swelling in the airways gets worse during an asthma flare-up , making it hard to breathe. During a flare-up, also called an asthma attack or episode, the lungs also may produce a lot of sticky mucus, which clogs the airways. And the muscles around the airways tighten up, making the airways really narrow. All of this can lead to some pretty serious breathing trouble.
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YES! I notice this too. Validation! Thank you!
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So sorry to hear about all that you have been going through lately. Try not to judge yourself too harshly – it’s OK to feel what you are feeling – this too shall pass. I think sometimes when we try to “control” our emotions too much – it backfires on us. Go with your feeling – and notice what happens to your body as you are feeling whatever it is you are feeling. This helps me a lot when I am experiencing very negative/emotional thoughts. It kind of helps you get out of your head – I really believe that when we don’t allow our emotions to be felt/experienced – they get bound up in negative energy in our body – which can lead to physical symptoms. So I don’t have a secret to staying positive – If I was positive all the time, I’d question how intelligent I was – it’s normal to have a range of emotions – even in the best of times. BUT when we are dealing with chronic illness – everything is magnified. And there is such a feeling of loss of control – that fear is a very normal reaction. What I try to keep reminding myself is that – my number one job at this time is to keep myself healthy – for my family – and that may mean more resting that I am used to – (that old work ethic is always rearing it’s ugly head!), eating well, trying to do some sort of exercise every day, and allowing myself to feel whatever it is I’m feeling. Feel better and give yourself a big hug.
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Thank you so much for this. I appreciate it more than you know. Everything you’ve said is echoing in my head and rings true. {{{hugs back}}}
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Hi Lindsey. Rest is always my first line of action during a flare (I am trying to stave off a flare now). Hot green tea helps sometimes, although I don’t know if that’s just psychological. You can try heating pads, that has helped. The trouble seems to be that there isn’t anything I can find that will help consistently. When all else fails, and this is really a last resort, my doc will give me a shot of cortisone.
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Hi Lindsey. Rest is always my first line of action during a flare (I am trying to stave off a flare now). Hot green tea helps sometimes, although I don’t know if that’s just psychological. You can try heating pads, that has helped. The trouble seems to be that there isn’t anything I can find that will help consistently. When all else fails, and this is really a last resort, my doc will give me a shot of cortisone.
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Green tea is a great recommendation. It has countless health benefits.
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