Re: Brain fog - please define/compare wtih forgetfulness/lack of focus?

[Guest guest]

Yes - that's what I call brain fog. I also have dx'd fibromyalgia - but it all

goes with mercury poisoning. Figuring out I had FMS is what led me to mercury

discovery... Personally I find that before my cycle its next to impossible to

focus and then once I finally start I can focus. I'm peri-menopausal, too,

(47) so the last several cycles have been messed up. I lost my brother in

March and the trauma added to my hormonal imbalances I imagine cause that's when

I started getting irregular - but I am at that age. I do use bioidentical

progesterone. B complex helps and I've started trying ginkgo biloba and gotu

kola. I substitute teach and high school and need a brain..... To me brain fog

is being fuzzy but its basically not being able to think or focus. (And I DO

take pain medications for 6 herniated discs). Jeanie

Brain fog - please define/compare wtih

forgetfulness/lack of focus?

I don't know if I have " brain fog " or not. Please help me

figure this out. Can those who feel this describes their

mental state say what it feels like exactly, and compare

with other descriptors?

For example, I know what feeling " out of focus " is like.

I am definitely distractable, unable to finish tasks,

open projects and get distracted by other things, some-

times opening other projects, then realize the first one

is still unfinished, then try to finish it and feel I

can't focus on the tasks required to finish it, yet

am afraid to close it up because I have forgotten to

get to it in the past, and say, it's got to get done

today or tomorrow and I'm realistically concerned I

will forget to get to it if it's not out. I also feel

distracted - super distracted. My son is playing a

videogame, or the TV is on, and my mind feels pulled

apart, not focusing on the dishes or my emails. Like

I'm drugged, everything I do takes longer and longer.

I'll be looking at the clock and wonder why it's

taking so long, and have to put on ear plugs or turn

extra sounds/sights off and only then can get the

work done at a normal pace. Otherwise, I keep

finding myself spacing out staring at the TV when

I'm not interested in what's on, or just staring into

space and then realize I'm listening to the TV when

I'm trying to do something else. I keep wondering

why is everything looking messed up and why can't I

settle and deal with things effectively right now?

This lack of focus lifts/goes away on some occasions

like during chelation, or when I get great rest, etc.

so I can compare it to feeling focused - where issues

are settled quickly, more definitively, and stuff is

put away in the house. Does brain fog feel like

this or something else?

I know I am forgetful. I lock the door or set the

alarm, then forget if I did and check it ten minutes

later, then perhaps an hour later I may check again

just to be sure in case I somehow forgot disarming

it or something to be double sure. My son will ask

for water, then I'll say I'll get it in a minute,

then 5 minutes later I'll have forgotten about it

completely, then say five minutes or perhaps 20

minutes later I'll remember I was supposed to get

him water and forgot, but now remember and bring

it then. So I forget, then remember I forgot, then

forget again, and so on. While I forget, if

someone reminds me I of course remember that I

was told, or was going to do that thing, but why

would something I know go in and out of my ability

to remember it? I call this forgetfullness - is

this part of brain fog too?

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[Guest guest]

I really think it is useful to distinguish various symptoms.

I don't think everything in your post or the followups is

" brain fog " .

For me, brain fog is when someone says something or asks me

something, and I just can't seem to register what they are

saying. I can't process the words, can't answer or carry

on a meaningful conversation. Remarkably I can sometimes

fake it a bit if it isn't too bad, due to much practice

over the years. (Like if I get a piece of the meaning,

I will respond and hope that I am partially coherent.)

Lack of focus is different. You can feel pulled in many

directions, but if you can find a way to reign in your

attention, then you can think just fine. I don't think

that is brain fog. Blocking out excess sensory input

can help, but I think supplements or medications would

be more effective.

Forgetfulness seems different, too. It can be involved

in brain fog, but is distinct. Sometimes I have trouble

remembering the whole sentence that someone said to me (so

I can say it over and over in my head as I try to understand

it). But sometimes I can actually remember the sentence just

fine - yet I still have " brain fog " in the sense that I can

repeat it over and over and just can't " get " what is meant.

I think it is the not being able to think and understand

that constitutes brain fog. The forgetfulness is separate.

I think it is useful to distinguish these because different

treatments would be appropriate for each. The common element

would be adrenal support.

--

>

> I don't know if I have " brain fog " or not. Please help me

> figure this out. Can those who feel this describes their

> mental state say what it feels like exactly, and compare

> with other descriptors?

>

> For example, I know what feeling " out of focus " is like.

> I am definitely distractable, unable to finish tasks,

> open projects and get distracted by other things, some-

> times opening other projects, then realize the first one

> is still unfinished, then try to finish it and feel I

> can't focus on the tasks required to finish it, yet

> am afraid to close it up because I have forgotten to

> get to it in the past, and say, it's got to get done

> today or tomorrow and I'm realistically concerned I

> will forget to get to it if it's not out. I also feel

> distracted - super distracted. My son is playing a

> videogame, or the TV is on, and my mind feels pulled

> apart, not focusing on the dishes or my emails. Like

> I'm drugged, everything I do takes longer and longer.

> I'll be looking at the clock and wonder why it's

> taking so long, and have to put on ear plugs or turn

> extra sounds/sights off and only then can get the

> work done at a normal pace. Otherwise, I keep

> finding myself spacing out staring at the TV when

> I'm not interested in what's on, or just staring into

> space and then realize I'm listening to the TV when

> I'm trying to do something else. I keep wondering

> why is everything looking messed up and why can't I

> settle and deal with things effectively right now?

>

> This lack of focus lifts/goes away on some occasions

> like during chelation, or when I get great rest, etc.

> so I can compare it to feeling focused - where issues

> are settled quickly, more definitively, and stuff is

> put away in the house. Does brain fog feel like

> this or something else?

>

> I know I am forgetful. I lock the door or set the

> alarm, then forget if I did and check it ten minutes

> later, then perhaps an hour later I may check again

> just to be sure in case I somehow forgot disarming

> it or something to be double sure. My son will ask

> for water, then I'll say I'll get it in a minute,

> then 5 minutes later I'll have forgotten about it

> completely, then say five minutes or perhaps 20

> minutes later I'll remember I was supposed to get

> him water and forgot, but now remember and bring

> it then. So I forget, then remember I forgot, then

> forget again, and so on. While I forget, if

> someone reminds me I of course remember that I

> was told, or was going to do that thing, but why

> would something I know go in and out of my ability

> to remember it? I call this forgetfullness - is

> this part of brain fog too?

>