Fibro Fog Meds...

[Gubzter]

Hello all,

Firstly, thanks for making me feel so welcome. This flare up has been a little horror, but reading your kind words has been such a source of comfort. Thank you. 😘

Wondering if you guys have any experience with treating the fibro fog?

It may sound odd, but the pain I can kind of handle. It's been so long, and exercise on the whole makes it bareable. However the extreme exhaustion and lack of focus is really debilitating. I'm a writer, but right now that's impossible. Everything is literally fuzzy and the days are whirring by in a haze.

The fog is robbing me of my personality and my art.

I have tried every natural remedy in the book, but nothing works. Are there any meds that would help?

Thanks guys x

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Hello Gubzter pleased to meet you, the fibro fog is a killer that's for sure and even more so if your a writer. I am sure you may have tried some of these things already but if not here is a few ideas. Avoid caffeine, try using a planner. Maybe try and get in to some kind of routine. Putt things back exactly where you get them from is one I have to do. This way I never worry about losing stuff well not often lol

This is a hard one but try not to multitask if at all possible one thing at a time is the way to go for me other wise the brain just gets's overloaded and drained.

De clutter your space. I can not believe how much of a difference this as made to me personally. This was a must as we had to down size big time when moving into a bungalow. Now i'm not exhausted looking for stuff as it is no longer there.

Ok here is the biggie for most folks with fibro try and get in to a good sleep routine if you can. Lack of sleep = tiredness = fogginess. I hope some of these ideas help you a little good luck with the book.

Mo xx

[Janet28]

Hi Gubzter you are very welcome ☺ I'm sorry that you are having such a bad time of it and hope you soon feel well again. I have copied this for you for reference to your question. I hope you find it useful.

There are some steps you can take to help alleviate your fibromyalgia symptoms, including feeling as though you're in a fog:

Avoid caffeine. "Most people think they'll feel more alert or more awake with caffeine," Dr. Lyster says. "However, caffeine can make things worse for people with fibromyalgia." Even a small amount of caffeine can contribute to sleep disturbances. Also, caffeine is a stimulant, but you can crash when it wears off.

Use a planner. Keep track of appointments and events in a calendar, either on paper or on your computer. Some computer programs allow you to set alarms to remind you when you need to make a phone call or attend a meeting. Set a kitchen timer to remind you to take the meatloaf out of the oven or pick your daughter up from hockey practice.

Get in a rut. Establishing routines for simple tasks can help you deal with brain fog. For example, if every time you return home, you put your car keys on a hook by the door before you do anything else, you're less likely to lose them and you won't be frustrated trying to remember where they are the next time you have to go somewhere.

Organize your space. It's hard to concentrate when you're surrounded by too much junk — that makes it too easy to get distracted. Throw out things that you no longer need, and store those you do use in their proper place. Removing clutter is a good way to control brain fog.

Don't multi-task. It's very tempting to talk on the phone while making dinner or answer e-mails in between paying bills online. But it is harder to concentrate when you're trying to do too much at once. Be upfront with your friends and family who may be asking for help when you're busy doing something else: Tell them you need to do only one thing at a time and will help them as soon as you're done.

De-stress.Stress may cause fibro fog to worsen in some people, Lyster says. Susan Ingebretson of Los Angeles finds stress relievers such as yoga or meditation help her overcome fibro fog. "I'm constantly applying stress-relieving modalities to my life, which helps me balance the fibro fog as well as many other fibromyalgia symptoms," she says.

Breathe deeply. Ingebretson, 51, finds that if she takes deep breaths and relaxes it helps her considerably. "'Fibrofolk' are known to be shallow breathers," she says. "We also hold our breath when under stress." She has found that breathing deeply and consistently "does wonders for the brain."

Get better sleep. "One of the most important fibromyalgia treatments is getting quality sleep," Lyster says. To improve sleep, go to bed and wake up the same time every day, even on weekends. Use your bed for sleeping, not reading, watching TV, or working on your laptop. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool so you're comfortable when you sleep. Some herbal supplements also have shown to be effective in inducing quality sleep, Lyster says.

Get regular exercise. "Low-impact exercise is helpful," Dr. Walker says. Exercise not only improves blood flow, but also helps improve sleep, which can help alleviate some of the cognitive difficulties associated with fibromyalgia pain.

Eat healthy. "I found that nutritional support (meaning actually eating real food) made a huge difference for me," Ingebretson says. "So did drinking more water." A healthy diet is one that is rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains and includes lean meats and low-fat dairy. "Stay away from processed foods and sugars and fast foods," Walker adds.

Check on your meds. Your treatment for fibromyalgia pain may include medications. Talk to your doctor if you believe your meds are making you confused — a possible side effect. Also, you may want to discuss medications that can help with attention and concentration.

Cognitive difficulties are a common fibromyalgia symptom. But if you take care of yourself — eat healthy, exercise, relax, and try not to overdo — you can better cope with the mental issues associated with this chronic condition.

Luv Jan xx

[bluebell99]

Unfortunately there is no quick fix for fibro fog, natural or otherwise.

If you google "The Spoon Theory" you will find an explanation of pacing and a way of doing it throughout the day.

It is better to do little and often rather than one big effort which leaves you wiped out.

Sometimes though, even those of us who should know better fall victim to doing too much in one go!

X

[TheAuthor]

Hi Gubzter

I am so genuinely sorry to read this, and as the others have said, there is no quick fix unfortunately for Fibro fog. I would keep an eye on your medications as some of these can make it worse. I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken