Brain fog

[margaretjo]

When does 'brain fog' stop being brain fog and start becoming something you need to see the dooctor about. Today i was entering my email addy and could not remember how to spell my name and now im panicing its something else. any info would be very gratefully received

[Sue2803]

I often wonder whether it is the infamous 'brain fog' or something more sinister. Today I got the month wrong and was convinced it was the beginning of May, felt a right charlie when my mum reminded me that it is June.

[Mommaleda in reply to Sue2803]

I'm doing the same. It seems like the more stress I'm under the more it happens.

[olleberj]

My opinion is that you need to seek medical attention if you feel any concurrent symptoms such as numbness, visual disturbance, headache, etc. Any evidence of a stroke in the brain (TIA) would cause me to get to the doctor right away.

[pluto5 in reply to olleberj]

Sometimes my cheeks go numb, last week my memory disappeared for a few hours, my left eye blurred over and I have had headaches. Anyone had similar?

[Lure2 in reply to pluto5]

Yes Pluto, Exactly like you before I was on warfarin.

I have answered on your post "MS" also.

You have a diagnose of APS and now you need to be correct anticoagulated. What does your APS-Specialist say about these APS-symptoms?

Kerstin

[margaretjo]

I dont have any other symptons other than the ones i normally have except for a bit of a temp because i have a chest infection again. If i do get anything else i will certainly seek medical help. Thanks for your advise

[MaryH]

Having a chest infection or any systemic infection can lower the body's normal capacity to cope. This can also affect memory etc., so I would not worry over much. Many years ago I used to run a group about coping strategies for stress; one of the questions I used to ask was:- Has anyone gone upstairs to get something and once there forgotten what they went for? almost everyone could empathise with this and I used to add that this had been happening to myself since I was in my teens! so we are all at the mercy of a forgetful memory at times. Much love Mary H xxx

[jessielou]

Hi Margaret

I think go with your instinct hon, if you feeling something unusual for you, rather than worrying, get it checked out.

I hope you feeling better.

Take care gentle hugs love Sheena xxxx

[GinaD]

I have wrestled with a similar ?: when is tiredness just tiredness, and when is it a fatigue you must report to a doc! Try actually doing what I say I'm going to do, but don't. Make a rule! Such as, "If I misplace 5 items a day over 3 days," or " if I forget a common noun in speech 4 times a day for so- many days in a row.". Then do as I say, not as I do, and hold yourself to your rule. Me? I'll promise myself that if I take more then 1 nap a day for 3 days in the absence of an obvious cause,( such as a humongous exercise session,or a bad cold,) then I will call my doc and suggest my APS maybe rearing it's head again. But then I never do. I'm very fond of floating mindlessly down that river in Egypt.

[SueLovett]

Isn't amazing that so many of us experience this.

I used to be a very good speller and then all of a sudden I couldn't remember how to spell relatively simple words. It has improved a bit since I've been on Clexane but some days are worse than others.

[Mommaleda]

I've went from feeling dizzy here and there to feeling "drunk" most o the time. It's gotten to the point where I'm going to my gp about it and I'm checking on disability. I'm so dizzy at times I'm almost falling. I can't keep a complete thought and there are times when I can't think hard enough to write. It's very frustrating. I thought it was just me until I read things on this site and then I looked at lupus fog. Now things make complete sense. When I'm good..I'm just like I was before my strokes, quick and on it! When I'm foggy it's crazy and I can't seem to do everyday tasks with any normalcy. I thought it was just me. Thanks for sharing. Xo to all

[Tomcat]

Glad I'm not on my own with this, I've been feeling like an idiot for a good while now, my memory is shot and like the rest of you I sometimes have great difficulty in remembering how to spell the simplest of words, I have to resort to looking them up in a dictionary.It's all a little worrying as I'm supposed to start a degree course in September.

[JulieO]

Scary brainfog had my smart teenage son feeling confused and depressed. Over time with APS, everything became a struggle. We were afraid he had had a stroke. His PCP sent him to a neurologist who had him tested by a neuropsychologist as well. They consulted with his rheumatologist and took him off Lovenox and put him back on Warfarin. They also changed him to a different antidepressant. After detecting ADD (which apparently can be triggered by a problem like APS) they prescribed Adderall XR. This combo has made a huge difference in his quality of life! Now, he feels significantly better, and we are thankful to God for our wonderful doctors who worked together as a team and figured out how to help.

[margaretjo]

Firstly thank you all for your replies. My doctor has been great during this episode (and all throughout this last scary 15 months) I think he was worried i had either had a stroke or early onset dementia.. Anyway Hesent me for a ct scan which thankfully was clear and my assessment for dementia was ok too. He now seems to think that it is a combination of APLS and the meds im on.