I feel I have lupus fog at work, my manager started doubting my abilities

[someone1234]

Hi all, I am 29 years old, I have been diagnosed with lupus since 13 years and I am taking medication (Predisinlon 5 mg a day and Hydroxychloroquine 400 a day) since that time. My condition is stable with the medication I don't fail pain or symptoms except when I am exposed to sun. I work in systems development and anaylsis field and i am successful at work. However sometimes i feel that I have brain fog, i feel difficulty in concentration, understanding and memorizing. And my job requires advanced tasks with high mental abilities and multitasking. I do my best at work, i work overtime almost everyday, in the weekends and sometimes in holidays, but sometimes I face embrassing situations, people think that I am not smart or I don't pay attention enough to details, but I love my job and I give it most of my time. For example, recently I made a presentation on an application I developed by myself, but because there are so many rules and validations that I wrote in the code i forogt the information when attendees started asking me. My manager started doubting me and she asked me many times did you develop it by your self, and she started monitoring me. I feel depressed because of that, many times in front of people at work I forget information and things I know. I also usually take longer time than my peers do for completing tasks. I tell my family but they don't like these ideas they tell me you are perfect and your condition is stabale and all of us face such kind of situations. I don't know what to do it's so painful that after all the hard work my manager feels this way towards me :"(

My question: do you think Lupus brain fog has that much effect or it depends on the flare level of the disease ? And if so, should I tell my manager? Will she accept this as an excuse?

Appreciate if you can answer me.

[Penguintaz]

Hi there someone!

Lupus does affect people differently but the brain is one of those areas. The medicine you are taking can also have impacts on the brain.

First steps first,I know it's frustrating but I had to do it, is make lists of things you need to do, take notes of important things, keep a diary and maybe even use reminders! This is to help memorise things, if you still struggle or strat getting confused as well speak top your doctor or specialist.

Do explain to your manager your condition and what effects this can have upon your brain, explain how being monetered ectra makes you feel, honesty is the best policy! My work have been super understaning I do have to sometimes be monertered as I sometimes get things wrong, like putting the wrong date in but I am now a lot more confident in what I do

I hope you are well!

[someone1234 in reply to Penguintaz]

Thanks a lot Penguintaz for your reply, I wish you are well too. It feels good that you hear from people who share same condition with you.

[Penguintaz in reply to someone1234]

Indeed If you are getting worried about your memory or brain there are some function/memory tests around You may need a scan, maybe see what the specialist says.

I think you may be getting extreme brain fog! I seem to mess up my words a lot more now when talking and I feel really dumb when trying to remember the word for this like "that flat thing, you know for carrying plates 'n stuff", I meant a tray

Do talk to your doctor and this forum will be here for you, I will be here for you

Have some time to yourself for a bit of mindfulness! Xx

[someone1234 in reply to Penguintaz]

I will do. Thanks for the support

[Johubble]

Hi someone1234, I get brain fog a lot. Before I was aware of such thing I became really anxious. I'm 34 now but when I was young I managed a team of 100 and was doing well in my career. After kids when I got my first symptoms but didn't know it was lupus, I started to feel thick. And as time went on I struggled more and more. Now in the mornings I slur my words and sound drunk. I forget the simplest of things like adding tuna to the tuna bake. It sounds silly but has left me tears so many times as I just didn't know what was wrong with me. Hang in there Hun xxxxx

[someone1234 in reply to Johubble]

Thanks for your reply Johubble. Although my manager hates females and everytime ladies leave her team but I will do my best and I will explain to her. I will learn another language and I will memorize poems, I read once that doing so improves nueral connections in the brain and improves memory.

Thanks again.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi someone1234 ,

I'm sorry to hear that brain fog is impacting you at work. We published a blog article last year that may be of interest to you because it includes information and some tips on coping with it - lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

It is worth discussing this symptom with your manager and perhaps sharing the link to our blog article so that they can read more about it. If they need any more information about lupus, we have guides written for employers. You can read and download them at lupusuk.org.uk/working-with... or if you need a physical copy posted to you, just send me a private message or email [e-mail] with your name and address.

[someone1234 in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thank you so much, this is very helpful. I requested MRI test and my Rumotlogist refered me to a Nuerologist. I decided to inform my manager and provide her with the medical reports.

Once again, thanks a lot for your support. I would like to share some facebook pages where you learn a lot and get support since May is the month of Lupus Awareness.

- Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus

- Lupus Foundation of America (also Pennsylvania)

and many others just search for Lupus.

All the best,

[someone1234]

Thank you so much all <3 <3 <3 yesterday I talked to my team leader and manager that I want to change my office location because of sunlight which affects me because of lupus. They became very kind and nice with me. Since the day of that presentation she was upset but now I think she read about it and she understood my health condition.

Thanks a lot again <3