Memory fog

[MissLesley13]

Hi I am wondering how many people experience this ?. Is there any tips to help with the brain fog. I am getting so forgettful. I can say I only noticed it since my journey on E.T

[Skyehope]

Hi 👋

I don't have any tips but as a 46 year old with PV and also being peri menopausal, I'd be very interested in tips too.

I went back to work after 2 weeks holiday this week and my brain was most unforgiving. I had no recollection of things I'd been working on before I went away and I felt most embarrassed and unprofessional. I'm waiting for someone to tell me my job performance isn't it to scratch 😵‍💫.

Back in the day I was always on the ball so it's quite an adjustment!

Here's hoping someone has some good ideas ☺️.

[hunter5582]

While not common, brain for/memory impairment can occur with ET. Transient Ischemic Attacks would be a particular concern in this context. This symptom could also occur for other reasons as well (e.g., chronic systemic inflammation, stress). Regardless of the reason, it is a significant issue that needs a proper assessment. Suggest that you consult with a MPN Specialist as well as a neurologist for a proper assessment.

[MissLesley13 in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you. I am going to see consultant Monday so I am going to pass it over.

[william-Indo]

If you experience with short memory lost, simple just avoid taking sugar and bery low carbo dietI mean all kind form of sugars

You could add tumeric and ginkgo biloba to speedy the process.

Cheers

[Anouchka in reply to william-Indo]

Are turmeric and gingko ok with Aspirin (Kardegic)?

[william-Indo]

I am consume both with milk thistle, vit D. together with baby aspirin for years.

So far no any issue.

But ask you doc for the best, coz every body is different.

Cheers

[Amethist]

I was dx with ET aged 49. Went to gp with a ton of symptoms including many memory issues, severe headaches, falling asleep in afternoon, vision issues to name just a few things. Despite having high platelets , I was also low ( but not low enough for medical professionals to do anything) in B12, vit D and thyroid was struggling a bit.

After some quick research, I took a good quality high dose sublingual B12, and rapidly improved, and the difference was like night and day. A bit later, after more research I have added in other supplement’s and vitamins too.

If you haven’t had all your vits checked I would encourage you to do so.

As others have suggested, get Dr to check for TIA, but also cutting out sugars/ carbs will reduce brain fog . Sugar is very inflammatory.

Also , for some people, they have had similar issues following Covid boosters - if that’s relevant for you ? There are some protocols used in this instance to alleviate symptoms.

[MissLesley13 in reply to Amethist]

Thanks I have had it a lot longer than my covid booster. I will definitely ask tomorrow

[George1976]

CALR ET here… have some really bad headaches/brain fog/fullness issues and did a search using AI in the Brave browser… got this. Maybe it can help you in some way. I think it could be inflammation and or thick blood…

Based on the provided search results, essential thrombocythemia (ET) can cause a feeling of head fullness due to several mechanisms:

Microvascular symptoms: ET is characterized by microvascular dysfunction, which can lead to symptoms such as headaches, numbness, tingling, and paresthesia (pins and needles sensation) in the head and extremities. This microvascular dysfunction may contribute to the sensation of head fullness (Kuykendall, 2021).

Platelet-mediated mechanisms: Elevated platelet levels in ET can lead to platelet activation and aggregation, which may cause blood vessel constriction and altered blood flow. This can result in symptoms such as headaches, including feelings of fullness or heaviness in the head (Thrombocytosis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment, 2024).

Neurological symptoms: ET can cause various subjective neurological symptoms, including headaches, vertigo, and paresthesia. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these symptoms are not fully understood, but they may be related to platelet-mediated mechanisms or microvascular dysfunction (Neurological disorders in essential thrombocythemia - PMC, 2022).

Aspirin resistance: Some patients with ET may develop aspirin resistance, which can lead to persistent neurological symptoms, including headaches and feelings of head fullness, despite treatment with aspirin (Neurological disorders in essential thrombocythemia - PMC, 2022).

In summary, the feeling of head fullness in essential thrombocythemia is likely attributed to a combination of microvascular dysfunction, platelet-mediated mechanisms, and potential aspirin resistance, leading to altered blood flow and vessel constriction in the head and brain.

[MissLesley13 in reply to George1976]

Wow. That really helps reading that. Thanks a lot George 🙏