Brain fog

[Lorraine49]

Fatigue and pain are in themselves bad enough but brain fog is so frustrating.My husband gets so irritated when I don’t respond or remember where I put something. He doesn’t know how much I want to be who I used to be and how embarrassed I am with other people when in mid sentence I forget the word I want to use next. I have just begun cortisone shots I had four two weeks ago and going back next week for another one in my spine.Any thoughts?

[Insight329]

I cannot begin to tell you how many times in mid-sentence I’ve stopped and said, “Where was I going with this?”..... There was something else i wanted to comment on your post. So sorry, brain fog . Oh, I remember - wonderful photo. You can see the love.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Do you have a diagnosis? And why are you getting cortisone shots?

[Lorraine49 in reply to PMRpro]

I have osteoporosis and fibromyalgia pain.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lorraine49]

This is a forum for polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. While we do suffer with brain fog and take steroids which can cause brain fog I don't think it is as bad as in fibromyalgia.

The polymyalgia rheumatica has a lot of overlaps with fibromyalgia in terms of symptoms but is different in that it is inflammatory and responds to oral corticosteroids. Have you had any improvement in your pain symptoms with the steroid injections.

[Lorraine49]

Thanks for the compliment on my photo I am holding my great grandson.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lorraine49]

You don't look old enough to have a great grandson - what a cutie!

[Lorraine49]

I don’t know what what PMRGCA is but I would like to know the similarities between fibromyalgia.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lorraine49]

The symptoms are similar overall - muscle and joint pain and tenderness over some of the fibro trigger points. As I say, the difference is in the response to corticosteroids, which is why I asked about your response to the steroid shots. And it is unusual for younger people to develop polymyalgia whereas firo can happen at any age.

healthline.com/health/diffe...

This article is right to some extent - except the things they seem to suggest are part of fibromyalgia also happen in polymyalgia: tiredness, sleep and memory problems and bladder problems are all things many patients with polymyalgia rheumatica experience. This does underline the similarities between the two.

This

arthritis.org/living-with-a...

also discusses the similarities - though they are wrong on how long PMR lasts! Two years is the bottom of the range, up to 5 years is far more likely.

[Lorraine49 in reply to PMRpro]

Fibromyalgia and osteoporosis is lifelong

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lorraine49]

That IS one of the differences between the two - mentioned in the link.

It doesn't really help with diagnosis of course - you would have to wait too long - but there are doctors who will tell patients with polymyalgia rheumatica that it can't be PMR because it has lasted too long. Which is NOT a criterion.

[powerwalk in reply to Lorraine49]

I had fibro for several years before I got the PMR. Muddled along on painkillers really - when the PMR arrived I thought it was the fibro getting worse - the pain had now gone into my hips so I could just about walk and then up to my arms and shoulders. I was crying in my GP's office - who totally missed the PMR until my husband went down and asked her if she had any idea how immobile I was. This was after I had been in her office unable to use my arms and crying with it all. The big difference was when she did the blood tests and my markers were sky high. Then she put me on the prednisone. Big difference then being I could use my arms again and the total hip girdle pain and almost locked stiffness moved off. Of course it wasn't cured just dummed down by the pred.

[Lorraine49 in reply to powerwalk]

The biggest challenge I have found is doctors who know anything about fibromyalgia and where it crosses lines with other health problems and medications.

[SheffieldJane]

Oh dear. Sometimes I think our nearest and dearest get frightened by our frailty and react unsympathetically. I can remember being annoyed with my mum in the very early days of frontal lobe dementia. She must have been terrified, I still feel shame about it. I bet that gorgeous armful loves you just the way you are!

[Sandy1947]

Thanks for posting the beautiful picture. I am so with you regarding brain fog! Be gentle with yourself! A combination of Pred Head and the aging process sets us up for mental decline. I try to simplify, write everything down, short list of activities and accept our vulnerability. The last part is the toughest since we look like we are stupid. Pleasing others becomes totally less important as we plod along with PMR. Unfortunately, all the cross word puzzles and brain games don’t help me. Zumba, petting my dog, being with children, cooking, movies, reading and hanging with people who are not critical and judgmental make me feel better!

Let us know what makes you feel better!

[Lorraine49 in reply to Sandy1947]

My husband and family are my best friend along with quilting make me happy.On bad days I have taken up adult coloring books ,Ifind it very relaxing.

[Sandy1947 in reply to Lorraine49]

Coloring sounds like fun. I play games with my 3 year old grandson who usually beats me. He excels at puzzles but they frustrate me!

[Lorraine49 in reply to Sandy1947]

I find it very therapeutic I find time every day to color. I have several adult coloring books and probably about a hundred gel pens and colored pencils.

[Insight329 in reply to Lorraine49]

I color every Saturday with an average of 10 seniors at a care center. We color and sing. I take a small portable speaker and pull up music they want to hear. Besides relaxation, it’s provided me with a lot of laughter. Example:

Me to Daniel: Daniel, it’s nice to see your smiling face. We missed you last week.

Daniel: Do you want to marry me?

Me; Do you want to marry me? Is this a proposal?

Daniel: Got any money?

Me: How much money do I need?

Daniel: $200

I open my wallet and count my money.

Me: Daniel, I have $7.00 and change on me right now.

Daniel shakes his head, lowers it and resumes coloring.

Me: i guess the engagement is off.

Group laughs.

I believe that coloring has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. I’ve certainly noticed how this activity can change mood. They love doing it and our group has become a small family.

Highly recommend it if you just want to ‘get out of your head’ for awhile. There are plenty of free pages online to download. Do pick one that will make you concentrate. Or not — sometimes just wildly putting color to paper with no attention to the lines is rewarding, too.

[Lorraine49 in reply to Insight329]

I like to color to relax and forget about my fibromyalgia and other health issues and there are no rules you can use any color you want,I especially like glitter pens.

[Insight329 in reply to Lorraine49]

We haven't tried glitter pens. I'll have to find some. Thank you for the suggestion!

[Margot23]

I can totally identify with your comments Sheffieldjane!

[Jackoh]

Lovely photo. I just bumble along - have surprised myself sometimes with what comes out of my mouth or sometimes what I can't get out. My neighbour of 85( I'm 67) is very encouraged by my lack of ability in this area. I'm not so impressed but find if I stress about it it gets worse.

[Lorraine49 in reply to Jackoh]

I am 68 and have had fibromyalgia for about thirty five years most of the time I deal with it pretty well but some days I do get a bit down.The cortisone shots have helped a little with my osteoporosis.

[Hidden in reply to Lorraine49]

I have had fibro for about 15 diagnosed that is. I think some of symptoms very similar especially fatigue and brain fog, pre PMR dx I thought I'd getting tested for early inset dementia at 55. I remember in my last year working I could no longer string ideas or words together in anyway that made sense to me or others. As a lecturer this was a stressful experience.

The pain from fibro and OA has been pretty full-time and managed with tramadol co codamol and amitrypiline. I have never been pain free but it was obvious that I had met a different animal with PmR that broke through all pain killers physio etc. Brain fog increased significantly. Since pred the pmr is largely controlled but still fibro ticking along and no doubt joining one and pred in fogging brain. My sister describes out as decreased capacity. Any new or hard task becomes a point of stress until I know my brain and/or body can cope and this has obvious repercussions itself.

[Lorraine49 in reply to Hidden]

There are many people out there who look perfectly fine but they are suffering with a condition that is a challenge.

[Marijo1951]

How right you are. I manage reasonably well but then get into weird muddles. For example yesterday I was talking with my daughter on the phone and I got into a complete panic because, while describing a book I'd bought for my granddaughter, I kept saying 'oregano' when I meant 'origami'. This kind of thing can be far more distressing than it should, possibly because we all fear dementia setting in.

[Rimmy in reply to Marijo1951]

- Brain fog can be horrid but there IS the 'funny' side - makes me think of something I saw on twitter yesterday when a woman was saying she thought her husband needed 'euthanasia' for his flu - she meant 'echinacea' of course !? !!

[Lorraine49 in reply to Marijo1951]

Opps Brain Fog. I know the feeling!Yes I worry about dementia also.

[Marijo1951]

On the other hand, maybe a freudian slip in that case...

[Lorraine49 in reply to Marijo1951]

😂

[Grammajoy in reply to Marijo1951]

I was thinking the same thing😅

[BonnyQuine in reply to Marijo1951]

Hmmm, yes, husbands can be a mixed blessing. Got to look for the positive. Also familiar with the intermittent brain failure - try to see the funny side?

[CT-5012 in reply to BonnyQuine]

I'm worried about what my OH is thinking at the moment, yesterday he brought me flowers, that's the third time in 52 years of marriage. 😨

[BonnyQuine in reply to CT-5012]

Better late than never? Maybe he's just now getting the hang of it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to CT-5012]

Probably being given away at the filling station...

[Lorraine49]

I know I am on the wrong site as I have fibromyalgia but I’m glad to hear that most people still have a sense of humor.That is what I try to maintain. What choice do we have when there is no medications that I am not allergic to but to be strong and laugh.🙃

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lorraine49]

We don't mind - we'll chat to anyone nice

[Lorraine49]

Thank you I have bumbled into a nice group of people.

[Hidden in reply to Lorraine49]

I do believe bumbling to be the perfect way to meet good people😊

[Grants148]

I find that the dreaded brain fog seems much worse when l am tired or stressed,a good nights sleep helps but l often find that difficult as a good nights sleep does not happen very often..l forget people’s names and place names and it is so embarrasslng,suddenly stopping mid sentence l enjoy painting and card making ,l can lose myself in those,but they do not cure the fog anyway it is so good to hear from you all on this site and l wish you lots of love and laughter for 2018 xxx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Grants148]

It does get better - honestly!

[Lorraine49 in reply to Grants148]

I forget people’s names and faces all the time but my husband doesn’t and it is embarrassing I try to fake my way through it and glad when I can walk away.So enjoy the things that you like to do and try to let the rest go.Wishing you the best way to stay happy with yourself because you are still special stay strong.

[Grants148]

Thank you PMRPro,l look forward to that xx

[Grants148]

Thank youLorraine 49 all the best to you too xx