Brain fog/ oxygen debt/ D lactate

[Timbutdim]

Hi all, I've been looking to find a solution for brain fog.

Before I took levothyroxine my energy levels were not good. I believe the reason for my lack of energy was down to the fact that I was an ex smoker of a twenty a day habit.

My GP did not diagnose me with anything which I could associate with my lungs, I was diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Once I started levothyroxine, Levo for short my energy levels quickly improved but as an unwanted side effect I had amongst other things which I'm not going into in this post was brain fog.

I complained to my GP immediately but only a dose increase was advised after 4-6 weeks and a blood test result.

As I said my energy levels improved but I'm guessing that extra energy was not supplied by an increase in oxygen as my lungs were still in recovery and so I'm sure I was experiencing the effects of lactic acid build up due to oxygen debt.

Nothing I tried really improved my brain fog and I was still no closer to knowing what was causing it.

About a year ago I tried co enzyme q 10, well I actually tried the reduced formula which is called ubiquinol.

Although I took the effects of ubiquinol for granted and it wasn't until I had ran out that I quickly realised how much I had improved now noticing the slump back down.

My recovery time after activity was always my problem as I said before Levo gave me the energy but in no stretch of my imagination were my lungs fit to supply anywhere near the oxygen demand which my new Levo fuelled lease for life and activity had given me so recovery was long and painful as lactic acid build up stings and burns and as I was also chronically constipated I'm sure made matters worse for recovery.

Well with that in my mind I started to look for oxygen debt related articles which kind of supported my hypothesis that my particular brain fog was connected to my compromised lungs and oxygen debt.

I came across something new in addition which kind of linked my chronic constipation into the loop too although I haven't been tested or diagnosed formally, it all kind of explains why I am the way I am.

I will add the links and hope some of you will find them interesting and informative in the relationship between increased energy and the onset of the damn brain fog.

bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z...

medlineplus.gov/ency/articl...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/163...

biolab.co.uk/docs/dlactate.pdf

mayocliniclabs.com/test-cat...

medlineplus.gov/genetics/co...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You know that it’s common for having to get diagnosed or to get noticeably worse during 2 years after quitting smoking

Thyroid levels need more frequent testing after quitting

palomahealth.com/learn/ciga...

verywellhealth.com/cigarett...

[Timbutdim in reply to SlowDragon]

My second youngest son was diagnosed with graves a few years back, he lives an extremely stressful life but has improved a little dispite refusing to take carbimazole. My only daughter was diagnosed with graves a month ago.

Both still smoke and although my son has got some muscle back after massive myopathy, my daughter has no muscle left at all. She has been at A and E with thyroid storm but doesn't understand what really is happening to her.

[humanbean]

Can I suggest you buy yourself a Pulse Oximeter. They are easily bought on the web.

This is the one I bought in Spring last year because I heard/read that low oxygen levels were common in Covid, and my husband is asthmatic already, so I was worried about him.

amazon.co.uk/Salter-Oximete...

Like you, I was a heavy smoker. Not only that, but I smoked for a very long time. (I stopped about 12 years ago now.)

When I bought the Pulse Oximeter above I discovered that my oxygen saturation is at the bottom of the "normal range" pretty much all the time and I blame my smoking for that. It definitely reduces my stamina, that's for sure.

Something I find helpful is NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acety...

I buy it in capsule form - Swanson's is a good brand, but note that some brands smell of rotten eggs (which is what NAC always smells like). Swanson's tends to have a better quality capsule I think, and doesn't smell as bad as some other brands.

NAC is used as a gas in hospitals to loosen up and thin mucus in the lungs which makes it easier to cough up. In capsule form it isn't as effective as the hospital version, but does work slowly. I managed to substantially reduce the mucus in my lungs with it. It might help you. I think it is worth a try.

...

I've never tried this myself but I've read that D-Ribose can help some people with brain fog and energy levels.