Brain Fog

[Youngatheart00]

I feel like I’m going mad, I just can’t think straight anymore.

I’m not sure whether wfh, lockdown or both has got to me, or whether there’s something deeper going on.

I don’t feel like my brain works anymore. I used to be a really clear and intelligent communicator both verbally and in writing, I’m in a senior job and I just feel like I can’t do it anymore. Everything I do I feel like it’s absolute rubbish and my mind is telling me everyone things I’m doing a crap job.

I’ve no energy and keep lying on my bed between meetings. I just feel like a zombie.

I’m not sure what to do.

Speak to the Dr for blood tests. There are a number of treatable things that can cause brain fog, tiredness and anxiety such as

Underactive thyroid
Vitamin D deficiency
B12/folate deficiency
Iron deficiency

I hope you feel better soon

Thanks very much@Fatherbrownsbicycle

We are due to try IVF again later this year so want the bloods done ahead of that.

Another day of feeling no better, I had been thinking it was work stress but my head is the same at the weekend.

Are GPs still dealing with non covid / routine matters? I feel there are very mixed messages.

The bloods for IVF won’t necessarily cover all the above tbh.
It depends on your surgery. Ours is back to doing many routine appointments, the above deficiencies can leave you feeling rotten and can cause problems so it is certainly worth phoning to speak to someone to check what the situation is in your surgery. Good luck!

Hi @Youngatheart00, could it be stress due to the IVF do you think? How long have you been TTC?

I can completely relate to what you’re describing - I am sure it’s not the case that you are doing a bad job at all, has anyone actually given you any feedback at work to say that?

Definitely worth speaking to your GP to rule out any physical causes. If you think it could be related to the IVF, do they have a counsellor at your clinic that you could speak to? X

I feel like that, but it predates Covid/lockdown

Bloods vary but no clear single issue. I'm hoping it's menopausal and will, one day, come right 🤷🏻‍♀️

But you're much younger, you definitely need to start looking into in. It's really miserable!

Goid luck 🤞🏼

@Youngatheart00 I’ve been suffering hugely with this for weeks now so I do sympathise.

I’ve had a full blood count and nothing came up (although like most women I’m probably slightly iron deficient, they didn’t bother doing a ferritin count 🙄). I’ve been under a huge amount of stress for the past couple of years and my therapist said that brain fog/light headedness is extremely common when you’ve suffered chronic stress/anxiety.

I’ve started to notice a few triggers; prolonged loud noises (unfortunately goes hand in hand with DD3 so I’ve started to feel extra anxious when with her unfortunately 😞), too much screen time, too much bright light. The stress of having to be ‘on’ for work or socially also seems to trigger it. I think I suffer from sensory overload anyway so these elements would always have been likely to exacerbate something like brain fog. Do you think any of these things could be a trigger for you? Or possibly the stress of work and the looming IVF have contributed?

I do feel for you, it’s awful. I feel a horrible grey fog descend on my brain when it happens, like a light but insistent pressure that disorientates and distracts me and whirs round my head, until all I want to do is close my eyes in a darkened room and be left alone for an hour!

I've suffered with brain fog for years, you have my sympathy. Blood tests have never found a reason why. I suspect it may be a result of glandular fever or drug use in my teens.
As a pp said, sensory overload definitely makes it worse so try and simplify things as much as you can, and reduce the number of decisions you have to make.

I feel it’s a ‘head’ problem rather than a symptom of a underlying medical issue that might crop up on a blood test. That’s just my gut feel.

I think it is pure overwhelm. I’m finding myself tearing up at world events like the storming of congress in the US, and my world has become so small I don’t get enough stimulus to give me perspective, so the smallest work issue gets on top of me. That’s with IVF looming in the background too - part of me feels like my brains just decided work isn’t important so my brain will not function for it. But that stresses me as I try and raise my game and just can’t

Just googled my symptoms & found this thread! I’ve found a supplement from a brand called Montgomery & Evelyn which claim to help & wondering if anyone’s tried nootropics for brain fog?

Brain fog can be really debilitating. I think lockdown has made me more aware of it, as everything feels so invasive into my personal space at home. I started a new medication that has an immunosuppressing effect and my susceptibility to stress has definitely lowered. Its really boring but these are the things that help keeping it at bay

• avoiding news, do not check at start of day and only flick in passing
• controlling what I can work wise and if its not manageable speaking up
• adequate sleep i.e. decent bed time, reasonable waking hour
• regular meal times
• propreceptive exercise e.g. strength training, where I am aware of my body in space, different pressure etc. Its like a massage for the brain.
• avoiding high stimulation - I don't speak on the phone after 9pm
• having organised lists so if I do feel like shit I can just go ok whats next, lets do one thing and not feel overwhelmed
• cutting down sugar and wheat, dairy in moderation
• eating sufficient balance of carb, protein and fat
• being mindful of hormone changes- when my oestrogen is rising I can't think as clearly, similar when I have a serotonin boost from exercise, and do not over promise during these times when I think I can do everything!
• enough water intake
• eating cruciferous veg and greens
• some vitamins if needed e.g. vit D, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vit C, b vits, spatone, are the main ones, I don't take them every day as I think I should have enough from my diet
• listening to my body
• massage
• anti histamines or sudafed, if I'm headachey as well

It might also be worth seeing your GP in case you have a urine infection or brewings of one.

I'm still tired but thats my condition, the brain fog I cannot handle. Hope some of that helps.