Anything help with “fibro fog”?

[KittyB52]

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and have started taking hydroxycholoroquine, which I understand can take quite a while to take effect. I am not feeling too bad pain wise but I am suffering with fatigue and brain fog. I look after DD during the day and work part time, doing much of the work in the evenings, but I am tired and my concentration is suffering. I am getting anxious about not getting work done.

Will the medication have any effect on this? If not, is there anything else that might help?

Hydroxycholorquinine should help but it takes about a month to really help.
I have a mixed connective disease/Fibro combination. As well as taking the drugs ( I have been diagnosed 14 years now and gave progressed so take a fair few) I find that ensuring you have good sleep hygiene helps. I drink a fruit/green tea before bed, no screens in bedroom, no distractions in bedroom. Comfortable bed, good bed linen etc, to help encourage good sleep.
I worked hard to find mindful activities that help me empty my mind, I sing in a choir and I crochet. So everyday I take sometime for myself.

I am very careful with my diet trying really hard to eat to get to 10 different portions of fruit/ veg a day, good quality protein at every meal, reducing meat consumption etc. I am much better when I keep caffeine consumption down so I limit myself to two caffeinated coffees a day and one tea. I have one decaf coffee and green tea the rest of the time.
I accept that if my work is busy and stressful I can do less in my personal life etc.

My sleep hygiene is poor, as I rarely get to bed before 11, and DD is cosleeping with us (and going through an interesting phase at the moment). I don’t struggle to fall asleep, I just feel like crap when I wake up.

I could improve my diet - I am a vegetarian but could increase my fruit and veg intake.

I am trying to stop using my phone and tablet last thing at night. I am planning to do some cross stitch again to do something that doesn’t involve screens.

I used to work full time, now I only do 16 hours a week and that is a struggle due to fatigue and poor concentration. We can’t afford for me not to work though.