Mega Brain Fog! Has anyone tried Lion's mane? Any recommendations?

[stilldumdedumming]

Hi I'm menopausal, 50 and well past bleeding. I can't get on with HRT and I've been off it for some months. I'm having some moderate success with supplements. I'm pretty happy with how much more optimistic and even I am.

But the brain fog is outrageous and severely affecting my work. It's such a struggle, I could actually cry.

I also have a neurological condition and apparently brain fog is a symptom of that too.

I'm thinking of trying lion's mane. Has anyone tried this and if so any recommendations readily available good quality capsules (so no fillers and other nasties?).

The term brain fog does not do it justice by the way. My intellect is shot!

I am completely desperate!

I’ve not had it easy with HRT, but it’s the only thing to keep me sane. Progesterone is my problem, they all turn me into a utter and complete basket case, if Bedlam was still operational I’d be in there for a lobotomy.

After seeing G.Ps that didn’t really know all that much I saw a specialist prescriber. I now have the estrogen patch, testosterone and progesterone. The progesterone part is only for 10 days a month followed by a small withdrawal bleed. It’s taken 3 years to get there.

I’m lactose intolerant and all HRT in pill form contains it, bonkers. So 10 days of it is doable for that reason as well. I feel as good as a did before menopause. I too have a neurological illness and my regime really helps, without it I’d be a lot worse off. Within two weeks of taking testosterone I was able to cut Tramadol down from 8 a day to 4, sometimes 2, it’s a miracle. It’s also MARVELLOUS for your libido, I feel sexy again.

In fact I’ve just increased my estrogen patch from a 50 strength to 75 as the brain fog, anxiety and crying returned. Your hormones are still dipping up and down for a few years. I’m back on an even keel now. I’ve become quite knowledgeable about HRT after my Road of discovery, if you want any advice about regimes you can PM me. I’m fact my Drs now prescribe testosterone with confidence due to me giving them guidance which I’ve gained from the specialist. They still ask me questions about the dosage to start with and reducing it if required.

Sorry I have no advice about alternatives, I have no choice really HRT is paramount for me, my neurological condition is M.S and the estrogen dampens down inflammation as well as keeping me sane. If I didn’t have a uterus I wouldn’t have needed to battle with progesterone as you don’t need it.

Thank you. Yes it's progesterone that did me in too. I was getting nowhere with conversations with the GP or their menopause prescribing nurse. Just shrugged shoulders. I mean they have my sympathy because it's so individual but it does seem a bit limited. I'll have a re-read I think and a ponder.

Magnesium L-Threonate has helped my brain fog

@DustyLee123 interesting.
On the back of a thread I am taking magnesium glycinate (really great for relaxing my weird leg cramps) and magnesium malate. Can I add another magnesium. I'm pretty sure you can't OD!

I don’t think you should take more than 500mg per day

Right oh! Maybe I'll rethink the malate.

I’m on what they call the sequential regime, it’s mostly directed at peri menopausal women as most menopausal ladies just don’t want to bleed anymore, can’t blame them.

There is another HRT called Tridestra, it’s estrogen in tablet form for 3 whole months, followed by 14 days of progesterone, (medroxyprogesterone), followed by a withdrawal bleed. I bloody loved it apart from the bit where they use LACTOSE in the tablets 😫, it was brilliant. Honestly if I wasn’t lactose intolerance I would still be on this, absolutely fab. Ask your prescribing nurse to let you give it a go, it’s out there on the NHS sites, it’s nothing special off NICE guidelines.

I feel we need better support from our Drs. The funding for our menopause clinic was withdrawn 4 years ago, absolutely disgusting. I brought it up with my local M.P, of course being a man he didn’t even know, not good.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon, 😬

Oh @Snippit that's really interesting! I wonder why that wasn't offered. I was offered a coil but honestly that seemed intrusive to me. Thank you for the info. I will make an appointment.

My colleague is taking it for undiagnosed ADHD. I think she's finding it helpful. Is this the same stuff referred to in the Sherlock Holmes story'The lions mane'
I've been trying to find out!

Look for Robert Love on TikTok, he will have pinned posts about it.

@Toddlerteaplease thanks - that's the kind of thing that led me to wondering.

@DustyLee123 thanks I will have a look.
I'm finding the supplements much more effective than I thought so far.

. I can't get on with HRT and I've been off it for some months.

what have you tried?
Many women have to trial 2, 3 or 4 types to get one that is right for them.

Have you tried patches? Different strengths?
Tablets?
Gel?
Estrogen only patches + a Mirena or Utrogestan, or Norethisterone?

There are literally dozens of types and combination.

Just to pick up on what @Snippit posted about Tridestra.

You can combine any type of estrogen (gel, patch, tablets or spray) with any available separate progestogen to give a 3-monthly cycle.

I used gel + Norethisterone tablets for 6 years on a 10 week cycle.
(Individually prescribed by a specialist gynaecologist.)

I am now still on gel (15 years) plus Utrogestan, on a longer cycle, not 10 weeks, but not the usual 4 weeks.

The problem is that most GPs and nurses are not trained in these variations so women aren't being offered them.

You need to push a bit more if you want to try other types.

Good luck.

@JinglingSpringbells Yes I know what you mean.

I had patches combined and it was ok. But I was allergic to the glue. Had I not been I think I would've tried a higher dose of that.

So I went to gel and utrogestan continuously. I was absolutely miserable. Honestly, a lot of people rely on me to keep it together and I definitely wasn't. So I went back to the GP and increased the gel dosage. No improvement- they basically said whatever I do will be the same. Offered me a coil but it felt intrusive.

My main symptom is the brain fog. I don't get hot flushes anymore. But both my parents have osteoporosis which was another reason for taking hrt.

I take these which have changed my life. I now have a working memory. I take the lions mane too. Less effect than the multi guard ADR.

www.landyschemist.com/lamberts-multi-guard-adr-tablets-120

I'm some years post-menopause but I still experienced brain fog. Another thing to consider is to change your diet to regulate your blood sugar levels. Oestrogen protects against excessive blood sugar, so dropping oestrogen levels will exacerbate unbalanced peaks and slumps of blood sugar in the system.

There are lots of youtube videos about how to balance your blood sugar. It helps balance your hormones too. It's really helped my energy levels and brain fog. It's basically eating more protein and fewer carbs but there's a bit more to it. Intermittent fasting also helps and when you eat your carbs and how to mitigate against high carb foods. For example, eating vegetables/salad first, then protein, then carbs. Also walking for ten minutes soon after eating carbs.

It's been a revelation to me and I wished I'd discovered it sooner. I only found out about it when I was trying to lose belly fat and it's been the only thing that's worked for that too.

My main symptom is the brain fog. I don't get hot flushes anymore. But both my parents have osteoporosis which was another reason for taking hrt.

You probably need HRT then.

HRT is now prescribed as prevention and treatment for bone loss.

Has your GP offered a DEXA scan? If not, ask because it means you have a high risk. When you know where you are with your bones, you can make an informed decision over whether to pursue HRT or not.

A colleague of mine's mum had severe and early osteoporosis, was offered NHS DEXA scans from her late 40s (and yes, she already showed bone loss then.)

The advice you had is simply wrong. Of course all HRT isn't the same.
You have the option of long cycles (as a PP and myself mentioned) as well as several different types.

One tablet from- Femoston- has a progestogen that is almost as body-identical as Utrogestan. It's well tolerated by lots of women.

I was offered this and wanted to try it as the progesterone in this is the least androgenic. Unfortunately it has lactose in it and I’m lactose intolerant, it appears to be gentler than a lot of the others. Medroxyprogesterone is a lesser androgenic progesterone as well, I can only tolerate this in short bursts.

Sorry I was caught up in A level results day yesterday. Absolute nightmare with UCAS and uni admin so ds place still not confirmed!

Anyway. I can see that I need to go back to the dr about HRT and ask for other options. I do appreciate it's a difficult job - I imagine lots of things compete for your attention, but it feels such a slog doesn't it?

My nutrition is probably a good way there and I agree with exercise. I lost my mojo and my job is v sedentary but I'm getting back into exercise now. I have a mobility problem unfortunately which also has no treatment plan so it can sometimes feel like it's all against me. Right now though I'm in a sorting out phase so I'll make the most of it!

Anyway. I can see that I need to go back to the dr about HRT and ask for other options.
@stilldumdedumming Please ask your GP for an assessment of your bones. Many women already have osteoporosis in their 50s and with two parents who have it, you are at a high risk.

@JinglingSpringbells yes I need to be assertive .my dad's is severe. Up until two years ago he was fit and active. Now he has lost more than 6 inches, has a hunchback and can only walk around 20 minutes. It's shocking.

Brain fog? Leg cramps? Do you have any other B12 deficiency symptoms?

@Fishhhh so sorry I got caught up in A level results day stuff. All sorted now!

Thank you- yes it had crossed my mind. The problem is in trying to sort this while feeling so crap!

My dp has low b12 and self injects. I think I need some bloods if possible to check. It's completely debilitating for him.

I've started a good quality b12 supplement - I know if you're very deficient then chances are you're not absorbing but they were on offer!

I was anxious about the mirena coil because it felt intrusive but it was far better than I expected and I had it for over two years as part of my hrt. Very few issues.

@stilldumdedumming If your GP was caring and up to speed, and this family history was on your notes, you would be sent for a DEXA scan and it would be discussed if you should use HRT a) for prevention of osteo and b) for your current meno symptoms.

If your GP refuses to engage, you can have these scans privately. As you can with finding the right HRT through a menopause gynaecologist.

You need to take this very seriously, as 2 parents with osteoporosis increases your risk a lot.