Short term memory; menopause, or separate issue?

[GloriaStittz]

I’m 57, menopause kicked in about 4 years ago as I was recovering from sepsis. I’ve never fully recovered, I used to be a very active person, but I now have crushing chronic fatigue and it feels like my brain just doesn’t work anymore. I’m on HRT (oestrogen patches & a Mirena coil) so my general menopause symptoms are managed, but I just can’t seem to regain my fitness and activity levels, and my short term memory and attention span is fried.

My GP thinks I have Post-Sepsis syndrome (like long covid, but from sepsis) but there’s not really much help or info about this, it’s very ‘some people find it goes away after a few months but for some it’s a long term issue’.

I’m really struggling with it, I have reduced my working hours to two days a week with recovery days between each of my working days, and I spend a chunk of those days sleeping, which I hate because there’s so much I’d rather be doing instead of spending 2-3, sometimes 4 hours asleep most afternoons. I used to be a prolific reader, but now forget what I’ve read the day before, meaning both recreational and educational reading is almost pointless.

Does this sound like menopause brain fog, if so has anyone found a way to improve it?

(NC as potentially outing)

My brain fog was awful around the time of peri menopause and I think I’ve improved it. What strength of HRT are you on? If you are on a lower strength you could ask for a higher dose as trial to see if it improves things for you. I’m on the 100mcg patches so the highest strength and am keen not to reduce these. I am also on testosterone gel daily as part of my HRT which I think is supposed to help with cognitive function.
I noticed a big improvement in my cognitive ability when I started taking Lion’s Mane supplements. I’m not sure if this was a placebo effect as there’s probably not much evidence for this but again I don’t want to take a chance and stop. I weight train around 4 times a week and I try and eat a lot of protein (around 100g daily). If I have off days and don’t eat a lot of protein I feel rubbish and tired. As part of weight training and nutrition I started taking creatine daily too and noticed a huge improvement in my memory, cognitive function and overall confidence when I started creatine. I take 5g daily in my protein shake.
This all sounds like hard work but it’s way of life for me now.
I wouldn’t underestimate the effect of sepsis-you’ve been close to death. I worked for years in ICU so know the short and long term effect it can have on the body and brain. However all the tweaks I have suggested shouldn’t do any harm and ‘may’ also help if you have post sepsis syndrome (not that I’m an expert in the post ICU journey).

Thanks @thedogdaysareover51, I’m currently on 75mg Evorel patches, so I guess I could try increasing that, and maybe talk to my GP about testosterone. I did take creatine for a while but I couldn’t swear it made any difference, I’ve not tried Lions Mane, so I’ll look into that.

I used to go to the gym and do weights 2-3 times a week, but I’m so perpetually exhausted now that I only go once a week, I do walk my dogs every day but they are sniff’n’stroll dogs rather than long brisk walkers.

For the most part my diet is good, low in processed carbs and high in veg & protein, (but I haven’t tracked macros for years so I'm
not sure of my actual protein intake) obvs over Christmas that’s all out the window though!

There’s so little info about post-sepsis, I have all kinds of strange issues now, breathlessness, gastroparesis/IBS (it started in my abdomen because my appendix ruptured, I know I’m lucky to have survived, I had three MET calls to me on the ward and narrowly avoided ICU) and recently my cholesterol shot up, but the dietitian couldn’t suggest any improvements to my diet. It’s like I have a completely different body, with a satellite delay in my thinking and word finding. It’s incredibly frustrating.