NeuroTalk Support Groups

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/)

- - Brain Fog (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/247709-brain-fog.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by catra121 (Post 1245355)

Over the last few years, as my RSD has gotten worse...so has my ability to focus, read, think, etc. I'm very forgetful and scatter brained, easily distracted, and it's getting worse. Like...if the tv is on, my boyfriend's talking, and my daughter's playing...I can only hear one of those things at a time...and that's assuming my thoughts don't drift somewhere else where I end up hearing none of them. I'll turn on a movie, then my Facebook notifications will ding...and an hour later I realize I haven't seen ANY of the movie that is on 5 feet away from me. People will ask me questions and I answer a minute or 2 later (when it finally registers with me that I was asked a question). It's all getting worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to fight this? I feel like my brain is deteriorating. I see the doctor on next Thursday and I plan to discuss this at the appointment...but figured I would ask here and see if you guys had any suggestions or ideas on things I could try/bring up with the doctor.

Hi Catra,
I also experience difficulties with brain fog so much so that I asked for Neuropsych testing when I was having outpatient rehab years ago after some failed nerve surgery. The results came back saying I had superior intelligence but my attention and processing speed was affected by pain, medication and fatigue. Often things don't go in the first place. I have to make a very conscious effort with those little things like have I locked the car and will always check twice. To and outsider it must look like I have I have OCD but they're the sort of things that are affected by my brain fog and have I taken my medication? So I use a medication weekly dosette. I find since I need the medication (Try and reduce when I am doing better, changed opiods for LDN)and I can't change the pain for now the best way of managing the fog is using cues eg diary, phone alarms, medication dosette,repetition,memory techniques)
Booklover

I have so much trouble with brain fog. In May I forgot to pay the rent. Seriously. Not as in, I kept meaning to write the check and not doing it. As in completely forgot it needed to be done at all.
When applying for SSDI they did some of those mental ability tests on me and I couldn't do them, it almost HURT to try.
Yesterday I did some filing at home, just filing bills into the cabinet and the zillions of papers from worker's comp into their box. Took about 30 mins. It WIPED me out. I broke out into a sweat, couldn't think anymore, felt almost dizzy.

If I'm tired, or trying to do one thing, I can't try to pay attention to anything else. I miss things, forget what was being said etc. I also fall asleep at the drop of a hat if things are complicated (I try to read the news on my computer, sometimes it makes me fall asleep).
I hate it, and I hate not being believed when I try to explain it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca71 (Post 1246700)

Yes...all of these things exactly. It's so frustrating. I know my boyfriend gets mad at me sometimes for things like he's talking to me and I don't hear, or I drift off in the middle of what he's saying, etc...but I seriously can't help it! I don't like being this person and I hate to see how frustrated it makes him too. :(

Yesterday was the first time in 3 years I was able to read a book from cover to cover. For me this is a positive sign that my brain is repairing itself, due to the combination of regular exercise, LDN and Micheal Moskewitz' graphics on Neuroplastix. But, there was a price for this pleasure, I was so tired after reading I couldn't do anything, but crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioBased (Post 1246716)

That's fantastic! I have been able to start reading a little again...but only shorter books meant for 9-11 year olds or so. Anything geared higher and I just can't...even some of these ones I just can't...but I have been able to find some really engaging books for those ages. I still have to take breaks every chapter or so...sometimes sooner...but I have finished a couple of books this week (they are obviously very short). I am hoping that by still trying to read even a little that it will help me.