Lights are on but no-one's home...

ouchpotato
ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
edited 20. Dec 2013, 04:14 in Living with Arthritis archive
It describes perfectly how I am a lot of the time! I joke about it but actually it's worrying me, and more importantly it's worrying the kids.

They will be talking to me, and I can hear them perfectly, but it's as if the words just don't 'register' in my brain....I stand there looking at them like a blethering idiot while I wait desperately for the words to unjumble in my head, which they don't and they have to repeat themselves, sometimes 2 or 3 times.

Is this just brain fog? Is it normally this severe, not to mention embarrassing? I have a GP apt this morning so may mention it to him.

I can't put it down to meds as it happens whether or not I am taking cocodamols (only thing I am on at the moment).

Anyone else?

:madnoel:

Comments

  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm so sorry your feeling like that, we all get alittle brain fog from time to time (me Alot!) But what your describing seems more severe. Defiantly worth asking Dr about. Hope he can shed some light on it and advise you. Take care. x
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Bubba, just off to GP now (5 mins walk from home) so will let you know what he says when I get back.

    x
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ok, so I just got back from the GP. I mentioned to him about the fogginess...he seemed quite concerned but said he will monitor it and see how it is in the new year. I also mentioned to him that my eyes are bad, I have floaters in one eye which don't ever move and another one has appeared so he gave me the eye drops the rheumy asked for and said if they don't help then he will refer me to an ophthalmologist. I guess I should get used to endless hospital and dr appointments!
  • Kittkat
    Kittkat Member Posts: 309
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello brain fog is sometimes a symptom or arthritis or the meds. Lately my memory is awful and I have no concentration whatsoever can't even sit through a film! x
    How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kittkat, I was just concerned that it seemed more than brain fog...but hopefully that is all it is. I know it affects everyone differently. I'm sure the kids think I have the start of Alzheimer's!
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,689
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I've never taken a lot of pain relief and, possibly consequently, never done the 'brain fog' thing except when I'm exceptionally tired or jet-lagged.

    However, I do remember, around the age of 50 (Sorry, ouch. I've no idea how old you are) I began to not-remember stuff and remarked on it. My boys assured me that it wasn't that I didn't remember, it was that I didn't listen properly in the first place. They were quite right. Multi-tasking as its limits :roll:

    I did, though, start to do crosswords, sudoku and other brain- tasking stuff on the 'use it or lose it' principle. I think it helps.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • villier
    villier Member Posts: 4,426
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ouch I have been experiencing much the same also not recognising things, people. I have been seeing a neuro psychologist who has assured me it is not the onset of Alzheimer's and is not concerned but is a bit concerned about my recognition, I see her soon so will no doubt have more tests to endure........................Marie xx
    Smile a while and while you smile
    smile another smile and soon there
    will be miles and miles of smiles
    just because you smiled I wish your
    day is full of Smiles
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marie

    It's scary isn't it? Apparently if you yourself recognise that you are having problems then it's not Alzheimer's, don't take that as gospel but I did read it somewhere. It just feels to me that something is 'mis-firing' in my brain, it's the strangest feeling, but thankfully not a daily occurrence.

    x
  • dibdab
    dibdab Member Posts: 1,498
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, sorry you have something else to add to the list- sometimes life does seem to throw it at us to see how much we can endure....................

    Cocodamols leave me completely fogged, I was advised to try 1 cocodamol and 1 paracetemol to see if it helped- it did- but of course we need to check that kind of stuff out with a medic or pharmacist (my daughter in law told me-and I don't think she was trying to do away with me!!!!!!!!! She's a doctor with a very matter of fact attitude to taking meds-think maybe I frustrate her a bit sometimes because I ask lots of questions and don't just "do what the doctors say"-but it's my body and information is important).

    Also, once I hit the menopause my brain turned to mush- too many hot flushes, too little sleep and feeling spaced out for far too long- happily all that happened before RA hit too.

    Take care,

    Deb xx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Ouch...you can join my club...I am terrible and always blame my meds ...you have dont the right things getting it checked out....at the very least it will save you worrying....good luck tomorrow with your eye test..and please let us know how you get on...
    Love
    Barbara
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,285
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Ouch

    Sorry you have yet another worry :xmas_cry: I do hope the confusion/fogginess isn't anything too serious and maybe just meds-related.

    You've enough going on just now.

    can I also wish you luck with your eyes?

    Love

    Toni xxx
  • Boomer13
    Boomer13 Member Posts: 1,931
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I used to have a brilliant memory! Now, I have trouble even reading a novel because I can't remember details, characters well enough to follow the story. I used to blame meds, but now I blame chronic pain and fatigue; it's much worse after a very painful flare and/or when I'm very tired. Scary though, because my mum has Alzheimer's and her sister did too. They were very bright people.

    I don't trust my memory at all anymore :madnoel: !
  • daffy2
    daffy2 Member Posts: 1,636
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I do sympathise, it is scary when this sort of thing happens. Given all that's been happening to you recently though I think it may well be overload - your body is dealing with arthritis and medications which are hard work, and then throw in all the emotional and stressy personal life stuff and I wonder if your brain is saying 'stop the world I want to get off!' A friend in a similar situation saw the GP amid real fears of Alzheimers developing, and after tests and much questioning was told it was stress, and given various ways to deal with it. This has proved immensely reassuring, and a combination of having the fear removed and following the advice has improved matters no end. Sticky's comment about listening properly may also be relevant - if your brain is overloaded it will edit what it's processing - women may be good at multitasking but even we have our limits!
  • ouchpotato
    ouchpotato Member Posts: 453
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Daffy, yes it may well be overload, there has been a lot going on including some stuff that I haven't posted about but if any of you remember the hassle I was having with my (now) ex boyfriend you will understand when I merely say I have had a lot of trouble from him too. Thankfully I now let it go over my head after having a few lightbulb moments, and it's made things easier. I haven't had an 'episode' for a few days now.

    I'm not having an eye test until I give these eye drops a go, at least a month the gp says, so we're looking at way way into the new year at least (we all know how long it takes an apt to come through to see a specialist!) but fingers crossed the eye drops do soothe the burning and itching - they haven't done anything for the floaters though, which do distort my vision.

    I started on amitriptyline 3 or 4 nights ago, but although it does seem to afford me a deeper sleep, it is doing nothing for the pain; I still wake up every time I need to turn over with the pain, and this morning I had to call for my stick to enable me to get around the house, so the pain is, if anything, worse at the moment. But it is very early days and I think ami's might have an accumulative effect so I need to get more of them in my system before I dismiss them. Next step gabapentin.

    Well, last day to do Christmas shopping before the kids break up from school and guess what...little one is off sick!!! Typical. Luckily all my pressies are bought and mostly wrapped, I just need to get some more paper to do the last few.

    Oh well, I should get a move on, visit Iceland before it gets too packed, and get back home in the warmth.

    Take care all

    x
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,689
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It occured to me, too, that the stress of your Mum's visit might be a big factor. Useless to say don't get stressed over it but do try to remember that your needs are at the very least as important as hers and that, although you will be sensitive to hers, she probably won't be at all sensitive to yours so you will have to be.

    I hope the meds help soon.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright